Source: The Economist:
IN THE wake of the attacks on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, speculation has grown about the possible involvement of Samantha Lewthwaite, a British convert to Islam. Ms Lewthwaite, known as the “White Widow”, was married to Germaine Lindsay, one of theLondon 7/7 bombers and himself a convert. She is wanted by Interpol and the Kenyan police in connection with a separate alleged bomb plot. Ms Lewthwaite, the daughter of a British soldier who served in Northern Ireland, grew up in the English home counties and converted to Islam in her teens. How common are converts to Islam? And why do they adopt the religion?
Those who embrace Islam tend to do so after years of contact with Muslims. (Ms Lewthwaite reportedly had a close relationship with Muslim neighbours during her youth.) Some, mostly women who make up around two-thirds of new believers in Britain, convert because they want to marry a Muslim. Others are fed up with what they see as thebawdiness of British society. Many speak of seeking a sense of community. Prisons have proven fertile ground for conversions for men. Some worry that those who convert in jail are exposed to more radical strains of Islam; others say that Islam’s discipline and structure, along with the support they received from other Muslims, helped them to cope with life inside.
Categories: Accepting Islam, Europe, UK
There is a prophecy by Prophet of Islam that in later days, almost after 1400 years of his demise, will appear Messiah and Imam Mahdi who will revive the true teachings of Islam and once again it will be the majority religion. Accordingly in 1889, a claimant appeared and founded the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. In last 125 years community has struggled hard to spread the true teachings of Islam. Apparently many Muslims denounce his claim but from the core of their hearts they accept his true interpretation of Islam. The community is utilising the media very effectively and many are converting due the teachings spread by the Ahmadiyya. So it should not be a surprise for any one. May it be Europe, America, Asia or Australia the True Islam has to be accepted by the majority of the population. This is the scheme of Almighty God who is most powerful and He has the power, ways and means to get His will accomplished. Such news support this view point also. Any one accepting Islam through true teachings will never involve in any untoward activity. 125 years of Ahmadiyya history supports it.
Well, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at still has a lot of work to do as for instance in Great Britain the majority of converts to Islam have not (yet) joined the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at. Therefore the worry that they may join an extremist group is to some extent justified. We have to work harder!!!
there is no such prophecy of 1400 yrs after the death of prophet Muhammd (pbuh) that the Messiah will return.
Only Allah knows when messiah isa ibn maryam will return.
the “1400 yrs after the death of prophet” part is fabrication.
So Mr Parvez: How will Allah tell people that Isa Ibn Maryam has returned? And since no time and certainity can be placed on his return according to you, people should be free to choose to believe in anyone they consider according to thier research and prayers. This is exactly what Ahmadiyya Muslims have done. You want to wait and keep the suspense, you are welcome to stay in the waiting lounge for the Isa Ibn Maryam while we go ahead and spread the true message of Islam. Your choice!!
Zubair, may we know the source of the saying of the Prophet of Islam?
Parvez, I think it is more prudent to ask for the source of information instead of outright rejection. We must be civil in dealing with others.
Thank you.
Allah says to the prophet in the Quran
“They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the Hour: when is its arrival? In what [position] are you that you should mention it? To your Lord is its finality. You are only a warner for those who fear it.” [79: 42-45]
So its clear that any claim that such a such year the messiah will come is contradiction to the Quran
Thinking logically (in this instant without referring to books, revealed or otherwise) I do not believe that the early Muslims believed that Jesus was ‘raised to heaven’ alive in this physical form. The reason why I am saying that is because if that was the case when Mohammad (peace be on him) died surely all Muslims would have said ‘…but how can that be? If a minor prophet like Jesus (as) did not die how our major prophet Mohammad (peace be on him) can die? We all know that there was no such outcry. Everyone accepted his death. I think Abu Bakr said: “Mohammad (peace be on him) died, but whosoever believes in Allah remember that He is Everliving”. (not exact words). He did not say that Jesus is living too. Personally I think that this belief that Jesus has gone to heaven (or behind the moon?) alive crept into the beliefs of Muslims when the large Christian population of Egypt joined the Muslims. In a short time the ‘converts’ outnumbered the ‘original’ Muslims. Just a thought …
Parvez sb., as according to you, you’re still waiting for the Messiah, the original one who was a follower of the Taurah could you please tell us….
