The Light May 2020 05

ِ 

May 

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 

Editors 

Editor in Chief Dr Zahid Aziz 

Managing Editor Mr Shahid Aziz 

Suriname Dr Robbert Bipat 

South Africa Mr Ebrahim Mohamed 

The USA Mrs Zainab Ahmad 

Mrs Faryal Abdoelbasier 

Contents 

The Call of the Messiah 2 

Hazrat Ameer's Ramadaan Message 3 

My Journey to L.A.C by Thomas Delage 4 

L.A.C in Guyana by Mohammad Haroun 4 

Mental Health in Islam by G A Bushe 5 

Islam in Ireland by Declan Henry 7 

Covid-19 by Faryal Abdoelbasier 9 

Ramadan Message by Iain Dixon 12 

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 

The Promised Messiah said: . . . 

when some tribulation besets you, 

it should serve only to increase 

your zeal in His way - such devoted 

efforts are the means of your spiritual 

progress. And exert yourself 

with all your might to propagate 

the Unity of God in the world, be 

merciful to His creation, and do 

not oppress anyone, through your 

words or through your deeds . . .

May 2020 The 

Light 2 

The Call of the 

Messiah 

by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam 

Ahmad 

The Promised Messiah and Mahdi 

وَ‏ ‏َلَ‏ تَقُولُوا۟‏ لِمَن يُقْتَلُ‏ ‏ِفِ‏ سَ‏ بِيلِ‏ ٱَّلله ِ ٱَمْوَتٌۢ‏ ۚ بَلْ‏ ٱَحْيَآءٌۭ‏ وَلَكِن ‏َله تَشْ‏ عُرُ‏ ونَ‏ 2:154 

(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 Kishti e 

Nuh, translation by Akram Ahmad, pages 14- 

15) 

Seek Nearness to God 

So believe in God and give Him precedence 

over all your personal desires, relationships, 

temporal amenities, and other mundane trappings, 

courageously perform virtuous deeds, always 

remaining true and loyal to Him. Though 

worldly people do not give preference to God 

over their personal possessions and those they 

hold dear, you should give preference to God 

over everything so that your names are inscribed 

in the heavens as the names of those 

who assist His work. Exhibiting signs of Divine 

mercy has been God’s tradition from time immemorial. 

And you can partake of this tradition 

only if there remains no separation between 

Him and you, if your will becomes His will, if 

your wishes become His wishes, and if you 

wholly resign yourselves to His will, in every circumstance 

and during all times, whether you 

experience success or failure. So if you conduct 

yourself in this manner, God, Who has kept His 

visage concealed for a long time, will be revealed 

to you. Is there anyone from among you 

who will conduct himself thus and become the 

seeker of God’s pleasure, instead of being cross 

and vexed by what He has ordained? I propose 

that when some tribulation besets you, it should 

serve only to increase your zeal in His way — 

such devoted efforts are the means of your spiritual 

progress. And exert yourself with all your 

might to propagate the Unity of God in the 

world, be merciful to His creation, and do not 

oppress anyone, through your words or through 

your deeds, persevere in promoting the welfare 

From right to left Back row: Muhammad Anwar shaheed, 

late Mr Faiz Khan, Chaudhry Saadat Ahmad, Front 

row: Mrs Anwar, late Hazrat Dr Saeed Ahmad Khan, late 

Sheikh Imaduddin 

Outside Dar us Salaam, 15 Stanley Ave, Wembley, HA0 

4JQ 

of humanity; never act conceitedly toward anyone 

though he may be your subordinate, do not 

curse anyone, though they may curse you, and 

sympathize with those who are poor, meek and 

decent. If you act in this way, God will accept 

you. 

There are many who portray themselves as 

tolerant, though they are actually wolves, and 

there are many who are outwardly harmless, 

though they are serpents in disguise. So be 

mindful of the fact that you cannot be acceptable 

to God until your outward persona and your 

inner moral state are true to each other. If you 

are stronger, take the weaker under your wings 

of mercy, and remain vigilant lest you ridicule 

anyone; if you are a scholar, counsel the simple 

people and be wary lest you humiliate them 

through your conceit; and if you are wealthy, 

serve the poor and be prudent, lest your pride 

induces you to act arrogantly. I also urge you to 

dread the ways of ruination. Fear God and embrace 

the ways of piety, do not worship mortals, 

submit yourself completely to God with earnest 

resignation, and harbour an aversion for this 

world. Live for Him alone and loathe every sort 

of vice and transgression, because God is Holy. 

(Return to contents) 

Lahore Ahmadiyya Community



Hazrat Ameer’s 

Ramadan Message 

Call on your Lord humbly 

and in secret. Surely He loves 

not the transgressors. (Al 

Araaf, 7:55) 

And remember your Lord within yourself 

humbly and fearing, and in a voice not loud, in 

the morning and the evening, and be not of the 

heedless. (Al Araaf, 7:205) 

Dear Sisters and Brothers, Assalamu 

Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaato Hoo. 

This year Ramadan is falling in the most trying 

circumstances because of the Corona pandemic. 

