Ahmadiyya Muslim Community believes that America is a great country where freedom is enjoyed by everyone. However, one should not take advantage of this freedom and start abusing people; such is not freedom but immorality.
Source/Credit: San Bernardino SUN
By Imam Shamshad A. Nasir | September 16, 2012
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, California, wholly and unconditionally condemns the attacks on the U.S. staff and facilities in Libya and Egypt. This past Tuesday night, an armed mob stormed the U.S. Consulate in the city of Benghazi, setting it ablaze and killing Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans.
The Benghazi consulate was one of several American diplomatic missions that faced protests after the online release of a film that ridiculed Muslims and the Prophet Muhammad. Initial reports said that another mob, angered about the allegedly U.S.-made amateur film, stormed the U.S. embassy in Cairo and tore down the American flag.
A trailer for the film was posted on YouTube in July; however, an Arabic-language translation of it was circulated in the Middle East very recently, creating upsurge in the negative sentiments.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community offers sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ambassador Stevens and the three U.S. citizens who were killed in the attack. Killing innocent people is not the teaching of the Quran nor can be found in the practice of Holy Prophet Muhammad who, when persecuted mercilessly for 13 years, never reacted violently, but dealt with the matter in a patient and civil manner.
Islam does not prescribe any punishment for blasphemy. Prophet Muhammad's example proves this, as he never retaliated against those who blasphemed against him or Islam.
The Quran instructs Muslims to walk away from those insulting their faith. Therefore they must not take such bait, as was intended by the film, but respond with civility.
The Holy Quran states in 38:18, "Bear patiently what they say, and remember Our servant David, man of strong hands; surely he was always turning to God."
Then again in 50:40, "So bear with patience what they say, and glorify thy Lord with His praise, before the rising of the sun and before its setting."
Further in 73:11 it again reads, "And bear patiently all that they say; and part with them in a decent manner."
These verses from the Holy Quran encapsulate the teaching of patience when people unjustly say or act against the sensitivities of the believers.
Islam advocates freedom of thought, freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Furthermore it teaches that there should be no compulsion in matters of faith.
The Founder of the Ahmadiyya Community in his book "The Message of Peace" advises the adherents of all religions to be respectful of each other's faiths. He wrote, "... we belong to the same denomination of God's species and are referred to as humans. ... This requires that we behave like friends to each other with purity of heart and sincerity of intentions. We should dispose kindly to each other and be mutually helpful. In the differences pertaining to religious and worldly matters we should exercise such sympathy towards each other as limbs of the same body."
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community believes that America is a great country where freedom is enjoyed by everyone. However, one should not take advantage of this freedom and start abusing people; such is not freedom but immorality.
The producers of any anti-Muslim film clearly intend to provoke Muslims who are sensitive about any negative depiction of Prophet Muhammad. There is no value in such films that depict a religion in a negative manner. We all should work together to maintain and espouse peace rather than creating disorder.
President Obama said the United States "reject(s) all efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others."
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in USA supports all diplomatic efforts to bring the situation under control and resolve issues.
Imam Shamshad A. Nasir is imam of Baitul Hamid Mosque in Chino.
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