THE HISTORY OF
THE
REVIEW
OF
RELIGIONS
A BRIEF GUIDE
Lajna Ima’illah USA
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS –
OUTLINE
1. NEED
2. BEGINNING
3. REACTION
4. SAYINGS of the Promised Messiah (as)
5. SUCCESS
6. SUBSCRIPTION
7. NEW ITEMS
8. CONTACT
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
1. NEED
Why was
The Review of Religions
needed?
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
THE PROMISED MESSIAH (AS) SAID:
“the sun rising from West means that the
Western countries which had been engulfed by the
darkness of infidelity and ignorance, will
be
illuminated by the sun of truth, and
they will have a share of Islam …”
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
… my writings would spread
amongst those people”
(Izala-e-Auhaam)
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
2. BEGINNING
Beginnings of The Review
of Religions
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
1st Jalsa in 1891 at Qadian Darul Aman
 Promised Messiah (as) invited participants
to “put
forward sound policies for
the religious benefit of Europe
and America”
 2nd Jalsa Salana: Members put forward their
suggestions and it was decided that an
English Magazine providing the true
and beautiful teachings of Islam should
be compiled and printed
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
1ST EDITION
 On 15th January 1901, the Promised
Messiah(as) formally announced the
launch of The Review of Religions.
 In January 1902 the first edition
was published in English from
Lahore.
 The Promised Messiah (as) would
write articles specifically
for the magazine, which were
translated from Urdu into English.
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
3. REACTION
Reaction to its launch
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
TOLSTOY AND THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
 Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq (ra) sent
copies of the first few Review of Religions to
Russia’s Leo Tolstoy , considered by
many as the greatest novelist of the 19th
century
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
TOLSTOY’S LETTER IN REPLY:
“Dear friend!
Your letter along with Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s picture and a sample of the magazine Review
of Religions has been received. To engage in the proof of the death of Christ or in the
investigation of his tomb, is a futile effort because an
intelligent man can never
believe that Jesus is still alive.... We need reasoned religious teaching and if
Mr Mirza presents a new reasonable proposition then I am ready to benefit from
it. In The Review of Religions specimen number, I approved very much two articles, ‘How to
get rid of the Bondage of Sin’ and ‘The Life to Come’, especially the second. The idea is very
profound and very true. I am most thankful to you for sending me this and am also grateful for
your letter.
Yours Sincerely,
Tolstoy,
from Russia. 5th June 1903.”
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
4. SAYINGS OF THE PROMISED MESSIAH (AS)
Promised Messiah’s (as)
sayings about The Review
Of Religions
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
PROMISED MESSIAH (AS) SAID:
 ‘The Breaking of the Cross’ in the traditions of the Holy Prophet (saw)
means an English magazine: The
been started
Review of Religions, which has
 The Review of Religions has begun to influence
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
many hearts
PROMISED MESSIAH (AS) SAID:
 If, God forbid, this magazine ceases to exist as a result of a lack of interest
of this community then this would be a cause
for the community.
for mourning
 Therefore, I urge the sincere members of my community to provide as
much support and financial assistance as may be possible for
them.
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
5. SUCCESS
Role of The Review of
Religions in the
propagation of the Jama’at
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
MAURITIUS, PHILIPPINES & MANY MORE
 First Ahmadi of Mauritius Nur
converted through The Review of Religions
Muhammad Nuraya Saheb
 Ahmadiyyat was first introduced to the Philippines
through The Review of Religions
 Many people were drawn to Ahmadiyyat by reading articles
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
FAMOUS EDITORS OF THE MAGAZINE
Malik Ghulam Farid (ra)
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
Maulvi Sher Ali (ra)
Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
6. SUBSCRIPTION
Why subscribing to
The Review of Religions
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
THE PROMISED MESSIAH(AS) SAID:
 If 10,000 people of this community subscribe to the English or Urdu
editions, then it would run according to one’s wishes.
 And in my view, if those taking the oath of allegiance on initiation strive in
this cause to do justice to their oath, then this number is not much. Instead,
compared to the number of the members of the Jama’at, this is but a small
number.
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
ALSO:
 In an appendix of the early editions of The Review of Religions was written: “On hearing
of Hudhur’s appeal some friends sent up to
ten copies of the magazine abroad
at their own expense .”
 Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra) mentioned that: “Some read The Review of Religions and
write to us. We have received letters from Sweden and England . There are such
rightly minded people willing to hear, what is needed are the ones to
address them!
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
TARGET OF 10,000
At Jalsa Salana UK 2011, Hadhrat
Khalifatul Masih V(aba) said that
subsequent to his appeal in 2010, there
were now 8000 subscribers to
The Review of Religions.
However, Hudhur said that we were
still behind, and need to increase
attain the
10,000 target.
our efforts and
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
HADHUR’S (ABA) TARGET FOR USA
 Canada and USA should have 500-1000
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
subscribers
7. NEW ITEMS
Improvements of
The Review of Religions
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
IMPROVEMENTS
 Since January 2011 the magazine started
printing in full color on a monthly basis
for the first time ever in its 109-year
history
 Pictures can be used more widely
 Increased paper thickness of the
inside pages from 75/80gsm to 100gsm,
this enhanced the reading experience for
subscribers
 Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V(aba) has
appointed some of the top scholars of
the Jama’at to write regularly for the
magazine
 A number of special series will
shortly be introduced
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
8. CONTACT
Feedback and Subscription
of
The Review of Religions
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
Magazine can be subscribed online with Credit Card:
www.reviewofreligions.org/subscription/
Subscription costs are US$30 per year
Or
Contact
Faiza Bajwa - email: usa@reviewofreligions.org
The Review of Religions Coordinator for USA
Feel free to give your feedback regarding any aspect of The Review of Religions, whether it
relates to the new design, suggestions for article topics, or any other matter:
info@reviewofreligions.org
For more information visit: www.reviewofreligions.org
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE
SOURCES
•
Izala-e-Auhaam pp. 515-516 Second Edition
•
www.reviewofreligions.org
•
www.alislam.org
•
http://flickriver.com/photos/syedahya/tags/india/
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS - A BRIEF GUIDE