All the people, irrespective of their ethnicity, nationality 

or religion have been affected and have 

had to compromise their worship, devotional 

ceremonies and religious celebrations. The 

Easter celebrations and Diwali have been affected 

most recently. Ramadan will also face the 

effects as the traditional festivity and gatherings 

of Iftar and Tarawih prayers will not be the 

same; there will be a high reliance on modern 

technology for participation in prayers. The celebration 

of Eid-ul-Fitr will most probably be affected 

too. As I think of the limitations the pandemic 

has placed on us, there is also a brighter 

side to it. We have more time to pray and recite 

and understand the Holy Quran. We will have 

ample time to beseech Allah to remove this trial 

from us; we have additional opportunities for 

repentance and asking for Allah’s protection. 

This can be a time when we can get close to 

Allah through our supplications and devotion. 

The two verses of the Holy Quran that I have 

quoted above give us the guidelines on how to 

make our prayers effective as we repent and ask 

for protection against the illness. In the first 

verse, Allah says: Call on your Lord humbly and 

in secret. And in the second verse, He says: And 

remember your Lord within yourself humbly 

and fearing, and in a voice not loud, in the morning 

and the evening, and be not of the heedless. 

Sisters and brothers, our prayers during Ramadan, 

I am sure, will be the most effective weapon 

against the unseen enemy that is causing havoc 

in the world. I pray that Allah accepts our fasting 

and prayers and keeps us safe from all trials 

and illnesses. Aameen summa aameen. 

— Professor Dr Abdul Karim Saeed Ameer and 

President Worldwide Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement, 

23 April 2020 (Return to contents) 

My Journey to the 

Lahore Ahmadiyya 

Community 

By Thomas Delage 

(Editor’s note: Brother 

Thomas Delage recently 

embraced Islam and took 

the baiat to join this organisation 

because he was 

impressed by the Lahore Ahmadiyya Community’s 

interpretation of Islam. He fully accepts 

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as the Messiah 

and Mahdi promised by the Holy Prophet Muhammad 

(s).) 

I take the pen today from France, after having 

integrated, a few days ago, into the Lahore 

Ahmadiyya community. 

My approach, I must say, comes from a long 

spiritual path coming from a traditional Christian 

family with an education within the Catholic 

Church. This religion took me away from the 

scriptures. I studied the Bible for several years 

and the prophecies of the return of the messiah 

without finding my place and especially without 

answers to my questions. 

After a stroke, during my convalescence, I 

found the Koran entirely at random in a library 

of the hospital. I started to read the Koran and 

discovering its message, and I felt a profound 

upheaval in my beliefs and a change of doctrine 

in my life. I pronounced the Shahada to become 

a Muslim, and I must say that I am deeply happy 

about it. 

I read a lot about the return of Mahdi within 

Islam, and I discovered Hazrat Mirza Ghulam 




Ahmad, which was a revelation for me. I researched 

the Internet and ended up finding 

the Lahore Ahmadiyya Community, to which 

I immediately wrote, explaining my approach 

with sincerity. 

I had the chance to read all of the teachings 

on the Lahore Ahmadiyya Community site. Today 

I am a Muslim who is happy to learn 

daily in our Community. I send you all my 

prayers. Peace be upon you and the world. (Return 

to contents) 

Lahore-Ahmadiyya 

Community in 

Guyana 

By Mohammad Haroun 

(Note: Mr Haroun is one of the founding members 

of the AAII in Guyana, may be the only surviving 

member. He wrote this for the convention 

held in Woking in 2019 and should have published 

at the time. Unfortunately, it was misfiled 

by the Managing Editor and came to light again, 

last month.) 

I was born on the 8 th August 1933 in Rose 

Hall, Canjie, Berbice, Guyana. My grandfather 

and his mother came from India. 

He had a general store in Canjie, selling groceries, 

clothing material, bicycles, tyres, pots, 

pans. He also had a bookshop. He imported 

books from India, and people came from Trinidad 

and the West Indies and from Suriname too 

to buy books. I used to put his name on the 

books with a rubber stamp — M. I. Bookhie, 

Bookseller. There were books printed in red ink 

called Patras. The Hindus bought these to work 

out the best times for doing business and when 

to set their weddings. Also, many Islamic books, 

including the Holy Quran. There was a little 

green book printed by the Ahmadiyya Anjuman, 

which caught my eye. It had questions and answers 

about Jesus. I loved that book. He was 

also getting the Islamic Review. It had a green 

cover, and the pages were very thick, like blotting 

paper. He imported head coverings from 

Madras (India). 

I went to St. Patricks Anglican School, and it 

was just a 5-minute walk from home. You could 

hear the bell ring at 09:00 am every day to begin 

classes. In 1948, I passed my school-leaving 

exam. I went to Berbice High School for two 

terms, then to Berbice Educational Institute in 

New Amsterdam. I used to see Sheikh Haroon, 

an Ahmadi, going to work on his bike. 

I had typhoid fever, which prevented me 

from taking my Junior Cambridge Examination. 

Then my father took me to a Mr Austin to learn 

TV and radio repairs. But he did not teach me, 

or another boy anything. Then my phoopa 1 got 

me a job in the sugar estate. Mr Sony Baj Khan – 

he was married to my father’s sister, who took 

the Pledge at the hand of Dr Saeed Ahmad Khan, 

in 1975. I was there with him going all over Guyana 

with Hoosein Ganie, M. B. Yasin and Majeed 

Ali’s brother, Ishmael. And, in 1953, I ended up 

in George Town. 

