On January 17, 1994, Sayyadna Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV^(rh) answered some questions that were posed to Hazur in a ‘Mulaqat’ Program on MTA. To fully benefit from these questions and answers, a person needs to watch the actual recording of the Program, but nevertheless, Alfazl International takes full responsibility for presenting here, for the benefit of its readers, a written rendering in Urdu, and a translation in English is presented. (alislam.org) [Urdu Version]

Question: There is a great deal of uproar and noise in Pakistan emanating from the mullahs that Islamic Terms are a patent of the Muslims and whichever person uses these Islamic Terms without permission shall receive severe punishments. Would you care to comment on this? Also, what do Sharia and common sense have to say about this?

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV^(rh) gave the following answer:

At the outset we should understand what is meant by the word ‘PATENT’. By PATENT is meant that a Company invents a certain thing and then gets this invention registered in certain required offices as a NEW INVENTION and thereby that Company receives certain protections for its newly invented thing and is granted the right to benefit from its invention and is granted the protection that without your permission no one else shall be allowed to make that thing and make that thing and sell it.

This is what ‘PATENT’ means. But that thing which is already in existence, there is no restriction on its use. This is the fine point which the Pakistani intelligentsia seems to be unaware of or perhaps they are aware of this fine distinction but lack the requisite courage to give voice to this truth.

PATENT has simply to do with the process of ‘creation’ and does not extend beyond that, and so far as Islamic Terms are concerned, these were coined by Allah, the Exalted. They were not created by any mullah, nor, for that matter were they invented by some sect’s leader. If someone was going to PATENT these, it would have been God but Allah has never patented any term invented/created by Him for any people. Indeed He is RABBUL ALAMEEN, the LORD OF ALL THE WORLDS, and has issued an open invitation to everyone. And even if there had been a PATENT it makes no sense that some would be allowed to use and others would be prohibited from use…

Islamic teachings are for the whole of humanity and the mullahs do not understand this.. it is written in the Holy Quran:

And We have sent thee not but as a mercy for all peoples. (Quran 21:108)

And the Holy Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (sa) used to dispense the teachings of doing righteous deeds openly and every person not only had the permission to make use of his teachings but rather had his invitation to do so. And this is in fact what the Holy Prophet is told to do in the Holy Quran:

Say, ‘O People of the Book! come to a word equal between us and you — (Quran 3:65)

There is no PATENT, we invite you to those values that are common between you and us, in those let us cooperate and collaborate with each other. You cooperate with us and we will work together with you. This is the meaning of rahmat-al-lil-alameen the vastness of which extends to all the worlds. There is no meanness of sight here nor straitened hearts, the bounties of God are there open for all to benefit from. It is not clear from where these people have learned this type of Islam and it is such a shame that they are teaching the hapless Pakistanis this interpretation of Islam .I do not know who they are copying.

Never till today has there ever been a discussion of PATENT in the history of Islam. These are the same mullahs that have been fighting with each other all their lives. Have they forgotten, why do they not remember? The Ahmadis are not just at issue here. There is a difference on every matter between all of them. Up till today they have not settled the issue of BASHAR or NOOR [whether the Holy Prophet was a human being in nature or light], so where will they go to get the PATENT issued from? Who will they go and ask? And for whom will they go and get the PATENT? And what is it exactly that is to be PATENTED and who has the right on this and which office is established to issue such a patent?

If the Government of Pakistan wishes to issue the PATENT then it must first make an OFFICE for the issuance of such Patents for the religions and let all the religions submit their requests to this office to be granted the patent for the use of such and such religious terms for themselves. In this case the rule of patents is that whoever shall be proved to have first invented the thing, whoever shall be proved to have used the thing for the very first time that one shall be granted the patent.

If Pakistan should open such a Patent Office, the first to arrive shall be the Jews and they will say that Hazrat Ibrahim^(as) was the Founder of our faith and your Holy Quran testifies to this that the word, ‘Islam’ was first used for Hazrat Ibrahim^(as), so was the case for the word, ‘Muslim’…I have the references with me…let me show you:

wa lakin kana haneefan-muslayman..(Quran 3:68) “Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was Haneef and Muslim.

