Building Bridges in Barrie, Ontario-2
Barrie by the Kempenfelt Bay is not a big town but it is beautiful and best known for its year round activities by the Lake and skiing resorts in the Cottage Country. With a population close to 150,000, diversity is just in its beginning. Good thing is that we talk to each other and build bridges to reduce the differences and distances.
Yesterday I was invited to speak to a wonderful group of ladies from the Westside Evangelical Lutheran Church of Barrie. My special thanks to Mrs Gail Derdall for her remarkable efforts to harmonize communities in Barrie.
It was a question answer session followed by informal discussions over a cup of tea and for everyone’s interest I report all the questions & answers here.
Westside Evangelical Lutheran Church, Barrie, Canada
What is Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat (AMJ)?
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamat is a revivalist movement within Islam. Its founder’s name is Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) who lived in a small town called Qadian in India. He was succeeded by first Khalifa and currently we are in the period of 5th Khalifa. Ahmadiyya Community is established in more than 192 countries and the membership runs in to tens of millions. It is a non political movement and is entirely funded by contributions from its members. It is one of the largest volunteer organizations in world. The current Headquarter is in London, UK.
What was the claim of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad?
His claimed that:
- He is a prophet of God who is subordinate to the Holy Prophet Mohammad and
- He is the Promised Messiah (the divine leader for guidance of mankind in the latter days) whose advent has been prophesized by various Holy Scriptures.
Hazrath Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), the promised Maseeh & Mahdi
His mission is to revive the teachings of Islam just as they were in its begging; in the time of the Holy Prophetsaw. So Ahmadiyya is not a new religion and has no new teachings or new Scripture.
What sort of community works you do?
The word Islam means ‘Peace’. Our motto is LOVE FOR ALL HATRED FOR NONE. We indulge in interfaith Dialogue & work closely with communities we live in. In Canada our humanitarian services include regular blood donation drives, tournaments, walks and marathons for charity; in the recent past we have raised funds for Vaughn Hospital in Maple, Bradford hospital, Bradford Community Centre and Bradford Library. Currently we are engaged in Dine & let the Humanity Shine project. Last month we celebrated the Humanity First Day. Refugee settlement is our ongoing activity. Free Tax Preparation Clinics are operating till the end of April. We have regular programs of visits to hospitals, senior’s homes, shelter homes and children homes to deliver gifts. We work closely with local Food Banks to feed the families in need. We participate in local events. You might have seen us cleaning the lake or might have visited our Henna Stall during Kempenfest in summer.
At international level we have established thousands of schools in poor and needy countries. We have more than thirty hospitals which provide treatment to patients without any discrimination of religion or ethnicity.
Along with Humanity First, we have worked on many major World Disaster Relief projects as well as on projects such as orphan care, water for life, fight illiteracy and children projects.
We do fun things too. We made the largest Smiley Face in Vaughn in 2011 which was recorded in Gunnies book of Records.
Where are you located in Canada?
In Canada we are located in Maple, ON, at the intersection of Teston Road and Jane Avenue. You can see the silver dome of our mosque from Hwy400. This is same place where the Prime Minister Stephen Harper inaugurated the Canada’s First Religious Freedom Center two weeks ago. The place was selected because of its peace loving community.
How do you see the victims of 9/11?
We categorically condemn terrorism in all forms. According to the Holy Quran killing of one person is like killing whole humanity. In his famous farewell sermon the Holy Prophet said, ‘…to take anyone’s life or his property or attack his honour is as unjust and as wrong as to violate the sacredness of this day, this month and this territory.’
Committing suicide is a sin rewarded by fire of hell and funeral prayer of such a person is not allowed in Islam. Every year we honour the victims of 9/11 by organizing Blood Donation Camps in all countries and thousands of blood bags are collected in many countries every year.
What is your reaction to film ‘Innocence of Muslims’?
It hurts. But we think it was a blessing in disguise. Whereas riots took place in many courtiers and even killing happened we decide to organize Mohammad Events in various countries to let the world know who the real Mohammad was and what was his character like. In Canada, the biggest such event took place in Roy Thomson Hall in January this year when 2500 non Muslims jam packed the place to listen to the story of the Holy Prophet Mohammad. The campaign is still going on and we invite you all to our next event to be held in Brampton on April7, 2013.
This is the Islamic way of responding to hate. The Holy Prophet has said that ink of a scholar is better than blood of a martyr. When the Holy Prophets cartoons were published, we responded by pen and explained what freedom of speech really means. To hate-books like Jewel of Medina and Marked for Death we responded by pen. This is our Jihad.
According to your teaching what is Jihad?
Our teachings are based on the Holy Qur’an and the narratives and conduct of the Holy prophet. So our perspective is the Islamic perspective on Jihad.
Jihad means to strive or struggle for good cause and there are three categories: Greatest Jihad or the Jihad of the highest order is to struggle for self-reformation; getting rid of worldly temptations. It is a journey from an ‘animistic’ state of existence where immediate gratification is desired to a disciplined psyche. The Holy Prophet said: Out of all those who carry out jihad, the most exalted is the one who strives against his own passions. This type of Jihad is obligatory and a continuous process in every one’s life.
Second type is the Greater Jihad and that is also obligatory and continuous one. This is to make efforts to propagate the truth, the message of Qur’an with wisdom and peace. According to the Qur’an anyone who devotes his time, effort, wealth or knowledge to the cause of righteousness is practicing Greater Jihad.
