The Light March 2020 03

ِ 

March 

2020 

س ی ْ ِ الرَّح 

ن 

س 

س ‏ْب سِ‏ اہللس الرَّْحْ‏ ٰ 

I Shall Love All Mankind. 

The Light 

International Organ of the Centre for the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat Islam 

WE BELIEVE 

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (s) is the Last Prophet. After him, no prophet, old or new, can ever come. 

The Holy Quran is complete, and no verses are missing from it. 

The Holy Quran is perfect and none of its verses are abrogated. 

Webcasting on the world’s first real-time Islamic service at 

www.virtualmosque.co.uk 

Editor in Chief 

Editors 

Dr Zahid Aziz 

Managing Editor Mr Shahid Aziz 

Suriname 

South Africa 

The USA 

Dr Robbert Bipat 

Mr Ebrahim Mohamed 

Mrs Zainab Ahmad 

Mrs Faryal Abdoelbasier 

Contents 

The Call of the Messiah 2 

Forbidden Fruit by Declan Henry 2 

2020 by Ebrahim Mohamed 3 

Forgiveness - Part 2 6 

The Molsem Menace by Maj A G Leonard 7 

Muslim Hatred for Christian Churches by 

Dan Peterson 10 

Broadcasts (UK time) 

1. Urdu Skype: Sunday 09:00 

2. English www.virtualmosque.co.uk 

‣ Friday Sermon 13:00 

‣ First Sunday of month lecture 15:00. 

Our Websites 

1. International HQ 

2. Research and History 

3. The Woking Mosque and Mission 

4. The Berlin Mosque and Mission 

5. Quran search 

6. Blog 

Broadcasts from and about us 

‣ www.virtualmosque.co.uk 

‣ Radio Virtual Mosque @ mixlr.com 

“. . . it has become quite the fashion in 

Europe to rail at and to suspect the good 

faith and motives of the Moslem world. If 

we are to believe the European Press, Europe 

is in deadly danger. The “Yellow Peril” 

of a few years ago has, by means of the juggling 

of modern journalism, cleverly transformed 

itself into the “Moslem Menace.” 

MAJOR ARTHUR GLYN LEONARD 

Guess at the year of this quotation and 

then read the article in this issue of The 

Light!

March 2020 The 

Light 2 

The Call of the 

Messiah 

by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam 

Ahmad 

The Promised Messiah and Mahdi 

(Editor’s note: Any quotations from the Quran 

are translated from the author’s explanations 

and are not literal translations of the verse 

quoted. This extract is from the book Nuzul-ul- 

Masih, taken from the Lahore Ahmadiyya publication 

‘Essence of Islam’, p. 128 - 130, where the 

Promised Messiah puts forward arguments and 

signs about his claim.) 

It is clear that certainty regarding God’s existence 

is the root and the only means of salvation. 

It is certainty which makes one submit to 

the Divine will under trials and afflictions and 

motivates one to enter into burning fire for His 

love. It is certainty again which excites love and 

prepares a man for death. It is due to certainty 

that a person forsakes his own comforts and 

conveniences for the love of God, and becomes 

indifferent to the nod of approbation and the 

tribute of praise, and makes the whole world his 

deadly enemy for the sake of the One. 

When faced with certain danger, a wise individual 

fears to approach even that which is allowable. 

He holds his tongue from the utterance 

of improper words as if a padlock had been put 

upon his lips. Such certainty is the result either 

of the actual sight of God, or of being addressed 

by Him in words which proceed certainly from 

His mouth and prove their Divine origin by the 

power, glory, attractions and heavenly signs 

which accompany them. Without such revelation, 

there can be no certainty either of God’s existence 

or of His attributes. 

The words of God revealed to the former 

prophets and the miracles wrought by them, 

cannot now serve as a conclusive argument of 

God’s existence, for neither are those miracles 

plainly witnessed by any man, nor does that 

. . . Do not deceive yourself by thinking 

that the word of God revealed in the 

past is sufficient to produce conviction 

and that there is no need for fresh 

revelation. 

word descend, at the present time. The Holy 

Quran is indeed a miracle, but it cannot serve as 

such unless there is a person who displays its 

attainments. But no one can do this unless he is 

purified by the revelation of God. 

