Islam and Europe: a clash of civilizations?

True Islam promotes justice and goodness, and condemns all forms of evil and crime. This is what the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community believes, which also points out that it is not a question of lack of integration. On the contrary, true Islam naturally attracts society, just as a magnetic magnet does.

Islam teaches that people should not only strive to acquire or desire peace for themselves, but that they should make a genuine effort to spread peace and harmony to others, with the same longing that they desire for themselves.

This selfless attitude is the only way to establish peace in the world. Is there any society that does not appreciate these teachings and does not approve of this type of approach? Certainly a healthy society does not wish immorality and evil to spread within it, and will never oppose the promotion of goodness and peace in its midst. For the Ahmadiyya community, Islam speaks to us, in this sense, in great depth and detail about the obligations we owe to other human beings. The Koran is full of teachings that deal with the good treatment of parents, neighbours, women; the rights of the poor and needy; the need for justice and equity, the rights of non-Muslims, etc.

The true teachings of Islam do not pose a threat to Europe or any other country. Nor should the integration of Muslims into European society be a cause for concern. Islam teaches Muslims to accept all good things, and there is no doubt that Muslims can integrate and live in any society.

If anyone were to act against this commandment, he or she would be a "Muslim" in name only, not a true follower of the teachings of Islam. Certainly, Muslims are not allowed to do anything that is not correct, or does not take into account the instructions of the Holy Qur'an regarding the principles of humility, sanctity of religion or justice.

However, these issues are not aspects that have to do with integration, but belong to the realm of individual religious freedom. The violation of religious freedom is not an issue that only Muslims should oppose; in fact every decent person should raise his or her voice against this violation and publicly declare that no government or society should interfere with individual religious freedom. This is the means to ensure permanent peace and security in the world, which would make it possible for humanity to be saved from the destruction that is being wrought by the lack of tolerance between individuals and groups.

All of this will be dealt with in the web seminar 'Islam and Europe: a clash of civilisations', which will be held on Thursday 29 October 2020 at 19:30. Anyone interested can register free of charge at the following link: https://www.alislam.es/eventos/