International Lahore Ahmadiyya Newsletter I‘LAN · of fasting, Ramadan, is likely to begin on the...

VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5-7

Annual Training Course at the

Central Anjuman

JUMAD-AL-AWWAL--SHABAAN 1432—MAY-JULY 2011

بسم اهللا الرحمن الرحيم In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

The Annual Training Course (Salaanah Tarbiyatee Course) for the youth of the jama'at was held at the Centre from Sunday 3 July to Sunday 19 July 2011.

The proceedings were be streamed live from the classrooms.

Classes commenced at 9am every-day, and finished at 12.40pm, with a tea break from 11.10am to 11.30am.

The proceedings were viewed online via the following link:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/atc2009

To download audio files from previous training courses, please visit the following link:

http://aaiil.org/text/snd/tarbiyyateecourse/tarbiyyateecourse.shtml

We look forward to bringing you reports and photographs from the course in the next issue of I'LAN Insha Allah

I ‘ L A N International Lahore Ahmadiyya Newsletter

FOR MEMBERS OF

THE LAHORE

AHMADIYYA JAMA'AT ONLY

Ahmadiyya Anjuman Lahore

5 Usman Block, New Garden Town,

Lahore, Pakistan.

[email protected]

Inside this Issue

Editor’s Message 2

News Updates 3

Rare Photograph of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad

4

Use of the Sword in Islam

5

Media and Islam 6

Masih Mau‘ood Day Functions

12

Light Up the Dark 13

The Power of Media and Technology

15

Inside this Issue

Editor’s Message 2

News Updates 3

Rare Photograph of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad

4

Use of the Sword in Islam

5

Media and Islam 6

Masih Mau‘ood Day Functions

12

Light Up the Dark 13


15

www.aaiil.org

VOLUME 4 , ISSUE 5-7 PAGE 2

Dear Readers, Assalaam-o-Alaikum,

This May—July issue of I'LAN has been given the theme of “Social Media and Islam” and we have collected a number of articles for your reading pleasure on this topic.

This is an important subject today, as media in the traditional sense has steadily expanded into a new sphere over the last decade, and is now a more powerful tool than ever.

As such, how it can be used by our Jama‘at and every single member is very important to discuss and consider.

I approached a young member of the UK Jama'at to write a short article about the Power of Media and Technology, published on page 15.

Similarly, recently I came across a short film produced by one of our members in California. I asked her to tell us more about her experience of putting together the film, and she has very kindly written the report published on page 13. We have also included abstract of a presentation on the Media and Islam by Dr. Mujahid Saeed of UK on page 6.

As usual, we also have news to share with you, both from the Centre and other Jama'ats.

Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Seeker of your prayers, Habiba Anwar Sadiq (Editor)

Editor’s Message

I'LAN Needs Your Help If you would like to get involved with I'LAN, we are looking for people to help with the

following and would love to hear from you:

Contributing articles, short stories, poems, etc;

Transcribing audio and video speeches;

Sending updates from your local jama'ats;

Collecting photographs from your jama'at events;

Writing book reviews; and

Editorial and design work.

Please get in touch as soon as possible by emailing us on [email protected]

Our Motto

“In-Allah-ha-Ma'anaa” (Surely Allah is with us—The Holy Qur'an, 9:40)

Ramadan Reminder

PAGE 3 VOLUME 4 , ISSUE 5-7

This rare photograph was originally printed in the 24 May 1950 edition of “Paigham Sulh” and was recently republished on our website—www.aaiil.org.

We have reproduced it here for I'LAN readers.

To view the names of all those in the photo-graph, please click on the following link:

http://aaiil.org/text/pic/personalities/mirzaghulamahmadqadiani/gallery1/imgpages/image007.html

A Rare Photograph including Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad

I'LAN’s readers are advised that the holy month of fasting, Ramadan, is likely to begin on the 1st or 2nd of August 2011, insha Allah.

As such, our next issue I'LAN will focus on the topic of fasting and the benefits of the month of Ramadan. Various jama'ats around the world will hold special iftar events for their members. We request that you send us your reports and photographs from these events, so that we may share them with our readers.