According to the plain dictates of human nature 

and conscience, the soul of a person 

shrinks from doubt, and is thirsty for a manifest 

certainty. It follows, therefore, that the mighty 

and wise Being who created the soul of man 

with this thirst, must have beforehand made 

provision for it to quench that thirst and satisfy 

itself with certainty. But what are the means 

provided to acquire this certainty? Certainty is 

produced in obedience to the law which has 

prevailed since the start of the world: the love 

of God supported by His supernatural deeds. Do 

not deceive yourself by thinking that the word 

of God revealed in the past is sufficient to produce 

conviction and that there is no need for 

fresh revelation. 1 (Return to contents) 

Declan Henry’s Latest 

Explosive Book 

FORBIDDEN FRUIT: 

LIFE & CATHOLICISM IN 

CONTEMPORARY IRELAND 

Declan Henry’s Latest Explosive Book 

Declan Henry, an Irish 

Catholic, comes from a 

distinguished academic 

background. He studied 

at two of London’s elite 

universities – Goldsmiths 

College and King’s College. He holds a Bachelor 

of Arts degree (Honours) in Education 

1 The revelation referred to here is the revelation 

received by non-prophets. The whole humanity 


receives revelation regardless of belief but for 

the Muslim saint it is in abundance and clearer.



and Community Studies and a Master of Science 

degree in Mental Health Social Work. 

He is also a registered social worker. Declan 

is the author of six other books and numerous 

published articles. He has written on a 

wide range of diverse topics including a 

book on bipolar disorder, ADHD, 

transgender people, Islam, young offenders 

and a book about growing up in Ireland. 

www.declanhenry.co.uk 

The Irish Catholic Church is crumbling. To 

some this is devastating. For others, inevitable. 

The clerical abuse scandals of the ‘90s, sparked 

this irreparable demise which continues to disintegrate 

at an alarming rate. 

Written by Declan Henry - who still has an 

affinity for the Catholic Church, the religion of 

his Irish upbringing - his latest book looks indepth 

at key aspects affecting its demise today 

and investigates the secret undercurrents of 

homophobia, hypocrisy and intolerance. Forbidden 

Fruit is the culmination of Henry’s extensive 

research and interviews with thirty Catholic 

priests – some who requested anonymity and 

others who were comfortable to be identified. 

The result is hard-hitting, controversial and disturbing. 

Confession takes on a new meaning for 

the Catholic priests’ revelations of their innermost 

thoughts, emotions, hopes, fears and beliefs. 

Pulling no punches, this book exposes the 

hypocrisy of gay priests in the Catholic Church 

and the damage their internal homophobia 

wreaks on gay men in particular, the church’s 

damning attitude towards the LGBT community 

and the aftermath of the abuse scandals, as well 

as presenting a compelling insight into Ireland, 

a country once embedded in Catholicism which 

is quickly becoming one of the most politically 

progressive countries of the world. 

power and secrets? 

After reading this book you will have much 

to consider about the Irish Catholic Church, the 

position of faith in a contemporary society, and 

the Catholic priest’s role in today’s fast-changing 

world. Whether you are religious, have a 

strong Catholic faith, or are simply fascinated by 

the intricacies of a crumbling empire, you will 

find much to glean in this provocative read. (Return 

to contents) 

Will ‘2020’ Bring the Much 

Needed Balance We All Yearn 

For? 

By Ebrahim Mohamed 

President AAIIL 

(South Africa) 

Numerology gurus tell 

us that 2020 emits an energy that embraces 

pragmatism, conscientiousness, teamwork, relationships, 

diplomacy, and a focus on building 

a secure foundation for the future. Sounds good 

to me though I must admit I have never had too 

much interest in the art or, as some put it, the 

science of numerology. 

Numerology aside, 2020 somehow seems 

to denote a ‘scale of balance’, of ‘equilibrium’, 

‘fairness’, ‘calm level-headedness’, ‘justice’ – 

characteristics we don’t often come across in 

our societies these days. It thus reminds me of 

the fact that without a proper sense of balance 

in our lives we expose ourselves to potential 

mishaps, chaos and even disasters whether on a 

personal, societal or environmental level. 

The Holy Quran draws our attention to the 

importance of living a balanced life in the following 

verse: 

Forbidden Fruit also presents a current and 

real discussion on young people. Does the 

church envisage a strong and solid future with 

the next generation of churchgoers? Will it embrace 

their energy, fresh outlook and plethora 

of opinions on all kinds of intelligent subjects or 

just revert to default position, manipulation, 


“O you who believe, forbid not the good 

things which Allah has made lawful for you and 

exceed not the limits.” – 5:87 

Now it is a known fact that excesses, extrav-



agances, extremities etc. of all sorts are potentially 

harmful and often fatal. And thus we are 

further told: 

“Surely Allah loves not those who exceed 

the limits.” -5:87 

For example, if we do not control our diets, 

we expose ourselves to all sorts of sicknesses 

such as diabetes, heart disease etc. We are told 

if we eat too much it is not good and we if we eat 

too little it is also not good. A balanced diet of 

healthy, wholesome food is often recommended. 

However, a proper balanced lifestyle applies 

to all aspects of our lives and not just to our diets. 

Many view religious excesses 

and austerity, for example, 

as a show of piety. 

