Responding to global shifts in power and the emerging equation with the US in the post-second World War/ Cold War scenario, the UK later through a bilateral agreement, leased the strategic Islands to the United States for establishing its grand military base in the heart of the Indian Ocean- the Diego Garcia Naval Base. Almost in parallel, within a decade (1967-1973), Britain ensured that Chagossian villagers were systematically and stealthily ousted from their homes and lands permanently, without any opportunity of returning to their homeland forever! British national security and strategic interests trumped over the rights of poor and vulnerable islanders. Even as the Big Powers- the United States and the United Kingdom- consolidated their strategic interests and military control of the region, the hapless Chagossian people were left to languish in the wilderness of their own catastrophe- in mainland Mauritius, Seychelles, the UK and elsewhere. No wonder, the British colonial excesses in the region continue to scar the national spirit of the formerly subjugated people, the Chagossians in particular.
Tuesday, June 4, 2019
The Future of Chagos and Agalega
Responding to global shifts in power and the emerging equation with the US in the post-second World War/ Cold War scenario, the UK later through a bilateral agreement, leased the strategic Islands to the United States for establishing its grand military base in the heart of the Indian Ocean- the Diego Garcia Naval Base. Almost in parallel, within a decade (1967-1973), Britain ensured that Chagossian villagers were systematically and stealthily ousted from their homes and lands permanently, without any opportunity of returning to their homeland forever! British national security and strategic interests trumped over the rights of poor and vulnerable islanders. Even as the Big Powers- the United States and the United Kingdom- consolidated their strategic interests and military control of the region, the hapless Chagossian people were left to languish in the wilderness of their own catastrophe- in mainland Mauritius, Seychelles, the UK and elsewhere. No wonder, the British colonial excesses in the region continue to scar the national spirit of the formerly subjugated people, the Chagossians in particular.
Saturday, June 1, 2019
'Laylatul Qadr': Unveiling Holy Mysteries
One
day the Holy Prophet Hadhrat Muhammad (pbuh) related the life of a
saintly person who was called Shamsoon (ra) who lived among the Bani
Israel. He had done acts of worship of all kinds and holy war for a
period of a 1000 months. Listening to this story, a Sahabi
(companion) pointed out to the Holy Prophet (pbuh) that the longevity
of his Ummah
(community) is shorter than that of Hadhrat Shamsoon (ra). The Sahabi
also pointed out that one cannot do the same amount of Ibadat
(acts of worship) as Hadhrat Shamsoon (ra). It was at this time that
Hadhrat Jibra’il (as) appeared and recited the Surah Al-Qadr
(Decree).
The Benefits of the Night of Decree
According
to Hadhrat Abu Huraira (ra) and other Hadith narrators, during the
night of Qadr (Laylatul Qadr), innumerable angels descend on earth
and because of this, the gates of heaven are opened. At that moment,
the lights shine, the special manifestations occur, the celestial
world is unveiled. People can then contemplate it in varying degrees
(depending on their ability / the spiritual level which they reached
and the degree of their faith - Iman).
Thursday, May 30, 2019
Teachings for A Blissful Life
The Book
of God, the Holy Qur’an, contains enduring teachings, useful for our every day life. The wisdom underlying those ethical
principles are so profound and so true that it is by following those
teachings that humans can hope for remaining on the correct and
straight path of spiritual quest- the Way of seeking God. In his
writings, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad
(as) of Qadian used to provide fascinating interpretative expositions
on Qur’anic verses in order to substantiate and illuminate his
spiritual themes. While not a literal translation of Qur’anic
verses, these explanations of the Promised Messiah (as) often tease
out the subtle points of wisdom contained within those verses in a succinct and accessible language for everyone.
Reproduced below is a collection of Qur’anic verses, as explained by the Promised Messiah (as), revealing the ethical and moral universe in which God expects and invites man to abide by, so as to enable him to attain a blissful and heavenly life in this very world.
Reproduced below is a collection of Qur’anic verses, as explained by the Promised Messiah (as), revealing the ethical and moral universe in which God expects and invites man to abide by, so as to enable him to attain a blissful and heavenly life in this very world.
1. ‘God
commands you to abide by justice and fairness. But if you wish to
attain greater perfection, then treat people with compassion and do
good even to those who have done you no good. And if you aspire to
even higher perfection, then be of service to others out of personal
sympathy and natural impulse, without any desire to win gratitude or
to put anyone under obligation, and be kind to them just as a mother
is kind to her children out of a natural urge. God also forbids you
to commit excesses, to remind people of the good you have done them,
or to be ungrateful to those who have been kind to you’. (Al-Nahl,
16:91).
2. This
theme is further elaborated in the following verse: ‘when
the truly righteous feed the poor, the orphan and the captive, they
do so selflessly, only out of love for God, and say to them: ‘We
only serve you for the sake of God, from you we require neither
gratitude nor reward.’’ (Al-Dahr, 76:9-10)
3. With
regard to retribution or forgiveness, the Holy Quran teaches us:
The
retribution for an injury is an injury to the same extent. Tooth for
a tooth, eye for an eye, and abuse for an abuse, but whosoever
forgives — and the forgiveness results in reformation rather than
mischief, and he who has been forgiven rectifies his behaviour and
desists from evil — his forgiveness is better than retribution, and
the forgiver shall have his reward [with God]. It does not teach us
that, having been struck on one cheek, we should in all circumstances
turn the other cheek also, for this goes against true wisdom. Doing
good to an evil-doer can be as unjust as doing evil to a good man.
(Al-Shura, 42:41)
4. The
Holy Quran further says:
Monday, May 27, 2019
Prophecies as Tests of Faith
By
the grace of Allah, during my visit in their country, my disciples
witnessed many divine revelations – such revelations which Allah
(swt) had sent down on this humble servant – messages which comes
from the Heavens. And whenever Allah (swt) sends a message on any
matter/ subject, it may be that you think that this shall come to
happen fast or really fast, or you hope to witness that divine
manifestation and you can even say with certitude that this
revelation/ prophecy shall be realised whereby the one mentioned in
the revelation shall have a ghastly end and humiliation.
But
when these kinds of people/ believers do not see it happen after
witnessing the divine message, and if they have a weak faith, they
get upset and they can even stop putting their trust in their
Creator. There are even some people who lose faith and leave the fold
of the Divine Manifestation.
Like
the Quran mentions, for those who had weak faith in the times of the
noble and holy prophet – Muhammad (pbuh), when the latter told/
prophesised something, this was not realised on the spot. Therefore,
read the Quran and you shall see what these kinds of people used to
say: “Allah
and His Messenger promised us nothing but delusion!”
(Al-Ahzab, 33: 13).
Allah
(swt) tried them at the same time but they lost patience and got many
bad thoughts on Allah Himself as well as His Messenger (pbuh) – and
this verse also applies in all epochs of Messengers/ Elects of Allah.
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