During this month, we will be granted another opportunity by Allah to fast, pray and read the Qur'an. As our readers begin to prepare for the

month ahead, some advice from Hazrat Ameer taken from a previous Ramadan message is reproduced below:

“Keep in mind that He (Allah) is the Lord of the worlds and that He is above all and nothing and no-one can be associated with Him. One should completely submit to Him, by following the Qur'anic injunctions and avoiding all sins of commission and omission. Let us all make a determined effort to do every act for the pleasure of Allah during Ramadan; and resolve to continue in the same spirit after the month ends” Ameen


The AAIIL Trinidad & Tobago has recently began hosting a series of web seminars (also known as “webinars”) through their Institute of Imaamat Training. At present, the webinars are hosted from Trinidad and presented from Toronto, Canada, and can host up to 100 participants at one time.

The current webinar series is titled “Understanding the Qur'an” and has so far covered interesting topics such as Jihad to Oppose Terrorism, Revelation Requires Jihad, and Miraj—The Ascension of Muhammad.

Each webinar also involves an interactive session of about an hour, in which participants can ask further questions, obtain clarifications, offer opinions, etc. As such, I'LAN readers are encouraged to view the live sessions, rather than recordings so as to derive full benefit from this valuable tool.

At present, the webinars are broadcast every Tuesday at 7pm EST. However, Maulana M.K. Hydal has expressed a strong interest in ex-tending this inspired propagation tool to other time zones as well. We urge readers to email I'LAN with information about their time zones so that we can pass this on to him.

The organizers of the webinars were kind enough to provide a link to the recording of the very first webinar, which studied the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (below).

Their future plans include special sessions dealing with women’s affairs, to be presented by female members of the Jama'at. As such, all readers are urged to send us their email addresses to be regularly informed of these excellent and highly informative sessions

Trinidad & Tobago Jama'at Hosts Weekly Web Seminars

12th Anniversary of Our Website

12 June 2011 marked the 12-year anniversary of the Centre’s website: www.aaiil.org.

The hard work and long hours put in by the website’s maintainers has meant everyone with access to the internet can easily view countless literature by esteemed leaders of our jama'at, past and present, in several different languages. We can also access audio and video files of events from jama'ats all over the world. It is truly a website that every member of the Lahore Ahmadiyya jama'at

everywhere should be proud of.

The website maintainers had the following message:

“We thank Allah for His continuing blessings towards our team. May Allah enable us to continue with the literary Jihad in spreading Islam in a peaceful and rational manner”

To view the recorded version of AAIIL Trinidad & Tobago’s webinar on the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, please follow the link below:

http://connectpro21918380.adobeconnect.com/p75596331/

A Spiritual Note Use of the sword in Islam


“A Spiritual Note” is published every Friday by Institute for Islamic Studies and Publications, Paramaribo, Suriname

You can visit the Spiritual Note archive at

www.ivisep.org/magazines.htm

The Quran sanctions the use of the sword under certain circumstances. First and fore-most, in the cause of religion - religion as such, it must be borne in mind, and not Is-lam exclusively. For this, two distinct occa-sions have been mentioned. First, when a house of worship is in danger - be it Chris-tian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, or any other - a Muslim is enjoined to shed his very blood to save it from demolition. Says the Quran:

"Permission (to fight) is given to those upon whom war is made because they are op-pressed, and most surely Allah is well able to assist them; those who have been ex-pelled from their homes without a just cause except that they say: Our Lord is Al-lah. And had there not been Allah's repel-ling some people by others, certainly there would have been pulled down cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques in which Allah's name is much remembered; and surely Allah will help him who helps His cause; most surely Allah is Strong, Mighty" (22:39, 40).

Again, the use of the sword is also permis-sible when freedom of conscience is at stake. Of all religions, Islam stands con-spicuous in establishing a perfection of reli-gious freedom. "There is no compulsion in

matters religious" (2:256), proclaimed the Quran, which has since been the Magna Carta of religion for peoples of all creeds under the rule of Islam. Not only is all inter-ference with another's religious views for-bidden, but, should such interference be en-forced at the point of the sword, it is the duty of a Muslim to repel it with the sword. In the matter of religion, none may stand between man and God. It is the birthright of man to hold whatever convictions he deems right. Persecution of others must be re-sisted at all costs by a Muslim, irrespective of whether the aggrieved be a Jew, or a Christian, or of any other faith. For this purpose the Muslim is not only allowed, but enjoined, to fight until perfect religious lib-erty has been established (Quran 2:192-193).

