Islam Ahmadiyya

World Muslim Leader Arrives in Calgary

admin — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:05:18 +0000

The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat and Fifth Khalifa, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, arrived in Calgary on 22 May 2013 as his historic tour of North America continued.

After inaugurating the Baitur Rahman Mosque in Vancouver last week, His Holiness has travelled to Calgary to deliver this week’s Friday Sermon from the Baitun Nur Mosque which is the largest Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosque in North America.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad arrived at Calgary International Airport at 7.20pm after a short flight from Vancouver. At the airport His Holiness was greeted by 4 Members of Alberta’s Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and by Calgary’s Deputy-Mayor Ray Jones. After departing from the airport, His Holiness and his entourage were given a ten-car police escort to the Baitun Nur Mosque.

The Khalifa arrived at the Mosque just before 8pm and was greeted by more than 1600 Ahmadi Muslim men, women and children who were overcome and overjoyed at seeing their spiritual leader.

Later in the evening, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad held a meeting with three members of Alberta’s Legislative Assembly, Hon. Manmeet Bhullar, Hon. Rick Mclver and Hon. Moe Emery who all welcomed him to Calgary.

During the meeting Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad strongly condemned the terrorist attack that took place earlier in the day in London and said “it had nothing to do with the real teachings of Islam” and that “Islam is a religion of peace”.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad presented signed copies of his book ‘World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace’ to the three dignitaries. After presenting the books, His Holiness said the key to peace in the world was true justice amongst all parties.

eGazette May 2013 – Separation of Mosque-Church and State

admin — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:19:53 +0000

His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad’s interview with LA Times, USA

By Carol J. Williams for LA Times

Epigraph: “I shall cause thy message to reach the corners of the earth!” Revelation received in different languages by the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Community, the Messiah, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani

His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the global leader of the 124-year-old Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, is greeted by the religion’s U.S. national president, Dr. Ahsanullah Zafar, upon arrival at the Baitul Hameed Mosque in Chino, USA. (Kalim A. Bhatti / May 8, 2013)

Just weeks after the terrorist bombings at the Boston Marathon, the global leader of the world’s 10-million-plus Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has brought his religion’s message of peace, public service and uplift to the faithful of Southern California.

While those principles are embraced by most of the Muslim world, the Ahmadis’ outlook is distinctive. The visiting khalifa, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, is critical of mixing religion and governance and points to the restive Middle East countries in the “Arab Spring” aftermath as examples of discord born of religious rule. He speaks laudingly of Western democracy and praises Israeli President Shimon Peres for his ideas on restoring stability to the conflict-plagued region.

The first West Coast visit of the khalifa was scheduled long before the April 15 attacks in Boston that have newly shaken the American public’s sense of security and serenity. But in the nervous aftermath of that latest terror strike, which may or may not have had any connection to radical Islam, the need to tackle misconceptions and prejudices about Muslims is all the more obvious and challenging, in the view of the religious leader.

Ahmadis, like other adherents to moderate Islam, denounce violence and abhor the scorn that the acts of a few inflict on the many. Yet the community has internal and doctrinal conflicts of its own. Founded in 1889 in the Indian village of Qadian, the movement split in 1914 into the khalifa’s community and a smaller rival movement. With the 1947 partition of India, the community dispersed, when many of its followers fled to the new state of Pakistan. There, Ahmadis have been shunned and prohibited by law from calling themselves Muslims. The 62-year-old khalifa’s followers have been the target of anti-Ahmadiyya terrorists, including a May 2010 attack on Friday prayers in Lahore in which 86 Ahmadis died.

Ahmad will be speaking to politicians, academics and community leaders in Beverly Hills this weekend, including both Los Angeles mayoral candidates.

Now based in London and active in worldwide outreach, the khalifa spoke with The Times on Wednesday about his mission and the troubled state of the world.

Q: How do you spread the message of Islam as a religion of peace in the circumstances you find in the United States where, because of terrorist attacks by Muslim extremists, some people harbor misconceptions about the nature of Islam?

A: Muslims have been persecuted and attacked by their opponents throughout history, and have found themselves at war, compelled to retaliate for the mistreatment. But there is now no such religious war. Whenever any jihadist organization stands up in the name of Islam and misconstrues its true teachings, we have to stand up to this and speak out. Not only in the United States but everywhere in the world you see the name of Islam being defamed by opponents, those who don’t have a true understanding of Islam. These are militant groups, not followers of the true religion, and we always stand against them.

Here in the United States, we have a program of good works. For the past two years we have been conducting the “Muslims for Life” campaign. We organize the donation of blood. The first time this drive was conducted we collected 10,000 blood donations and distributed them to hospitals.

Q: Your community is committed to separation of church and state, which is a distinction from some Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East where political leaders are trying to establish Islamic governments in the place of the authoritarian regimes ousted in the Arab Spring revolutions. Would the region be more stable, in your opinion, if new secular governments were created instead?

A: In Egypt, what we have seen after having removed Hosni Mubarak is that nothing has changed. We have a government that still doesn’t discharge its duties to the public and isn’t respecting the rights of the people. In Libya, every tribe has its own government. The defense minister warned recently that some are attempting to overthrow the elected government and that unless some steps are taken there will be another disaster. In Tunisia, everyone says they are changing the country for the best and in the name of religion, but there is no peace. If there is going to be true democracy in the region it has to be practiced as in the West [without religious domination].

