Islam and History: Strained ties with Islam haven’t always been

It was 234 years ago that President Washington established a beginning with the Muslim world based on mutual respect and equality. Muslim nations, ignoring our then president’s approach, soon demanded tribute from our fledgling nation on threat of war.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit:  Daily Progress | Charlottesville, VA
Qasim Rashid | Richmond, VA | May 16, 2010

Contrary to what Times Square attempted bombing suspect Faisal Shahzad apparently believes, America, from its very birth, treated Islam with a great deal of equality.

President Washington made clear that he would accept “Mohometans, Jews or Christians of any Sect, or they may be Atheists” when seeking workers for Mount Vernon.


Soon after, President Jefferson was forced into a defensive war against Barbary Muslim nations that demanded annual tributes. Even after paying tribute for 15 years to avoid violence, the Barbary nations would not relent. However, decisive wars in 1805 and 1815 sent the message that America is sovereign, strong and will not bend under threats of violence.

More than a century later in 1921, the first Muslim missionary to America, Mufti Muhammad Sadiq, was arrested upon his arrival. The reason? Customs suspected he would preach polygamy. However, after explaining Islam’s restriction on breaking the law of the land, he was released.  Despite the rocky beginning, Sadiq’s three years in America won him numerous honorary degrees, political endorsements and an embrace of equality from American citizens.

It was not too long ago when a young Pakistani man, Faisal Shahzad, saw the chance of a lifetime in America. He saw freedom, economic prosperity and a future for his family.

However, his recent arrest and charges raise a valid question in the minds of many Americans: Where do American Muslims stand in their loyalty to America?

While it is naive to think America’s foreign policy is flawless — indeed, far from it — nothing in Islam justifies violence against ones country of residence.

The Quran requires a Muslim to obey those in authority over them (4:59) and condemns creating disorder for any reason (7:56).  The killing of even one innocent person bears the burden of having killed all mankind (5:32).

While the good fortune of the would-be bomber’s own incompetence foiled the attempt, suspect Shahzad alleges that such actions were necessary to protect Islam from attack. Little does he realize that the biggest threat to Islam is not America, but the factional Muslims who feel inclined toward violence. For example, in Pakistan, Shahzad’s birth nation, more Muslims have met their demise at the hands of other Muslims than because of any other group.

The Quran guarantees freedom of speech (22:40) and forbids compulsion in thought (2:256). Yet, Pakistan has passed constitutional amendments aggressively restricting both, becoming a world leader in religious oppression. Such laws, which are more befitting of a cult than of a nation, create the dan-gerously fertile environment that breeds extremism.

There is, however, a solution to this madness. In recent days, Naseem Mahdi, vice president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, made what some are calling an unprecedented statement, with his Newsweek op-ed and during his appearance on Fox News. He called for any American Muslim residents who are ungrateful to America — its values, its freedom of religion and its opportunities — to leave. Rather than act out in violence, simply (and quickly) leave.

While it is powerful and direct, Americans should know that this statement from a Muslim leader is not unprecedented, but grounded in the guidance of the Quran, which condemns those hypocrites who are ungrateful for what has been given to them (8:55).

Americans should also know that Muslims like Mr. Mahdi are not unique.  The 19th century messianic revivalist Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, declared well over 100 years ago, “They [Muslims] should not design harm against the followers of any religion or the members of any tribe or group.”

In 2003 the Khalifa of Islam, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, made clear: “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. It is the responsibility of a true Muslim that he should remain loyal and fully abide by the laws of the land of which he is a subject.”

It was 234 years ago that President Washington established a beginning with the Muslim world based on mutual respect and equality. Muslim nations, ignoring our then president’s approach, soon demanded tribute from our fledgling nation on threat of war. While America rose in prominence and gained victory over those nations, those nations soon imploded.

History repeats itself. President Obama has now called for a new beginning with the Muslim world, also based on the cornerstones of mutual respect and equality. To those particular Muslims seeking to harm our nation, my nation, be well advised to accept President Obama’s offer: Your forefathers who refused peace ultimately wrote their own destruction. History doesn’t have to repeat itself.

Qasim Rashid is a law student at the University of Richmond School of Law.

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