As regards temporal affairs, authority to wield the sword has been limited to one, and only one, case - self-defence. This per-mission has been further restricted by the condition that as soon as the enemy shall have suspended hostilities, and shown an inclination towards peace, then Muslims must do the same.

Source: The House Divided

Khawaja Kamal-ud-Din

http://www.ivisep.org/magazines.htm�

http://ahmadiyya.ws/text/books/kk/housedividedenglandindiaislam/housedividedenglandindiaislam.shtml�

Media and Islam Abstract of a Presentation by Dr. Mujahid Saeed, UK


Objective Realisation of the Responsibilities of Both Islam and Media

History of Media

Stones, Cave walls, Leaves, Herd skin, Papyrus, Magazines, Books, Radio, TV, Satellites, Internet, iPhones, Smartphones, Films, Games, Newspapers, Blogs, RSS Feed, Podcasts, etc

VOLUME 4 , ISSUE 5-7

Media and Islam—Might of the Media

Effect on Individals

Effect on Nations


Media and Islam—Media on Islam

Islam on Media Muslims, Stop Victimising Non Muslims

Media Stop Victimising Islam


Media and Islam—Ahmadiyyat On Media

And when the books are spread (Holy Qyr’an 81:10)

Hazrat Mirza ghulam Ahmad of Qadian


Media and Islam—Ahmadiyyat On Media

www.aaiil.org www.ahmadiyya.org

Virtual Mosque UK

Sermons At Lahore Ahmadiyya Mosque (SALAM)

Follow us


Media and Islam Way Forwards

•Understanding each other

•Muslims need educating on Islam

•So, does the Media need educating

•Promote the AHMADIYYA ideology

In Summary

•History and Might of the Media

•Media on Islam and vice versa

•Ahmadiyyat on Media

•Way Forwards

•Realisation of the responsibilities of both Islam and Media

Wedding Mr. Abdul Majid, Multimedia

Assistant at the Central Anjuman,

married

Fasiha Jameel daughter of Mr. Jameel ur Rahman, a veteran worker of the

Anjuman,

on 15 April 2011.

The colourful ceremony was attended by a large number of family and

Jama‘at members. We wish the couple all the happiness in their married life

together.

Commemoration of Hazrat Masih Mau‘ood’s Death Anniversary


A special function was held in Jaamiah Darus Salaam, Lahore on 26 May 2011 to commemorate the death anniversary of Hazrat Masih Mau‘ood. Mr. Amir Aziz, the keynote speaker, highlighted the invaluable religious services of Hazrat Sahib and the spiritual revolution brought about by his scholarly books. He also presented a summary of his encounters with the opponents of Islam and how he came out victorious in all debates with them. Other speakers included Professor Ejaz Ahmd, Qari Arshad Mahmood and Mr. Ahmad Shuja who presented different aspects of Hazrat Sahib’s life and mission.

In the end Hazrat Ameer Dr. Abdul Karim Saeed Sahib paid glowing tributes to Hazrat Masih Mau‘ood and narrated some inspiring incidents

from his blessed life. The function concluded with fervent prayers for the Jamaat and the Islamic Ummah.

The Peshawar Jama'at observed Masih Mau‘ood Day on Sunday 12 June 2011 with a jalsah in the Jaamiah. In addition to local members from Peshawar, Safaid Dheri and Shiekh Muhammadi, a large number of members from Lahore, Rawalpindi and Sarai Naurang were also present. Speakers included Sahibzada Zahoor Ahmad, Sardar Ali Khan, Zahoor ur Rahman, Sahibzada Muhammad Haleem, Qari Arshad Mahmood and Raza Saadat, President of the Anjuman’s YouthWing. Hazrat Sahib’s poetry was recited by Miss Tabassam Manzoor and Aleem ud Deen in their melodious voices.

View of the Gathering at Lahore

LASER regularly holds lectures on the lives of prominent leaders of the Jama'at. Two lectures in this series were delivered by Mrs. Zubaida Ahmad on 6 and 7 June 2011. In addition to the

LASER students, other members of the Jama'at also benefitted from the well researched talk by Mrs Ahmad. May Allah Ta'ala bless her for her effort.