However, because such behaviour, 

despite its good intentions, 

in most cases 

gives rise to insincerity and 

hypocrisy, it has no premise 

in scripture. Man is a social being not meant to 

devote all his time to worship alone. Engaging 

with society to do good is as much a form of 

worship. Religious practices, too, are not meant 

to be onerous and stoic as if punitive to appease 

an angered God. Thus, it is stated in the Holy 

Quran: 

“And as for monasticism they innovated it – 

We did not prescribe it to them.” – 57:27 

About the ‘Makers of the Law’, Jesus says: 

“They devour widows’ houses and for a 

show make lengthy prayers.” – Mark 12:40 

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (may peace 

and the blessings of God be upon him) himself 

taught that religion does not consist of burdensome 

religious exercises but rather in living a 

humane life in which due regard is paid to the 

rights of others. 

Reported by his companion Abu Hurairah, 

he is on record as saying: 

Many view religious excesses 

and austerity, for example, as 

a show of piety. However, because 

such behaviour, despite 

its good intentions, in most 

cases gives rise to insincerity 

and hypocrisy, it has no premise 

in scripture. 


“Religion is easy, and no one exerts himself 

too much in religion but it overpowers him; so 

act aright and keep to the mean and be of 

good cheer and ask for (Divine) help at morning 

and evening and during a part of the night.” 

- (Bukhari) 

“Jabir ibn Samurah reported: I was praying 

with the Messenger of God (may peace and 

the blessings of God be upon him), and his 

prayer was of moderate length and his sermon 

was of moderate length.” - (Sahih Muslim) 

Even fasting in the month of Ramadan, is 

meant for physical and spiritual 

well-being and not intended 

to impose undue 

hardship. Thus the sick, the 

travellers, pregnant women, 

etc. are precluded from fasting 

because: 

“Allah desires ease for 

you and He desires not hardship 

for you.” – 2:185 

Many medical experts now prescribe intermittent 

fasting for the over-indulgent because 

of the health benefits associated with it. 

The Dangers of Imbalances in the Human 

Psyche 

Ibn Manẓūr writes in his classical Arabic dictionary, 

Lisan al-Arab 15/209: 

“Every praiseworthy characteristic has 

two blameworthy poles. Generosity is the 

middle between miserliness and extravagance. 

Courage is the middle between cowardice 

and recklessness. Humanity has been 

commanded to avoid every such blameworthy 

trait.” 

We are all too familiar with the dangers that 

excesses in human traits such as lust, greed and 

anger bode for us. Lust, greed and anger are the 

core motive traits in us essential for our survival



as a species and should not be done away with; 

rather, it should be refined and controlled in order 

for it to be effective and not harmful. For example 

when each of us transform and refine our 

lust into love, compassion and empathy, our 

greed into inventiveness, innovation, and enthusiasm 

and our anger into courage, bravery, and 

boldness then these raw traits lose their ‘toxic’ 

nature. Needless to say, though, even these refined 

traits need to be executed with a due 

sense of balance, at the right time and in the 

right manner, in order to achieve the ultimate 

degree of effectiveness and not to cause harm. 

For example, to extend excessive love and compassion 

repeatedly to a hardened, unrepentant 

criminal might not be the most effective way to 

bring about a change for the better and we 

might well find that some form of harsher disciplinary 

action might have to be resorted to in 

order to bring about the desired results. 

In the end success depends on the choices 

and ‘balanced’ decisions we make, and it has 

been proven over and over, that calm, rational, 

level-headed approaches are more effective 

than reckless, over-hasty actions, driven by 

emotion. How often, even in recent times, have 

we not seen nations go to war with devastating 

results because of such reckless, lop-sided decisions 

made by over-blown, bombastic egotists 

in charge? 

Almighty God, our Creator, the All-Knower 

thus commands us in the Holy Quran: “O you 

who believe, be upright for Allah, bearers of witness 

with justice, and let not hatred of a people 

incite you not to act equitably.” – 5:8; because: 

“We have made you ummat-an wassat-an — a 

nation that is just and equitable that does not 

incline to extremes” – 2:143. Muslims in particular 

should thus beware that all forms of injustices 

brought about by extremism, fanaticism 

and all the other equally ugly ‘isms’ that go with 

it have absolutely no home in the Holy Quran 

and thus in Islam. 

It would, therefore, be advisable, I truly believe, 

that we not allow the imbalances of the 

21 st Century overtake our humanity completely 

AS A MATTER OF URGENCY! 


we need to stay in harmony with the universe 

and not in conflict with it for, if we do, 

we will continue to suffer the consequences 

as ‘Mother Earth’ responds with earthquakes, 

floods, fires; plagues – ‘her’ only 

means of telling us to please stop! 