1. How you will recognize him when he returns?
2. Which law he’s going to follow, i.e. he’d only be familiar with the Taurah and in his absence from this world, Mankind has been blessed with the Final Revelation of the Qur’an.
3. How is he going to deal with the umpteen numbers of sects that Islam has ‘progressed’ into and who are all disagreeing and killing one another all over the world – all in the name of God?
4. What is the need for God to re-cycle a Jewish prophet into an Islamic one?
4b. Why not just bring another person who was a Muslim, very familiar with Islam and make him a subordinate prophet to the Holy Prophet (pbuh), who is the final law bearing prophet as we, Ahmadis believe? Doesn’t that sound more logical and without mystery?
i beleive wht is established in Islamic belief ( school of ahle sunnah)
the classical scholars of ahle sunnah such as tabari, qurtubi, abu dawud, ibn hajr, nawawi, ibn taymiya and ibn kathir agreed that Isa ibn Maryam was raised up alive and during the end of time he will return.
Abu Hurairah and Ibbn Abbas said that the prophet said; “Allah raised isa ibn maryam unto Himself…” [Tafsir tabari & qurtubi]
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, “Just before Allah raised `Isa to the heavens, `Isa went to his companions, who were twelve inside the house. When he arrived, his hair was dripping water and he said, `There are those among you who will disbelieve in me twelve times after he had believed in me.’ He then asked, `Who volunteers that his image appear as mine, and be killed in my place. He will be with me (in Paradise)’ One of the youngest ones among them volunteered and `Isa asked him to sit down. `Isa again asked for a volunteer, and the young man kept volunteering and `Isa asking him to sit down. Then the young man volunteered again and `Isa said, `You will be that man,’ and the resemblance of `Isa was cast over that man while `Isa ascended to heaven from a hole in the house. When the Jews came looking for `Isa, they found that young man and crucified him. Some of `Isa’s followers disbelieved in him twelve times after they had believed in him. They then divided into three groups. One group, Al-Ya`qubiyyah (Jacobites), said, `Allah remained with us as long as He willed and then ascended to heaven.’ Another group, An-Nasturiyyah (Nestorians), said, `The son of Allah was with us as long as he willed and Allah took him to heaven.’ Another group, Muslims, said, `The servant and Messenger of Allah remained with us as long as Allah willed, and Allah then took him to Him.’ The two disbelieving groups cooperated against the Muslim group and they killed them. Ever since that happened, Islam was then veiled until Allah sent Muhammad.” [Tafsir Ibn Kathir and sunan an nasa’i]
Many among the classical scholars stated that `Isa asked if someone would volunteer for his appearance to be cast over him, and that he will be killed instead of `Isa, for which he would be his companion in Paradise. [ibn kathir]
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported that the prophet said; “On the night of ascension, I met Ibraheem, Musa and Isa ibn Maryam. They spoke about the hour, Isa ibn maryam said only Alllah knows when it will happen. But i have been given tasks before the hour. i will descend and judge by the quran and sunnah. I will kill dajjal in ludd and show his blood to the muslims on my sword. then soon after gog and magog will emerge causing corruption on the land. I and a group of muslims will do dua to Allah and Allah will destroy gog and magog……” [musnad ahmad]
Isa ibn maryam is the same messiah that was sent to banu israel, he will come back. there is no 2 messiahs.
isa will kill dajjal in ludd which is in palestine. dajjal’s blood will b shown to the people to prove that dajjal is not divine.
According to authentic ahadith; the prophet (pbuh) said that dajjal is a human being born to jewish parents. Not the church as some people claim.
According to the understanding of the sahaba and early scholars; they clearly stated that dajjal is a human being but he will be decieving many people.