Lower Jihad is a defensive war and is strictly conditional. It is never offensive and is allowed only when Muslims have been persecuted for practicing their faith. Even when persecuted they should first migrate away and if the persecution still continues in their new homeland and they are attacked, then defensive war or Lesser Jihad becomes obligatory. Unfortunately this is the only category of Jihad which majority of the world has heard about. Current wars are not for religious persecutions, wars between two Muslim countries do not fit in to Jihad Criteria. It is the Greater and the Greatest Jihad which is need of our time and I am sure many of you are also participating in that Jihad.
Further on, there are clear directions in what can and cannot be done in such defensive battle. For example civilians who are not fighting against Muslims are not to be attacked or killed at all. Crops or other sources of food and water and cattle or other animals are not to be destroyed. Hospitals, orphanages and other places of safety and refuge are not to be destroyed. Mosques, churches, synagogues or other places of worship are not to be destroyed. Women, children, old and disabled are to be left untouched. If the aggressor stops the aggression or offers a treaty it should be accepted and the fighting stopped forthwith. Fleeing oppressors need not be pursued to any unnecessary length and should be allowed to return to their home. Prisoners of War should be treated with respect and their basic needs be fulfilled and they should be freed or ransomed as soon as possible after the battle.
Our Holy Prophet engaged in the Greatest and the Greater Jihad all his life and only spent four months in the Lesser Jihad. Muslims in Mecca suffered severe religious persecution for 13 years including 3 years of captivity in Shub e Abi Talib. Ultimately they migrated to Medina. When they were attacked in Medina, the Lesser Jihad began.
Once while returning from a battle Prophet Muhammad(saw) reminded his followers that they are returning from the Jihad of a lower order to Jihad of the highest order and that they need to resume the effort of self-reformation without any delay.
Where does the Qur’an dictate restrictions on women? Or it is media giving a lot of false information?
Qur’an does not dictate any restrictions on women. Men and women are equal and have equal rights. Islam however admits that men and women are biologically and psychologically different so their major Primary Role is different, Man is care taker / provider for family and woman is the manager of family and a teacher and trainer for children. These roles are not rigid, they are flexible, and overlapping, may even be reversible depending upon situations. Islam requires that primary roles should not be compromised to achieve a secondary role and this is to maintain stability of family. Islam lays the greatest emphases on sanctity and stability of family since it is the building unit of any society.
The Holy Prophet says that a Muslim is “he whose word and deed do not harm others”—–so who are these Muslims who do not follow the Prophets teachings? and why?
It is very easy to be called a Muslim; you announce and believe that Allah is one and there is no worshiper besides Him and Mohammad is His messenger and you become a Muslim. So we cannot say that these people are not Muslims. However they don’t practice Islamic Teachings and that could be due to various reasons such as:
- Gradual alterations and misinterpretations of Islamic Teachings by clergies who themselves have not learnt even the translation of the Holy Qur’an.
- The order of significance of various teachings is forgotten. For example lesser jihad has been unjustifiably and wrongly labeled as current wars.
- They have forgotten the preconditions associated with various teachings. I just explained preconditions of Jihad. Similarly there are more than twenty preconditions before a hand can be chopped for stealing and many conditions before lashing become a punishment for adultery. Stricter the punishment more impossible is to be granted due to pre conditions attached to it. Same is with polygamy.
- There is lack of central divine leadership for guidance. We believe that the Promised Messiah is thet divine leader for guidance and if Muslims accept him the pristine teachings of Islam will be revived and peace will prevail.
- There is cultural overlap. 1.5 billion Muslims live in various cultures and they have adopted new practices and ideas and modified their own teachings. For example FGM and dowry traditions are not at all Islamic in origin.
- I will not go in to political reasons but I will show you two diagrams and you can conclude the role of media in this situation. Figures in both diagrams have been taken from respective official websites:
Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Soil by Group, From 1980 to 2005, According to FBI Database are given below:
What preconditions are there for stoning and lashing women for adultery?
Stoning is not even mentioned in the Holy Quran. It was practiced in ancient Judaism. The incidents you hear are from the Tribal areas where the law of land is not applicable. The lords of the tribes make laws. It will be unfair to call them Sharia Laws. Preconditions for lashing are as follows and these are not all:
At least four firsthand witnesses should have seen the act taking place.
Witnesses should be of just character, KNOWN to the persons involved and unanimously testify as to the time and place of the crime.
Punishment can only be passed by court of the land and not by groups or people around.
Judge has the discretion to change it into different reprimanding punishment.
If such witnesses are not available then woman’s own testimony will suffice.
If lashing at all takes place, it should not damage the skin.
Bunch of Lashes applied only once is also allowed.
The Holy Quran says ‘…But whoever is compelled by hunger, in inclining willfully to sin, then surely Allah is Forgiving Merciful,’(5:3).
In many societies adultery and fornication are not crime but in the US Military, adultery is a potential court martial offense,
What is punishment for Apostasy in Islam?
None! The Holy Quran says that there should be no compulsion in religion.(Ch.2: V.257), For you your religion, and for me my religion (ch: 109). There is not a single example of any punishment for apostasy from the life of the Holy Prophet.
What is punishment for Blasphemy in Islam?
There is no punishment for blasphemy mentioned in the Holy Qur’an or in the traditions of the Holy Prophet. A chief from hypocrites continuously abused the Holy Prophet, and opposed him severely in Medina. When he passed away, the Prophet stood to offer his funeral prayers but was reminded by one of his companions about the hypocrisy of that person. The Prophet ignored his statements and continued to offer the funeral prayers of the dead man.
The Holy Qur’an asks Muslims to turn themselves away from those who trifle with Allah’s signs.
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