We do not live in the Middle Ages, and even if we did, the faith of Islam does not allow any ecclesiastical authority or a secular one determining who is a Muslim and who is not
The Daily Times, By Yasser Latif Hamdani …………………..
………. Urdu journalist’s position on the Ahmadi issue.
Religion and religious profession is a matter that is ultimately between God and man. The basic test prescribed in Islam to be a Muslim is the Kalima. It is simply not permitted either within the doctrine of Islam or the established human rights paradigm that an individual or body X can determine the religion of Y. We do not live in the Middle Ages, and even if we did, the faith of Islam does not allow any ecclesiastical authority or a secular one determining who is a Muslim and who is not. Anyone who professes to be a Muslim or says the Kalima Shahadah is to be taken on the face of it as a Muslim. The rest is left to God. This is also the test — it bears repeating — that the founder-maker of this country, Mr Mohammad Ali Jinnah, put forth when some mullahs tried to bring upon him pressure to turn out Ahmadis from the Muslim League. He refused pointblank. On the contrary, he chose an Ahmadi amongst the Muslim community to plead Pakistan’s case before the boundary commission.
The second amendment to the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is, therefore, not only morally untenable and religiously barred, but is void ab initio because it violates all principles of natural justice.
Categories: Ahmadis And Pakistan, Asia