The fact that we are overfed but remain undernourished; 

are over-informed but remain illinformed; 

are either far left (too liberal) or far 

right (too conservative), should not stop us 

from keep reaching out for the Divine balance 

and measure that keep order in the universe, 

and use the same Divine principles to bring stability 

in our own lives. 

In order to achieve this, we need to stay in 

harmony with the universe and not in conflict 

with it for, if we do, we will continue to suffer 

the consequences as ‘Mother Earth’ responds 

with earthquakes, floods, fires; plagues – ‘her’ 

only means of telling us to please stop! Stop the 

exploitation and abuse that come with over-industrialization, 

reckless fracking and the devastating 

effect of weapons of mass destruction, indiscriminately 

unleashed on her. 

These words penned by a famous 60/70’s 

lyricist describe this cruelty poignantly: 

“What have they done to the Earth? 

What have they done to our Fair Sister? 

Ravaged and Plundered, Fenced her up, 

And stuck her with knives in the side of the 

Dawn.” 

The Holy Quran, thus, very appropriately, 

warns: 

“And the heavens, He raised it high, and He 

set up the measure, 

That you may not exceed the measure, 

And keep up the balance with equity.” – 

55:7-9 

We hope and pray that these words of the 

Almighty will resonate well with all those who 

are serious about the welfare of humankind and 

that space we occupy in the universe we affectionately 

call ‘Mother Earth’. 

If ‘measure’ and ‘balance’ are what 

‘2020’means to you, may it be put to good use in 

all aspects of your lives, relationships, religions, 

professions, and NOT BE IGNORED! (Return to 

contents)



COFFEE SHOP THEOLOGY! 

MUSINGS OF A ‘LATTE-DAY SAINT!’ 

(A series of random 

reflections 

from an avid reader 

of the Bible and the 

Quran, but written 

from the perspective 

of a simple 

thinker sipping a 

drink in a coffee shop — gazing out of the window 

(not from the perspective of a complex theologian!) 

FORGIVENESS (Part 2) 

Just a quick word of advice! If you intend to 

paint your white bathroom red — consult your 

wife first before doing anything! 

I remember a few years ago having an 

amazing plan to transform our cold and dull 

white bathroom into an amazing warm, red 

one! I got the idea from a B&Q bathroom decor 

book. Big mistake! I thought I would surprise 

my wife with a ‘brand new’ bathroom by the 

time she got home from work. Two coats of 

quick drying red paint in nine hours. Perfect! 

Except — halfway through ‘transforming’ the 

bathroom I realised I had made a big mistake. 

But I carried on regardless. 

how Allah’s mercy and compassion covers over, 

and blots out our sins. Have you noticed how a 

thick blanket of snow can transform the appearance 

of even the houses and streets of an ugly 

city slum? What is dark and filthy can be 

changed into something white and beautiful! In 

the Honoured Quran we are reminded in Surah 

39:53: “Allah forgives all sins. Indeed He is the 

most Forgiving, the Merciful.” Do we believe 

that? 

Don’t Despair 

Forgiveness is a gift from heaven. When I 

think of Allah’s mercy and forgiveness, I think of 

not just repair — but of restoration! Imagine a 

ship that has been flooded, and sinks to the bottom 

of the ocean. It remains shipwrecked and 

ruined for years at the bottom of the sea. But 

then a wealthy shipyard owner chooses to salvage 

it. He not only pays for it to be brought to 

the surface, and repaired, but he invests money 

in it to be refurbished totally and made sea-worthy 

once again! Allah’s forgiveness is about restoration. 

Don’t despair! If you feel you have dishonoured 

Allah through your thoughts and actions, 

place yourself in the hands of the master shipyard 

owner. Let him take your life and rescue 

you once again. Let Him not only repair your 

life, but bring about total restoration! Do you 

need refurbishing? To be continued … 

When my wife returned from work, she was 

not too happy at all with my decorating skills. I 

wouldn’t say we had a row, but there was definitely 

some ‘heated discussion’ concerning the 

matter! 

Putting Things Right 

The next weekend I rectified my foolish action 

and repainted our bathroom white once 

again. As I was just finishing painting over the 

last patch of red paint with the brand new thick 

glossy white paint, a Bible verse came into my 

head; “ Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall 

be white as snow”- Isaiah 1:18. Wow! What a 

picture of Allah’s forgiveness! The re-painting 

with white all-over was a perfect illustration of 


(Return to contents) 

THE SO-CALLED MOSLEM 

MENACE! 

HER MORAL AND SPIRITUAL VALUE 

A Rational and Psychological Study 

By MAJOR ARTHUR GLYN LEONARD 

(Note: Chapter 1 from the book Islam, Her Moral 

and Spiritual Value, published in1909 by Luzac 

& Co, 46 Russell Street, London.) 