In December 1953, myself and two relatives 

went to Georgetown on a Royal visit; Princess 

Margaret (Queen’s sister) was visiting Guyana. 

After the Royal visit, I stayed back with one of 

my mamoos 2 , who needed help to run his business 

in Stabrocke Market. The next year my eldest 

mamoo also wanted me to ‘run’ his new 

pharmacy in Albertown, Georgetown. And, so 

both of them had words with each other. Anyway, 

I ended up running the pharmacy. 

In the meantime, I used to attend the same 

Sunni Masjid as Hoosein Ganie and Majeed Ali. 

Every Friday Majid will ask the imam if he can 

explain the khutbah 3 in English. The imam replied 

saying that it is haram 4 to speak English 

from the mimbar 5 ! So Majeed Ali rightly pointed 

out that Urdu is not a revealed language like Arabic. 

After so many times, this was going on the 

1 Husband of father’s sister. 

2 Mother’s brother 

3 Sermon 

4 Unlawful. In India also Muslims were forbidden 

to learn English or study the Western sciences. 

5 Pulpit. 




imam, Moulvi Nasir Ahmad, said to Majeed that 

he is a trouble maker and should not go back 

there. So, Majeed Ali, Hoosein Gani and M. B. Yasin, 

who was going to a different mosque in 

Queenstown, decided to form their own Jamaat. 

This is how the Jamaat in Guyana started. They 

created the Ahmadiyya Anjuman. 

Three or four times a week, we used to 

meet at the sea wall and discuss what to do. 

Majeed Ali and M. B. Yasin and a few others 

whom I didn’t know put their funds together 

and rented a building for a mosque, in Lousia 

Row. There was an imam who came from Kitty 

to lead the prayers on Fridays. Maulvi Rasheed 

became the imam later. Majeed Ali usually came 

to pick me up three or four times a week. I got 

married to Akela in 1955. She used to be very 

annoyed when I went out, leaving her alone. So 

I had to explain to her our purpose gradually 

and eventually she understood and got involved 

with the ladies section. 

We used to put big boards with slogans of 

Islam and the name Guyana Ahmadiyya Anjuman 

at the bottom. Muslims would refuse to 

have the board in their yard, but we put them up 

in the property belonging to Hindus and Christians. 

These boards had slogans like: “Mankind 

is a single nation.” “Muhammad is the Last 

Prophet”. “There will be no prophet after me.” 

These were written in florescent paint which 

could be seen at night. This had a high impact 

on publicising the Anjuman. Then gradually we 

had a magazine – The Muslim Times with Hoosein 

Ganie as editor. All our literature and the 

magazine were free. As time went on, we had a 

radio programme called ‘Back to the Quran’. We 

had a song group led by a guy named Alli. He 

was a good singer. 

In those days you could not go to the masjid 

with short sleeve shirts or not wearing a hat. As 

far as women were concerned, they were not allowed 

near the mosque. There was a bold sign 

at the Queenstown Mosque saying “Women Not 

Allowed”. All these barriers we broke down, 

gradually one by one. I can very well remember 

that on the last Friday of Ramadaan, my grandmother 

used to go to the masjid to listen to the 

khutba but she was not allowed to go in or even 

the gallery. She had to be standing outside all 

the time, and quietly leave when the khutba finished. 

When we went to weddings, we had to 

carry the invitation with us to show when challenged, 

if we were indeed invited. And there we 

distributed our literature to people who were 

present. 

In many cases, there were arguments over 

the articles. But it was effective in a way because 

the Anjuman became more popular. One wedding 

I attended and a prominent member of 

Sunni Jamaat was there eating from a plate, 

which had the name Ahmadiyya Anjuman written 

on the back, and he was saying horrible 

things about the Anjuman. So I told him: “Do 

you know that the plate of food you are holding 

belongs to the Ahmadiyya Anjuman”. I said: “Lift 

it and read the name on the back”. He dropped 

the plate with food on the floor and started 

cursing and left the wedding and went home. 

This is how bitter was the opposition. 

There were many incidents of this nature, 

but we were not disheartened. We just carried 

on regardless because we were on the right 

track. Many times after our meeting we would 

end up at Mr Kamaladeen’s shop, eating fried 

chicken. He was an excellent supporter, and he 

is Rehanna’s father. 

When I came to the UK in 1960, I went to 

Woking Mosque and met Maulana S. M. Tufail. 

He was quite interested to learn what was going 

on in Guyana. After that meeting, I kept in touch 

with him until 1974 when we formed the present 

Jamaat that is holding the convention today. 

You know the rest. Despite all the opposition 

this Anjuman still survives and in it is in existence, 

doing the very best under current circumstances. 

I am so sorry I am not able to be 

there. But carry on regardless. Best wishes and 

Allah be with you all. (Return to contents) 

Islam and Mental Health 

By Gavin AbdulHamid 

Bushe 

(Editor’s Note: Gavin Bushe 

is a member of the Lahore- 

Ahmadiyya Community 




based in Eire. He is a tireless worker against oppression 

and exploitation of poor and working 

classes. He has had to bear many trials because 

of his principles, but he holds fast to what he believes.) 

Mental Health is a growing concern among 

people in the Western World. It is estimated 

that one-in-four people will at some stage in 

their lives suffer from a mental health problem. 

