This is real Islam, whereby as humans we are for helping to save lives instead of hurting others.
Holy Quran says. “Whoso gave life to one, it shall be as if he had given life to all mankind” [5:33].
Source/Credit: Stanford County Sun
By Shehla Ahmad | October 8, 2014
Life is sacred. This is the message I get from Quran.
I could not agree more with the statement by Dr. Nasim Rehmatullah, vice president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, issued in reaction to the Oklahoma workplace beheading when he said: “We wholly reject this barbaric and inhumane act and we mourn with the victims.”
What might have been the actual motive of this horrific act is not yet confirmed, but there can be no justification for killing of innocents according to the teachings of Islam or its Holy Scripture the Qur’an. Muslims make it clear when they say #NotInMyName, a Twitter hashtag started by Muslims denouncing ISIS and saying ISIS does not represent Islam.
Holy Quran clearly states that whosoever killed a person, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind [5:33]. This verse is a clear proof of how sacred human life is according to the Quran.
Regarding the Oklahoma beheading, we are hearing that the culprit was trying to convert his colleagues to Islam and there is a suspicion that the horrific act he committed may be linked to his false beliefs. It is very important to understand that in Islam, religion is a matter between the individual and God. There is no concept of forcing others to believe or forcefully preventing them from disbelief.
If anyone thinks he needs to act as God, then he definitely is not aware of the teachings of the Quran and true Islam, because God Himself chose to allow man to have freedom to follow any faith or not.
Holy Quran aptly states: “There should be no compulsion in religion,” [2:257].
“And if Allah had enforced His will, He would surely have made you all one people; but He lets go astray him who wishes it, and guides him who wishes it; and you shall surely be questioned concerning that which you have been doing” [16:94].
The above verses make it unequivocally clear that Islam does not sanction forced conversions.
Acts of religious hatred are heinous and as a Muslim I find it very unfortunate and sad when Islam is being linked to such atrocities in the news. It is important that we investigate if the culprit committed the crime due to his false religious beliefs or for any other reasons.
It is very heartbreaking and condemnable when innocents get hurt, but its counterproductive when -- because of a handful of extremists -- Islam is brought under attack despite the fact that Islam never condones any cruelty in its name.
We should ponder over the good examples as well. It is the same Quran which motivates Ahmadi Muslims to initiate the “Muslims for life” campaign. This campaign aims to arrange blood donation drives across the country. They are doing it to promote the sanctity of human life in light of Islam’s core teachings and to honor the victims of 9/11.
The “Muslims for life” campaign is now a nationwide annual initiative of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. In the last three years, 906 blood drives were organized and 33,350 pints of blood were collected, which can potentially save up to 100,000 lives.
This is real Islam, whereby as humans we are for helping to save lives instead of hurting others.
Holy Quran says. “Whoso gave life to one, it shall be as if he had given life to all mankind” [5:33].
This year’s blood drives are taking place all across the country. One such blood drive is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, in front of Shoppers Food Mart at Stafford Marketplace shopping center.
It is an opportunity for all to come together and support these Muslims in the noble cause to save human lives. All blood drives under the “Muslims for life” campaign have been successful through collaboration with various religious groups, communities and organizations. Let's spread the positive word. Muslims are for life. They believe a true Muslim is only one who makes efforts to save lives and never can take a single life. #MuslimApologies (an informative Twitter hashtag to describe positive contributions of Muslims to the world).
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Shehla Ahmad, a Stafford County resident, is a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and strives to promote peace and understanding through her writings. She can be reached at muslimsforpeace1@gmail.com.
Read original post here: Persoective: Life is sacred
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