Q: How does the international community go about restoring peace in the region now racked by war and violent opposition?

A: A few months back, President Shimon Peres of Israel said the United Nations should send forces into these disrupted countries, but only forces comprised of Arab soldiers, not Western troops. It is the proper role of neighbors to get together and try to stop the conflicts in their region. It’s the duty of neighboring countries to stop the atrocities in Syria.

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An Audience with Press, 23rd March 2013, with the Champion of Peace, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad

Press Conference of the Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad

To watch video click here

Benjamin Franklin: ‘Laws too gentle are seldom obeyed; too severe, seldom executed!’

Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD

Epigraph: “And as for the man who steals and the woman who steals, cut off their hands in retribution of their offence as an exemplary punishment from Allah. And Allah is Mighty, Wise.” (Al Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:39)

The Benjamin Franklin National Memorial, located in the rotunda of The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, features a colossal, 20 feet tall, statue of seated Benjamin Franklin

Harvard Law School Library’s website, Words of Justice, says about Benjamin Franklin’s quote, which makes the title of my article:

In addition to being a statesman/diplomat, inventor/scientist and founding father, Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was also a publisher. This quotation is one of many proverbs in his publication Poor Richards Almanac, issued annually from 1732 to 1758. This best-selling pamphlet in colonial America also contained weather, poems, puzzles, astrological/astronomical information and other items that made it a popular publication with the general public. The quotation, published in the 1756 Almanac, suggests the need for proportionality in sentencing and warns against extremes of punishment in society’s laws. It advises that penalties must be severe enough to deter people from the censured behavior, but not so severe that people are reluctant to enforce them. The quote is very similar to a statement by Lord Keeper Finch in 1742 in which he stated “In making of laws, it will import us to consider, that too many laws are a snare, too few are a weakness in the government; too gentle are seldom obeyed, too severe are as seldom executed.”

Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physicsfor his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. He invented the lightning rod, bifocals, the Franklin stove, a carriage odometer, and the glass ‘armonica’.[1] He facilitated many civic organizations, including a fire department and a university.

Towards the end of his life, he freed his slaves and became one of the most prominent abolitionists.

His statement, ‘Laws too gentle are seldom obeyed; too severe, seldom executed!’ is very profound and no wonder Harvard Law School Library’s website, chose it among a few dozen quotes in Words of Justice. It is self evident that if punishment of speeding, for example, was only a dollar and associated police harassment of the minority population, was not added unofficial punishment, everyone will be speeding, in USA. My evidence? Almost everyone does go beyond the speed limit a little, with the expectation of some grace zone, above the officially posted speed limit.

To illustrate the other spectrum of Franklin’s quote, we observe that no one has appetite, in this day and age, for stoning anyone to death, which is prescribed as a punishment for several crimes, in the Bible, but not in the Quran. For a list of some of the crimes for which stoning is prescribed, see an article: Violence in the Bible and Jihad in the Quran.

Benjamin Franklin’s quote is profound in both of its clauses.

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An Unlikely Connection Between the Prophet Muhammad and George Washington

Source: The Huffington Post

By Craig Considine: PhD. candidate, Trinity College Dublin; Film director, ‘Journey into America’; Interfaith activist

The Washington Monument, along with Lincoln Memorial and Capitol Hill in moonlight

In seventh century Arabia, a middle-aged man had a vision to create a new religious and social order for a largely pagan and tribal society. The man, Muhammad, told his band of followers to behave wisely and civilly. “The best among you,” he said, “are those who have the best manners and character.” More than 1,000 years later, Muhammad’s wisdom would be echoed again, this time in the British colony of Virginia, by a 13-year-old schoolboy jotting down a lengthy set of behavioral rules that would later be published as “Rules of Civility.” The schoolboy was none other than George Washington, who would one day become the first president of the United States of America.

Muhammad and Washington may seem like an unlikely connection, but in fact, they share strikingly similar biographies. Muhammad and Washington were students of history, restorers of justice and fierce warriors who led their respective nations through successful revolutions. Both men united a large swath of political territory and served as the founding father for two unprecedented social movements — Islam and the United States of America — whose universal ideals would both spread throughout the world respectively.

Washington’s contemporary, Richard Henry Lee, once said that he was “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” Washington’s nemesis, Britain’s King George III, said that Washington was “placed in a light the most distinguished of any man living” and had “the greatest character of the age.” Similarly, Muslims worldwide see Muhammad as the perfect human being. In “The Prophet of Islam,” Professor K.S. Rao said we witnessed “the union of the theorist, the organizer and the leader” in him. Even a non-Muslim, such as Mohatma Gandhi, called Muhammad “a treasure of wisdom not only for Muslims but for all mankind.”

The connection between Muhammad and Washington can be explored further in the Holy Quran, the Islamic Scripture which documents God’s revelations to Muhammad, and “Rules of Civility,” a book which outlines Washington’s advice for the proper conduct of young American gentlemen. For Muslims, the Holy Quran is the literal word of God, while “Rules of Civility” is less concerned with religious affairs and more focused on social rules and behavior. The Holy Quran and “Rules of Civility” have different frames, but both texts — in a wider sense — offer guidance toward achieving a more peaceful and noble life.