Lahore Ahmadiyya School for Education in Religion (LASER)

Light Up the Dark A report by Ayesha Khan about everyday lives of modern day Muslims in Oakland, California, and her experience of using technology to spread awareness of Islam


“In our age the pen has been raised against us. It is with the pen that we have been caused pain and suffering. In response to this, the pen is the thing which is our weapon.” (Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Malfuzat, Part I, p. 44)

At a time when war and weapons established the dominant paradigm, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Mujaddad of the age and a profound visionary, encouraged us to pick up a pen and battle on the field of ideologies. This notion was revolutionary. Hazrat Mirza Sahib and his companions were on the cutting edge. The Cross would crumble, the mighty empire of the British and their unrelenting missionaries would cower, social justice would be re-established, and classism would end—not by the clunky old barrel of a gun, but by the nib of a pen; a streamlined, lean, efficient, twentieth century technology.

This pen was the wave of the future, the tool of a more evolved human consciousness, and that is why Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Sahib encouraged us to grab hold of this medium, to use it, and to strive with it in the way of Allah.

What would Hazrat Sahib say about the video camera? If a picture is worth a thousand words, what is a video worth? Our world has changed. Instead of getting our news through newspapers, magazines, and the like, we access Internet, RSS news feeds, and blog posts. This is new media. Instead of journalists or the establishment feeding it to us, we increasingly rely on like-minded individuals sharing thoughts, ideas, and current events through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. This is new social media or participatory media.

New social media gives us all a voice, and access to the world. New social media spurred revolutions against unjust tyrannies in the

Middle East, and caused the largest Arabic-speaking country in the world to undergo a regime change from one of the most autocratic dictators to a government of the people—without a gun picked up or a bomb exploded. New social media is indeed a powerful tool.

But like any tool, it derives its purpose from the person wielding it. Intellectually, our Jama'at is blessed to have a fountainhead of knowledge that cannot be paralleled. Morally, our Jama'at has a mission to spread the true

Islam as peaceful, tolerant, rational and inspiring. The writings are all there. But who reads books anymore? Allah knows best, but I strongly feel that the youth in our Jama'at have a tremendous opportunity to “win the future.” We were born with the Internet as an extension of our right arm. We don’t even feel whole till we’re connected and know what’s going on in the

matrix. We all use it. Let’s use it to change our world.

Allah tells us of a time when people will be joined together, and when “the heavens has it’s covering removed” (81:11). Isn’t that time now?

With these things on my mind, I was really fortunate to be able to take a class on new social media and public health over this last year. One of my goals for this class was to learn to use things like video to project important messages. I made a short film entitled, “Light up the Dark” about Muslims in the Oakland community. I wanted to show Muslims for what they really are: peaceful, upstanding, incredibly diverse members of the community. In the same way, video can be used to give voice to any disenfranchised, vulnerable part of our community. And the

In participatory

media, we all have to participate

because there is

too much to be done.


best thing about it is, we can all do it.

I want to share a little bit of how I did it so everyone realizes that if I can do it, truly anyone can.

I had no experience at all when I picked up a video camera for the first time. I was even more scared to ask people if I could film them. Truth be told, I was a bit scared to walk into a non-Ahmadi Mosque and do anything at all. Nothing is gained without trying, though. So I walked into the Mosque, I started talking to people, and one day after Jummah, I approached the Imam. Few women go up to the Imam in the Mosque, so that was already awkward. Then I told him I was a Lahori Ahmadi and I asked him to pray for members of our Jama'at in Pakistan who are in at the mercy of crazy fundamentalists.

Silence.

My heart was pounding as I waited. The seconds stretched to an eternity as I waited to be told to see myself out of the Mosque and never come back. Then Imam Zaid said, “Maulana Muhammad Ali was a great scholar and may Allah help your Jama'at in exchange for all the good he did for Islam. As I understand it, there is nothing the Lahore Ahmadi’s believe that is outside the pale of Islam.”

Alhumdulillah! Obviously, I was lucky enough to be riding on the coat tails of all the people in our Jama'at who have already gotten the message out there about who we are, but their success made

me even more determined to learn this new technology and use it for good. Eventually I asked permission to film and interview, and voila!

My little six-minute contribution to new social media is on the Net. It’s not the greatest, most amazing thing ever; but it’s a start.

Alhumdulillah there is already a move toward adapting new medium by way of our websites and web-streaming Jalsas, etc. But the world is changing faster than a few individuals can keep pace with. I know there are tons of youth out there who are mashaAllah really talented. I’ve seen the photography and art you post on Facebook and the talent of your writings. Whatever your medium is, this is the time to use it!

