Source: huffingtonpost.com
By Qasim Rashid, Lawyer, Speaker, Best-Selling Author of “EXTREMIST”
Enter the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, a global Muslim community established in 204 nations worldwide that runs over 15,000 mosques, hundreds of subsidized and free secular educational institutions, and countless hospitals providing subsidized or free healthcare. But we’re just getting started.
Second, this Muslim community has existed since 1889 and throughout its history, has never once engaged or approved of any form of religious violence, extremism, or terrorism. On the contrary, since inception it has published tens of millions of books, articles, letters, and flyers condemning religious extremism and violent Jihad. In addition to hosting thousands of peace conferences in over 200 nations annually, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community annually collects tens of thousands of blood donations to save lives, and feeds, clothes, shelters, and educates millions. Notably, it does so without accepting a single government handout. Indeed, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is financed solely through member contributions.
Third, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community faces intense persecution from many of the same extremists Aaronovitch condemns — and Ahmadi Muslims refuse to respond in kind, or play the victim card. Instead, the Community actively promotes peace, tolerance, and service to humanity in nations where their very existence is criminalized. For example, the Community established Humanity First, a non-religious disaster relief organization, worldwide in scope, to assist people of all faiths and backgrounds — even persecutors — suffering through disasters. Humanity Firstwas present during Pakistan’s floods, Hurricane Katrina, and Haiti’s earthquake, among many more. Despite the ongoing murders and state sanctioned persecution of Ahmadi Muslims in much of the Muslim world, the community marches forward to promote peace.
And finally, in yet another omission, Aaronovitch claims “there’s no Muslim equivalent, until a few days ago….of a caliph.” Aaronovitch should be pleased to know that the man leading the above described Peace Movement is His Holiness the Khalifa of Islam, Mirza Masroor Ahmad. More than “just a few days,” this global Caliphate has endured for well over a century to lead this Peace Movement. And today, as the world’s single largest Muslim organization united under one Imam, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community combats sectarian strife by uniting Muslims of various sects under one flag of peace and pluralism. His Holiness has championed universal human rights, condemned blasphemy and apostasy laws without exception, and repeatedly advocated for separation of mosque and state. On His Holiness’s 2013 visit to Aaronovitch’s home of Australia, Australia’s elected officials profusely praised himas a man of peace and as a servant of humanity. This is a theme echoed by Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper, UK’s Parliament, United States Congress, and countless Asian and African government leaders.
The two words world leaders have never s… read more at huffingtonpost.com
Categories: Ahmadiyyat: True Islam, Americas, Islam, United States