To read further click here

May 2013

Updates from Alislam

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Islamic Solution for World Peace by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V

Khalifa of Islam USA 2013 Tour: Photos | Videos

Khalifa of Islam Canada 2013 Tour: Photos | Videos

Press Release: Khalifa of Islam Greeted by Thousands of Americans Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA Welcomes on first trip to the West Coast

More Press Releases

7 New Urdu Audio Books of The Promised Messiah (as) by Majlis Ansarullah Pakistan

Persecution News and Updates

For latest updates about the persecution of peaceful Ahmadiyya Muslim Community please visit newly launched website www.persecutionofahmadis.org

www.reviewofreligions.org

www.muslimsunrise.com

Why Bangladesh Should be a Secular State?

Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD

Bangladesh will retain Islam as the state religion in amendments the government is proposing to its constitution, a government minister said yesterday, Associated Press reported.

A former military ruler declared Islam the state religion in 1988 by amending the charter, but it barely affected Bangladesh’s secular legal system mainly based on British common law.

The government says the proposed changes won’t affect the legal system. Inheritance and other family laws already are based on religion.

The decision was made two days ago at a Cabinet meeting, the minister told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

A special government committee prepared proposals for the amendment, and the government will send those proposals to the parliament for passing as a law.

In 2009 the population of Bangladesh was estimated at 156 million. About 90% of Bangladeshis are Muslims and the remainder are mostly Hindus. What about the Hindus if Bangladesh goes Islamic and which version of Islam? Would it be Sunni Islam, Shia Islam or Ahmadiyya Islam?

Could this turn of events in Bangladesh be the slippery slope that is menacing Pakistan?

What if the neighboring India decides to be a Hindu State, while they have significant Muslim, Sikh and Christian minorities?

What if they start practicing Sati and the caste system and put the 170 million Muslims in India in the lowest scheduled caste?

To read more click here

Bangladesh Govt does its homework – Constitution leaves no room to declare Ahmadis non-Muslims

Courtesy: The Daily Star

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Law ministry finds 6 against constitution, 7 covered by existing laws

By Reaz Ahmad and Shakhawat Liton

Out of the 13, the law ministry has identified six demands of the Islamist group Hefajat-e Islam that go against the constitution while the remaining seven are well covered by existing laws.

Hefajat-e Islam’s demand for restoration of the phrase “Absolute trust and faith in Almighty Allah” in the constitution as one of the fundamental principles of state policy goes against the basic spirit of the constitution, the law ministry said.

“Therefore, there is no constitutional obligation to meet the demand,” the law ministry said in its opinion prepared after reviewing the 13-point demands of Hefajat.

The law ministry made the review upon receipt of a letter from the foreign ministry on April 7, a day after the Hefajat long march to the capital.
Similarly, the Hefajat’s demand for enactment of a law imposing a ban on “free-mingling of men and women” is also against the constitution, noted the law ministry review report.

The Daily Star obtained a copy of the report yesterday.

“Freedom of individual and speech, and free-mingling of men and women are recognised in the constitution as fundamental rights,” the ministry said, adding that enactment of any law curtailing fundamental rights would be against Articles-7 and -26 of the constitution and would become void.

If such laws were enacted, hundreds of thousands of female workers would be unemployed, severely hampering national development, it said. Co-education in schools, colleges and universities would have to be dissolved, which would hamper women empowerment and would be against the spirit of the constitution, the ministry said.

It said there was no reason or scope to scrap the women development policy and education policy as the policies were formulated as per constitutional provisions and the mandate of the United Nations.

The women policy is not against Islam and the issue of religious education was included in the education policy, the ministry argued.

Referring to Articles-28, -41 and -44 of the constitution, the ministry said the constitution leaves no room to meet Hafajat’s demand for declaring “Qadiani” people non-Muslims.

To read more click here

Muslim leader says first ‘Charter for the Protection of Religion and Religious Rights’ found in Quran

admin — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:44:10 +0000

On 18 May 2013, the Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat and Fifth Khalifa, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, addressed a Special Reception held to celebrate the opening of the Baitur Rahman Mosque in Vancouver, Canada.

During his address, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad reassured the audience that they had no reason to fear Ahmadiyya Mosques because they were built only for the worship of God and for the sake of serving humanity.

Speaking about the new Mosque, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“I would like to proclaim and declare that this Mosque will prove to be a source of spreading love, affection, peace and brotherhood for all people irrespective of whether they are Ahmadi or non-Ahmadi or whether they are Muslim or non-Muslim. The doors of our Mosque will always be open to the people of all religions, because this Mosque is a means of manifesting God’s Grace, Mercy, Love and Compassion for mankind.”

The Khalifa also addressed the issue of Jihad by explaining that when permission for defensive war was given to the early Muslims, it was given as a means to protect all religions and all places of worship.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“In essence, it can be said that the first ever ‘Charter for the Protection of Religion and Religious Rights’ is found in the Holy Quran and it has been associated directly to the Mosque. In other words, whenever a new Mosque is built, a new chapter for religious freedom is opened.”