For some time past, but more especially 

during the last year or two, it has become quite



the fashion in Europe to rail at and to suspect 

the good faith and motives of the Moslem world. 

If we are to believe the European Press, Europe 

is in deadly danger. The “Yellow Peril” of a few 

years ago has, by means of the juggling of modern 

journalism, cleverly transformed itself into 

the “Moslem Menace.” According to this trenchant 

successor of the ancient oracle, there is unrest 

and seething turmoil everywhere. In Egypt, 

a national confederation; in Morocco, a crisis; in 

the heart of Africa, the Senussi movement; in 

Turkey and Arabia, secret associations and agitation; 

in Persia even, disaffection but co-operation. 

In one word, Europe—Christian, civilized 

and unoffending Europe—is confronted with a 

Pan-Islamic confederation, that is co-operating 

to achieve the unity and the nationalization of 

all Islam, with the express object of ultimately 

turning upon Christendom, and rending her 

into a thousand tattered fragments. 

That there has been no revival of “the 

chronic conspiracy” within our Indian Empire, 

is, however, easily explained. This, which purposed 

to be a religious agitation among Indian 

Moslems, was an expression more familiar 

twenty-five years ago and was attributed to the 

influence of Wahabite oratory. It is, of course, 

possible that the present agitation and unrest 

among the Hindus generally, but the Bengalis in 

particular, has for the time being at all events diverted 

the attention of the outside world in 

other directions. But it is also more or less generally 

taken for granted that the Moslem population 

of India has sunk into a state of political 

lethargy, which if it does not betoken loyalty, obviously 

demonstrates a dumb and passive revolutionary 

torpor that is tantamount to it. 

That agitation and unrest exist throughout 

the Moslem world would be nothing either new 

or unusual. In a human sense, Islam is identical 

with Christendom. She too has her social functions, 

her political parties, associations, confederations 

and societies. She has her religious 

sects and denominations. As with us, so with Islam, 

there are affinities, and antipathies, emulations 

and jealousies, competitions and rivalries, 

likes and dislikes, envy, malice, hatred and all 

un-charitableness. The interest of self predominates 

before all else. In kind there is certainly no 

difference, in degree it is possible that Europe 

may be a step or two higher. But this is not the 

point that I would here emphasize. To fall back 

on the time-honoured maxim, immortalized by 

Shakespeare, comparisons of this kind are incompatible 

if not odious. Besides, recrimination 

is as futile as it is injudicious and undignified. 

It is not of moral discrepancies on either 

side that I would speak. Nor have I any wish to 

rake up the low-lying sediment, or to disturb 

the still waters which are running deep in the 

great ocean of Moslem life. Under the conditions 

that prevail, it is assuredly best to let 

sleeping dogs lie. Left alone they are much less 

troublesome. There is always the possibility 

that they may oversleep themselves and fall into 

a dormant and inactive state. In this way the still 

waters of sedition and agitation soon find their 

own level—the embers of revolt may at times 

flare up, but they soon flicker out. 


It is of the moral and spiritual utility, with 

the soul of Islam, that I am now about to deal. 

For Islam, believe me, has a soul—a sincere and 

earnest soul, a great and profound soul—that is 

worth knowing. It is in this soul that the whole



kernel and essence of Islam lies. A thorough 

knowledge and a clear comprehension of this 

great spirit will alone enable the statesmen and 

thinkers of Europe to understand the complex 

problems of so-called Pan-Islamism. To obtain 

this grasp, however, certain qualifications are 

absolutely essential. It is necessary—e.g., to approach 

the subject from a rational and reasonable 

standpoint—to detach the mind from all 

preconceived dogmas and opinions; to lay aside 

all prejudices, racial, religious, social and otherwise, 

and all bigotries and intolerance; to be 

confined to no one creed, sect or denomination 

of any kind, sort or description, but the one 

great world of Humanity that, in the eyes of Nature, 

is of one soul and body. This may be a large, 

or as cousin Jonathan would call it, a tall, order. 

It bulks big and sounds ponderous. In face of 

what human nature is, it appears impracticable. 

But even in human nature there are exceptions 

and possibilities. An aspect such as this, then, 

though improbable, is certainly possible, if exceptional. 

Let us presume at least that in this instance 

it is so. It is, at all events, on these broad 

lines that the following pages have been written. 

It is the true spirit of human sympathy and 


fellowship that has moved me—the sympathy 

and fellowship that would draw together, or at 

least nearer to each other, the worlds of Christendom 

and Islam. 

