Source: micronesiaforum.org
The growing presence of the Ahmadiyya, their active use of government radio like other religious groups, and anti-Islam views of Christian churches and leaders has sparked repeated criticism of the group, criticism ranging from a debate over their right to exist in the Marshall Islands—despite a constitution that guarantees religious freedom—to ‘concern’ over beliefs as expressed in the Qur’an.In the two years since establishment of the mosque, Ahmadiyya spokesmen have generally responded to the criticisms in a conciliatory, non-confrontational way by simply explaining the Quran and their philosophy. But the gloves came off earlier this year following criticism by a number of members of parliament during live-broadcast sessions. One senator said the ‘serious problem’ of Muslims being in the Marshall Islands needed to be addressed immediately, while another said the Muslims didn’t believe in god and might be doing ‘something bad’ in the future.
A representative of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, in comments published in the Marshall Islands Journal, asked pointedly:
If a Buddhist prays to a different form of God, can he not meditate in the Marshall Islands? If an atheist denounces the mere existence of God, will the bill of rights not work in his favor? Or if a Baha’i claims belief in Bahaullah will he not be a Marshallese? All such beliefs exist in the Marshall Islands. I tell you today that Islam is a religion of Peace, it means peace and all of its teachings bring mankind towards peace.’
The Marshallese General Secretary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Romeo Tenson, was more direct:
‘I am a Marshallese and I am a proud Muslim of the Ahmadiyya Community. Islam is not coming to this country anymore, it is part of Marshall Islands now and it is in my blood and in the blood of my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters. I want to tell my family and government that Ahmadiyya Muslim changed my life.’
Critics, he said, should be thanking them for their community services including paying for many students to go to school, providing daily lunches and dinners for dozens of children and adults, bringing in specialist doctors to work at the hospital, and holding blood drives.The historical backdrop to the Ahmadiyya’s increasingly active presence offers some food for religious thought. Congregational missionaries from the United Church of Christ in the …continue reading at micronesiaforum.org
Categories: Ahmadiyyat: True Islam, Asia, Islam, ISLAM