His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) is a beaming beacon of Divine guidance and support. His Holiness (aba) represents the highest level of a connection with God in today’s world and thus he is the spiritual leader for tens of millions across the world, and champions the message of fulfilling the rights owed to God, and fulfilling the duties we each owe to our fellow human beings. Over the course of his Friday Sermons, addresses on various occasions, meetings with different organizations and children’s classes, His Holiness (aba) imparts invaluable knowledge and insight on a remarkably vast array of topics.
The Review of Religions is honoured to present some of these ‘Rays of Wisdom’ from His Holiness (aba) taken from various sources, for the benefit of its readers.
Contents
What is the Position of Women in the World Today?
Why are Some Children Born with Disabilities?
How Can We Help People Understand the Reality of Prophecies?
Dishonesty is a Sin and Truthfulness is a Virtue
What is the Position of Women in the World Today?
For centuries within societies across the globe, women have not, unfortunately, been afforded their due rights and have conversely been treated as less than equal to men. Over the years, the topic of ensuring women’s rights and granting them their due equality has been a hot topic of conversation. Despite the conversations and claims, the rights of women don’t seem to be fulfilled by society as they should. Yet 1400 years ago, Islam saw to the establishment of women’s rights and equality in an all-encompassing and balanced way. During an interview with the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, a reporter asked His Holiness (aba) about the position of women in the world today.
His Holiness (aba) replied:
‘You see, what is the population ratio of women and men? Women are more than the men; almost 51:49 percent. Despite that, all those countries, those who claim themselves to be very modern countries and they are almost always speaking about the rights of the women, their heads of states are not women, despite the fact that the number of women is more. Not only that, even in the parliament, you would see 90% of the members of parliaments – even among the developed countries – are from among men. So see, although they raise slogans that women should have rights and this and that, but they are actually not practically going according to their claim.
But in Islam – Islam says that there is a distribution of labour; men have these duties, women have these duties. Women should take care of their houses but at the same time, they should be well educated. This is why among Ahmadis our ladies are more educated than men. The literacy rate of Ahmadi women is more than the men because they are going to raise up the next generation [which] is going to work for their nation.
So, if generations are trained well, they can help you. You see, you are asking that how can we reform; if our women are educated and they raise their children in a way that infuses honesty in them and let them understand the importance of honesty, and the service and sincerity towards their nation, how can they serve their country, how important is the service to the nation, then at least the next generation can bring some reforms and improve your country. Otherwise, with this present generation and the present set of mind [of] our leaders, we cannot reform, and you cannot say that your countries can ever develop or can get better.
In Islam, women have the rights of inheritance. Women have the right to get education. If they are capable and have fertile brain, they can become a doctor, engineer, or any other profession. But at the same time, their duty is to run their household, to take care of their children so that next generation is brought up in a better way.’[1]
Why are Some Children Born with Disabilities?
When it comes to the question of God’s existence, a question often raised is that if God really does exist and He is a Loving God, then why are children born disabled? On the surface, it seems like a punishment they must endure for their entire lives. However, this question is often the result of a limited scope of thinking; one which is confined to the lens of this temporal and material world. In reality, the subject transcends this life alone. Once, His Holiness (aba) was asked why some children are born with disabilities.
His Holiness (aba) replied:
‘Firstly, there is a law of nature at work, according to which there may be instances where at some point, the mother’s food choices and diet were poor, or she had taken certain medications that left a negative impact. As a result, because the law of nature is at work, it may be that sometimes children are born in this manner. It is also possible that there was some sort of deficiency in the man’s sperm, or there was a deficiency in the child’s development while in the uterus. Hence it is the natural law under which there are instances where some children are born weaker; it is not some sort of punishment.
Allah the Almighty does not say that some people are born in this manner as a form of punishment, rather because of this apparent and physical weakness, Allah the Almighty says that when they pass away, He will reward them in the hereafter. As for those who pass away in their childhood, Allah the Almighty has already decreed heaven for them. Our concept of life is not limited to this life of 70, 80, or even 100 years if someone lives that long. You ascribe to the belief that the actual life worth living is in the hereafter; this is our belief. That life is everlasting and if this is the case then Allah the Almighty grants such people health once they are there [in the hereafter].
Furthermore, they are not questioned. If, despite their disability they carried out virtuous deeds and remembered Allah then that is good. Conversely, there are also those who have a slight disability, yet are still capable of committing wrongful deeds, for which they must face the consequences. However, generally if a child is disabled and does not even possess capabilities which they can employ then Allah the Almighty will not even question them and instead will simply tell them to proceed [into heaven]’[2]
How Can We Help People Understand the Reality of Prophecies?