There are many possible ways to address mental 

health concerns and the chief among them in 

the West is called Psychiatry, of which the dominant 

medical model utilises pharmaceuticals to 

remedy the mental health problems. As a man 

diagnosed by psychiatry since 1995, I have not 

found the Psychiatric approach helpful. Rather, 

since converting to Islam in 2006, I have been 

able to improve my mental health greatly via its 

practice. I will now briefly outline in simple 

terms why Islam is excellent for improving 

one’s mental health. 

Self-Care Regime 

Islam in the broadest sense is the whole way 

of life. However, concerning mental health, in 

particular, it is a system of personal self-care. 

The main benefit of Islamic personal self-care is 

that it is completely free-of-charge, whereas 

Psychiatric Services cost money and time of 

other people. Once a person learns the basic 5 

Pillars of Islam, he or she is then able to gain the 

mental health benefits of its daily practice. Islam 

assumes at a bare minimum clothing, water, 

and basic food. Indeed I was able to practice Islam 

while I was in a state of homelessness. 

The first major way that Islam improves 

mental health is through belief in Divine Mercy. 

This is established through the testimony of 

faith (Shahada). Islam understands that the 

universe is ruled by One Single Omnipotent God 

who is Entirely Merciful, Especially Merciful. 

Therefore, Islam provides hope to its practitioners. 

Through Islam, I was able to overcome the 

Limbo of living in a homeless shelter for 20 

months because my faith gave me the ability to 

endure marginalisation and other challenges at 

that time. There are many suicides in the world 

we live in, and hope and faith are immensely important 

to people who fall into despair during 

the trials of life on Earth. Belief in Allah gives a 

practitioner of Islam a source of hope to turn to 

in times of crisis. 

The second way that Islam promotes mental 

health is through its practice of 5 times daily 

prayer. The requirement for this prayer is ritual 

bathing with water or ablution (Wudu). Before 

each prayer, the practitioner must wash his or 

her hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, scalp, ears, 

and feet. This promotes cleanliness and personal 

hygiene which protects against bacteria 

and is good skin-care. Brushing of teeth before 

prayer is good for oral-hygiene. This practice of 

being clean and hygienic makes a human being 

feel good about themselves. 

During the prayer, the practitioner recites 

the Holy Quran sometimes aloud and sometimes 

within himself. This is good for keeping 

the mind strong due to the cognitive articulation 

required, and it promotes mental resilience. 

The minds of many people suffering from 

mental health problems are structurally weakened 

by trauma and reciting. The Holy Quran reinforces 

the mind’s abilities to cognate and 

structure thoughts through mental precision 

and acuity. 

The body movements of the ritual prayer 

are good for suppleness of the physique. Since 

the mind and the body are related, the improvement 

in the flexibility and stretching of muscles 

of the practitioner due to prayer aids mental 

wellness by easing tension. It also helps with 

joints which makes movement easier. 

Reciting the Call-to-Prayer (Adhan) is good 

for improving mood and keeps away evil spirits 

(Jinn) who can cause mental distress. The Callto-Prayer 

causes Jinn to run away from the area 

in which it is announced. This is very beneficial 

to people who have been troubled and traumatised 

by these spirits and alien entities. 

The Islamic diet precludes harmful foods 

such as alcohol that can harm the mind. Islam 

forbids narcotics which are dangerous to the 

human mind and can ruin a person’s entire life. 




Islam also forbids consuming blood from animals 

such as in black pudding or certain sausages, 

etc. because it is an impure substance 

containing many chemicals from the animals’ 

bodies. Islam additionally discourages eating to 

excess, which can cause weight-associated 

problems. Islam encourages the eating of pure 

foods such as dates and milk, fruits, nuts, and 

honey, Zamzam water from Mecca which is a 

blessed spring from Allah to his servant Hajar, 

the wife of Prophet Abraham (Peace be upon 

him). Also, halal meat which is good for humans. 

Social-Care Regime 

Mental Health is also psycho-social. The 

rules of Islam can protect its practitioners from 

evil in society through rules such as marriage, 

modesty in dress, community charity (Zakat) 

which form the foundation of good social relations 

between members of society. The Holy 

Quran is guidance in 114 Chapters (Surahs) and 

combined with the practices (Sunna) of the 

Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings 

of Allah be upon him) provides excellent insights 

to the practitioner of Islam. These insights 

can clear-up many mental confusions 

from which people can suffer. 

The Islamic month of Ramadan brings people 

together in a community which counters social 

exclusion which is a major factor in mental 

health problems. The practitioners of Islam fast 

by abstaining from needs and wants for 30 full 

days each year. This fasting (Saum) increases 

resilience, a core concept in mental health. 

Islam encourages engaging in science and 

learning, and this provides a strong thinking 

ability for practitioners. Education enhances 

intrapersonal development by providing personal 

growth and development. Practitioners 

of Islam are encouraged not to waste too much 

of their time on parties and entertainments. Rather 

they are to fulfil their time on Earth according 

to a test before being judged after death. 

This places life in a certain perspective that 

tends to foster a healthy attitude to living. The 

epitome of this attitude can be practised on the 

Hajj Pilgrimage in Mecca. This is a gigantic social 

ritual which brings people from all over the 

globe together in one place for approximately 

two weeks each year. The pilgrimage to Mecca 

promotes patience, wisdom through fear of 

Allah, and social solidarity. These are qualities 

that help overcome problems due to isolation, 

fear of environment, and ups-and-downs of real 

life. 

