FOREWORD TO THE FOURTH EDITION

The Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat Islam, Lahore (USA) is honored to publish the 2012 edition of Maulana Muhammad Ali’s monumental work the Religion of Islam. Since The Religion of Islam was published in 1936, world events have proven that this book is as much needed today as it was when it first appeared seventy six years ago. With Islam playing a focal role in current events on a global stage, understanding this religion has become essential. This book, as was stated by Sir Muhammad Iqbal (the famous poet philosopher of Pakistan) is “… an extremely useful work almost indispensable to the students of Islam.” Similarly, the famous British Muslim and translator of the Holy Quran, Marmaduke Pickthall explained the importance and value of this work while reviewing it in the Islamic Culture (Hyderabad Dn.) in October 1936:

“In our opinion the present volume is his [Maulana Muhammad Ali’s] finest work. It is a description of Al-Islam by one well-versed in the Sunnah who has on his mind the shame of the Muslim decadence of the past five centuries and in his heart the hope of the revival, of which signs can now be seen on every side. Without moving a hair’s breadth from the traditional position with regard to worship and religious duties, the author shows a wide field in which changes are lawful and may be desirable because here the rules and practice are not based on an ordinance of the Qur’an or on an edict of the Prophet (peace be on him), and should be altered when they cease to meet the needs of the community.

Such a book is greatly needed at the present day when in many Muslim countries we see persons eager for the reformation and revival of Islam, making mistakes through lack of just this knowledge… To use an old fashioned word it is an edifying book.”

Due to the efforts of Mrs. Samina Malik, Vice-President of the Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat Islam, (Lahore) USA, this book has been certified by Al-Azhar, Al-Sharif Islamic Research Academy. When it