One of the great signs for the existence of God and the truthfulness of His prophets are prophecies and their fulfilment. The Holy Qur’an, revealed 1400 years ago to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa), is replete with prophecies regarding the future. Many of these prophecies have been fulfilled in modern times, making it all the more astonishing that events taking place now were foretold so long ago when there could have been no humanly possible way of foretelling them with such accuracy. Prophecies can also contain warnings for the future. Some in the European and Western worlds may be sceptical of such prophecies, and so, one person asked His Holiness (aba) how the concept of prophecies can be explained to such people.
His Holiness (aba) replied:
‘Inform them of the various prophecies mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, such as [the prophecies] that in this era, the 14th century [after the advent of Islam, travel [by camel] would be abandoned, press and media will increasingly emerge, women will demand their rights, and the various other things mentioned in Surah Al-Takwir [chapter 82 of the Holy Qur’an] and at other instances as well. [There are also prophecies such as] the seas being separated and joined together. Tell them that these things were all prophesied 1400 years ago and are being fulfilled now. This means that Allah the Almighty must exist. The things that He has foretold about the future will also come to pass. The prophecies regarding the advent of the Promised Messiah (as) have been fulfilled as well. Hence, all of these things make it clear that Allah the Almighty exists, and His decree comes to pass, and He has decreed that He will reign supreme. Then, it is up to them whether they accept this or not.
Atheists can be stubborn; this is not something limited to Europeans, rather, it is about atheists who have moved far away from religion. There is a prominent atheist author here who wrote a book called The God Delusion – we told him that the perspective he presented was erroneous. I sent him the Five Volume Commentary of the Holy Qur’an, and the Fourth Caliph’s (rh) book Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth. I invited him to read these books and then invited him to share his theory on the existence of God. He replied saying that there was no need for him to read these books and he refused. This is the response of such people; they are not going to accept it – they are simply stubborn.
They do not wish to read or understand and so we cannot force them to understand. They have already decided in their hearts that they are right. This is not sensible, it is foolish.’[3]
Dishonesty is a Sin and Truthfulness is a Virtue
As a code of conduct and a blueprint for how to live life, indeed in every way, the Holy Qur’an is unmatched and superior to all other teachings. These perfect teachings were revealed to the perfect man, the greatest, and Seal of Prophets, Muhammad (sa), who would then be the perfect embodiment of these timeless and perfect teachings. He would use real-life examples and instances that took place in every-day life to impart the wisdom and teachings of Islam in a manner that could be understood by all. Take the teachings of dishonesty and truthfulness for example; though they may seem like simple concepts, their scope is not always understood and implemented in every facet of life. However, through the example the Holy Prophet (sa), we are able to develop such moral qualities in the true sense, even from an early age.
On this topic, His Holiness (aba) once said:
‘Dishonesty is a sin and truthfulness is a virtue and moral. The Holy Prophet (sa) gave guidance to instil this [moral quality] in the hearts of children from their very childhood in this manner.
A Companion narrates an incident of his childhood saying, “Once, the Holy Prophet (sa) came to our home. Due to my immaturity, a short while later, whilst the Holy Prophet (sa) was still present at home, I prepared to leave in order to play outside. Hence, in order to stop me from leaving this blessed environment, my mother said, ‘Come here and stay here. [If you do so] I will give you something.’ Upon this, the Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘Do you wish to give him something?’ My mother replied, ‘Yes, I will give him a date.’ Upon this, the Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘If this was not your intention and you merely said this in order to call the child, you would have been guilty of committing a sin as you told a lie.’”[4]
Thus, in this way even this child became aware of the importance of truthfulness and the abhorrence of dishonesty at this very young age. Furthermore, he remembered it even when he grew older and mentioned that this was the importance of truthfulness that had taken root in his heart following the incident.’[5]
ENDNOTES
[1] Interview of His Holiness (aba) by Kenya Broadcasting Corporation – 27 August 2019
[2] Meeting with Khuddam from Belgium – 15 June 2019
[3] Meeting with Tabligh Delegation from Germany – This Week With Huzoor Islamabad Special
[4] Sunan Abi Daud, Kitab al-Adab, Baab Fi al-Tashdeed Fi al-Kadhab, Hadith 4991
[5] Friday Sermon 2 March 2018
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