In participatory media, we all have to participate because there is too much to be done. Digitized books, books on tape, Quran Apps, educational videos, blogs and Malfuzat Twitters, are the pens of today.

Howard Rheingold said, if print culture shaped the environment in which the Enlightenment blossomed and set the scene for the Industrial Revolution, participatory media might similarly shape the cognitive and social environments in which twenty-first-century life will take place.

InshaAllah, we can be the participatory media that shapes our world and carries our Jama'at into the future. Ameen

To view Ayesha’s video, please use the following link: http://www.vimeo.com/23610359

We welcome readers’ to send in their contributions, particularly about activities you have also undertaken in your own communities. Please email us at: [email protected]

Nikah Hazrat Ameer performed the Nikah of Mr. Mohiyyud Deen, with Miss Mah Liqa daughter of Mr. Muhammad Afzal on 26 May 2011 at Jaamiah Darus Salaam, Lahore. Mohiyyud Deen is the Jamaat’s Mubaligh in

Wazirabad, Pakistan. The solemn ceremony was attended by family members from both sides and a large number of

'Jama at members who had come to attend the Masih Mau‘ood day function. We wish the couple good luck and happiness.



The author of this article is a young member of our global Jama'at and an experienced photographer and videographer.

The media is the most powerful form of expression and advertising today. All kinds of information can be shared through media technology, from television broadcasting to the internet.

The whole world has come together through technological infrastructure and the advance-ment of computational power. We can be in another country across the globe and within seconds, literally see images from webcams, digital cameras and video camcorders.

With the likes of websites such as youtube and vimeo, high definition videos can be uploaded and shared effortlessly with people around the world. Such technology should be embraced, as it is already the most influential form of media.

As Muslims who wish to spread knowledge of peace and prosperity, the need to take on board the technology that allows us to reach the farthest places on Earth is especially great.

Technology combined with creativity, one can share thoughtful and enlightening messages with friends, colleagues and even strangers beyond their own social circles.

Many renowned Christian scholars are utilising every form of advertising possible, from DVD distribution, internet channels, podcasts, magazines and television channels. Though the followers of Islam do have TV stations, magazines etc., the level of quality and professionalism on some programming has yet to catch up to what the West offers. Consideration should always be taken to

Ensure quality of production, whether you are creating a live event or a documentary film that you wish to share with others.

Film and photographic media are also power-ful influences on people, sometimes far beyond what they read. Moving pictures and images can visually say so much more than a written commentary or text. It is more engaging to our senses and perception when we “see” something. An imprint can be left in our memory forever.

More and more of us are finding a voice in the creative arts, sharing skills that bring unity and an energy that can be channelled positively.

Filmmakers and photographers in the jama'at are able to upload their images/videos on flickr and youtube respectively, enabling them to share their experiences of life with those around them.

On many occasions I see hesitation when people are confronted with the latest gadget, tool or technological breakthrough. I am not saying that everything invented is useful to everyone, but key tools such as a computer have now become a necessity for our ad-vancement as human beings. Tasks such as data processing that would take hours, months or even years can now be sanctioned to the latest computers at practically lighten-ing speeds.

With these developing machines, we can propagate information extremely quickly and efficiently across the world. There has become a need for constant material in bite-


size chunks, as the attention span of our soci-ety is fast decreasing. Websites like youtube link us from video to video-to-video, and min-utes become hours, lost in a world of new-age media.

Another currently popular form of media is social media, such as Facebook and Twitter. Learning about what a person “ate for dinner last night” or “what they wore today” has become part of everyday life for some people. Though most of us probably don't care for such information, a fan following of such media is out certainly there.

Islam too can make use of social media sites to share knowledge and even start discussions

with others about their thoughts and beliefs. Many of us are so busy with our own lives, with work and families, that it can become difficult to have a consistent interaction online, but even a weekly update helps us to stay in touch.

Applications such as Facebook and twitter have allowed people to stay connected, with those they see regularly and those less so. It must be stressed that the internet should not be seen as an outlet to hide from the real world, but instead as an extension of it, allowing us to connect with people near and far, sharing thoughts and ideas in the hope of better communication

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International Lahore Ahmadiyya Newsletter I‘LAN · of fasting, Ramadan, is likely to begin on the...

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