Islamic teachings that promote peace and security on a global level

Summary of Friday Sermon

delivered by the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

June 22^nd, 2007

Huzur gave his Friday sermon today on the Islamic teachings that promote peace and security on a global level.

Explaining Huzur said when man spreads disorder on earth, peace and security declines and righteousness all but disappears, God sends His Prophets to save the world. 1,400 years ago when righteousness had completely vanished from this world and disorder was at its pinnacle, God sent His final Shariah (religious law) and thus facilitated to save the world from turmoil. Through this Shariah man was taught ways to honour the rights of God and the rights of mankind, which had either being forgotten by those who had believed in the earlier Prophets, or commandments of this excellence had not been revealed before.

The most significant point that the Holy Qur’an draws attention to in order to abide by all its commandments is taqwa (righteousness). If one attains a true perception and discernment of taqwa one can put the Divine attributes in practice and can propagate them to others.

Huzur explained that as long as Muslims were righteous they spread all over the world, from Asia to Africa to Europe. However when the standard of taqwa was diminished and peace and security was replaced with selfishness, love and harmony was replaced with jealousy and malice, the Muslims were deprived of what they had.

However, Allah had revealed His final teachings to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) in order to remove disorder from the land. Today it is this teaching alone that is going to remove turmoil from the world. Although the others were deprived, God fulfilled His promise in that the faith revealed to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was to triumph over others, through the advent of his true and ardent devotee, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) who was destined to regain the lost legacy. It is therefore the responsibility of an Ahmadi to propagate the peaceable message of Islam to the world and inform them that Islam is not a religion of extremism rather it is the standard bearer of love and compassion.

In the aftermath of WWII the UNO was formed with its various bodies, e.g. the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the International Court of Justice etc. However, the current affairs around the world are a testimony to the failure of this institution. The reason for this failure is lack of righteousness. Based on knowledge, power or arrogance some nations of the world have an upper hand in the UNO; there are dual standards of permanent and non-permanent membership etc.

If lasting peace and security is to spread in the world, it will be through the teachings of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). The Holy Qur’an addresses all nations of the world on the basis of humanity:

“O mankind We have created you from male and female; and We have made you into clans and tribes that you may recognise one another. Verily, the most honourable among you, in the sight of Allah, is he who is the most righteous among you. Surely, Allah is All Knowing, All-Aware.” (49:14)

This is the Islamic teaching of brotherhood. A righteous believer is enjoined to adhere to this teaching and indeed to propagate it. This alone can foster love, affection and equality. Peace and security can only be guaranteed in the world when the false and oppressive notion of supremacy for some nations is eradicated.

Peace and security cannot be established until people of each race and each nation are able to ascertain that they are the children of Adam and are created by a male and female and are indeed equal. If one is better than the other, it is in terms of righteousness alone. However, whose righteousness is most excellent, only Allah knows, no one can adjudge this for themselves.

Islam says that all mankind is like a family and it can only look after the peace and security of each other only if it lives like a close-knit family. The apparent differences in mankind are only for identification as to who is European who is Asian and who is African. As humans we are all the same and a person in Africa has the same sentiments as those of a person in Europe. Peace and security can only prevail when each others’ sentiments are cared for. These are the measures for durable peace and security that Islam presents, otherwise no matter how many Security Councils are formed durable peace cannot be maintained.

This teaching did not just remain theoretical; the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) put it all in practice. He loved the poor and the disadvantaged, freed the slaves, assigned the deprived their rights. Citing the example of Hadhrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) Huzur said he had no ethnic status, but such was the consideration of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) towards him that Hadhrat Umer (may Allah be pleased with him) addressed him as “Syedna Bilal”. At his farewell sermon, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) openly declared, “All of you are equal. All men, whatever nation or tribe they belong to, and whatever station in life they may hold, are equal…….an Arab possesses no superiority over the non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab over an Arab.”

Today it is the duty of the Community of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) to establish this beautiful society that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) created.

Huzur cited verse 9 of Surah Al Mumtahinah (60:9) which speaks of respect and kindness extended to those who do not seek to fight on account of religion. Huzur said the verse refers to the other Quranic verse (Surah Hajj) which gives permission to fight in self-defence against those who make war first. Indeed war may only be declared on a governmental level. Unfortunately it is this very issue which the extremists among Muslims are flagrantly abusing and are thus bringing Islam in disrepute.

Citing verse 109 of Surah Al An’am (6:109) Huzur said this verse is most significant for international peace and security. Quoting from the writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) Huzur explained that Allah has taught us profound ways of courtesy and consideration to keep peace by enjoining not to revile the idols of the idolaters lest they insult Allah in response. This despite the Islamic philosophy which holds idols as incapable of anything. To respond each insult with an insult is to invite insult. Therefore our response should be sagacious. A Muslim has a most heightened sense of honour for Allah therefore in reviling the idols of others if a Muslim invites insult to Allah then he/she is responsible for it. Muslims today should make this teaching widespread, as for those [non-Muslims] who do not desist under any circumstances; it is their misfortune that their deeds are made attractive to them. However, eventually they have to return to God and will get their recompense.

Citing verses 25-27 of Surah Qaf (50:25-27) Huzur spoke with reference to the current furore over the Rushdie knighthood. Huzur said when Allah has taken it upon Himself to deal with certain matters then we do not need to concern ourselves with them. Huzur explained that there are non-religious people who venerate their worldly deities and Allah has their matter in hand. We do not need to engage in smashing things up, demolishment and suicide attacks. This represents a very erroneous picture of the high morals of Islam apart from being of no consequence whatsoever. The offensive material that Rushdie wrote many years ago is in his nature, if a government honours him with a title for this or any other reason, their matter rests with God. It is not that there is no sense of decency in Europe. Numerous people have objected to this [knighthood] in that apart from endangering the peace and security of the world nothing else can be gained from this. Huzur said when Rushdie wrote the book in question; rather when he was assisted in writing it, the reviewers did opine that there was someone else behind the writing of the book and that it was done to incite the Muslims. However, Muslims are playing right into their hands. There is no point in this. It is a huge conspiracy which will not go away by burning flags; rather this [burning of flags] will serve their purpose. In any case the proper response to such a matter should be to abide by the teachings of Islam with greater vigour, to present the blessed model of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) to others. If anyone can do this today, an Ahmadi can.

When Rushdie wrote this book (1989) Hadhrat Khalifa tul Masih IV (may Allah have mercy on him) had Arshad Ahemdi Sahib write a book entitled “Rushdie: haunted by his unholy ghost” in response. Huzur said he has asked that it is now re-published with the addition of a chapter about which Hadhrat Khalifa tul Masih IV (may Allah have mercy on him) had instructed. A short while ago the book was printed by an independent publishing company who are marketing it as well. This book should be distributed among the thinking men and women. Citing verse 9 of Surah Al Maidah (5:9) Huzur said the peaceable teaching of Islam even cautions against the enmity of one’s opponent to cause one to do injustice. It is indeed most difficult to put enmities aide when meting out justice. Huzur said the verse does not mention love and affection rather it gives a measure and a standard of love and affection.

Huzur also cited the excellent example of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) at the victory of Mecca.

Huzur prayed that may the time arrive soon when Muslim governments abide by the true teachings of Islam, may there be rulers who propagate Islam under the auspices of the true and ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

It is the task of the Ahmadis to engage in prayers. May our prayers be accepted and the world becomes a cradle of peace and harmony and everyone worships the One true God, may Allah make it so.