The world leader also used his address to congratulate the Canadian Government for recently opening an ‘Office of Religious Freedom’.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“In my view, the Government deserves praise and congratulations for opening a designated ‘Office of Religious Freedom’. We fully support the Government of Canada in this endeavour. We will fully cooperate with them in every possible effort to establish religious freedom throughout the world.”

Prior to the keynote address a range of politicians and dignitaries also took to the stage.

Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Associate Minister for Defence, read out a message on behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper congratulating the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat on the opening of the new Mosque.

Dr Andrew Bennett, Ambassador of Canada’s Office of Religious Freedom said he was amazed “by the message of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat and its commitment to Love for All, Hatred for None.”

Lois Jackson, Mayor of the Corporation of Delta said the Mosque had become “an instant landmark”. She said it was “a great honour to have Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad in the city.”

Mobina Jaffer, Senator from British Columbia read out a message from Justin Trudeau, leader of Canada’s Liberal Party in which he called the Mosque “a welcome addition” to British Colombia and Canada at large.

Judy Sgro, Member of Parliament, said the fact that so many dignitaries were in attendance illustrated “the love and respect we all hold for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.” She said the Ahmadiyya Community was “an example for the entire world.

Jinny Sims, Member of Parliament, said that if the Ahmadi motto of ‘Love for All, Hatred for None’ was adopted by all “the world will be a better place”.

Jim Karygiannis, Member of Parliament, said that the persecution faced by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat “should not be forgotten.” He said it was imperative that all parties worked together to ensure religious freedom for all people.

Rob Norris, Member of Legislative Assembly, said he was “humbled and honoured to take part in the celebration.” He said that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat “enriches our entire country”.

Manmeet Bhullar, Member of Legislative Assembly, said meeting Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad marked a “profound moment” in his life. In a message to the Ahmadiyya Community he said “we are with you, just as you are with us.”

Marilyn Iafrate, Councillor City of Vaughan, said the local community was “very blessed” to have Ahmadi Muslims amongst them. She said the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat was “totally devoted to giving back to their community.”

Ron Starr, Councillor City of Mississauga, announced that his Council had decided to recognise May 18 as “Ahmadiyya Day”. He said that in Ahmadi Mosques there is “peace, hope and a recognition that by working together will make the world a better place.”

Prior to the event, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, answered questions during a 30minute press conference.

Amongst the media outlets included were ‘CBC’, ‘CTV’, ‘Global TV’ as well as ‘The Province’ and ‘Vancouver Sun’ newspapers.

Related: Reception Video

Thousands attend opening of new Ahmadiyya Mosque in Vancouver

admin — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:57:12 +0000

The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat and Fifth Khalifa, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad inaugurated the Baitur Rahman Mosque in Vancouver on 17 May 2013 by delivering his weekly Friday Sermon from the new Mosque.

The Mosque, which is the largest Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosque in British Columbia, was packed with more than 3,000 Ahmadi Muslim men, women and children who had travelled from across Canada to attend the opening. Ahmadi Muslims from the United States and certain other countries were also in attendance.

Speaking about the significance of the new Mosque, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“With the Grace of Allah the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat is today opening a new Mosque in the Canadian Province of British Columbia. A Mosque has a special effect both on Muslims and non-Muslims alike. When a Mosque is built, new avenues of spreading the message of Islam are created and this is why the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat continually reminded his followers about the importance of constructing Mosques.”

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said that upon the opening of Baitur Rahman the responsibilities of the local Ahmadi Muslims had increased. He said it was imperative that they practiced what they preached and that no difference existed between their words and their actions. Ahmadi Muslims had to spread the true message of peaceful Islam not just through their words, but through their conduct and behaviour.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“Prove to those who come to visit this Mosque that every single act of an Ahmadi Muslim is conducted with the intention of benefitting and helping others. It is due to the teachings of Islam and the Quran that we think only of benefitting others, rather than favouring ourselves. Indeed, we do not just think of helping others but through our acts we work towards this aim. God Willing, with the opening of this Mosque people will witness for themselves this reality.”

World Muslim Leader arrives in Canada to Inaugurate New Mosque

admin — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:45:41 +0000

The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat and Fifth Khalifa, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad arrived in Canada on 15 May 2013 as his tour of North America continued.

His Holiness landed at Vancouver International Airport at 5.30pm local time and was greeted by Canada’s Minister for Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad has travelled to Canada to inaugurate the Baitur Rahman Mosque in Vancouver, the largest Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosque in British Columbia.

To mark the opening of the Mosque, His Holiness will deliver the keynote address at a special reception on Saturday in front of a range of Government officials, Federal and Provincial Members of Parliament, Community Leaders and various other dignitaries.

Upon arrival in Vancouver, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad held a meeting with Jason Kenney during which the Minister congratulated His Holiness on behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper upon the completion of Baitur Rahman. Mr Kenney also said it was “a great honour to welcome His Holiness back to Canada.”

Mr Kenney praised the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat for its commitment to peace, tolerance and equality for all. In response, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said that “this is the true picture of Islam.”

Later in the day, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad made his first visit to the new Mosque where he was greeted by thousands of Ahmadi Muslim men, women and children who were overcome with joy at seeing their spiritual leader.

