Faith and common sense: Watch what they say and watch what they do

...[S]omething has to be said about a group that can continually weather the storm and persevere while facing persecution, violence, and murder in various parts of the world, yet still live their motto "Love for all, Hatred for none" by not resorting to violence themselves.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Cross-post
Source & Credit: The American Muslim
By Robert Salaam | July 21, 2010

Saturday July 17, 2010 marked the fourth time I had ever attended the Ahmadiyyah community's annual Jalsa Salana conference. The Ahmadiyyah Muslim Community is an international movement that was founded in 1889, spans over 190 countries, and has a membership of tens of millions of followers. The Ahmadiyyah Muslim Community believes that their founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) of Qadian, India is the long-awaited Messiah. Ahmad claimed to be the metaphorical second coming of Jesus of Nazareth and the divine guide, whose advent was foretold by the Prophet Muhammad (saw). The Community believes that God sent Ahmad, like Jesus, to end religious wars, condemn bloodshed and reinstitute morality, justice and peace.


This annual conference now in it’s 62nd year, is a time for members of the community to renew their personal faith and spirituality, meet and establish friendship with other members of the community, welcome new members into the fold of the community and remember those who have passed away in the previous year and pray for them.  Visitors are encouraged and welcomed to attend and the conference which is focused on explaining the community, it's goals, values, and ideas.  Members of the press corps, dignitaries, political figures, and others share in the commentary, reflection, and dialogue.  Oh and the food is really good too.

I attended my first conference at the behest of some of my friends, but this year, I attended for myself.  There is an irresistible charm to this community that I have yet to find within any other Muslim group that I have been privy to experience in my 10 years of being a Muslim.  I wouldn't want to mislead my readers into thinking that I agree with every point the Ahmadiyyah community has to offer, however when it comes to reflecting the values that I have always believed Islam to represent, they are among the best.  Surely, their positions and beliefs are controversial to many, and the Ahmadiyyah community is no stranger to controversy as it relates to their beliefs and their perception in the Muslim world, but something has to be said about a group that can continually weather the storm and persevere while facing persecution, violence, and murder in various parts of the world, yet still live their motto "Love for all, Hatred for none" by not resorting to violence themselves.

To me, this example speaks more to me than any theological explanation, or lengthy discussion on tafsir.  This community stands for peace and has consistently condemned all forms of violence and terrorism.  They are loyal Americans who don't compromise their identity as both Americans and Muslims and they support separation of Mosque and state, believing in religious freedom.  This does not mean that no other Muslim group or organization shares these same values and ideas; I am merely pointing out that as a 100 year old organization that has a track record that consistent and for that long is impressive by most standards.  This measure, is one of the unique features of the group as well as one of  it's greatest charms for me.

I would do myself a great  disservice if I didn't mention the feeling of brotherhood and welcoming  nature I feel whenever I am a guest at one of their events and this one  was no exception.  At no time in my life as either a devout Christian  nor now as a devout Muslim, can I at anytime claim to have experienced  the genuine and true feeling of brotherhood that I feel whenever I  attend one of the Ahmadiyyah events.  Everyone greets you with a smile and embraces you as if you're a long, lost and dear friend.  As a guest, I am always amazed at how I am welcomed with open arms by complete and total strangers.  To be amongst over a thousand people whom you never met and feel as if they are all good friends is an experience that is very difficult to put into words.

I remember when I  first embraced Islam and I had this idea that I would always have this  very feeling of shared brotherhood and I would feel welcome in any place  in which Allah (swt) and the Prophet (saw) are remembered.  I remember the sadness I felt after my first visit to a Mosque where I experienced that what I hoped for was not the case and maybe more naive that I was aware of at the time. My first experience could have been my last, but thank God, I was more hard-headed than that!

For many years I found myself going from Mosque to Mosque experiencing the roller coaster of emotions that left me feeling in some cases welcome and in many others as a stranger.  The sad truth as many Muslims know is that you never know what to expect when you enter a Mosque for the first time.  This is not so with the Ahmadiyyah community.  From my experiences with them, whenever I come to one of their events, I always expect to be welcomed with open arms and I always expect to feel as if I belong.  Although my fellow Muslims may make many arguments against this group, one thing they can never take away is the human experience.   The Ahmadiyyah's say peace and that is what you get.  It doesn't get any better than that in my humble opinion.

There is a  saying that says that we should not watch what people say but what they  do, I would say that when it comes to the Ahmadiyyah community, you can  do both and come to the same conclusion.  They say "Love for all, Hatred for none" and through my experiences with this community I have personally witnessed them act in a manner that expresses love in such a way, that there is no room for hate.

The Ahmadiyyah community may be many things but what I'm certain they are not is impostures [sic].  I have met so many sincere brothers and sisters in this group that I am thoroughly convinced that they express much of what I always imagined Islam to be.  I like to believe that I am somewhat a  better person just by coming to know them and truly believe that as  Muslims we would be foolish not to emulate them as a whole.


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