The better to achieve my object, I have consulted 

no works on either Mohammed or Islam, 

but have gone straight to the source or fountain 

head—to Mohammed himself, the Koran, and to 

Moslems of various nationalities with whom I 

have been brought into close and personal 

touch during a wide and a varied experience. It 

is here in the man and his work that the true 

soul of Islam is to be found. Just as in its founders 

and foundations lies the heart and essence 

of Christianity, it is in and out of the merits as 

well as demerits of Mohammed’s work, that we 

shall form the true estimate of Islamic utility. By 

their fruits ye shall know them. Men do not 

gather figs of thorns, or grapes of thistles. Mohammed 

most certainly did not. As he sowed, so 

he has reaped! So he is still reaping. The Koran 

was the immediate consequence of his concentration 

and communion with Nature and Nature’s 

God: Islam the natural result. In other 

words, Islam is the devotion of Moslems to Mohammed 

and the Koran—his work, plus their 

patient resignation and entire submission to 

God, His will and His service! The man of fixed 

and unchanging purpose has a supreme contempt 

for obstacles. But when, as in Mohammed’s 

case, that purpose is the glorification of 

God, he has at hand a lever that can move the 

world. In this peculiar sense the great Prophet 

of Arabia was self-contained. He had everything 

within himself: that everything centred in God 

and Arabian unity. He sought only what he 

needed. This was to unify God and his country. 

How he succeeded is a matter of history. 

D’Aubigne in his history of the Reformation, 

speaking of Luther, says: “Men, when designed 

by God to influence their contemporaries, are 

first seized and drawn along by the peculiar 

tendencies of their age.” Undoubtedly this, in a 

great measure, is so. It is quite evident that Mohammed 

was influenced in this way. Yet it is also 

obvious that he was not so much seized by the 

peculiar tendencies of his age (for in many ways 

he was far in advance of it), as that he was obsessed 

and dominated by the energy or spirit of



God, and utilized these special features with the 

design of disseminating this overmastering God 

possession to others. 

“There are but three sorts of persons,” Pascal 

used to say: “those who serve God, having 

found Him; those who employ themselves in 

seeking Him, not having found Him; and those 

who live without seeking Him or having found 

Him. The first are reasonable and happy; the 

last are mad and miserable; the intermediate 

are miserable and reasonable.” 

If ever man on this earth found God, if ever 

man devoted his life to God’s service with a 

good and a great motive, it is certain that the 

Prophet of Arabia was that man. That on the 

whole and in the truest sense of the word he 

was reasonable, is best seen in the result which 

his labour achieved. That he was happy, is quite 

another matter. Real as is our existence, happiness 

at best is but an ephemeral phase of it. Yet 

there is much truth in the assertion, that gaiety 

seeks the crowd, while happiness loves silence 

and solitude as Mohammed himself did. In any 

case, if the satisfaction which ensues as the consequence 

of duty done, and well done, is happiness; 

if the consciousness that he has done his 

best in all sincerity and conscientiousness, gives 

happiness to the ego, then it is possible to assume 

that in bequeathing the grand heritage of 

Islam to posterity, Mohammed must have gone 

to his final rest in a state of supreme happiness. 

Self-belief — “that thing given to man by his 

Creator,” as Carlyle calls it—was, as I shall show, 

a salient feature in Mohammed’s character. 

More than half a Bedawin (or what was practically 

the same thing, 

passing a great part 

of his life in deserts), 

this was only 

natural. But he did 

not allow this selfconsciousness 

to 

degenerate, either 

into vanity or egotism. 

It neither 

spoilt nor conquered 

him. He 


knew his own weakness—none better—therefore 

relied all the more on the power of God. It 

was this outside influence which reacted on him 

so powerfully from within. It was this judicious 

blend or amalgam of two seemingly different 

thought-currents, which were in reality only a 

bifurcation of the same current, that gave him 

all his strength. It was this unique combination 

of an apparent dualism (through intense mental 

concentration) in one divine Monism that gave 

Mohammed victory over every obstacle. It was 

this compressed one-ness—the most sublime 

triumph of individual concentration in the 

world’s history—that carried Islam into the uttermost 

parts of the earth. It was this centralization 

of moral or religious gravity that swelled 

the belief of one man—a modest camel-driving 

trader only—into the perfervid belief of hundreds 

of millions. “For given a sincere man, you 

have given a thing worth attending to. Since sincerity, 

what is it but a divorce from earth and 

earthly feelings?” 

One thing more. To thoroughly comprehend 

the spirit of Mohammed or the soul of Islam, the 

student himself must be thoroughly in earnest 

and sincere. He must in addition possess that 

moral, mental and intellectual sympathy which 

gives the ego an insight into human subtleties as 

well as simplicities. He must take Mohammed 

and Islam as he finds them—in the same intensely 

sincere spirit that constituted the one 

and inculcated the other. He must at the outset 

recognize that Mohammed was no mere spiritual 

pedlar, no vulgar time-serving vagrant, but 

one of the most profoundly sincere and earnest 

spirits of any age or epoch. A man not only 

great, but one of the greatest—i.e. truest—men 

that Humanity has 

ever produced. 