His Holiness was given a tour of the Baitur Rahman Mosque complex before leading the Maghreb and Isha prayers.

Islamic Solution for World Peace

admin — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:47:55 +0000

By Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V
May 11, 2013 at Montage Beverly Hills, CA, United States

All distinguished guests السلام علیکم ورحمۃ اللہ وبرکاتہ (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon you all)

First of all, I would like to thank all of our guests who have accepted our invitation to this event and who by coming have enlightened the occasion. I also thank all those honourable guests who have spoken and praised the Community and I also thank all those, who as a gesture of goodwill, have given gifts, especially the key to this city. Thank you for this. Your kind approach towards an Islamic religious organisation is clearly demonstrated by your attendance and shows that you have a very tolerant attitude and a keen desire to learn about Islam.

With these few words, I would like to turn towards an issue of great importance and of which there is an urgent need to deliberate and talk about in today’s world. What I wish to discuss is something that has caused Islamaphobia in the Western and non-Muslim. There can be no doubt that this state of fear and anxiety has been fuelled by the acts of certain so-called Muslims or so-called Muslim groups.

However there is also no doubt, that the acts of terrorism or extremism they perpetrate have nothing whatsoever to do with the true teachings of Islam. The very meaning of ‘Islam’ is peace, security and giving a guarantee of protection against all forms of harm and evil. Indeed, the Holy Quran declares that this is the teaching that every single Prophet of God taught.

Islam requires Muslims to abide by its teachings and fundamental amongst them is that they must not only fulfil the rights owed to God Almighty, but just as importantly they must also fulfil the rights owed to God’s Creation. The Quran has shined a bright light on the beauty of the teachings of all Prophets by making it clear that they all drew mankind’s attention to fulfilling the rights owed both to God and to His Creation.

How then could it be possible, that on the one hand, God has praised the qualities of all religions for urging mankind to fulfil the rights of God and of man, yet on the other hand God could enjoin the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), upon whom the Great Book was revealed, to not establish peace and security in the world? How could it be possible that they were instructed to cause destruction and to destroy the peace and security of the world? Certainly no wise person could ever accept this.

True justice and fairness requires that rather than judging Islam in a prejudiced manner or by making false assumptions based on hearsay, a person should study the religion and try to develop an understanding of its teachings before criticising it and its Founder. An informed decision about any issue can only be made once a person has studied its teachings in depth and strived to learn the truth.

The truth or reality of any faith can only be learned from those who are practising or striving to follow its true and authentic teachings. Today, it is the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, which claims to follow the original and true teachings of Islam and is spreading it.

Upon hearing this, you may question how Ahmadis can claim that they alone understand the true teachings of Islam, given that a large portion of Muslims and Islamic clergy do not even consider Ahmadis to be Muslims.

To answer this question, firstly and as I have already said, the Qur’an has clearly stated that Islam is a religion of peace that has nothing to do with terrorism or extremism. And secondly, in a grand prophecy made by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), he said that as had happened with all previous religions, a time would come when the state of Muslims would become ruined and corrupted.

The Muslim scholars would spread false doctrines and ideologies and there would be great division and conflict within the Muslim world. Whilst the Holy Quran would remain preserved in its original state, false commentaries and interpretations would be made which would lead Muslims away from its true teachings.

According to the prophecy, when such a desperate state of affairs came to pass, God Almighty would send a person as the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi to rejuvenate Islam. He would clarify the correct meanings of the Quran and would inform the world of the true Islam practiced by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his rightly guided successors 1400 years before.

The Promised Messiah would guide the world towards living together in love, peace and harmony and would foster a spirit of mutual understanding and reconciliation. The Promised Messiah would do all of this in light of the shining example of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and the true teachings of the Quran. Furthermore, the Promised Messiah would bring an end to all forms of religious warfare.

We, Ahmadi Muslims, believe that the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, was the very person who was sent as the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi according to the prophecies of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). We believe he came as a beacon of light to convey the true and luminous teachings of Islam to the entire world.

With these words of introduction, I shall now briefly present some examples of the beautiful and peaceful characteristics of Islam.

Before I give specific examples, I should mention that the person who followed the teachings of the Quran to the greatest extent possible was the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). That is why one of his wives once said that his morals and his acts were a perfect mirror image and reflection of the teachings of the Qur’an.

Consequently, if a person studies the Quran then the life and character of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) will naturally become clear and apparent. In the limited time available it is not possible for me to cover all aspects of the Quran, in fact it is not possible for me to cover even one aspect of its teachings. Nonetheless, I shall try to briefly explain one part of Islamic teaching, which has sadly become very misunderstood in the modern world and thus has caused a great deal of fear to develop in the non-Muslim world.

I refer to the teachings of the Qur’an and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in relation to establishing peace in the world.

The Quran was revealed by Allah to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and from the very first verse of its very first chapter the Quran has given a message of peace. The first verse of the Quran reads:

“All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.”

This verse means that the God who Muslims worship, is the One God, who sustains and nourishes everything and everyone without any distinction. He fulfils all of the needs of His Creation. In other words, He is the God of the Christians, the God of the Jews, the God of the Hindus and indeed He even gives nourishment and provides to those who do not believe in His existence.