Abu Sa’id reported: I accompanied Ibn Sayyad to Mecca and he said to me: i will report to you what the prophet said about dajjal — Have you not heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace upon him) as saying: He (dajjal) will have no no children, I said: Yes, of course. Have you not heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He would not enter Mecca and Medina? I said: Yes, of course. And Isa (pbuh) will slay him in palestine. [sahih muslim – book of tribulations]
An-Nawwas b. Sam’an reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) made a mention of the Dajjal one day in the morning. He sometimes described him to be insignificant and sometimes described (his turmoil) as very significant and we felt as if he were in the cluster of the date-palm trees. When we went to him (to the Holy Prophet) in the evening and he read (the signs of fear) in our faces, he said: What is the matter with you? We said: Allah’s Messenger, you made a mention of the Dajjal in the morning (sometimes describing him) to be insignificant and sometimes very important, until we began to think as if he were present in some (near) part of the cluster of the datepalm trees. Thereupon he said: I harbour fear in regard to you in so many other things besides the Dajjal. If he comes forth while I am among you, I shall contend with him on your behalf, but if he comes forth while I am not amongst you, a man must contend on his own behalf and Allah would take care of every Muslim on my behalf (and safeguard him against his evil). He (Dajjal) would be a young man with twisted, contracted hair, and a blind eye. He who amongst you would survive to see him (dajjal) should recite the opening verses of Sura Kahf. He (dajjal) would appear on the way between Syria and Iraq and would spread mischief right and left. O servant of Allah! adhere (to the path of Truth). [sahih muslim]
regarding isa ibn maryam (pbuh) killing the swine and breaking the cross;
Ibn hajr, ibn qudamah, ibn taymiya and imam nawawi; they all said isa will proclaim to the cristians that only Allah is worthy of worship hence rejecting the concept of trinity and crucifixion. Also isa ibn maryam will say that the commandments were not abrogated and that the belief of dying for other people sins is fabrication.
regarding the word YOU in the previous comment it simply means the ummah of Muhammad (peace be upon him).
its clear that the early scholars of Islam and the congregation of the 1st 4 muslim generations beleived in the school of ahle sunnah. the 4 main jurists, the 6 main hadith compilers, the 10 qaris and the reformers of each early muslim ummah followed the belief of ahle sunnah.
reformers of early generations;
1st century — Ibn Abbas
2nd century — Imam Shafi
3rd century — bukhari
4th — hakim
6th — ibn qudamah
7th — ibn taymiya
8th- ibn hajr
9th — suyuti
The prophet always said isa Ibn maryam hence it is the same messiah that will return and follow the quran and sunnah. he will defeat dajjal in palestine. When isa ibn maryam passes away, he will be buried in madina next to prophet Muhammad (peace be upon them both) as stated in the ahadith.
Isa ibn maryam will be recognised by the believers via the signs that our prophet foretold us. Allah will resend isa ibn maryam to make it very clear that isa didnt proclaim divinty but rather la ilaha illa Allah.
Also Allah clearly said in the Quran that Muhammad (pbuh) is the last appointed prophet.
“Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets. And ever is Allah , of all things, Knowing.” [quran 33:40]
the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “I have five names. I am Muhammad. I am Ahmad. I am al-Mahi (the effacer), by whom Allah effaces kufr. I am al-Hashir (the gatherer), before whom people are gathered. I am al-Aqib (the last appointed prophet).” [Abdul Malik Muwatta – last hadith]
the Messenger of Allah said: “If there was to be a Prophet after me, it would have been ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab.” [tirmidhi – book of virtues]
the Prophet said to ‘Ali: “You are to me in the position that Harun was to Musa, except that there is no Prophet after me.” [tirmidhi – book of virtues]
Prophet said; “The Hour shall not be established until tribes of my Ummah unite with the idolaters, and until they worship idols. And indeed there shall be thirty imposters in my Ummah,each of them claiming that he is a Prophet. And I am the last of the Prophets, there is no Prophet after me.” [tirmidhi]
The Prophet said, “The Israelis used to be ruled and guided by prophets: Whenever a prophet died, another would take over his place. There will be no prophet after me, but there will be Caliphs…” [bukhari and muslim – book on government]
ironically mirza ghulam said that there will be thousands of prophets after prophet Muhammad .
can any ahmadi name me atleast 10 of the alleged prophets after Muhammad (pbuh)
Parvez sb. you’ve written looooong assertions without much sense.
For example, when you say that the Promised Messiah (as), has made a claim of ‘thousands of prophets’ after the Holy Prophet (pbuh), you have not given the references. Please do so.