Islam demands a struggle against the self 

(Jihad Al-Akbar – Greater Struggle), and this is 

the best way to overcome personal problems. It 

is what a psychotherapist would call “working 

on yourself”. Ultimately Islam is designed to 

achieve peace of mind through submission to 

the Will of Allah. That is a more excellent and 

genuine peace in my opinion than the sedation 

caused by pharmaceuticals. 

In summary, Islam aids Mental Health by 

providing a Divinely Constructed system of life 

for the benefit of human beings. It is free to use, 

and all humanity is invited to join the Islamic 

Straight Path. (Return to contents) 

Islam in Ireland 

by Declan Henry 

(Note: Declan Henry 

was born in County Sligo in 

Ireland and now lives in 

Kent. He is a professional 

writer and author of several books including 

Voices of Modern Islam. His wbesite is at the 

link: www.declanhenry.co.uk) 

Currently, 63,000 Muslims live in Ireland, 

which makes Islam the third largest religion in 

the country after Catholicism and the Church of 

Ireland. More than half live in Dublin, and nearly 

50 per cent are Irish citizens. Muslims fall into 

four main groups – Sunni, Shia, Sufi and Ahmadiyya. 

Overall, they come from a diverse range of 

ethnic origin: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, 

Sudan, Malaysia, Somalia, Iraq, Egypt, Algeria, 

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bosnia and Kosovo 

and Syria. There are several social classes 

amongst Irish Muslims — from middle/upperclass 

doctors and medical students to lowerskilled 

and lower-paid workers, refugees and 

asylum seekers. The Irish Muslim community 




originally consisted of hospital medical staff 

and university students. UK business-people 

followed and opened Palestinian, Lebanese, Indian 

and Pakistani restaurants, or became involved 

in the clothing or meat industries. In the 

late 1990s, refugees came mainly from Bosnia 

and Somalia but more recently from Syria in 

2017. 

All Muslims mainly follow the five pillars of 

Islam. The first pillar is the declaration of faith 

whereby they state they believe in one God, and 

that the Prophet Muhammad was his final 

prophet and messenger. Muhammad was the 

founder of Islam; born in Mecca in Saudi Arabia 

in 570. At the age of 40, the angel Gabriel appeared 

to Muhammad, and over the next 23 

years, revelations were made to him and are 

contained in the Holy Quran, which is Islam’s 

most sacred text. 

The second pillar is to pray five times daily 

in Arabic. Before praying, Muslims always wash 

their hands, arms, face and feet. The third pillar 

is almsgiving, where Muslims give an obligatory 

2.5 per cent of their annual income to charity. 

This is then passed to poor relatives at home 

and abroad, to the mosque, or any third world 

countries in crisis, or places of conflict. The 

fourth pillar is Ramadan. Muslims fast each year 

during the month of Ramadan to commemorate 

the month when the Quran was first revealed to 

the Prophet. Ramadan is the ninth month in the 

Islamic calendar, which is based on the lunar cycle. 

The Islamic year is shorter than the solar 

year, and therefore Ramadan moves 11 days 

each year forwards. Muslims are not allowed to 

consume any food or drink during Ramadan 

from the first light of daybreak, almost two 

hours before full sunrise, until after sunset. It is 

considered to be a month of goodness, blessing 

and prayer. The fifth pillar is a pilgrimage to 

Mecca, the Prophet’s birthplace which Muslims 

are expected to make at least once in their lifetime 

but only if they have the financial means. 

Muslims have become well integrated into 

Irish life. They say they feel welcome despite encountering 

disquiet from press and media reports 

which unfairly portray Islam as a violent 

religion. Ironically, Islam’s teachings promote 

tolerance and peacefulness. Overall, their comfort 

amongst Irish society stems from having 

the freedom of religion and being able to express 

their faith. One Muslim told me: ‘Irish people 

are generally very warm and open. Ireland 

has its own character and way of looking at 

things. The Irish are admired and held in high 

esteem around the world. For me, the two best 

things in the world are: being Irish and a Muslim.’ 

Muslims are involved in social issues and 

help the homeless in Dublin, Cork and Galway. 

They have a policy of never turning away anyone 

who asks for help. Mosques often hold open 

days for non-Muslims to learn more about Islam 

and their way of life. Imams, the equivalent to 

priests, are part of interfaith groups in towns 

and cities aimed at encouraging greater tolerance 

and social cohesion amongst different 

faiths. There are several mixed marriages in Ireland 

between Muslims and Christians. Arranged 

marriages are not so common in Ireland 

with parents more accepting of their children 

choosing their own partners than that of their 

forebears. 

Muslims in Ireland have generally taken on 

the character and thinking process of other 

non-Muslim Irish. They have not overreacted to 

the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, being gay, or the 

concept of living in a country which allows 

same-sex marriage. While Muslims are opposed 

to abortion, they consider it a balancing act between 

remaining true to their faith and not expressing 

an opposing view that could be interpreted 

as offensive or regressive. Muslims send 

their children to Catholic schools because they 

appreciate their religious ethos. Still, there are 

several state-funded Muslim National Schools 

in Dublin now, where Arabic, the Qur’an and Islam 

are taught alongside the national curriculum. 

