I was very disturbed to read the article on Rashad Khalifa. To me this confirmed my long held fears of even genuine concerned Muslims falling under the spell of megalomania. It seems that everyone is out to make a name and consequently a sect for themselves.

I went to a conference of an organization called Hizb-ut-Tahrir in London in August. Apparently this organization is proving quite popular with young people at college. Their "leader" one Umar Bakri Mohammed is obsessed by something called Khalifaht. But my suspicions are that this man is preying on the anger, fear and frustrations of young Muslims with regard to the current situation of Muslims in Britain and the wider world. This may just be another attempt at creating a sect with Bakri as the 20th Century Caliph! This all gives the impression that no attempts are made to encourage young Muslims to read the Quran with an open and honest mind before anything else.

I was quite intrigued to hear the case of Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen who feels that verses of the mighty Quran relating to women should be changed! Obviously this woman has only ever bothered to understand the version of the Quran as interpreted by the Maulvis and other & "Mohammedans". Otherwise she would never have come to such a conclusion.

Quais Atcha
Bolton, Lancs. England.
 
 
 

Thank you very much for 'Signs'. I read it from cover to cover and learned a great deal. I feel strongly about the issues raised in 'Signs'. Please advise me if you have any additional material.

David Siedlar Carlisle, MA. U.S.A.
 
 
 

After reading your issue 3 of Signs I must write to express my concern at your choice of placing yourself as "Judge and Jury" regarding the sincerity of Rashad Khalifa. I am further amazed that you have managed to do this choosing to use certain data and ignoring other data.

I hope that you have done as God instructs us to do and checked and verified all the claims that you have made with regard to Rashad, the "community of Rashad" or Rashadites as you stated.

In a previous letter to this publication, I congratulated you, this tune however, I feel that I must withdraw that statement. The reason for this is not for the fact that you have disregarded Rashad's messengership, there is no compulsion in religion we each have the right to choose our beliefs freely. The reason is due to the fact that I believe that you have misused the information to suit your purpose, slandered people that you do not know and in my opinion you have not fully verified the statements that you have made.

Linda Moore, Somerset, England.

`Opinion' is no substitute for proof If you read, once again, the article you should clearly see that it has been supported by using verses from the Quran, comparisons, and quotations. The reference to 'Rashadites' was a question and not a statement. Allegations that selective information was used are totally, unjustified but, if they are sincere, how can you defend Rashad's messengership, which is based on the very method that you condemn? His two translations are poles apart. Which one do you choose to ignore? Both cannot be correct. I hope that you have checked and verified his claims! Editor.
 
 
 

"Practice what you preach." How often have we heard the old saying, yet rarely do we take heed to this well-known adage. Many of us have been guilty of this at one time or another in our lives, though its implications are rarely lasting o r serious. But when a man who stands in high regard because of his achievements and his work has an effect of bringing many men into the fold of Islam, then this accusation, at the very least deserves some attention. I am of course talking about Rashid Khalifa.

When I read the article "Purifier or Pretender", the thing that struck me was the sheer lacklustre response by the whole Muslim community. A community that has a history of thousands of years, dating back to the prophet Abraham, stood idle, as it's whole fabric of existence was threatened by a book whose author claims is the translation of the Quran. This "translation" has been around since 1992 yet no one recognized this as a threat as it obviously is. I remember when the author Salman Rushdie wrote the "Satanic Verses" there was a hue and cry about the book which not many Muslims had read and even fewer understood.

Those images of Muslims on national news, burning copies of the book with misplaced anger, are still vivid in my mind. Yet, when a more serious and obvious threat is exposed to the Muslim, not even an acknowledgement is passed. Except by a publication, barely three issues old. It took a path which, clearly, it walks alone. Many in it's place would have joined with the majority and ignored the consequences of a book, whose human author tries to pass it off as the word of God. If Muslims do not react to this event in a positive way, then surely they are on the same road as other religions. And if history is anything to go by, then they are not far behind.

Shabir Ahmed Glasgow, Scotland.
 
 
 

Qadi'ani, Ashri, Bahai have all made claims to messengership and now Signs magazine (issue 3) exposed another false messenger. Sadly this claim comes from amongst the people who think they worship ALLAH ALONE and Quran ALONE, but they break every rule of GOD ALONE and Quran ALONE. The belief s of this group from ARIZONA, U.S.A. show their deep idolization of their leader makes them believe he is a Messenger of God. They never take the Quran ALONE, Their other book being the Hadith of Rashad Khalifa, just see his appendix to the translation of his Quran.

Aziz Kassim, Singapore.
 
 
 

There is not a shred of doubt in my mind that `Fundamentalism is the theme of all Kinds of faith in this shattered world. This word defines all those who surrender their lives and follow profoundly all the revealed words of God, which are contained in the Quran.

Salim A. Chisti, Glasgow, Scotland.
 