I doubt if you’ve read any of our Jama’at books, either.
You’ve also not answered my questions that I’ve asked in my post?
What you’ve given in reply are illogical beliefs and without proper basis which no self-respecting, thinking human being can relate to..
In fact, when you say that Isa’s (as), place was taken by one of his followers. Wouldn’t this be very UNJUST of both a prophet of God to do and His Sender (Allah)?
It also has no basis in the Holy Qur’an.
Please, visit our website http://www.alislam. org first and read through it before posting in this fora.
You seem to repeat what you’ve heard from just the anti-Ahmadi sources without finding out what the other side has to say, also.
That in itself is a very UNJUST attitude. When you read up about what we believe, you will find utter peace and understanding and LOGIC which does not go against anything ISLAMIC. Oh, while you’re reading from our sources, also please, keep an open mind.
After all, the Holy Qur’an tells us to apply our reason in our faith and the one who does this is superior to the one who does not.
raziya wht do u mean by illogocial answers. hw is it illogical to follow the apparent ahadith and the understanding of the sahabs and early scholars.
ibn abbas said clearly that Allah saved isa ibn maryam and that one of his disciple got martyred. [ibn abi hatim, sunan an nasa’i and tafsir ibn kathir] no Allah is never unjust neither is isa ibn maryam.
mirza’s claim of being in the character of the messiah, krishna, buddha, zorastara and others have no basis in the quran nor ahadith. an ahmadi told me this.
regarding mirza ghulam’s claim of prophets comin after muhammad (pbuh); i read in one of the ahmadi books titled ‘ahmadiyat or qadiyanism’ written by naeem memon.
also there are contradictions in mirza’s claims; sometimes he says that there is no prophet after Muhammad (pbuh) and sometimes he says that there are prophets to come at every age.
mirza claimed that the messiah came 14 centuries and moses, likewise i came 14 centuries after prophet Muhammad to fulfil a prophecy. but there is no such prophecy mentioned in the quran or sunnah.
also mirza ghulam says that there is no divine book after the Quran but then contradict himself by claiming to recieve revelations himself.
raziya you havent answered my questions about the unfulfilled signs mentioned in the hadith literature.
@Parvez
Please read this:
The Concept of Awaited Messiah in World Faiths @ http://www.reviewofreligions.org/date/2001/01/
@salma khan
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad quotes a report from daruqtuni about the lunar eclipse. This report has been classified as weak by ibn hajr, imam nawawi, ibn taymiya, suyuti, shawkani and ahmad shakir. the report has broken isnad and its not the statement of the holy prophet nor any sahabas.
the book doesnt answer abt the unfulfilled signs about imam mahdi.
i dont tend to repeat myself again but i mentioned earlier abt signs from the relevant ahadith
Dear Parvez, I had noted your presentation about the many
signs of Imam Mahdi a.s. as mentioned in old books. You consider those signs as authentic. But you have considered an important sign of Imam Mahdi a.s. as mentioned by the prophet Muhammad s.a.w.s. you rejected the sign on the basis of weak Isnad (weak transmission).
You are the only one that I have heard of, who is making the matter weak. Others in this age have never done that. They raised other objections about this important news about Imam al Mahdi.
I tell you that since you are a person most interested in Imam mahdi a.s. I request you to consider your opinion again, please.
Let me present this important sign to you again.
The prophet Muhammad s.a.w.s. said, “For our Mahdi, there are two (important) signs which have never been shown for any one before since the creation of heavens and earth. The moon will be eclipsed on the first night in the month of Ramadhan and the Sun will be eclipsed on the middle day.”
This Hadith is mentioned in both Shia and Sunni books (Ikmaaluddin). The whole Ummah had been believing in this important news. I have no means to check all the references you have mentioned about its weakness. But anyhow, I do not believe in any one of those references. Those old time scholars had no reason (no need)to deny the Hadith. They had no reason because the event had not taken place in those times and nobody had laid claim to being the Imam Mahdi on that basis of the eclipse. It was something about the future nobody needed to indulge in it before time.
So why would those scholars will check the authenticity of that Hadith? They shouuld have been fearful about downplaying it.
