Editorial – Launch of a Brand New Section – ‘Facts from Fiction’

By Amer Safir

We are pleased to launch today a new and dedicated section on our website, called ‘Facts from Fiction.’ Here, we will be posting responses to all common allegations against Islam and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. 

Islam is a religion that stands for peace, harmony and goodwill. It is a religion that offers practical solutions that resonate deeply with human nature. Its teachings are in complete concordance with science and they offer an unparalleled blueprint for achieving both worldly and inner peace. 

Far too often these truths about Islam have been distorted. As it is often influential figures who raise these allegations, it creates doubts in the minds of many people. You may be unsure where to find answers to these criticisms about Islam when there are millions of sites out there.

In this section you will find direct responses to these criticisms. The practice of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, as taught by its founder, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), is only to respond to criticisms with the ‘pen’, or in other words with arguments, rationality and logic. You will find the same approach adopted here where we will respond to criticisms with knowledge and evidence.

Why this New Section Now?

It’s been 118 years since this esteemed magazine was established by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as). 

In January 1902, the first ever edition of The Review of Religionswas published. On the first page of the first edition the Editor wrote a ‘prospectus’ or editorial. Outlining the objectives of the magazine, he wrote amongst other aims that:

 ‘…it [the magazine] undertakes to refute all objections against Islam, the Holy Qur’an and the noble Prophet Muhammad (sa), and for this purpose the editor shall be glad to receive all such objections for which sufficient grounds are stated, and an answer to these shall appear from time to time in the pages of the magazine.’ (January 1902, English Edition, The Review of Religions).

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) himself writing in the September 1903 Urdu Edition of The Review of Religions said that one of his objectives in starting the magazine was to ‘remove the misconceptions’ that had developed against Islam, something which he said pained him deeply and inspired him to respond. 

For over a century The Review of Religions has been gloriously fulfilling this objective, providing replies to all kinds of objections against Islam in its print edition. Now in 2020, in the digital information age and global village we live in, the frequency and speed with which these criticisms are spread has increased exponentially through the internet and social media. Therefore, The Review of Religionshas taken this step to create a dedicated section on our website to upload regular responses to allegations. We welcome you to contact us to highlight any allegations you wish us to respond to.

Old Allegations, Rehashed

This magazine was just one vehicle Hazrat Ahmad (as) established to help defend Islam against the plethora of allegations being raised. Hazrat Ahmad’s (as) entire life was devoted to defending Islam from contentions and in his time he was deemed a champion of Islam for his supremely successful defence. His over 80 books and abundance of other literature are all testament to this.

Writing in one of his earliest works, Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Hazrat Ahmad (as) said that he observed that there were over sixty million books with misconceptions and false narratives against Islam. He presented irrefutable evidence to display the truth of Islam based on the true teachings of the Holy Qur’an.

Today the speed with which information can be disseminated is faster than ever before. Criticisms raised quickly go viral and traverse geographical boundaries in seconds.

Often these allegations are not new. They are the same allegations raised before, but recycled with a modern context. Regardless, we will address such criticism worthy of a response as well. Many modern criticisms have been brilliantly answered in the addresses of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba), worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, which are published by this magazine. We will provide regular references to these as well in our responses. 

Responses to Allegations Against the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

Within this new page we also feature a section with responses to criticisms raised against the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was established by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi, in accordance with prophecies of the Holy Qur’an and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). It was prophesied that when Islam would be followed in only name, when the Muslims would forsake their true teachings, the Promised Messiah would appear to revive its true teachings. 

Attacks against the Community have intensified in recent times. In many countries there are restrictions upon literature and websites of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community from being accessed, and so many people only consume negative information about the Community. In countries such as Pakistan, these restrictions are enshrined in the constitution, leading to a torrent of allegations being raised and widespread hate against the Community, as people are exposed mainly to anti-Ahmadi rhetoric. 

Therefore, on this dedicated page we will provide responses to common allegations against the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and rebut the many lies that are spread. We will display the reality of the teachings of the Community, which reflect the true and pristine beauty of Islam. 

About the Author: Amer Safir is the Chief Editor of The Review of Religions