Whenever I reflect upon this particular point, I realise that I believe in that One God who is the Lord of all nations, all races and all religions, and so it becomes impossible that I could ever develop any hatred in my heart for any nation, any race or any religion. In this context I would like to say that my sympathies and my prayers are with the victims of the recent Boston attack. We fully condemn that attack.

A Muslim has been commanded by God Almighty to pray five times a day and to recite the opening chapter of the Quran in each unit of prayer. And so, at the very least, a Muslim must repeat the prayer that His Lord is the ‘Lord of all of the Worlds’ at least thirty-two times each and every day.

The entire world is God’s Creation and He loves His Creation dearly. Thus the reason we praise the ‘Lord of all the Worlds’ and repeat this prayer so many times each day is so that we realise and accept the beauty of all people and all nations because they are all part of God’s Creation. When the beauty and merit of something is accepted, then it is impossible to bear hatred or malice towards it, rather love and compassion shine forth.

If this point is understood, then the question can not even arise in the heart of a true Muslim that he should bear enmity, ill-will or hatred towards any of God’s Creation.

This is why the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who had the greatest insight and understanding of God’s Word, used to recite the words “All Praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the Worlds” not just in his obligatory prayers, but also in the countless voluntary prayers he used to offer. More than anyone else, his heart was consumed by love for all and was entirely free from any form of hatred or spite.

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had love for all of God’s Creation, but most particularly for mankind, because humans have been deemed to be the best of God’s Creation. Human beings have been given wisdom to differentiate between right and wrong and so there is reward for goodness and punishment for wrongdoing. Due to the infinite love God instilled in the heart of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) for all people, he used to feel great anguish and despair for the state of mankind. He was constantly overwhelmed by a concern that due to wrongdoing a large number of people were at grave risk of incurring the Wrath of God and His Chastisement.

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to spend night upon night, beseeching his Lord and praying that those who had forgotten God became guided to the right path. He used to feel this burden with such intensity that Allah the Almighty has said in the Quran that the Holy Prophet would grieve himself to death due to his anguish for mankind. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was held captive and enslaved in his heartfelt distress and desire to save the people of the world from destruction.

And so it is a cause of great injustice that many people today try to stain his blessed character by saying that, God forbid, he brought teachings of cruelty, oppression and injustice.

Today, when we the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat raise the slogan of ‘Love for All, Hatred for None’ as a means to establish global peace, we do so directly in fulfilment of the teachings of the Holy Quran and the practice of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was so consumed by his desire to serve humanity and to fulfil the rights of mankind that throughout his life he stood ever ready for this cause. Even after becoming a Prophet of God, which was a huge responsibility and the greatest task imaginable, he said that if any person, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, called him at any time for the mission of serving humanity, then he would most certainly join them in their effort to serve mankind.

This was his example, whereby irrespective of religion, if a person was in any kind of need or came from a deprived segment of society, he deemed it essential to come forward to help and assist him. Despite his great status as Islam’s Founder and a Prophet of God, he deemed it of utmost importance to work towards this pious objective with non-Muslims.

The question may well arise in some people’s minds that if the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was filled with so much love for humanity, then why is his name associated with warfare? Why did he take part in some wars and why did he send some armies into battle?

To answer this question, we must assess whether an entirely pacifistic attitude, whereby war in all circumstances is wrong, is a correct doctrine? Or alternatively whether in extreme circumstances fighting may be permitted? And, if in certain circumstances it is permissible, then what are the required conditions and to what extent is war allowed? What does Islam teach us about this?

As I explained earlier, when a Muslim praises the ‘Lord of all the Worlds’, the beauty of God’s Creation comes before him and he is compelled to praise and be attracted to it. When this beauty is acknowledged, one cannot harbour any ill will or malice towards God’s Creation.

However there will always be some people who do not act upon this teaching and who are determined to spread disorder in society and the wider world. Islam has given very clear and detailed guidance about how to reform such people so that global peace and harmony can be maintained. Allah the Almighty has said in the Quran that had not Allah repelled some men by others the earth would indeed be full of mischief. But Allah is the Lord of Grace to all Peoples. (Chapter 2 Verse 252)

If we ponder the meaning of this, we see that peace is undoubtedly the best state of affairs and so Allah has naturally instilled its attraction inside the human mind. However sometimes man goes against his natural tendencies and inclinations. His greed, envy, selfish interests and hatred overpower him and incite him to such an extent that he no longer has any concern for the rights of others.

As a result disorder develops in society, in a country and in the wider world. Such people move far away from peace. It becomes their objective to supress and violate the freedoms that society hold dear. They attack basic human rights such as freedom of conscience and freedom of thought by using force and severity. Indeed, such people also target religious freedom and seek to supress it.

It was when such subjugating circumstances arose, that Allah granted permission to the early Muslims to respond to force with force. This permission was granted only as a means to stop disorder, to stop cruelty and establish peace and harmony.

Allah has said in the Quran that He bestows His Grace and Blessings on all of the Worlds. He does not favour any nation or region. He does not desire peace for just a limited few, rather He wants to see the entire world filled with peace, harmony and compassion. In the sight of Allah, all of His Creation is equal and the same.