Despite Muslims coming across reactions 

which stem from a misconception of associating 

Islam with violence and terrorism, they still face 

less bigotry and dislike than those living in the 

UK. Extremism and radicalisation in Ireland are 

not considered to have gathered momentum, 

although a small number have gone to Syria in 




the past and joined ISIS. Overall, Muslims in Ireland 

are considered well-educated with a good 

knowledge of their religion, both of which prevent 

them succumbing to hate-filled war ideology. 

Worryingly, however, the far-right in Ireland 

is on the increase, and although numbers 

are few, Muslims are concerned that they will be 

particularly targeted. Some Muslims feel they 

might no longer be greeted with open hearts 

and minds, and instead may feel unwanted and 

under pressure in Ireland. But for now, there is 

peace and harmony amongst Muslims and their 

Irish neighbours, which adds to the country’s 

rich diversity in a much-valued way. (Return to 

contents) 

Covid-19 

How to Cope and Rely on Allah 

By Faryal Abdoelbasier 

Have we not expanded for thee thy breast, 

And removed from thee thy burden, 

Which weighed down thy back, 

And exalted for thee thy mention? 

Surely, with difficulty is ease. 

With difficulty is surely ease. 

So, when thou art free (from anxiety), work hard, 

And make thy Lord thy exclusive object. 

The Holy Quran 94:1-8 

As I am writing this article, one story is 

dominating the world and our lives – that of the 

global pandemic caused by the coronavirus, 

COVID-19. Emerging just weeks ago, this virus 

has proven to be a new form of a deadly and 

highly contagious disease, with over 1.8 million 

cases and 108,000 deaths worldwide as of today. 

It has crippled global markets, causing loss 

of business, jobs and financial distress for millions. 

It has brought many activities we take for 

granted to a grinding halt, with the forced closure 

of businesses, schools, places of worship 

and leisure. This phenomenon of a microorganism 

invisible to the naked eye wreaking havoc 

so rapidly is no doubt a humbling sign from Allah. 

Say: Yea, by my Lord, the Knower of the unseen! 

it will certainly come to you. Not an atom’s 

weight escapes Him in the heavens or in the 

earth, nor is there less than that nor greater, but 

(all) is in a clear book. (34:3) 

As we face these unprecedented circumstances 

with uncertainty, fear, and the anticipation 

of loss, it is our relationship with Allah that 

remains constant. Allah tells us: “Every soul 

must taste of death. And We test you by evil and 

good by way of trial. And to Us you are returned.” 

(21:35). This verse is the lens by which we 

should view the world. 

When something good happens, we have to 

understand that this is also a test, which deserves 

an appropriate response as well. As Allah 

tells us of Solomon: “Then when he saw it settled 

beside him, he said: This is of the grace of my 

Lord, that He may try me whether I am grateful 

or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful, he is 

grateful only for his own soul, and whoever is ungrateful, 

then surely my Lord is Self-sufficient, 

Bountiful." (27:40) Likewise, when disasters hit, 

we have to understand that this test, despite being 

a bitter one, is not one that should cause us 

to lose faith or despair of Allah’s mercy in this 

life or the next. In fact, those deeply rooted in 

faith know that in reality those trials and tribulations 

only act as a means to bring them closer 

to Allah and to have their sins removed. Allah 

says, “And We shall certainly try you with something 

of fear and hunger and loss of property and 

lives and fruits. And give good news to the patient, 

who, when a misfortune befalls them, say, 

‘Surely we are Allah’s, and to Him we shall return.’ 

Those are they on whom are blessings and 

mercy from their Lord; and those are the followers 

of the right course.” (2:155-157) 

So how do we respond to the test of this 

global pandemic? How do we overcome anxiety, 

fear, isolation and depression, while finding 

purpose and solace? In times of adversity like 

today, it is important to remind ourselves that 

this is yet another step along the journey back 

to Allah. Seeking the Straight Path demands 

faith, gratitude, patience and placing trust in Allah. 

Trust and reliance on Allah, tawakkul, is required 

from us in our imaan and one of the 

greatest act of worship. Allah says: “So whatever 

you are given is but a provision of this world’s life, 

and that which Allah has is better and more lasting 

for those who believe and rely on their Lord.” 

(42:36) and “And gives him sustenance from 

whence he imagines not. And whoever trusts in 




Allah, He is sufficient for him.” (65:3) and “If 

Allah helps you, there is none that can overcome 

you; and if He forsakes you, who is there that can 

help you after Him? And in Allah should the believers 

put their trust.” (3:160) and “They only 

are believers whose hearts are full of fear when 

Allah is mentioned, and when His messages are 

recited to them they increase them in faith, and 

in their Lord do they trust.” (8:2) 

When we practice tawakkul, we depend on Allah 

and place reliance on Him. It is the realization of 

Al-Fatiha verse 4: “Thee do we serve and Thee do 

we beseech for help.” (1:4) And it is a requirement 

of our imaan because depending on other than Allah 

is shirk. Tawakkul is the means by which we 

stay the right course on our journey back to Allah. 