Now, the question is: This is the demand of a patent from the Jews so how will the PATENT OFFICE OF PAKISTAN reject this? And if, once this term is patented, then neither Christians shall be able to call themselves Muslim, nor shall the Muslims be able to call themselves Muslims. All will have a restriction, they will first have to go to the Jews and get their permission then they can call themselves Muslims.

The question is why should we seek permission from the Jews? This indeed is the fundamental question.

These terms are God’s terms and Allah, the Exalted, tells us that every good thing is for the whole of humanity without restriction. There is no restriction in anyone copying any good thing, rather Islam invites towards this. Allah, the Exalted, says: ma kana Ibraheemo yahoodiyan wa la nasraniyan wa lakin kana haneefan muslayma..(Quran 3:68)..he was a Muslim.

Then Allah, the Exalted, says: rabbana wajalna…(Quran 2:129)..

that Ibraheem prays with Hazrat Ismael that O Our Lord! Make of us, two Muslims..wa min dhurriyyatana.. and from our progeny similarly keep on making Muslims.. ummatan muslimatan lak.. this ummat-e-muslayma will be for you..

Actually, our belief is that the time of the Holy Prophet, his epoch, comprehends all time-spans.. but I am responding in the language and logic of the mullahs that all the progeny of Hazrat Ibraheem^(as) even before the advent of the Holy Prophet, that they were all Muslims as per the Holy Quran. The Patent Office of Pakistan will have to enter into its records that this is their right and in the future without their permission no one shall have the right to call him or her self a Muslim…

It is the Ummat of Ibraheem that is Muslim, so whoever shall ascribe himself to Ibraheem^(as) that one shall have the right to call himself a Muslim and no power on earth can stop him.. and in any case this whole talk reeks of ignorance.

The Queen said, “Ye chiefs, there has been delivered to me a noble letter. It is from Solomon, and it is: In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful;” (Quran 27:30-31)

So here we are, here is another patent that the Jews have. So the next petition of the Jews shall be that we in fact are Muslims and Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem belongs to us.

The Ahmadis are beaten and tortured for the crime of writing Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem. They are dragged to the courts and handed down punishments. There was a case registered in Mardaan, I think that is the name of the town where such a case was registered. Regardless, a case was registered in Pakistan in which it was stated that when we searched this person’s house, we found Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem in his room. Now what greater crime can there be than this! It was written there plain and simple: Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem That: I begin with the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful.

This is a crime as per the statutes of Pakistan and so far as Patents are concerned this is a patent that belongs to the Jews because the letter that Hazrat Suleiman sent to Queen Saba this was written upon it, as we read in the Holy Quran:

[27:30] The Queen said, “Ye chiefs, there has been delivered to me a noble letter.
[27:31] “It is from Solomon,
[27:31] and it is: ‘In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful;

And then what does the letter invite to, to become a Muslim:

That come to me having become a Muslim. (Quran 27:32)

Now, we cannot call a Masjid [mosque] a Masjid.. so what shall we call it?

Those mosques which have become devoid of the remembrance of Allah, the ones about which the Holy Prophet Muhammad^(sa) has testified as having become abandoned and empty they refer to them as Masjids:

یَاْتِیْ عَلَی النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ لَایَبْقٰی مِنَ الْاِسْلَامِ اِلَّا اسْمُہٗ وَلَا یَبْقٰی مِنَ الْقُرْ آنِ اِلَّا رَسْمُہٗ ۔ مَسَاجِدُھُمْ عَامِرَۃٌ وَھِیَ خَرَابٌ مِّنَ الْھُدٰی ۔(مشکوٰۃ کتاب العلم فصل الثالث صفحہ38)

This is the statement of Hazrat Muhammad^(sa), that a most unfortunate time is coming when all that would be left of Islam would be its name, when the Holy Quran would be there in writing alone, no attention would be paid to acting on its teachings.

مَسَاجِدُھُمْ عَامِرَۃٌ

You will see that their Masajid are full of people,

وَھِیَ خَرَابٌ مِّنَ الْھُدٰی

but they would be devoid of guidance and yet he, the Holy Prophet, still called them Masajid.