If God has enabled someone to become wealthy then that person does not have the right to deprive a poor person of his rights. Similarly, if any nation or country becomes powerful and wealthy it does not have the right to usurp the rights of weaker and poorer countries. God Almighty has clearly said that such cruelties only create division and conflict.

In the eyes of God, peace is a great and paramount objective, and so to establish it, if you occasionally have to sacrifice a smaller ideal then there is no harm, as it is for the greater good of mankind.

When permission for defensive war was first given in Islam, it was given with the reason that whilst Muslims truly desired peace, the disbelievers wished to destroy the peace. If permission to fight back had not been granted to the Muslims at that point then all religions would have been placed in grave danger. Allah the Almighty says in the Holy Quran:

“Permission to fight is given to those against whom war is made, because they have been wronged and Allah, indeed, has power to help them.

Those who have been driven out from their homes unjustly only because they said, ‘Our Lord is Allah.’ – And if Allah did not repel some people by means of others, there would surely have been pulled down cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft commemorated. And Allah will surely help one who helps Him. Allah is, indeed, Powerful, Mighty.” (Chapter 22, Verse 40-41)

Thus, it is quite clear that Islam has made every effort to establish peace and every effort to protect all other religions. Even where defensive war was permitted to the Muslims, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gave extremely strict rules of engagement to the Muslim armies which they were compelled to abide by.

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught that during wars only those people who were directly engaged in the war could be fought. He gave strict instructions that no innocent person was ever to be attacked. No woman, child or elderly person was ever to be attacked. He taught that no religious leader or priest could be attacked in his place of worship. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) further taught that no person could be forced or compelled to convert to Islam. He taught that when Muslims were forced to fight for the cause of peace they must not create fear or terror amongst the members of the public, nor should they be treated in a harsh or severe manner. He taught that prisoners of war should be treated with even greater care and attention than a person would pay to himself. He taught that buildings should not be targeted or destroyed and that trees should not be felled.

Thus even where conditions existed where war was justified, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gave countless guidelines and instructions to his followers which were essential to follow. I have only mentioned very few.

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said very clearly that whosoever acted against these rules of engagement would not be fighting in accordance to the commands of Allah to establish peace, but rather would be fighting for their own personal interests or gain.

Those who criticise the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings be upon him) in today’s world should reflect upon whether these instructions are being followed in any of the wars taking place today? Is it not the case that today horrific weapons are being used which are causing innocent people to be killed indiscriminately?

Yet, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited any form of collateral damage, to the extent that once during a war, a companion accidently killed a child and this caused great displeasure to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) who severely rebuked him for this act.

Another incident shows just how much respect the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had for all of mankind. Once a funeral procession passed by and as a mark of respect he immediately stood up. Upon seeing this, a companion commented in surprise that:

“This is the funeral procession of a Jewish person.”

Hearing this, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“Was he not a human? Respect for all humans is obligatory”.

These are the characteristics and qualities which develop mutual respect in society and help develop peace.

Today’s world is ever increasing in its criticism of Islam and its Founder, despite the fact that Islam’s teachings and the Holy Prophet’s every act were filled with love for humanity and a desire to establish peace in the world. Sadly, today’s world does not see or understand what is really happening today.

As I have already said, the evil acts conducted by extremists claiming to be Muslims, have nothing to do with the real teachings of Islam. If there is oppression in Muslim countries or the rights of the public are being usurped then that too is completely contrary to the teachings of Islam. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said that such cruelties were based only on vested interests and certainly were not for the sake of God.

Bearing all of this in mind, the urgent need of the time is that instead of thinking ill or holding misconceptions about Islam, all those who desire peace should join together and discuss how cruel and unjust elements can be stopped.

Defaming or unjustly attacking Islam is not the right way. Leaving aside certain Muslim countries and groups, there are also non-Muslims who are conducting acts through which innocent people, women and children are losing their lives on the basis of ‘establishing peace’.

The direction the world is moving in suggests that the dark shadow of war is being cast over a very large part of the globe. If war breaks out then countless innocent women, children and elderly people will all die. The destruction will be greater than was witnessed in the previous two World Wars and I say this knowing full well that during the Second World War tens of millions of people lost their lives. The world’s population is now far greater and there has also been a vast increase in both the number of weapons of mass destruction and the countries that have developed a thirst for war. Under these circumstances destruction will be manifold.

In light of all of this, it is imperative that the world and particularly the major powers reflect upon what efforts are required to save the world from a horrific destruction.

Fear of Islam or attempts to defame it will not achieve anything or lead to peace and reconciliation. Instead, the key to peace is to stop cruelty and oppression wherever it occurs with justice and equality. Only when this principle is followed will global peace develop. This will only happen when the people of the world come to recognise their Creator.

It is my ardent hope and prayer that the entire world urgently comes to understand the needs of the time before it is too late.

At the end I would like to once again thank all of our guests who have taken the time and effort to come and attend this event.

May Allah bless you all. Thank you very much.

Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat delivers Historic Address in Southern California

admin — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:56:54 +0000

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The Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat and Fifth Khalifa, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad delivered the keynote address at a special reception held in his honour at the Montage in Beverly Hills, LA on 11 May 2013.