The benefit of tawakkul is that we find peace and 

contentment by handing over to Allah that which 

burdens our heart and mind. That we realize that 

we are not broken, abandoned, or forgotten, but 

that Allah has actually given us exactly what we 

need. That we will be satisfied with any outcome 

knowing that it comes from the One who loves His 

servants and knows what is best for them. Knowing 

this, we acknowledge with certainty and confidence: 

“And with none but Allah is the direction of 

my affair to a right issue. In Him I trust and to Him 

I turn.” (11:88) and “No calamity befalls but by 

Allah’s permission. And whoever believes in Allah, 

He guides his heart. And Allah is Knower of all 

things. And obey Allah and obey the Messenger; 

but if you turn away, the duty of Our Messenger is 

only to deliver (the message) clearly. Allah, there 

is no God but He. And on Allah let the believers 

rely.” (64:11-13). The question is how do we implement 

tawakkul in our daily lives to achieve its 

benefits? Our trust in Allah hinges on two aspects: 

First, how well do I know Allah? Second, what is 

my relationship with Him? 

To know Allah is to know Him by His qualities and 

attributes, such as the fact that he is All Capable 

(Al Qaadir) and Strong (Al Qawiyy) to rely on; 

that He is the Sustainer (Ar Razzaaq) and that He 

is All–Knowing (Al Aleem) and that things can 

only happen with His will and decree. The greater 

our awareness of Allah, the greater our love and 

certainty for Him – and the stronger our tawakkul. 

This concept, when not understood properly can 

either lead to laziness in the form of tawaakul, or 

trap one in a delusion of self-sufficiency, leading 

him to the erroneous conclusion that whatever he 

achieves is by his own effort or merit. Thus, a kind 

of arrogance and pride takes root in the heart. It 

should be remembered that one can be tried not 

only with hardships, but also by being given extensive 

wealth and resources. A valuable instruction 

is given in Surah al-Kahf, which is that when everyone 

is pleased with an accomplishment or material 

possession, he should say, “It is as Allah has 

pleased - there is no power save in Allah.” (18:39). 

Each one of us is totally dependent upon Allah at 

every moment, and no one can achieve anything 

by his own efforts and abilities unless He wills it. 

The delusion of self-sufficiency needs to be uprooted 

from our minds and hearts. It is that false 

sense of self-worth, constantly evaluated by 

worldly standards, and craving for approval, which 

weakens the heart’s striving to connect with Allah, 

cling to Him, beseech Him and implore Him to enrich 

us from Himself — the richness of a clear perception 

and understanding that everything belongs 

to Him, to be given at will to whomever He wills 

and to be taken at will. 

The correct understanding of tawakkul is taking 

the necessary means to achieve the desired outcomes 

and placing trust in Allah to grant us success. 

In the context of our current circumstances, 

we must remain optimistic and completely trust 

that Allah will bring us relief from this pandemic. 

At the same time, we must make every effort to 

take the prescribed precautionary measures and 

use this time wisely to engage in and increase our 

acts of worship like du‘ā’, seeking forgiveness (istighfār), 

giving charity (ṣadaqah), and being of 

service to others to the best of our ability. It begins 

in the heart, and manifests in action, be it for survival, 

well-being, or any benefit. 

To nurture one’s tawakkul on a daily basis, 

some tools derived from lessons from Ibrahim, 

Musa, Muhammad (s) and Maryam (may Allah 

be pleased with her), among many others are: 

1. Duʿāʾ 

“And your Lord says, "Pray to Me; I will answer 

you.” (40:60). Connect in a meaningful 

way with Allah and trust that He will turn your 

duʿāʾ into a means of relief and comfort. This is 

your weapon, but it will be only as strong as you 

recognize how to best use it to maximize its 

benefits. A strong example is the duʿāʾ of istikharah 

in which we ask Allah to guide our best actions. 

2. Five Daily Prayers 

Allah gave us the opportunity to converse 




with Him and to unburden our hearts and 

minds at least five times a day. Reflect on the 

words we recite in every unit of prayer, even just 

the meaning of “Allahu Akbar.” Prayer is a 

means to stay on course and to increase faith 

and tawakkul. 

3. Sabr 

Patience or endurance (sabr) helps one develop 

and maintain self-control and to not complain 

or indulge in negative self-talk that might 

lead to one giving up. 

4. Gratitude 

Gratitude can flourish and manifest from 

within when one places complete trust in Allah 

and has reliance on Him that He has blessed us 

and answered our call. Prophet Muhammad (s) 

said, “Strange are the ways of a believer for there 

is good in every affair of his and this is not the 

case with anyone else except in the case of a believer 

for if he has an occasion to feel delight, he 

thanks (God), thus there is a good for him in it, 

and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation 

(and endures it patiently), there is a good for him 

in it.” (S ah ī h Muslim, bk. 55, hadith 82, no. 

2999) 

5. Istiqama 

Steadfastness (istiqama) means remaining 

firm on your Imaan (faith) in times of difficulty 

and staying patient whilst trusting Allah. 

Istiqama can also mean to remain constant in 

good deeds, by performing them regularly. Drop 

the baggage that slows you down and busy 

yourself with good deeds to avoid wasting time 

and regret. Remember that tawakkul has two 

actions — one is in the heart and the other involves 

seeking the means available. 

