Perspective: Muslims must turn to leaders who emphasize the true, peaceful teachings of Islam

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With a Caliphate and leader who is on the forefront of advocating for peace globally, Muslims in the United States and the world can combat extremist ideologies with an ideology of tolerance and peace.

Photo via Twitter: Imam Luqman @Luqman255

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: Beaverton Valley Times / Miles Vance
By Waqas Hussain | June 1, 2015

The sentencing of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in mid-May invoked a feeling of justice being served to the victims of the horrific terrorist attack that took place on the streets of Boston in April 2013. This conviction is yet another reminder of a heinous attack committed on our country’s own soil.

How do we prevent the message of hate and intolerance spewed by terrorists overseas from indoctrinating impressionable young Muslim Americans such as Dhzokar Tsarnaev and his brother? Many will point to religion as the root cause of radicalization. However, if we take a deeper look at the teachings of Islam, they seem to completely contradict the actions of the Tsarnaev brothers.

It is a requirement of the Islamic faith for one to be honest and loyal. If one makes an oath, it is incumbent that one stays true to their oath. In the case of Dhzokar Tsarnaev, he made an oath to the United States of America when he attained his citizenship. The teachings of the Islamic faith require him to uphold this oath as much as he upholds any other oaths regarding his religion.

Many people will argue that, for a Muslim, an oath to God and his religion will come before all other oaths. However, if one looks at the example set by the Prophet Muhammad, one comes to find that there is no conflict of interest between keeping an oath to God and keeping an oath to one's nation.

A “hadith,” or saying of the Prophet Muhammad, that supports this is “Love for one’s nation is a part of faith.” This statement by the Prophet has incorporated sincere patriotism into the fabric of Islam. One cannot claim to be a follower of the Prophet without sincere love and loyalty to one's nation. Loyalty and love for one’s nation deepens a Muslim’s relationship with God.

If Tsarnaev and his brother claimed to be followers of Islam, how then did they stray so far away from the basic teachings of the religion? How do we ensure that no other American Muslim strays away from the above teaching?

The Muslim world again is in need of leadership. Such a leader, or Caliph, exists today. This Caliph is not the false Caliphate of ISIS, creating chaos and disorder across the world. This Caliphate is the Caliphate of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad.

In an address delivered in Germany in 2012, he affirmed:

“... According to Islamic teachings, God Almighty has forbidden all forms of treachery or rebellion, whether against one’s country or one’s government. This is because rebellion or acting against the state is a threat to the peace and security of a nation.”

With a Caliphate and leader who is on the forefront of advocating for peace globally, Muslims in the United States and the world can combat extremist ideologies with an ideology of tolerance and peace. This Caliph has made it incumbent on Muslims to strive for peace and tolerance, not because it is the right thing to do, but because it is a necessary part of one’s faith. Muslims can root out homegrown radicalization by turning toward a leader who emphasizes the true peaceful teachings of Islam. This is the cure for the disease known as radicalization.



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Waqas Hussain of Beaverton is the assistant director in media relations at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association

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