Can Muslims live together in the West (III)?

[This is a continuation of the previous one: "Can Muslims live together in the West (II)? 

Islam teaches that one should respect and care for the feelings of others. This includes religious feelings and the feelings of others in relation to social issues in general. 

On one occasion, in order to protect the religious feeling of a Jew, the Holy Prophet (lpbD) sat by his side even after knowing that an altercation had taken place between such a person of Jewish religion and a Muslim. Showing respect for the feelings of the Jew, the Holy Prophet (lpbD) rebuked the Muslim, saying that he should not have claimed that the Holy Prophet (lpbD) was superior to Moses (lpD), although he was aware that he had brought the last book of the Divine Law. This is the way in which the Holy Prophet (lpbD) took charge of the feelings of others and established social peace. 

Another great teaching of Islam is the demand that the rights of the poor and disadvantaged be fulfilled. To do this, it teaches that people should avail themselves of those opportunities through which the social position of the needy can be improved. We should try to help the poorest in a selfless way and not exploit them in various ways. Unfortunately, in today's society, projects or opportunities are created that appear to "help" the underprivileged, but are often based on a system of loans, the repayment of which is subject to interest. For example, loans are often given to students to help them complete their education; or there are people who take out loans to start businesses, which, however, take years or even decades to repay. After years of effort, because of an economic crisis, they may find themselves at the end with the same level of debt as they had at the beginning, or possibly in an even worse financial situation. We have witnessed or heard countless examples in recent years where many parts of the world have been affected by the economic crisis. 

A common allegation made against Islam is that it does not treat women fairly or equally. However, this allegation is unfounded and unjustified. Islam has conferred dignity and honour on women. I will give you a couple of examples: Islam gave women the right to divorce their husbands because of their husbands' misbehaviour at a time when women were considered a mere possession or a commodity. Paradoxically, this right in favour of women was not established in the developed world until the last century. On the other hand, Islam gave women the right to inheritance at a time when women were considered to have no status or value. This right has only been granted to women in Europe in relatively recent times.  

Islam, in turn, also confers rights on neighbours. The Quran gives detailed guidance on who is your neighbour and what their rights are. The concept of neighbourhood includes who sits next to you, the houses nearby, encompassing those you know and also those you do not know, reaching up to the forty houses surrounding yours. Those with whom you travel are also included as neighbours, with a mandate to look after their welfare. These rights were emphasised in a very important way, to the extent that the Holy Prophet (lpbD) said of neighbours that he sometimes thought that they might end up being included among the legal heirs of a person. In fact, the Holy Prophet (lpbD) went so far as to state that a person whose neighbour is not safe cannot be considered a believer or a Muslim. 

Another commandment of Islam for the welfare of others requires all parties to help and support each other in fulfilling the task of helping the weak and vulnerable to improve their situation. Accordingly, in order to fulfil its role and put these teachings into practice, the Ahmadiyya Community has been providing primary and secondary education in the poorest and most disadvantaged areas of the world. The Community has built and operated several schools that provide secondary education, and funds scholarships to help those in need to reach a position where they are able to fend for themselves. 

Another commandment of Islam is that all promises and covenants must be kept. This includes all promises made by one person to another, and it also obliges a Muslim to fulfil the covenant of allegiance that is made between the citizen and his country, which I have already discussed above. 

These are just a few points that show the extent to which Islam is a compassionate and tolerant religion. It is sad to observe how, just as strongly as Islam teaches and seeks to promote peace in the world, opponents of Islam, or those who do not know its true teachings, create unfounded accusations against this wonderful religion. As I have said before, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is at this time propagating the true message of Islam. In light of this, I would ask those who raise objections against Islam, based on the actions of a minority of Muslims, to question and hold these individuals to account; and not to use their unjust examples to defame and discredit the true teachings of Islam. 

You should not consider the teachings of Islam as threatening or dangerous to Germany or any other country, just as you should not worry about whether or not a Muslim can integrate into German society. As I have said before, a distinctive feature of Islam is that it teaches Muslims to embrace all good things, and there is no doubt that Muslims can integrate and live within any society. If someone were to act contrary to this commandment, he would be a Muslim in name only, and not a follower of the true teachings of Islam. Certainly Muslims are not allowed to do anything that is not correct, or disregards the instructions of the Holy Quran regarding the principles of humility, sanctity of religion or acting against justice. However, these issues are not a matter of integration, but are an aspect of personal religious freedom. The violation of religious freedom is not an issue that only Muslims should oppose; in fact every sincere and decent person should stand up and speak out against this situation, and openly declare that no government or society should interfere with personal religious rights. I pray that Germany, and indeed all countries that have become home to people of different nationalities and cultures, will show the highest levels of tolerance and respect for the feelings of others. In this way, they will become standard-bearers for those who show mutual love, affection and peace. This will be the means to ensure permanent peace and security in the world, so that humanity can be saved from the destruction to which it is heading because of the total absence of mutual tolerance. 

The threat of terrible destruction looms over us, and to save us from such devastation, every country and every individual, religious or non-religious, has to tread with exquisite care. I hope that all people, all over the world, will realise this reality!  

In closing, I would like to thank all of you, once again, for taking your valuable time to attend this event and listen to what I have said today. God bless you! Thank you very much. 

(lpbD) - God's peace and blessings be upon him. 

(lpd) - peace be upon him.