It is such a good (important) sign that it is out of the reach of any person, king, or Peer or Vizier. We believe that it is from our beloved prophet Muhammad s.a.w.s. otherwise who could predict (give news of the future) except a man of God.
Another thing I must say that there is no chain of reporters in this Hadith. It is from the Ahle Bait and they do not give name of each person who described it so there is no chain of the carriers so you say “broken isnad”. That is not true and not necessary.
The exact reporting of the lunar eclipse on special dates in the month of Ramadhan in the same year is quite rare. It may not happen even in centuries.
Parvez sahib, you have craze for knowledge. Then please let all things come into your mind and keep adding knowledge and then decide your way in peace and comfort. We Ahmadis will be with you if anything needs to be explained. wassalam.
Dear Mr. Parvez,
Please read this:
Prophecies related to the coming of The Maseeh & The Mahdi of Muslims… lets put the facts together. @ http://www.themuslimtimes.org/2013/10/religion/islam/prophecies-related-to-the-coming-of-the-maseeh-the-mahdi-of-muslims-lets-put-the-facts-together
Let us discuss it out.
I need to amend (correct) a para of my last posting.
The Para “The exact reporting of the lunar eclipse on special dates in the month of Ramadhan in the same year is quite rare. It may not happen even in centuries.” should be amended to read as follows:
The exact reporting (PREDICTION) of the lunar eclipse AND THE SOLAR ECLIPSE on special dates in the SAME month of Ramadhan in the same year is quite rare. It may not happen even in centuries.
Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Al-Hanafiyyah (supposed to hav) said: “For our Mahdi, there will be two signs that have never occurred since the creation of the heavens and the Earth: The moon will be eclipsed (lunar eclipse) on the first night of Ramadan, and the sun will be eclipsed (solar eclipse) in its middle (of Ramadan).” (Imam al Akbar Ali bin Umar Al-Daraqutni’s Sunan Al-Daraqutni )
this report is not a hadith. the prophet (pbuh) did not say the above report.
the above report attributed to Mohammad bin ‘Ali has been rejected by scholars of hadith for centuries such as ibn hajr, suyuti, ahmad shakir and daruqtuni himself.
In fact, the first narrator of this hadith is Amr bin Shamir who is a known narrator of weak Ahadith. [dhahabi]
There are authentic ahadith about imam mahdi that are recorded in sunan abu dawud – book of mahdi and ibn majah. The signs mentioned in those books have not occured yet.
Dear Parvez, thank you for coming up with your new information.
You have said: the above report attributed to Mohammad bin ‘Ali has been rejected by scholars of hadith for centuries such as ibn hajr, suyuti, ahmad shakir and daruqtuni himself.
I would like to see the references please. Because Darqutni himself is a famous supporter of this hadith. And no one could generate such an important news about the future, other than the prophet s.a.w.s. himself.
This news (Hadith) had been circulating in Ahle Bait and I believe, Imam Baqar (a.s.) or his near very close relative (son or father) has narrated this saying of the prophet Muhammad s.a.w.s.
That person (Imam) came long after the Muhammad Bin Ali that you have mentioned. If Muhammad Bin Ali had circulated the news and it was false news then Imam Baqar (a.s.) would have rejected it too. But he (Imam Baqar) is an important narrator of this Hadith.
So, how come, the later scholars tried to put a blanket on this important Hadith??
You also say that Muhammad Bin Ali is not the originator. It is Amr Bin Shamir. So please decide who is the originator. Once you have rejected that the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.s. is not the originator of this Hadith, then please decide who is the originator?? Thank you.
like i said the report is not a hadith. The prophet Muhammad (pbuh) did not say such statement nor any of the sahaba or tabi’un.
Daruqtuni is a scholar of hadith and narrations but he was not perfect. in his compilation there are weak reports.
There are no strong proofs to suggest that the prophet, or the companions or ahle bayt reported the narration under discussion.
it seem that amr ibn shamir mistakenly attributed such statement to muhammad ibn ali without thourough investigation. [dhahabi and ahmad shakir]
unfortunately there are still many ahmadis that think its a hadith when daraqutni himself admitted that its not a hadith but a weak report by ibn shamir (3rd or 4th generation).