The heinous and terrible acts of extremism witnessed over the last few months in the Middle East are undoubtedly harrowing but what is more alarming is the age and the homeland of many of its perpetrators. According to reports one in four foreigners who have signed up for the so called Islamic State is British as it is estimated that more than 500 British Muslims have travelled across to Syria and Iraq and joined the brutal and barbaric regime – ISIS.

Unlike the radicalised madrasa student, belonging to the remote and rural areas of the third world, clad in tatters and battling in the scorching heat upon the mountainous terrain, there is certainly, in this case, a clear distinction to be drawn from the typical terrorist that is often depicted in the media. Glorifying their acts of terror on social media like twitter and Facebook, with strong British accents and having received a far better standard of education and enjoyed the privileges of the developed world than the former. This indeed, is a new breed of terrorists, hailing from the West.

Among the many hundreds reported to have travelled to Syria and Iraq from Britain was an aspiring medical student from Cardiff, Nasser Muthana, 20 who alongside his seventeen year old brother, Aseel, are fighting in Syria.

Jamia Ahmadiyya

As the government fears of the rising number of Britons leaving their countries for the battlefield, The Review of Religions has been talking to the young missionaries of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community who have recently graduated from its religious institutions, Jamia Ahmadiyya and are now working in many countries of the World.

Jamia Ahmadiyya is an International Islamic Seminary and educational institute. Founded in 1906, by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^as, the Promised Messiah and Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, when he expressed the need of a Madarasa for Ahmadi Muslims so that a new generation of Ahmadi scholars could be trained.

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^as claimed to be the Promised Reformer, whose advent was awaited under different names and titles by the adherents of various religions. Under Divine guidance, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^as made the revolutionary disclosure that there was to appear only one such Reformer, the Imam Mahdi, whose mission was to ultimately bring humankind into the fold of one universal religion.

Although the concept of the Imam Mahdi in Islam is a vast subject and shall be discussed in greater detail in the future editions of The Review of Religions, however in short, in Islam, the Reformer for the latter days was prophesied as the Imam Mahdi, who would once again unite the believers under the leadership of the Imam. Today, many missionaries, preachers and those who have devoted their lives for the service of Islam are often referred to as Imams, for they are the representatives and helpers of the true Imam, within their communities.

He also maintained that according to the Holy Qur’an and the Holy Prophet Muhammad^sa, the use of force is totally forbidden in matters of faith. Throughout his life, he strongly challenged the false notion of Jihad held by the present day Muslims, in many of his writings, discourses and lectures, in his book Tiryaq-ul-Qulub, he writes:

“No true Muslim has ever believed that Islam should be spread by the sword. Islam has always been propagated through its inherent qualities. Those who, calling themselves Muslims, seek to spread Islam by means of the sword are not aware of its inherent qualities and their conduct resembles the conduct of wild beasts.”

The students of Jamia Ahmadiyya undertake a seven year course, the curriculum is largely based on acquiring a sound and in-depth knowledge of the Holy Qur’an andAhadith. However, a great emphasis is also laid upon comparative religious studies, consulting the original and authentic sources and studying the life of its holy founders and scriptures. Alongside the acquisition of deep religious knowledge, they are taught a variety of secular knowledge and trained in public speaking.

The institution is unique in its kind, founded by the Messiah of the latter days, it imparts the true teachings of Islam, in all its purity. Its students undergo a vibrant and intensive course that helps cater for their moral, physical and spiritual progress. As part of their course they are actively involved in a numerous charitable works and service to humanity such as charity walks, blood donations, feeding the homeless and visiting the sick, in order to inculcate high standard of moral values and ideals which they are expected to reflect in their practical life as missionaries of Islam.

Today, Jamia Ahmadiyya has opened its branches across the world, including UK, Canada, Germany and Ghana. The Missionaries qualifying form these institutions are sent to various parts of the world, propagating the true and peaceful message of Islam.

Many of these young missionaries have travelled from across the world to attend this year’s 48^th Annual Convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in UK.

Usman Shahzad Butt, 24, a recent graduate of Jamia Ahmadiyya UK, currently serving as an Imam in Watford said, “Unfortunately, Islam is being terribly portrayed in the current media due to the extremist actions of a minority. Islam means peace and the vast majority of the Muslims are peaceful and loyal citizens.”

Speaking about his role as an Imam he further said, “As a missionary I now have a major responsibility; not only do we have to educate the people of the true and pure message of Islam as practised by the Holy Prophet^sa but also have to be become a good role model through my actions and speech.”

Integration

Many of them spoke of the importance of integration. Mohammad Jeryullah, 24, a graduate from Jamia Ahmadiyya UK, is an Imam in Frankfurt, Germany said, “Integration is vital in order to effectively communicate the true message of Islam.” He also mentioned that often when he goes out to preach, the first questions he is asked is whether he can speak the German language. “By just speaking the same language breaks so many barriers and we immediately develop a common factor. I feel the public are more receptive to the message of Islam, therefore language plays a huge role in integration.”

Another missionary in Germany, Ahsan Faheem Bhatti, 26, Imam of Baitul Shakoor mosque in Gross Gerau, said, “Having been brought up in Germany, I understand the German culture, the societal issues and therefore can take a more levelled approachand our approach is based on nothing but the beautiful teachings of the Holy Qu’ran, the Qu’ran is our guide and promotes peace, love and harmony.”

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community continues to strive in propagating the pure and pristine message of Islam. Its motto, ‘Love for All Hatred for None’ is preached and practised by the millions of members, spread across the world.

Tahir Khan, 24 an Imam in Norway said, “The mosque attracts many visitors, recently a few female students visited and I had the opportunity to share with them the Islamic teaching on Women’s rights. They were so impressed and said that if this really is what Islam teaches then this is something that everyone should embrace.”

The distorted image of Islam as portrayed in the Media, has led to an increased need of Muslim missionaries and Imams to dispel these false perceptions people have of Islam. Tuseef Ahmad, 27, joined Jamia Ahmadiyya UK in 2005. He currently serving as missionary in his hometown of Kessel, Belgium and said, “When I started working as a missionary , many of the locals said that they were extremely delighted that there is an Imam in their area and so the real message of Islam can be preached.”

Reformation

Hazrat Mirza Bashir-Ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad^ra, the Second Khalifah of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community once said, “A nation cannot be reformed without first reforming its youth.”

This statement has proved to be of great significance. According to many experts, for instance, the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation in London have reported that many of those being radicalised are the youth.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA) is an auxiliary organisation of the Community, that seeks to nurture the physical, moral, and spiritual development of its members thereby enabling them and the Community at large to become greater citizens of society.

The AMYA in its practical contribution to society, proactively feeds the homeless, provides love and affection to the elderly in nursing homes, attends to environmental needs, donates blood to the NBS, helps orphans in need, empowers vulnerable people to reach greater heights and many other worthy causes which most often go undocumented. All of which, it believes contribute to a more peaceful and harmonious society.

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