More than 300 politicians, academics and community leaders attended, including the California Lieutenant Governor, mayoral candidate Eric Garcetti, and several members of the United States Congress.

During the event the Los Angeles City Council presented Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad with the golden key to the city, declaring:

“This Key is reserved for only the most honoured people on Earth.”

In his keynote address Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said the American people had no reason to fear Islam because it was a religion that advocated peace, universal human rights and a respect for human dignity.

Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“There is no doubt that the acts of terrorism or extremism some so-called Muslims perpetrate have nothing whatsoever to do with the true teachings of Islam. The very meaning of ‘Islam’ is peace, security and giving a guarantee of protection against all forms of harm and evil.”

The Khalifa also took the opportunity to unequivocally condemn the recent Boston marathon terrorist attack and to offer his condolences saying:

“My sympathies are with the victims of the Boston bombing. We condemn that attack in its entirety.”

Speaking about Islam’s commitment to equality and humanity for all people, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“I believe in that One God who is the Lord of all nations, all races and all religions, and so it becomes impossible that I could ever develop any hatred in my heart for any nation, any race or any religion.”

Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad also used his address to implore all people to view Islam through the lens of justice, rather than through the acts of extremists. He called on non-Muslims to judge Islam only after studying its teachings in depth and after observing the character of Muslims who adhere to its original teachings

The Khalifa gave examples from the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to illustrate the Prophet’s love for all of mankind and his unparalleled levels of compassion, tolerance and justice.

Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was held captive and enslaved in his heartfelt distress and desire to save the people of the world from destruction. And so it is a cause of great injustice that many people today try to stain his blessed character by saying that, God forbid, he brought teachings of cruelty, oppression and injustice.”

Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad concluded his address with a stark warning about the state of the world by saying:

“The direction the world is moving in suggests that the dark shadow of war is being cast over a very large part of the globe. If war breaks out then countless innocent women, children and elderly people will all die. The destruction will be greater than was witnessed in the previous two World Wars.”

Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad continued:

“The key to peace is to stop cruelty and oppression wherever it occurs with justice and equality. Only when this principle is followed will global peace develop. This will only happen when the people of the world come to recognise their Creator. It is my ardent hope and prayer that the entire world urgently comes to understand the needs of the time before it is too late.”

A number of dignitaries also took to the stage to welcome Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad to Los Angeles and to congratulate the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat on its continued commitment to developing peace and tolerance globally.

Gavin Newsom, California Lieutenant Governor said the presence of Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad meant it was a “special day” and he thanked His Holiness for “sowing the seeds of possibility to the entire world.” He also said the people of LA “do not tolerate diversity, we celebrate it”.

U.S. Congresswoman Julia Brownley praised His Holiness as: “One of the greatest ecumenical leaders of our time.”

U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu added, “I am here because His Holiness stands against terrorists and war.”

U.S. Congresswoman Karen Bass said “His Holiness is a transformative figure who has promoted peace and tolerance across the world.”

Lee Baca, Los Angeles County Sheriff said “Your Holiness, you are a worldwide spiritual leader. You have made a huge impact in all parts of the world and so we are all drawn to you today for the sake of wisdom.”

The reception was preceded by both a Press Conference and a private meeting between Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad and various dignitaries.

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Press Release: Khalifa of Islam Greeted by Thousands of Americans

admin — Sun, 05 May 2013 19:44:55 +0000

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA Welcomes on first trip to the West Coast

7 New Urdu Audio Books of The Promised Messiah (as)

admin — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 21:07:07 +0000

by Majlis Ansarullah Pakistan

International Conference of Muslim Television Ahmadiyya takes place in London

admin — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 01:12:05 +0000

The second International Conference of Muslim Television Ahmadiyya International (MTA) concluded on 15 April 2013 with an address by the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat and Fifth Khalifa, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad.

31 delegates from 16 countries attended the four-day conference which was held at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in South-West London. Countries represented were India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Ghana, USA, Canada, Germany, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, Kababir, Holland, Switzerland and Australia.

During the course of the event the delegates attended a variety of workshops and presentations organised by MTA International.

The highlight of the conference was the concluding address given by Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad in which he spoke about the continued progress of MTA International since its inception in the 1990s.

Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“By the Grace of Allah, MTA International is excelling in leaps and bounds. Operations that started with just a few select people, with basic equipment and a single truck of MTA have now expanded across the world. Studios have been set up in different countries, several satellites have been acquired and with Allah’s Grace operations are continuing to expand.

Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad also spoke of how recently MTA had successfully launched a trilateral communication-link via satellite to coincide with the Promised Messiah Day celebrations that took place on 23 March.

Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“Allah has enabled the Jamaat across the globe to connect with each other through direct satellite links. A new innovation MTA recently achieved was was a three-way communication link established between Qadian, Kababir and London. Through this, three locations were able to communicate directly during the Promised Messiah Day event. Such communication is causing the message of the Promised Messiah to reach the corners of the world.”

End

MTA International Conference Group Photos with Hadhrat Khalifa‐tul Masih V

Photo of Management Board of MTA International with Hadhrat Khalifa‐tul Masih V

Photo of Foreign Delegates of MTA International Conference with Hadhrat Khalifa‐tul Masih V