Then a patent claim would come forth from the Christians. The Jews have captured some patents but now a claim will be filed by the Christians. The Holy Quran says and accepts that the Christians were persecuted for the sake of their belief in One God… just as the Ahmadis today are persecuted for the same thing … and that they went underground. Then, finally, when they were given the good news that peace had been restored outside and your rights have been established; now without a doubt you can come above ground and it was argued as to what Memorable construction should be erected at that spot.. and the answer that the Holy Quran gives is that: (Quran 18:22)

That those people who were in power to decide on the matter said:

[18:22] We shall erect a Masjid in their memory.

So the Christians will say that you have pointlessly started a dispute with regard to the use of the term, ‘Masjid’, this is in fact a Christian term, and the Holy Quran is a witness to the fact. How can you claim to be the inventors of this term? This shall be the petition of the Christians against the Muslims and on Bismillah, of course, the Jews have established authority, and what was left, ‘Masjid’ , well now that too has passed to the Christians.

Now what shall the mullahs make of things? Their petition shall be accepted and why would it be accepted? This is the question. On which side shall the Holy Quran be?

If we accept the rule that the Patent requests shall be filed according to the rules for patents, then, certainly the side on which the Holy Quran shall be, shall be the one that shall have to be accepted and, God forbid, the Quran shall be bearing witness against the Quran itself. So the truth is that this whole concept is totally repugnant and vulgar and objectionable. There is no patent in matters of faith. Every true believer invites everyone to every good deed and when a true believer adopts a good action he finds joy in so doing.

Now, look, there is the case of the Masjid Zarar. Up till today, everyone refers to it as Masjid Zarar. These mullahs when they give speeches regarding this topic, they still use the term ‘masjid zarar’ because the Holy Quran refers to it as Masjid:

(Quran 9:108) Never stand to pray therein. A mosque which was founded upon piety from the very first day is surely more worthy that thou shouldst stand to pray therein. In it are men who love to become purified, and Allah loves those who purify themselves.

This Masjid that they have made.. (Quran 9:107)

These are the people who have made this Masjid with the intention of supporting disbelief, and cause pain to the believers and to sow discord among the Muslims, even then it said you should not stand in this Masjid, the word Masjid is still, nevertheless used…it is not said that this is not a Masjid.

The Holy Quran is a Magnificent Book. The words of this Book display great courage and tolerance and vastness of Mercy in which it has enveloped the whole universe. No greater Charter of freedom of conscience has ever been issued by anyone than that contained in the Holy Quran. Go and study all the books of the world. The Charter of Freedom of Human Conscience that has been revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad^(sa), nothing like it will be found by you anywhere.

And now, so far as the dispute regarding the nature of the Holy Prophet, as to whether he was BASHAR or NOOR, these are the kinds of ‘terms’ that these mullahs extract from the Holy Quran. One of them says, look it is clearly written in the Holy Quran: (Quran 17:94)

‘Holy is my Lord! I am not but a man sent as a Messenger.’

And on the other hand they say it is written also that he is noor, so we will accept the verse that says he is noor and we will not accept the other verse.

And insofar as the matter of non-Muslims greeting Muslims with As-salamo-Alaikum is concerned, it happened that some strangers, out of fear of the Muslims, when they walked by them, they greeted the Muslims with As-salamo-Alaikum… and when some Muslims reacted by saying that they want to deceive us into thinking that they are Muslims, the Quran told them to not behave in that manner. From heaven, Allah caused to descend the teaching:

Say not to anyone who greets you with the greeting of peace, ‘Thou art not a believer.’ (Quran 4:95)

That, look, whoever says Salam to you, you do not have the right to say to such a one that you are not a believer.

You seek the goods of this life,…by getting a hold of these people who belong to a people who are opposed to you and because you think they are doing this just to save themselves, not only has the Quran given them security against harm but by mentioning the greeting: as-salamo-alaikum has given them the right to use this greeting if they should so wish and has in its shade given them the right to save themselves by its use.