Great, i.e. not simply 

as a prophet, but as 

a patriot and a 

statesman: a material 

as well as a spiritual 

builder who 

constructed a great 

nation, a greater empire, 

and more even 

than all these, a still 

greater Faith. True,



moreover, because he was true to himself, to his 

people, and above all to his God. Recognizing 

this, he will thus acknowledge that Islam is a 

profound and true cult, which strives to uplift 

its votaries from the depths of human darkness 

upwards into the higher realm of Light and 

Truth. It is in this deep sense of earnestness, 

and in this tense but even-minded spirit of equity, 

that I have endeavoured to make my study 

both rational and psychological: in other words, 

reasonable and true to the spirit. Naturally, 

therefore, I have avoided those narrow and devilish 

pitfalls of racial, creedal and colour prejudices—that 

awful curse of Hu manity, that insuperable 

barrier to the cult of Humanitarianism—which 

leads to the deadly cancer of Misconception. 

Finally—making due allowance for 

space limitations—I have endeavoured to the 

best of my ability to get to the root of all that is 

good and great in the immortal work of this 

leader of men who was so good and so great in 

every sense. In this way only is it possible to get 

at the truth. Shallow, superficial and paradoxical 

inquiries are mere empty vanities as utterly 

useless, from a human standpoint, as those 

which are biassed and one-sided. To reach the 

depths, to touch the bottom, to get to the root of 

any true man’s motives, sincerity and thoroughness 

are as essential as intellectual acumen and 

profundity. 

In this short study my one idea all through 

has been to delineate Mohammed as he was and 

Islam as she is. For this reason, I have neither 

painted them with my own colouring, nor introduced 

into their natural complexion any outside 

flesh tints. In plain English, I have not placed 

upon their beliefs and principles a construction 

that, being ethnically foreign to the entire sociological 

system upon which they are based, 

would have been a fundamental error, at complete 

variance with them. (Return to contents) 

Muslim Hatred for Christian 

Churches 

BY DAN PETERSON 

Source: https://bit.ly/2vxMKMI 

In response to my posting of a photograph, 

several years ago, that showed Muslim men 

forming a protective ring around St. George’s 

Coptic Orthodox Church in Sohag, Egypt, several 

people wrote in (on Facebook, in the blog 

comments section, and directly to me) to assure 

me that such a thing is impossible. All Muslims 

always want to destroy churches and obliterate 

Christianity, and no Muslim would ever defend 

a Christian church. 

This is flatly false, and I offer two pieces of 

evidence here to support my claim: 

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in Jerusalem, 

is, for many mainstream Christians, the holiest 

place on earth. It marks the traditional 

spot both of Christ’s crucifixion and his burial, 

and, thus, also of his resurrection from 

the grave. Built under Constantine the 

Great, it was severely damaged when, in 

AD 614, the Persians conquered the city. 

(These were, to be clear, pre-Islamic Persians; 

their Islamization was still three 

decades off, at the very least.) It was reconstructed 

after the Byzantines retook 

the city under Heraclius, with no major 

changes to the original plan and incorporating 

substantial portions of the Constantinian 

building. 

Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. 

The Mosque of ‘Umar is to the left of the photographer, 

and just slightly behind him or her. 

In AD 637 — just six years after the 

death of the Prophet Muhammad — Arab 

I Shall Love All Mankind.



Muslim armies 

took Jerusalem 

from Byzantine 

control. The Caliph 

‘Umar, successor 

to Muhammad 

and 

ruler of the rising 

Arab empire, 

entered 

the city and, 

among other 

things, was 

given a tour of 

the Church of 

the Holy Sepulchre 

by the Christian Patriarch Sophronius. 

They were reputedly still within the building 

when the Muslim call for the noon prayer 

sounded. Sophronius invited Umar to spread 

his prayer rug within the Church and to perform 

the salat there, but Umar declined. Why did he 

say No? Was it because Christian churches are 

defiled places of idolatrous worship? No. He 

gave his reason as follows: If he were to pray 

there, his soldiers would see what he had done 

and would feel that they too could pray within 

the Church. And, soon, they would effectively 

take the building over and turn it into a mosque. 

So, he spread his rug on the ground out in front 

of the Church and prayed there. And, still today, 

when you visit the Holy Sepulchre and stand 

with your back to the main entrance, if you look 

forward and slightly to your right, at about one 

o’clock or two o’clock, you will, if you look carefully, 

see across the Church’s southern courtyard 

a small, architecturally undistinguished 

place of Muslim worship called “The Mosque of 

‘Umar.” 

