The Devastating Consequences of Nuclear War and the Essential Need for Absolute Justice (III)

(Excerpts from a speech by His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masrur Ahmad, the Fifth Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community delivered on 24 March 2012 at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in London on the occasion of the 9th Annual Peace Symposium. See previous instalment) 

We, members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, try our best to save the world and humanity from destruction, because in the present times we have accepted the Imam of the age, who was sent by God as the Promised Messiah (as) and servant of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (lpbD), sent as a mercy for all mankind. 

Since we are followers of the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (lpbD) we feel immense pain and anguish in our hearts over the state of the world. It is this pain that drives us and makes us strive to try to save mankind from destruction and suffering. That is why I, and all other Ahmadi Muslims, try to fulfil our moral responsibilities in seeking to bring about peace in the world. 

One way in which I have tried to promote peace has been through a series of letters I have written to certain world leaders. A few months ago, I sent a letter to Pope Benedict XVI, which was delivered to him in person by one of our faithful on my behalf. In the letter I told him that, as the leader of the world's largest religious denomination, he should make a special effort for peacemaking. 

In the same vein, more recently, after watching hostilities between Iran and Israel escalate to a very dangerous level, I sent another letter to the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as to the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in which I advised them to abandon all haste and recklessness in making decisions, for the sake of humanity. 

I have also recently written to President Barack Obama and the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, calling on both to fulfil their roles and responsibilities for the development of peace and harmony in the world. I also have on my agenda to write and warn other heads of state and leaders in the near future. 

I do not know whether any value or importance will be attached to my letters by the various leaders to whom I have written, but whatever their reaction, I have tried on my part, as Khalifa and spiritual leader of millions of Ahmadi Muslims all over the world, to express my feelings and emotions about the dangerous state of affairs. 

I make it clear that I have not expressed these feelings out of any personal fear; on the contrary, I am motivated by a sincere love for humanity. This love for humanity has been developed and instilled in all true Muslims through the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who, as I have already mentioned, was sent as a sign of mercy and compassion for all mankind. 

You may well be surprised and even shocked to hear that our love for humanity is a direct result of the teachings of the Holy Prophet (lpbD). The question that may arise in your minds, is why then are there Muslim terrorist groups who are killing innocent people, or why are there Muslim governments who, in order to protect their position of power, order mass murders of civilian citizens? I must make it clear that these evil acts are completely contrary to the true teachings of Islam. The Holy Quran does not, under any circumstances, permit extremism or terrorism. 

In this age, according to our beliefs, God Almighty has sent the Founder of the Jama'at Ahmadiyya of Islam, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (lpD) as the Promised Messiah and Imam Al Mahdi, in complete submission to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (lpbD). The Promised Messiah (lpD) was sent to propagate the real and true teachings of Islam and The Quran. He was sent to re-establish the link between man and Almighty God. He was sent to identify and recognise the rights that man has with man. He was sent to put an end to all forms of religious warfare. He was sent to restore respect, dignity and honour to every Founder and all Prophets of all religions. He was sent to call attention to the need for us to embody the highest standards of moral values and to establish peace, love, compassion and brotherhood throughout the world. 

If you go anywhere in the world, you will find these same qualities embedded in all true Ahmadi Muslims. For us, neither terrorists, extremists, cruel Muslim dictators nor Western powers are examples to follow. The example we follow is that of the Founder of Islam, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (lpbD) and our guiding principle is the Holy Quran. 

From this Peace Symposium, I send the message to the whole world that the teachings of Islam are teachings of love, compassion, kindness and peace. 

Unfortunately, a small minority of Muslims present a totally distorted picture of Islam and act according to their misguided beliefs. I say to all of you that you must not believe, at all, that this is the true Islam and I ask you to avoid using such erroneous acts as a licence to hurt the feelings of the peaceful majority of Muslims or to make them targets of cruelty. 

The Holy Quran is the holiest and most sacred book for Muslims and therefore using insulting or obscene language, or burning it, undoubtedly seriously hurts their feelings. We have already seen how when this happens, it often provokes a totally wrong and inappropriate reaction from extremists. We have recently heard of two incidents in Afghanistan, where some American soldiers disrespected the Holy Quran, killing innocent women and children in their homes. Similarly, a person mercilessly shot dead French soldiers in the south of France for no reason, and then, a few days later, entered a school and killed three innocent Jewish children and one of their teachers. 

It seems to us that this behaviour is totally wrong and cannot lead to peace. We also see similar cruelties happening regularly in Pakistan and elsewhere, and all these acts give wings to the opponents of Islam to give vent to their hatred, and they find the pretext they seek to achieve their goals on a large scale. These barbaric acts carried out on a small scale do not happen because of personal enmities or grudges, but are, in fact, the result of unjust policies adopted by some governments, both within their countries and internationally. 

For peace to be established in the world, it is essential that the rules of justice be implemented at all levels and in all countries of the world. The Holy Quran considers the killing of an innocent person for no reason to be tantamount to killing all of humanity. 

So, once again, as a Muslim, I want to make it absolutely clear that Islam does not allow cruelty and oppression of any kind, in any way, shape or form. It is a commandment that is absolute and without exception. The Quran further states that even if a country or a people regard you as their enemies, you must not fail to act justly and fairly when dealing with them. It does not allow enmity or rivalry to lead you to revenge, or to act disproportionately.  

Another important commandment given to us by the Holy Quran is that the wealth and resources of others should not be regarded with envy or greed. 

I have mentioned only a few points, but they are of such a nature that they are of crucial importance, for they lay the foundations on which peace and justice can be built in society, and in the world as a whole. I pray that the world will pay attention to these key issues; that we may be saved from the destruction of the world to which the unjust and the false are leading us. I would like to take this opportunity to apologise for having spoken to you for so long, but the truth is that the issue of how to build peace in the world is of great importance. Time is running out, and before it is too late, we must pay attention to the needs of the moment.  

Finally, I would like to express once again my gratitude to all of you from the bottom of my heart, because by coming to this event you have shown your love, affection and brotherhood. 

Thank you very much. 

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

(lpd) - peace be upon him.