Yet, the mullahs still insist on saying that these people want to deceive the Muslims by showing themselves to be Muslims by use of this greeting.

I ask them where have you gotten this Islam? You do not understand what Islam is. This is the teaching of Allah. Allah knows best, and such incidents have come to pass in earlier times also. This is nothing new that you are presenting to us…to all such things there is an answer in the Holy Quran.

The freedom of conscience that the Holy Quran gives to the people, you do not have the power to take it away from them. Allah says:

Such were you before this, but Allah conferred His special favour on you (Quran 4:95)

Get a hold of your senses. You used to be guilty of this kind of ignorant behaviour in the past…you would invent excuses to grab a hold of people and commit excesses against them and kill some and take possession of their properties. You were robbers, plain and simple. Allah graced you with His bounty and saved you through the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad^(sa). Now will you go back to the same old ways?

Now, insofar as the terms related to the Companions of the Holy Prophet^(sa), the terms such as ‘sahaba’ and other terms related to them, they say we shall not allow that after the Holy Prophet^(sa) these terms be used ever again. They say you are unholy people you must not go near these terms. These words were specifically for the Sahaba and were particularly for the use of the Muslims no matter what time period they belonged to.

Now, we shall talk about these terms which were specific to the Sahaba, but what is their own record on the matter. Let us take a look.

The Shias call their Imams; alaihis salaam [peace be on him]. This is a term that is applied to the Prophets in Islam. According to the mullah this term cannot be applied to anyone other than the Prophets, whereas in the Holy Quran it is written that Allah sends down his blessings and salaam on the Holy Prophet Muhammad, The Messenger of Allah [33:57] and on you also.

(Quran 33:57) Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! you also should invoke blessings on him and salute him with the salutation of peace.

Thus, those upon whom Allah sends His As-salamo-Alaikum how will these mullahs stop His Salams. Indeed in their books is to be found the term: alaihimus salaam. Then, apart from this, in the books of other Sunni sects are present these examples. On page 13 of Maulana Muhammad Ismael Shaheed Sahib’s Khutba Amarat is written: Hazrat Abu Talib, alaihis salaam. And indeed, for Maulana Isamel Shaheed himself is written the same phrase: alaihis salaam [Author:Mauvi Najamul Hassan Kararwee, Peshawar; Book: Anwarul Shia, p. 18 and p. 324].

Similarly, Hazrat Maulvi Abdul Hayy Sahib Farangi Mahalee, writes in Tarjima Fatawa Azeez, Volume No. 1, p.15 that the use of the term: alaihis salaam is permitted according to the Holy Quran for persons other than Prophets.

This is exactly what I am saying. These mullahs are inventing and creating a new religion and no one is going after them.

With regard to ‘ummahaatul momineen’ [mother of the faithful], the term referring to the wives of the Holy Prophet, they say that we have used the phrase: razee allaho anha [may Allah be pleased with her]; while referring to Hazrat Ammajaan, the wife of Hazrat Masih-e-Maud^(as) and have used the term: Ummul Momineen also with regard to her. Our hearts are suffering tremendous pain because of this, they say, because this term can only be used with reference to the wives of a Prophet and it is not allowed that it be used for anyone else because people can be misled by such usage.

When a person uses the term UmmulMomineen to refer to Hazrat Ammajaan, it is obvious that such a person believes In Hazrat Promised Messiah^(as); then a person would have to be mad to think that by this could be meant the mother of those who do not believe in the Promised Messiah^(as). How can you be caused pain by this usage. Indeed it would be painful for us if by some stretch you were to be included among the believers. The word, ‘momineen’ [believers] saves us when we use this term to refer to the wife of Hazrat Mirza Sahib. If even after this explanation you do not understand then we can ask where has your faculty of reason gone to and why has it abandoned you? Why do you not think over all this. How can such usage lead to your disgrace? It is clear that those who believe, she is the mother of those persons. So you will not permit us to use the phrase ‘maan’, meaning mother.

