Ridding religious oppression through Jihad | Let the revolution begin...

An unconstitutional amendment in 1974 restricted the religious rights of the minority Ahmadiyya Muslims, declaring them “non-Muslim.” Ten years later, Pakistan passed Ordinance XX, subjecting Ahmadiyya Muslims to fine, imprisonment, and the death penalty for blasphemy. 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Opinion
Source & Credit: Chicago Islam Examiner
By Qasim Rashid | Chicago, IL. | June 13, 2010

A few years after 9/11 I attended a Muslim youth retreat in Staten Island. A friend and I visited a local pizza shop for lunch. The owner saw us walk in, turned towards us and demanded, “Hey yous two aint terrorists are you? Cause we don’t serve those kind.” We had two options, and chose to build, rather than burn, the bridge. We explained that Islam stands for peace and freedom of religion, in word and deed. That the 9/11 terrorists were just that—terrorists, having nothing to do with Islam. We recognized his concern and offered insight on the true nature of Islam. At that point, we were unsure if our explanation activated a change in him. Though somewhat skeptical, he served us our food.

The Prophet Muhammad championed the ‘Golden Rule’ and Jesus Christ taught us to ‘pray for those who persecute us.’ Hinduism reminds that ‘compassion is the root of all religious faith’ and Taoism adds, ‘he who finds no room for others...all men are strangers.’ Despite these teachings, a 2009 Pew Research survey discovered that the predominantly Muslim Pakistan, the predominantly Christian Russia, the predominantly Hindu India, and China, the birthplace of Taoism, all lead the world in religious oppression.


These facts, while depressing, demonstrate recognition of the problem. As that first crucial step to stopping religious oppression, recognition helps initiate the revolutionary change needed in society. Yet, recognition alone is insufficient for freedom from religious oppression, nor is it readily apparent to everyone. However, as even a few zealous individuals recognize the injustice, enough momentum is developed to reach the next step in ridding a society of religious oppression—education of the masses.

Those that recognize an indignity are best positioned to educate society of that indignity. One of the best venues to begin that education is through the art of writing. History has shown that writing can accomplish in pages what war cannot in decades. The 7th century letter from Prophet Muhammad to the Christian Neghus King of Abyssinia, the 13th century Magna Carta, the 18th century US Constitution and Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, each spurned such powerful revolutions that a world without them is unfathomable. Yet, more profound is that the weak, the oppressed, and the minority accomplished these revolutions—not the mighty, the powerful, or the many.

In this dynamic 21st century, the daily blog and email have replaced the hand written letter. YouTube has replaced the spoken word. And Twitter updates have replaced the wait until the evening news. To influence society we must reach society. Utilized, these modern avenues of communication bridge the gap between those who have recognized religious oppression and the many who need to be educated. Every revolutionary who strives to educate the masses can and must take advantage of these venues. Once the education revolution begins, the next logical and final step to stop religious oppression becomes possible through societal activation.

Consider Noam Chomsky’s keen wisdom when he said, “[s]tates are not moral agents, people are, and can impose moral standards on powerful institutions.” Once people recognize religious oppression and educate the masses of its reality, their society begins to activate. The masses influence their Presidents, their Congress, and their Governors and declare, ‘change the situation or be changed from your office.’ With new leadership and direction, new laws are passed and a new generation is born, intent to champion the societal improvement. Once a people activate towards a just cause, no earthly force can stop them.

However, threats exist to delay this progression. The single biggest threat to stopping religious oppression is ignorance. Ignorance prevents change and ensures societal regression such that the very existence of the nation becomes tenuous. As an example, let us consider the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Though founded in pluralistic thought, Pakistan quickly degenerated into an extremist theocracy. An unconstitutional amendment in 1974 restricted the religious rights of the minority Ahmadiyya Muslims, declaring them “non-Muslim.” Ten years later, Pakistan passed Ordinance XX, subjecting Ahmadiyya Muslims to fine, imprisonment, and the death penalty for blasphemy. Ordinance XX made criminal all literature, speeches, videos, or otherwise propagation of the Ahmadiyya interpretation of Islam. While the majority of Pakistanis are still ignorant to these injustices, the few who recognize them are silenced due to legal restrictions and for personal safety. These religiously oppressive laws have only empowered extremism, transforming the once promising Pakistan into a mere broken promise. Behold, the power of ignorance.

I present the case of Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan because, as Ahmadi Muslims, my family and I have personally experienced false imprisonment, cruel and unusual punishment, and restriction of speech on account of our religion. However, our personal experiences also practically demonstrate that the strategy of realization, education, and activation works. Ignorance can be overcome. For example, as the only Ahmadi Muslim in his village, my late grandfather recognized the prevailing discrimination against him. He then took affirmative steps to educate his community on the importance of human rights. This created an atmosphere such that even those who vehemently disagreed with my grandfathers religious beliefs, defended him unsolicited when an angry mob from a different village attacked his home.

Consider that our US Constitution came about because a few recognized the injustices their society faced, educated the masses around them, and activated a revolution that changed the world. While this was not a religious revolution, it was, in many respects, a revolution of conscience. David McCullough comments on the true nature of that Revolution in his biography of John Adams, “[r]evolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people. This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people was the real American Revolution." Nations and individuals alike offer countless examples of the success of this strategy. Today it is up to us, the ones who recognize the reality of religious oppression, to use our knowledge and educate those who are unaware, and activate a worldwide real revolution. This is the true Jihad—one that entails education, not violence.

A year later, my friend and I returned to that same pizza shop in Staten Island. To our surprise the owner remembered us. Last year we were unsure if our explanation activated a change in him. This year he extended his hand and smiled, “[w]elcome back guys, it’s great to see familiar faces.” Let the revolution begin...

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