Editorial

The beauty of the Holy Qur’an was captured, laconically, by the Promised Messiah (as) in one of his numerous addresses: The Holy Qur’an is a miracle, the like of which never was and never will be. The age of its blessings and bounties is everlasting. (Malfoozat Vol. 3, p. 57) So dynamic is the Holy Qur’an that it has always been found to keep ahead of the world and never to lag behind it. It yields new truths and fresh guidance at every age, ours being no exception. It is no hyperbole to maintain that all research into the past and every discovery, every invention, every major event of the future cannot but affirm the truth of the Holy Qur’an. This is because the Holy Qur’an is replete with prophe- cies relating to the future and most of these have found remarkable fulfilment, espe- cially in our age. Prophecies relating to the invention of new and better means of transport, the birth of the Suez and Panama Canals, the Wo r l d Wars, the discovery of the Americas, the unearthing of new minerals, archaeology, the rights of women, the invention of the modern pre s s , proliferation of industry, eco- logical and enviro n m e n t a l changes, the decline of Islam and the advent of the Promised Messiah to rejuvenate it, are all but a few examples of those witnessed by the world, as was stated in the Holy Qur’an some fourteen centuries ago. Among Qur’anic pro p h e c i e s relating to events and inven- tions of our age is one relating to the impending danger of a nuclear holocaust. We read in Surah Al-Humazah: Nay, he shall surely be cast into the ‘Hutamah’. And what should make thee know what the ‘Hutamah’ is? It is Allah’s kindled fire which will leap at 2 The Review of Religions – March 2003 Editorial hearts. It will be enclosed against them in extended columns. (Ch. 104: vs. 5-10) In explaining the word ‘hotamah’ which literally means the smallest insignificant particle or “atom” in other words, the Holy Qur’an speaks of a blazing fire locked up in o u t s t retched pillars. No fire known to man can be described as such other than that of a nuclear bomb. The splendour of this prophecy lies not only in its fulfilment but also in the way it is disguised such that to the people of earlier generations it did not seem extraord i n a r y. They, it is fair to assume, must have relegated it to events pertaining to the life to come. But in this nuclear age, no one can re g a rd this prophecy as vain babble for history has proven otherwise. It is a truly glorious prophecy even if it augurs not so well for the world. But with the current tensions in the Middle East severely threatening an already fragile international re l a t i o n s , this month’s feature is a timely reminder of the impending catastrophe if the world does not repent and turn to Allah, the Lord of mankind, Gracious, Merciful, the Source of Peace, the Bestower of Security. 3 Editorial The Review of Religions – March 2003 In this journal, for the information of non-Muslim readers, ‘(sa)’ or ‘sa’ after the words, ‘Holy Prophet’, or the name ‘Muhammad’, are used. They stand for ‘Salallahu alaihi wassalam’ meaning ‘Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him’. Likewise, the letters ‘(as)’ or ‘as’ after the name of all other prophets is an abbreviation meaning ‘Peace be upon him’ derived from Alaihi salato wassalam’ for the respect a Muslim reader utters.