Berlin Mosque of the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement. 

Here’s a favourite passage of mine from the 

Quran, a passage that is typically taken, by both 

Muslim commentators and Western scholars, to 

refer to Syriac Christian monks and to the lamps 

of a monastery: 

“God is the light of the heavens and the 

earth. The similitude of his light is like a niche 

in which is a lamp, and the lamp in a glass. The 

glass is like a pearly star, kindled from a blessed 

olive tree of neither the east nor the west, 


whose oil would 

almost glow even 

if no fire touched 

it. Light upon 

light. God guides 

to his light 

whomever he 

will, and he mints 

similitudes for 

the people. And 

God knows all 

things. 

“[Such niches 

are] in houses 

which God has 

permitted to be raised, wherein His name is remembered 

and he is praised morning and evening 

“[By] men whom neither commerce nor 

sale distracts from remembrance of God and the 

performance of prayer and the giving of alms, 

fearing a day on which hearts and eyes will be 

overturned, 

“That God may reward them according to 

the best of their works and increase them from 

his graciousness.” (Qur’an 24:35-38, my fairly 

hasty translation) 

Nobody can reasonably infer disrespect for 

devout Christians, let alone some sort of commandment 

to destroy Christian churches, from 

either this Quranic passage or the story of the 

Caliph ‘Umar in Jerusalem. 

Comments 

From Louis Midgley: 

I had the pleasure of visiting the Church of 

the Holy Sepulchre with Professor Peterson. If I 

remember correctly, it is a Muslim family that 

has the key to what is the most famous of all 

Christian churches, that is fought over by contending 

sects. 

In addition, it was not Muslim faithful who 

destroyed thousands of Russian Orthodox



churches in Russia after 1917, but a truly demonic 

atheist religion determined to change the 

world by any and every violent means. 

From MilePost2020: 

I don't know any Muslims, I've had very little 

contact with Muslims and I don't expect to 

have a lot of interaction with Muslims in the future, 

still I recognize as with all people, there 

may be both good and bad among any distinct 

group. I find it unfortunate when the Church of 

Jesus Christ or any other religion is judged by 

the actions of one or two bad examples. I would 

hope that we all have a rather open mind regarding 

those of other religions, creeds, races or 

those of other standing. We never know when 

we ourselves might be intimately examined as 

to our intents as opposed to what our actions 

might actually be. I suppose the Golden rule 

might still apply even in this modern day and 

age of twitter, 

Facebook, Instagram 

and 

other social 

media: do 

unto others as 

you would 

have done 

unto you. 

From Louis 

Midgley (replying 

to 

Mile- 

Post2020): 

On my first visit to Israel, my wife and another 

couple were invited to the home of a large 

extended Muslim family. We enjoyed a wonderful 

meal. The hospitality reminded me of my 

Maori friends. When we were eating, the head 

of this family explained that his son has become 

interested in the Church of Jesus Christ and had 

secured from outside of Israel the Book of Mormon 

and other Latter-day Saint literature. And 

was soon hoping to leave Israel to be baptized, 

after which he would return. This family had no 

objections to a family member becoming a Latter-day 

Saint. 

Much more recently I had an opportunity to 

spend five days in Istanbul, Turkey. My guide 

was a Muslim Kurd who had been born in Germany, 

but was now living in Turkey with his 

wife, and two young children. The morning after 

18 of us arrived in Turkey, we had all be awakened 

by the call to prayer that came from only a 

hundred feet from our hotel. At breakfast there 

were many complaints about the call to prayer. 

With our young guide present, I asked those 17 

others how many considered themselves faithful 

Christians. One said that he had nothing to 

do with Christianity. All the others said they 

were faithful evangelical Christians. So I asked 

them how many had prayed that morning. None 

had. Then I asked how many of them had prayed 

in a week. 

None had. 

Only two 

said that 

they had 

prayed 

once in the 

last month. 

They all 

knew I was 

a Latter-day 

Saint. And 

now our 

guide did as 

well. And 

we were immediately friends in a special way. 

He introduced me to food that the others disliked 

and to people in those two famous markets 

with whom I joined in the constant routine 

of Turkish Tea, which is made from ground up 

dried apples. After a few words from our guide, 

they had me join them in the ritual drinking of 

that Tea, which they explained would not violate 

the Word of Wisdom. (Return to contents) 

Hague Mosque of the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement. 

Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha‘at Islam Lahore 

Founders of the first Islamic Mission in the UK - established 1913 as the Woking Muslim Mission. 

E-mail: editor.thelight@aaiil.uk 

Websites: www.aaiil.org/uk | www.ahmadiyya.org | www.virtualmosque.co.uk 

I Shall Love All Mankind.

The Light March 2020 03

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