By InterFaith Works of Central New York
on May 29, 2016 at 6:00 AM, updated May 29, 2016 at 6:02 AM
This feature is coordinated by The Post-Standard/Syracuse.com and InterFaith Works of CNY. Follow this theme and author posted Sunday through Saturday.
Dr. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal
InterFaith Works of Central New York
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Ever Merciful: Inconsistent messages from the Muslim leadership have created increased risk of extremism and radicalization. The True Islam Campaign aims to provide all Americans with a clear way to distinguish true Islam from extremism and to unify Muslim Americans on the correct understanding of Islam the Prophet Muhammad taught. To this end, 11 points have been selected as key tenets of true Islam which differentiates it from extremism. The first of these is that true Islam rejects all acts of terrorism. The Holy Quran forbids Muslims from creating disorder in the world. “Do not go about committing iniquity in the earth and causing disorder.” (29:37) “They seek to create disorder, and Allah loves not those who create disorder.” (5:65) “Seek not to create disorder in the earth. Verily, God loves not those who seek to create disorder.” (28:78)
The Holy Quran recognizes the sanctity of all human life: “Whosoever killed a person … it shall be as if he had killed all mankind; and who so saved a life, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind.” (5:33) True Islam recognizes that no justification exists for terrorism against any individual, government, or nation—for any reason. Therefore, the actions of extremists and terrorists ascribing to Islam are in absolute contravention to Islamic teachings. The Holy Prophet Muhammad rejected all types of terrorism in the name of Islam, even while Muslims faced twelve years of vehement persecution in Mecca. He did not allow any violent response. Instead, the Holy Prophet Muhammad ordered his followers to migrate to another land. This act was in exact accordance with the Holy Quran’s teachings. True Islam champions a bloodless intellectual “jihad of the pen,” part of one’s perennial jihad to acquire knowledge. Tomorrow, True Islam and equality.
Dr. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal is President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Syracuse chapter. A Radiation Oncologist, he formerly practiced in Auburn. Dr. Iqbal is currently Medical Director of Buffalo Medical Group, Buffalo, New York.
Categories: Faith, The Muslim Times, United States
ALL faiths/religions say that. Differences are due to individual interpretations. The books were written according to the way of life at the time. (It should be made known that the Bible and Qur’an are extensions of Judaism {written by the jews explicitly for themselves}, and is therefore foreign/anti to those complying with them {in ignorance}).
Jihad of the pen is rooted in concepts of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah. It was foretold that the world would be taught all kind of knowledge through the pen.
Holy Qur’an Says, “Convey! And thy Lord is Most Generous. Who taught man by the pen. Taught man what he knew not”. (96:4- 6).
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said: “Ink of scholars excels blood of martyrs”. (Bukhari)
Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad stated, “In this Age, it is the sword of the pen with which we are attacked… We should use our pen (not sword) to prove the truth of the religion of God”.
Therefore the responsibility of the Jihad of the pen should not be considered lightly.