 
 

I read with interest the 3rd issue of Signs. It seems that, unlike the rest of your publications, which seem to be based on the Quran and common sense, this one is written from the basis that the truth is so self evident to you, why examine the evidence? Ignorance is bliss, but one should not take it as proof that the person who is not ignorant is wrong. I hope this issue will be an exception rather than the standard of the level of future issues.

Milan Sulc, Switzerland.
 
 
 

l was surprised and pleased to see  the Signs. This is a magazine I can associate with. You must carry on with this anti teach and learn by Quran alone.

Ijaz Chuadry, Birmingham, England
 
 
 

The articles published in Submitters Perspective (SP) don't reflect the view of all the members, and does not publish all the submitted articles. None of the members is taking it as a source of guidance. (That is one of the reasons I'm still writing there!). We don't have Pope, nor do we have his official bulletin. I believe (and hope) that the majority of this little community is still alert against the idolization of Rushed. Therefore, please don't accuse all members of this community based on a particular article written by an individual.

I read the article that you were referring to labeling us as the "Community of Rashad". I found the expression exactly as, you have quoted. But, the author was not using the "community of Rashad" to describe her community. Obviously, you had taken the odd expression out of context while rushing to find a label for us. If you read it again you will see that she was using that expression in the same way as the "community of Noah, community of Lot, etc," is used in the Quran. Briefly, she was referring to the disbelievers, not believers with the "community of Rashad."

I would like to remind you that we are trying our best not to be the "Community of Rashad." Inshaallah we will always be able to say, "We are God's supporters." (Quran 61.14)

Edip Yuksel, Arizona, USA
 
 
 

Sign Magazine devoted almost the entire third issue to attacking the late Dr. Rashad Khalifa and his works. This is in spite of the similarity in spirit between what this new magazine seems to advocate (at least in their first two issues) and what Dr. Rashad Khalifa taught. The following is our reply from Masjid Tucson in Arizona (USA) where Dr. Khalifa taught and worked until his still unsolved assassination in January, 1990.

Messengership -this is a very sensitive issue to orthodox Muslims. To them, Messengership is a big deal, so much so that they called Muhammed the last messenger (Rasool), just as the people of Joseph said in 40:34. However, there is a clear Quranic assertion that Muhammed was the final prophet (Nabi = receiver of a Scripture), and that God sends messengers (to confirm the Scripture) as warners to every community. Despite some good articles advocating the following of the Quran alone and discarding orthodox Islamic teachings in its previous two editions, the editors maintain the traditional, butun-Quranic understanding of Messengership. These are some examples of what Rashad proclaim from the Quran, and any sincere seeker of the truth can verify from his works:
I . The first pillar of Islam is ''There is no other god beside the One God" Adding the name of Prophet Muhammed, Ali or any other names is blatant idolatry (3:18, 37:35, 39:45).

2. The correct way of doing, Salat is reestablished by following the Quran alone. Mentioning any other name is prohibited by God. (72:18) The tone of voice is specified (17:110). The ablution is defined (4:43, 5:6).

3. Zakat (the obligatory charity) is a prerequisite for redemption (7:156), and it must be given 'on the day of harvest' (6:141), i.e. whenever you earn any income.

4. The never ending, arguments about when fasting in the month of Ramadan starts or ends have been put to rest. We can tell today when Ramadan will start in any corner of earth at any given time.

5. The Hajj pilgrimage can be observed during any of the four consecutive sacred months. The Quran calls the practice of alternating the sacred months 'a gross sin', (2:197 and 9:37). The annual disasters related to the Hajj practice of today's 'Muslims go against Gods promise to make the observing of His religion easy (22:78).

6. The mathematical miracle of the Quran was unveiled and proclaimed, with the number of nineteen as its common denominator (74:30).
7. Two false verse that do not belong in Quran were exposed and remove.

8. The purpose of our lives, why we are here, why most people who believe in God will not make it, and the secret of perfect happiness were explained and clarified.

9. Hadith and Sunnah were exposed as Satanic as religious sources (31:6).

10. The concept that anything bad comes from us, every, thing good comes from God (4:79 and that God never advocates evil (16:90) was explained. For example, God never ordered Prophet Abraham to sacrifice his son Ismail (37:102107), rather Abraham believed its own dream.

11. The myth that Muhammed, Jesus, Ali or any other righteous idols will intercede on our behalf is nullified (2:254).

12. The only religion acceptable to God is Submission (Islam). Anyone who believes in God, the Hereafter and lives righteous life is submitter (2:62, 5:69).

International Community of Submitters,
Masjid Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A.

NOTE: Rashad's claim to Messengership, the number 19 and verses, which are claimed to have been added to the Quran, are discussed in Signs Issue 3.
 
 
  Signs magazine presenting a Quranic perspective for discussion and debate. We would like to hear from you. If you have any news, views or questions please write to us. Signs Magazine Strathyre House P.O. Box 164 Glasgow G3 6LR. (U.K.) Fax No: +44 (0) 141-331 2861 or Can e-mail us at SignsEditor@netscape.net