These terms are those which you yourselves use for other persons in the past. The mother of Hazrat Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani^(ra) has been called Ummul Momineen. [See Isharaat Fareedi, Part III, page 9, Published by Mufeed Aam Press, Agra]. Also, in Bahri, the wife of Hazrat Khawaja Jamalud Din Hanswee has been called Ummul Momineen. In Sairul Auliyaa, it is written that earlier Sheikh Jamalud Din Hanswee used to refer to a Lady Servant as Ummul Momineen [Seerat Auliyaa, Muhammad Bin Ali Mubarak, p.187].

Now tell me. So, Hazrat Sheikh Jamalud Din Hanswee^(ra) used to refer to a lady servant as Ummul Momineen. On page 164 of Tareekhul Mashaikh Chusht az Khaleeq Ahmad Nizami, it is written that a lady servant of Hazrat Sheikh Jamalud Din Hanswee was very righteous and devoted to the worship of Allah, and that the people used to refer to her as Ummul Momineen. In one place it is written that Hazrat Sheikh Jamalud Din Hanswee himself used to call her that. In another reference it is written that people used to call her that. The sister of the Head of the PLO is also called Ummul Momineen. This is in a French book, Hanizanglay, Time March 19, 1988.

In so far as the term, ‘razee allah anho’ is concerned, the Holy Quran applies this term in a totally general form for all true believers and it is Allah, the Exalted, Who uses this in favor of them

(Quran 58:22) Allah has decreed: ‘Most surely I will prevail, I and My Messengers.’

(Quran 58:22) Verily, Allah is Powerful, Mighty.

(Quran 58:23) Thou wilt not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day loving those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even though they be their fathers, or their sons or their brethren, or their kindred. These are they in whose hearts Allah has inscribed true faith and whom He has strengthened with inspiration from Himself. And He will make them enter Gardens through which streams flow. Therein will they abide. Allah is well pleased with them, and they are well pleased with Him. They are Allah’s party.

Hearken ye O people! it is Allah’s party who will be successful.

So what are their qualities that have been mentioned here. Faith in Allah, faith in the Day of Judgment, and jealousy for God. These are the three parts that make a true believer in the sight of God and upon whose hearts faith gets inscribed and Allah says concerning them:

رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ

Allah is well pleased with them. There are other verses also.

The word, ‘SAHABEE’ is also similarly found in abundance. Shah Waliullah Muhadith Dehlavi writes:اِنَّہُمْ بَعْضُ اَصْحَابنَا

‘Some of our SAHABEE’, Companions. Similarly common is the word Sahabee. There is no specific thing about it. But, yes, there is this specific thing that someone should be the SAHABEE OF THE HOLY PROPHET, MESSENGER OF ALLAH (sa). If someone should say that, that is indeed another thing altogether.

But up till today, no Ahmadi has called the Sahaba of the Promised Messiah^(as) as the Sahaba of the Holy Prophet^(sa) despite the fact that the Holy Quran says that He will cause the Aakhireen to join the awwaleen. Despite this we always say the Sahabee of the Promised Messiah^(as). What in this, causes you pain? They were the Sahaba of the Promised Messiah^(as). This fact cannot be changed because of your pain. And in so far as this has anything to do with causing blasphemy of Prophethood, the fact of the matter now is that almost everything seems to result in blasphemy of prophethood. If any Government official says anything against the Sharia Court this results in blasphemy of Prophethood.

Now these mullahs have become God also. They have become the Prophet of Allah. If you raise a hand against them then this is considered tantamount to raising a hand against the Messenger of Allah, God forbid us from saying this!

Look at their mode of life, their morals. These are the people who repulse. Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, captured one, drew a person to himself in an extraordinary way. Whoever saw him, fell in love with him, the Promised Messiah^(as) says:

اگر خواہی دلیلی عاشقش باش
محمدؐ ھست برھان محمدؐ

Why do you ask for a verifying argument, or sign, in support of the truth of Muhammad, Muhammad himself, is proof of his own beauty so ’عاشقش باش‘ fall in love with Muhammad.

محمدؐ ھست برھان محمدؐ

Muhammad is proof of Muhammad himself.

May Allah give them understanding.

[Alfazl International, Dec. 3, 2004]