6. Dhikr 

The more we engage in the remembrance of 

Allah (dhikr), the more awareness we will have 

of Allah and His presence in our lives. “Those 

who believe and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance 

of Allah. Now surely in Allah’s remembrance 

do hearts find rest." (13:28) 

7. Stay optimistic 

Think of the positives we are experiencing 

today. Both gratitude and patience, with a 

strong level of tawakkul will help us to acknowledge 

and accept the blessings that come with 

all situations, good and bad, and to actively seek 

the best of what is yet to come. Remember, 

that with every hardship, Allah has promised 

ease. 

8. Know that Allah loves you 

At times, we may erroneously think that 

Allah abandoned us while we are tested. Tests 

come to all people, in good and bad times, and 

regardless of one’s level of faith. Every test is designed 

to bring us closer to Allah because He 

loves His servants and wants the best outcome 

for us. Tawakkul involves using these tests to 

seek Allah and to be closer to Him. Remember, 

Allah loved His messengers, yet they endured 

what seemed like unsurmountable losses, challenges 

and setbacks, raising them to the greatest 

heights of nobility. 

9. Trust in Allah that you will be forgiven 

“Say: O My servants who have been prodigal 

regarding their souls, despair not of the Mercy of 

Allah: surely, Allah forgives sins altogether. He is 

indeed the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (39:53) The 

door to repentance is open but it demands of us 

sincerity and that we place our complete trust 

in Allah that He will forgive us. It is one’s level 

of tawakkul here that will generate hope and 

motivation toward good deeds. The duʿāʾ for istighfār 

in which we seek forgiveness from Allah 

embodies this trust in Allah. 

One may have the impression that tawakkul 

is only to be practiced during adversity. Rather, 

tawakkul is a constant state of a believer’s heart. 

We are in constant need of Allah, and all the 

tests we face in prosperity or difficulty are opportunities 

for us to trust and rely on Him. With 

tawakkul we combine faith and contentment in 

any outcome, knowing the outcome is from He 

who knows what is best for us. As challenging 

as it may seem to balance being informed of the 

current state of affairs and staying productive in 

trying times, tawakkul is the greatest gift from 

Allah, which reassures us that He will guide us 

through our ultimate destination if we stay the 

course. 




“Our Lord, on Thee do we rely, and to Thee 

do we turn, and to Thee is the eventual coming.” 

(60:4) (Return to contents) 

Ramadan 

Mubarak! 

By Iain Dixon 

Welcome once again 

to the glorious month of 

Ramadan! A time of fasting, and also a time of 

feasting, a time of reflection … and a time for 

seeking perfection … seeking after the Perfect 

One. Allah is the perfection of beauty and holiness, 

and at this joyous time we are challenged 

to imitate his love and compassion in fuller 

measure, and embrace humanity with charity, 

service, and good deeds. 

We are reminded in the Honoured Quran: 

“For without doubt, in the remembrance of 

Allah do our hearts find satisfaction.”- Surah 

13:28. May we all find satisfaction as we seek after 

the Perfect One this Ramadan. May we take 

hold of the peace which comes from remembering 

our Creator. 

This Ramadan is very different from many 

that have come before. Through the spread of 

the deadly coronavirus, people have been 

driven indoors, and people have been forced to 

separate from one another in order to stop its 

rapid growth. The Shaytan may laugh, thinking 

he has closed down 

mosques and jamaats - 

but Allah sees things 

very differently! Rather 

than the devout in heart 

finding no place to worship, 

through the coronavirus 

crisis Allah has 

potentially opened up a mosque in every home! 

Each home has the potential to be a pocket of 

paradise, a place of prostration and of peace. 

May we all re-learn the power of surrender and 

simplicity as we worship in the home. 

Lahore Ahmadiyya Community 

We are thankful for all the prophets that 

Allah has sent to illuminate our journey towards 

Him. The Quran Kareem reminds us of 

the words of Jesus (His peace be upon us) when 

he says: “ I am the servant of Allah. He has given 

me the scripture and made me a prophet.”- Surah 

19:30. In the Injeel Matthew chapter 24 we 

see Jesus speaking prophetically of the days we 

are living in today. He speaks of “pestilences in 

diverse places” — something on a global scale; 

something that would announce the soon coming 

of a new world, a better world full of the true 

shariah of God. The Noble Jesus still speaks 

through His words today. He encourages us to 

have hope, to rejoice, even in the midst of a fearful 

and diseased world. He says: “So when you 

see these things come to pass, know that the 

Kingdom of God is very near.”- Luke 21:31. 

This Ramadan, may we have hearts that are 

full of faith, not hearts full of fear. Let us remember 

Allah’s faithfulness to us in the past, His 

faithfulness to us now, and His faithfulness to us 

in the future. This Ramadan, let us not run from 

Him, but rather run to Him. May we know His 

peace even in the seclusion of our homes. May 

we know His peace even in the humble masjid 

of our hearts. 

As we fast, as we pray, as we busy ourselves 

in kindness and charity … let us remember 

those who have died of the coronavirus. Let us 

remember those that are grieving. Let us remember 

those who are faithfully serving the 

sick and putting themselves in danger so that 

others may live. And let 

us remember always, 

that there is a better future 

ahead - a time 

when Allah will wipe 

away all tears from our 

eyes. 

Have a blessed and beautiful Ramadan! 

Ramadan Mubarak! 

(Return to contents) 

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

The Light May 2020 05

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?