Can Muslims live together in the West (I)?
Hazrat Mirza Masrur Ahmad, Fifth Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
(This speech was delivered at the Baitur-Rashid Mosque in Hamburg, Germany, in 2012).
Bismil-lahi-Rahmani-Rahim: In the name of Al'lah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
Distinguished guests: Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatul'lahi wa Barakatuhu: May the peace and blessings of Al'lah be upon you all!
First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to all the attendees who have accepted our invitation to attend this event. Fortunately, many of you are familiar with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community or have long-standing ties of friendship with Ahmadi Muslims. I am sure that those of you who have recently met the Ahmadiyya Community will have developed a real desire to learn more about this Jama'at. Your attendance here today shows your conviction that there is no danger or threat in meeting and maintaining contact with Ahmadi Muslims, any more than there is any risk in attending their mosques.
The truth is that in today's climate, where most news and articles about Islam are extremely negative, those of you who are not Muslims could easily have come to the conclusion that visiting an Ahmadi mosque is something that could be harmful or cause you harm. However, as I have already said, your participation in this event shows that there is no apprehension towards Ahmadi Muslims, and they are not considered a threat; which, in turn, indicates that Ahmadis are valued, believed to be sincere and decent people, as are most of you and a large part of the population.
At the same time, I also do not rule out the possibility that among those present here there may be a small number of people who may harbour concerns about the possible negative consequences of attending this event. There may be people who wonder whether they will be sitting next to a person with an extremist mentality or tendencies. If any of you experience this distrust, I urge you to put it quickly out of your heart, as we are looking out for the safety of all, we are very vigilant in this regard, and if, by any chance, any extremist should try to enter the mosque, or even gain access to the area, we will take firm action to remove them from the building. So, rest assured, you are in safe hands.
Indeed, the Jama'at Ahmadiyya [Ahmadiyya Muslim Community] is such a community that if, at any given time, one of its members were to adopt extremist tendencies, or violate the law or destroy the peace, this individual would be automatically expelled from the Community. We consider it our duty to show firmness in this respect, as we have absolute respect for the word "Islam", which literally means "peace" and "security". Our Community therefore represents the true image of the word "Islam". In fact, the authentic concept and also the evolution of Islam were prophesied by the Founder of Islam more than 1400 years ago. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said that there would come a time when the vast majority of Muslims would forget the pure and true teachings of Islam. And according to that prophecy, at that time, Al'lah would send a person as a Reformer, Messiah and Mahdi, whose purpose would be to re-establish true Islam in the world.
We, the members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, believe that the Founder of our Community, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (India), is the person sent by God in fulfilment of this prophecy. Thanks to God, this Community has prospered and is now spread all over the world in 202 countries. In each of these countries, both the local population and the different ethnic groups have accepted the Ahmadiyya Community, and it can be seen how our faithful continue to play their roles as loyal citizens of their respective countries, finding no conflict between their love for Islam and their love for their country. In fact, these two loyalties are intertwined and bound together. Ahmadi Muslims, wherever they reside, are among the most law-abiding citizens of every nation, and I can certainly state, without a doubt, that these qualities are found in the vast majority of the members of this Community.
Because of these qualities, when Ahmadi Muslims migrate from one country to another, or when the local population joins the Ahmadiyya Community, they have no problem in integrating into the new societies, nor in playing their part in promoting the large-scale interests of their host countries. Wherever they go, Ahmadi Muslims will love their country of residence as true citizens, dedicating their lives to the active pursuit of the betterment and progress of the nation. Islam teaches us to live in this way, and, in fact, does not simply advocate in favour of this idea but determines us to be absolutely loyal and devoted to our country of residence. In fact, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (lpbD) made a special point that love of nation is part of the faith of a true Muslim. When loving your country is a basic element of Islam, how can a true Muslim show disloyalty or betrayal to his country by renouncing his faith in this way? At all our major events, a ceremony takes place in which all members of the Ahmadiyya Community, be they men, women, children or elders, stand up and make a pledge as God is their witness. In that pledge they pledge to give up their lives, wealth, time and honour, not only for their religion, but also for the sake of their nations and countries. Therefore, what citizen could become more loyal than those who are constantly reminded to serve their country and who repeatedly reaffirm their commitment to always be willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of their faith, country and nation?
Most Muslims come from Pakistan, Turkey or other Asian countries. Therefore, the question might arise, here in Germany, in the minds of some people, whether, when the time comes that these people have to make sacrifices for their nations, they would not give preference to their home countries rather than to Germany? In this regard, I must clarify and explain that when a person acquires German nationality or the nationality of any country, then he or she becomes a full citizen of that nation. I have previously presented this concept earlier this year, when I gave a speech at the German Army headquarters in Koblenz. I explained, on the basis of Islamic teachings, what should happen if a situation arises in which Germany is involved in a war with the country of origin of an immigrant who has become a German citizen. If the immigrant feels sympathy towards his or her home country and thinks that there is a risk that he or she might cause harm to Germany, then that person should immediately renounce his or her citizenship or immigration status and return to his or her home country. However, if he decides to stay, then Islam does not allow any form of disloyalty towards the country where he resides. This is an absolute and unequivocal teaching. Islam does not tolerate any form of rebellious behaviour on the part of any citizen against his nation, nor does it permit harming it in any way, be it his adopted nation or otherwise. If a person acts against his adopted nation or causes it any harm, then he is to be treated as an enemy of the state, a traitor, and punished according to the laws of the land. This makes clear the situation of a Muslim immigrant in any country. For the case of a local German, or any person of any nationality who converts to Islam, it is perfectly clear that he has no other way than to show absolute loyalty to his nation.
Another question that is sometimes asked is: what action should Muslims living in the West take when a Western country starts a war against a Muslim nation? To answer this question, I must first of all mention that the Founder of our Community, the Promised Messiah (pbuh), explained that today we are in an age where religious wars have come to an end. During the course of history, sometimes wars or battles took place between Muslims and people of other religions. And in these battles the only goal for the non-Muslims was to kill Muslims and wipe out Islam.
In most of the early wars, the non-Muslims took the initiative aggressively, so the Muslims had no choice but to defend themselves and their religion. However, the Promised Messiah (pbuh) explained that such circumstances no longer exist today, as there are no governments that are declaring wars in an attempt to wipe out Islam; on the contrary, there is great religious freedom in the vast majority of Western countries, as well as in non-Muslim countries. Our Community is extremely grateful that such religious freedom exists, which is enabling the Ahmadi Muslims to spread the message of Islam in these non-Muslim countries. And this in turn enables us to present the true teachings of Islam, of peace and harmony, in the Western world. Indeed, it is because of this religious freedom and tolerance that I am able to stand before you today and present to you the true Islam, thus proving that there is no religious war of any kind today.
(lpbD) - may peace and blessings of God be upon him.
(lpd) - peace be upon him.
(We will continue this discourse in the next installment: "Can Muslims live together in the West (II)").