Sunday, August 12, 2012

Pennsylvania - USA: Quran flogging at the Capitol will accomplish nothing


What still bewilders me is that Pearce has become enraged at the Quran for what its exhibition has done, even though it has accomplished a seemingly common goal.

Diana Fishlock/The Patriot-News Akram Kalid, president of the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community of Central Pennsylvania, talks about the Koran and its
influence recently in the state Capitol 
Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: Patriot-News Op-Ed
By Naveed Rahman | August 11, 2012

The director of the state chapter of American Atheists, Ernest Pearce V, plans to desecrate the Holy Quran in the [Pennsylvania] Capitol Rotunda on Sept. 24. He plans to do this ludicrous act in response to the state House considering a “Year of Religious Diversity” resolution.

This new resolution is being considered in response to the “Year of the Bible” resolution. Pearce’s planned act is a hate- and ignorance-filled affair caused by his frustration at the effectiveness of the Holy Quran exhibition that was able to influence the House of Representatives at the state Capitol.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but desecration of another religion’s holy book is simply absurd. Of course, it is insulting to Muslims, but we are commanded not to punish anyone who does so. The Holy Quran states in Chapter 15, Verse 10: “Verily, we ourself have sent down this exhortation, and most surely we will be its guardian.”

Many people have attempted to desecrate the holy books of God to no avail. Even if they do succeed and manage to thrash, burn or, in this case, flog the book, what have they achieved? Nothing can be achieved through mindless actions full of hatred and ignorance.

As the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” What this means is that knowingly desecrating another religious group’s sacred book is ignorant and pointless.

If Pearce’s motive is truly to protest this resolution, then why not do it in a more civilized and peaceful manner? This method has proved to be successful.

When the Year of the Bible resolution was adopted, my religious community felt as if we had been ignored. In peaceful protest, we organized a Holy Quran exhibition at the state Capitol in the Rotunda.

Through our exhibition, we were able to show how truly universal the Holy Quran is and how similar it is to the Bible. In response to this demonstration, the House of Representatives has begun to consider a Year of Religious Diversity resolution.

I am part of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, which is a sect of Islam. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the only Islamic organization that believes that the long-awaited messiah has already come in the person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) of Qadian, India.

This advent was foretold of by the Holy Prophet of Islam, Muhammad. Ahmad’s advent has brought an unprecedented revival of Islam. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community promotes peace and condemns all forms of terrorism.

We believe in all the prophets of God, such as Adam, Noah, Zoroaster, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Krishna, Buddha, Confucius, Lao Tzu and Guru Nanak.

Besides the fact that we believe the promised messiah has already come, another key difference that separates us from mainstream Muslims is that we believe in different forms of jihad. Unlike mainstream Muslims, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community condemns jihad by the sword, but instead advocates for jihad by the pen.

A third major area of difference between the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and mainstream Muslims is that we believe in a separation of mosque and state. Also, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community champions the rights of women and empowers them, which is divergent from mainstream Muslim practices.

What still bewilders me is that Pearce has become enraged at the Quran for what its exhibition has done, even though it has accomplished a seemingly common goal.

Pearce was against the Year of the Bible resolution, so why is he against the Year of Religious Diversity resolution, which includes his group of atheists, whereas the Year of the Bible only included Christians?

Even if Pearce does succeed in flogging the Quran, it means nothing to Muslims, for Allah has promised to safeguard the Quran himself.

As Winston Churchill once said, “The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.” 

Naveed Rahman writes from Manheim.

Read original post here: Quran flogging at the Capitol will accomplish nothing


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