Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Opinion
Source & Credit: Chicago Islam Examiner
By Qasim Rashid | Chicago, IL | April 23, 2010
His Holiness, the Khalifa of Islam,Mirza Masroor Ahmad has completed 7 years of prolific leadership to the Muslim and non-Muslim world. Born and raised in a noble Muslim family, Mirza Masroor Ahmad dedicated his life to the service of Islam and mankind at a young age. Prior to his election to the holy office of Khilafat, he worked as an agricultural scientist and was a devout member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
The Prophet Muhammad taught that only God Himself can establish a true Khalifa.
After the passing of Prophet Muhammad, Khilafat was established among the Muslims. Hazrat Ali, the 4th Khalifa, was the last rightly guided Khalifa in early Islamic history. What transpired over the next 1400 years was a fulfillment of a well known prophecy of Prophet Muhammad.
He said, “‘Prophethood shall remain among you as long as Allah shall will. He will bring about its end and follow it with Khilafat on the precepts of prophet hood for as long as He shall will and then bring about its end. A tyrannical monarchy will then follow and will remain as long as Allah shall will and then come to an end. There will follow thereafter-monarchial despotism to last as long as Allah shall will and come to an end upon His decree. There will then emerge Khilafat on precept of Prophethood.’ The Holy Prophet said no more.” (Masnad Ahmad, 14:163 #18319 Narrated from Hudhayfa by Ahmad)
In 1908, Khilafat was re-established among the Muslims after the passing of the Promised Messiah. Mirza Masroor Ahmad was elected as the Fifth Khalifa on April 23, 2003, a few days after the sad demise of the Fourth Khalifa, Mirza Tahir Ahmad. Since his election, Mirza Masroor Ahmad has overseen numerous projects of public benefit, including the expansion of a 24 hour Muslim satellite network known as Muslim Television Ahmadiyya. This network is free to all viewers, is available in at least six different languages, and can be viewed at any time worldwide at www.mta.tv.
The Khalifa has also established countless mosques open to all regardless of their religious beliefs. He coordinates hundreds of schools offering free education to children of all religions, and dozens of hospitals offering free medical attention to people of all faiths.
Some have written that the Islamic Caliphate is something to fear. Nothing could be further from the truth. Since the re-establishment of Khilafat in Islam in 1908, the Khalifa's of Islam have only benefited mankind through positive leadership. Muslims who accept the Khalifa of Islam reside in virtually every country of the world and do so in peace. They implore equality of mankind, freedom of conscience, and reject all forms of violence in the name of religion. In other words, the strength of the Islamic Caliphate continues to grow through love and service of mankind.
On speaking about the role of Muslims in society, Mirza Masroor Ahmad said, “A true Muslim can never raise his voice in hatred against his fellow citizens, nor for that matter against the ruling authority or government of the time... he should remain loyal and fully abide by the laws of the land of which he is a subject.” (October 2003 at the Inauguration of the Bait ul Futuh Mosque in Morden, England)
On the spread of Islam in Europe the Third Khalifa, Mirza Nasir Ahmad, made clear that no force or violence is permitted for the spread of Islam. See the short video below.
At a time when there is much confusion about the true nature of Islam, the Khalifa of Islam demonstrates through word and deed that Islam stands for peace, tolerance, and understanding. Such has been his conviction since his election in 2003 and such has been the purpose of Khilafat since the Institutions re-establishment in 1908. Through this 102 year established history we can see that the Islamic Caliphate is the single most dedicated spiritual institution worldwide hastening to create the conditions of peace on Earth.
To find out more about the concept of Khilafat, click here.
Read original article here: Strength of Islamic Caliphate continues to grow
Qasim Rashid is a contributing member of Majlis Sultanul Qalm, USA (MSQ USA) and regularly writes for Examiner.com and various other publications on topics ranging from Islam to human rights. Leave your thoughts and comments, or email Qasim at 1muslim.examiner@gmail.com
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