Last updated on: September 1, 2025 at 8:11 pm   by hahsan

by Hidayatullah Ahsan

When Valentina Gomez, a Republican candidate for Congress in Texas’s 31st District, took a flamethrower to the Holy Qur’an and vowed to “end Islam in Texas,” she did more than desecrate a sacred text. She attacked the very foundation of our nation’s promise: freedom of religion.

As an American and a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, I condemn this vile act in the strongest terms. Ms. Gomez’s rhetoric and actions are not only factually wrong about Islam—they are corrosive to the unity and mutual respect that make America strong.

The Sacred Foundation of Human Dignity

Our Founding Fathers understood that liberty cannot survive without protecting the dignity and rights of all people. As Thomas Jefferson wrote, “the care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.” The Holy Qur’an affirms the exact truth about the worth of every person: “We have certainly honored the children of Adam…” (17:70), declaring that dignity is God‑given to all humanity. Centuries earlier, the Christian philosopher Thomas Aquinas taught that to believe is an act of the intellect, moved by the will — and that such assent must be free, for coercion violates the very nature of the human person. Across traditions, the message is clear: human dignity is the foundation of all rights, and among the most sacred of these is the freedom to follow one’s conscience. This principle is not selective; it applies to Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, people of all faiths, and those of none.

Islam Teaches Peace, Harmony, and Respect for All Faiths

If Ms. Gomez had read the Holy Qur’an, she would know that it teaches respect for all life and faiths, honors all prophets, and calls on believers to live in peace and harmony. It praises “the servants of the Most Merciful” as those “who walk upon the earth humbly, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace” (25:63), urging dignity and calm even in the face of provocation. It commands, “O you who have believed, enter into peace completely and do not follow the footsteps of Satan” (2:208), making peace not just a choice but a comprehensive way of life. And it warns, “Do not cause corruption upon the earth after it has been set in order” (7:56), reminding believers to preserve harmony and goodness in society. The Qur’an also affirms the unity of God’s messengers, stating, “We make no distinction between any of His messengers” (2:285), thereby honoring all prophets without exception. Islam’s teachings are rooted in service to humanity, compassion, and the pursuit of justice. To mischaracterize Islam as violent or un‑American is false.

Loyalty to Country as a Spiritual Duty

In fact, Islam enjoins loyalty and service to one’s country. The Holy Qur’an commands, “And break not the oaths after making them firm” (16:92), reminding believers to honor their covenants — which includes the pledge of citizenship and the duty to serve one’s nation with integrity. The Prophet Muhammad (sa) taught, “Love of one’s country is a part of faith” (Sakhawi), affirming that sincere patriotism is not in conflict with religious devotion but is, in fact, an expression of it. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), the Promised Messiah and founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, declared: “Be faithful to the government under which you live, for loyalty to one’s country is part of faith and a moral obligation.” This harmony between spiritual duty and civic responsibility is a hallmark of Islam’s actual teachings.

Rejecting Division: A Cross-Partisan Moral Imperative

When politicians build their campaigns on division, we must remember that America’s strength has always come from unity, not division. As President Reagan reminded us, “we must never remain silent in the face of bigotry… We have no place for haters in America — none, whatsoever.” There is no place for hatred, division, or bigotry in the United States — not in our laws, not in our politics, and not in our hearts. President Kennedy likewise warned that “the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened” and insisted that “this is not a partisan issue… It is as old as the Scriptures and as clear as the American Constitution.” These truths transcend party lines: human freedoms are not the property of one political camp, but the shared inheritance of all. And Scripture itself commands us to act — “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves… defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:8‑9). Freedom of religion is not a partisan issue; it is an American value.

Choosing Love Over Hate

In conclusion, I urge our elected officials, candidates, and neighbors of every background to stand firmly against rhetoric and actions that fuel division and discord. Embracing the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s guiding principle of Love for All, Hatred for None, we can choose respect, tolerance, and human dignity as the true pillars of a stronger, more united America.

source https://www.patheos.com/blogs/islamahmadiyya/2025/09/unity-is-americas-strength/