Source/Credit: Global Politician | Articles
By Allison Knight-Khan - 11/16/2011
The media often asks the question: “Where are the moderate Muslims?” This question has been repeated often since 9/11. The question doesn’t really beg for an answer. It suggests that there are no moderate Muslims. In fact, it is a criticism. They are not looking for the moderate Muslims at all. I mean, if you look, you might find something…and that is not their intention at all. What they suggest or insinuate by asking this rhetorical question is: there are no moderate Muslims.
Isn’t it time that the Moderate Muslims were revealed to the American public? Everyone has been waiting since 9/11. Are you ready for the unveiling? They have been living among you, but no one has made it plain that there is a middle ground for all Muslims: if it exists, it exists in the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
The moderate Muslim would need a philosophy that demonstrates their rejection of “jihad of the sword.” (Translated from Urdu, Government Angrezi aur Jihad, p. 17-18) The Promised Messiah, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, stated that “The jihad of the sword is dead.” In its place, he told his followers, all that is left is the “jihad of the pen.” While many Americans are afraid of Muslims who wield weapons, I expect that the pen is not one of them. Consequently, it is only logical to conclude that if the Ahmadi Muslims only wish to write about Islam, no one need fear them.
A sign of the moderate Muslim would be in a motto. I recall the motto of my mother’s clan in Scotland, the MacIntoshes, was “Touch not the cat, but a glove,” which was a warning to all other clans that they were dangerous. Surely, Muslims who believe in pens, not swords, will find some moderate way of explaining their beliefs. Mirza Nasir Ahmad, the third Caliph (Worldwide Spiritual Leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community), after reading the Holy Quran hundreds of times summarized it in the following words: Love for All, Hatred for None. How can anyone raise suspicions against people who wish to be so all embracing?
It must be noted that the Ahmadi-Muslims believe in the Islamic concept of taqwa, which means “level of righteousness.” It is such a beautifully simple system. The best person is the one who is highest in taqwa. Everyone can compete in goodness, irrespective of race or sex. This system of competing in good works enhances everyone’s best qualities and minimizes weaknesses. It could create a social reformation, if everyone participated in it.
And while we have all heard the clarion cry that we should follow the precept and example, in faith, who actually does that? We are practical people. It is necessary to see Moderate Muslims “walking the talk,” otherwise, the religion is empty. What do Ahmadi-Muslims claim to do for the world? The Quran states that Muslims must help mankind…
The Ahmadi-Muslims have more than one hundred funds which one can donate money to. For example, one fund goes to orphans of the Ahmadi-Muslim martyrs called the Hazrat Bilal fund. All the work done within the Community is done by volunteers. They also run a charity which helps victims of disasters, feed the poor, build schools and hospitals. In Pakistan in 2010, the members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community were the first ones to help feed the flood victims, even though the Pakistani Muslims have declared the Ahmadi-Muslims “non-Muslims” in 1974.
In order for any Muslim group or association to arrive at the enviable destination of being called “Moderate Muslims,” they would have to be obedient. In 2003, the fourth Caliph of the Community passed away. Hundreds of Ahmadi Muslims flew to England to witness the election of the new Caliph. Mirza Masroor Ahmad was among them. He arrived to help elect the new Caliph. He brought two suits with him, as he anticipated a quick return trip. But, there was a little snag in his plans. The election made him the Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. He has not returned to Pakistan since. The day he became Caliph, there wasn’t enough room for everyone to pray inside the mosque, so they lined up outside to do their prayers. No one expressed any fear of these Muslims. In fact, there were reports that the orderliness of the event inspired awe in the passersby.
In Maryland, at Baitul Rahman the headquarter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, there was not enough parking at certain times of the year for all the attendees. Since they did not want to upset the neighbors, they decided to go door-to-door to hand out boxes of chocolates. Do you know that this one act of neighborliness dramatically decreased the number of complaints? I would not dare say all because there are always a few…but if someone would just give me a box of chocolates, I would let them park in the middle of my lawn!
But seriously, the Ahmadi-Muslims realize that America needs to revise its view of Islam, so they started a campaign called Muslims for Loyalty, because Americans feel that suicide bombers are a threat to the American way of life, so why would they trust a Muslim? When Naseem Mahdi, national vice president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, announced that Ahmadi-Muslims pledge their loyalty to America first because this is our country, the extremists in Pakistan took note. Mr. Mahdi challenged Muslims to declare their loyalty to America. Then, the extremists retaliated in Pakistan on May 28, 2010, killing 94 men and blowing up two mosques in Lahore. This is the price that moderates have to pay to make it clear that all Muslims should be loyal to the country they live in.
During September 2011, the Ahmadi Muslims made it a goal to collect 10,000 units of blood. The caliph, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, chose the target goal. It seemed very steep to the American Muslims who were expected to fulfill the goal, but with due diligence, they collected over 11,000 units of blood to honor the victims of 9/11.
There are two definitions of moderation. One is “the avoidance of excess or extremes, especially in one’s behavior.” Since the Ahmadiyya Community’s establishment in America in 1920, there has been no claim of any extreme behavior within the community. But the second definition of moderation includes: “The action of making something less extreme, intense or violent.” I think people who are willing to hand out chocolates are trying to moderate negative feelings that might get magnified by overcrowding. When Ahmadi-Muslim leaders like Naseem Mahdi challenge all Muslims to obey the laws of the land and stay loyal to America, they are seeking the middle way.
While moderate Muslims do not always make sensational news which Americans have come to expect, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a lot easier to get along with in the long run. There is no need to suspect duplicity here. Ahmadi-Muslims themselves are targets of extremism along with Jews and Christians, unfortunately. These moderate Muslims believe in Muslims for Love, Muslims for Loyalty and Muslims for Peace. If you could choose your neighbor, the moderate Muslim would definitely be an asset.
Allison Knight-Khan taught English and ESL in Toronto, New York and Atlanta. She has published short stories and articles in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Grieving and Recovery, Ahmadiyya Times Gazette and Faith Affirmed: A Journey to hmadiyyat Islam. She has a Masters degree in English Literature from the University of Waterloo.
Read original post here: Ahmadi-Muslims: the Moderate Muslims of Islam
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