Perspective: ​Attack on Ahmadis in Gujranwala​ | Dr. Bilal Rana

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For me, an Ahmadi Muslim, these senseless attacks only awakes the memory of the early Meccan Muslims whose properties were looted and literally set ablaze, while defenseless families remained inside.

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By Dr. Bilal Rana | July 30, 2014

This week a mob ransacked and set fire to 8 Ahmadi homes in Gujranwala. An elderly woman, and her two granddaughters,  ages 8 months and 7 years, died amidst the flames. Another lady in her final trimester suffered a miscarriage. 8 others are being treated for injuries and burns, most of whom are women and children. Police, even with reinforcements, did nothing to stop the mob. The mob, in turn, forced the fire brigade to turn around and pelted approaching ambulances with stones.

This was the horrific scene in a country where the second amendment to the Pakistani Constitution prohibits Ahmadis from associating in any way with Islam and Ordinance XX goes on to criminalize all such actions under law. Thus, the Ahmadiyya Community faces state-facilitated and institutionalized persecution on a regular basis.

For me, an Ahmadi Muslim, these senseless attacks only awakes the memory of the early Meccan Muslims whose properties were looted and literally set ablaze, while defenseless families remained inside. It only recalls the painful martyrdom of Hadrat Sumayya, a female disciple of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, who was cruelly impaled with a spear from the lethal hands of the enemy Abu Jahal. This tragedy only flashes the memory of Hadrat Zainab, the eldest daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, who was knocked off her camel by enemies causing her to miscarry her child.  It only bears a heartbreaking resemblance to the killing of Ali bin Hussein, the great grandson of the Prophet, who was killed at Karbala in his infancy.

Was it not the Prophet, peace be upon him, who protected the honor and life of women and children, even those of his sworn enemies? Was it not the Prophet, peace be upon him, who protected the rights of the outnumbered to worship as they please? Did he not offered his mosque in Medina to a Christian King of Najran so that he and his congregation could offer their Sunday services?

If the question of blasphemy must be raised, dare I ask whose actions actually dishonored the real legacy of the Prophet? Though we may have different beliefs, we can agree that humanity itself should be ashamed at the behavior of these clerics and their mob. Though our community will not take to the streets in disorderly protest, I will never remain silent at the news that women and children in our community are being murdered and I appeal to your conscience to do the same.

Dr. Bilal Rana is President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association, United States of America.

Follow on Twitter: @MuslimPresident


  -- ​Attack on Ahmadis in Gujranwala​


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