Islam is the Greatest Enemy of Terrorism

By: @demhardis 

Islam is the greatest enemy of terrorism For anyone to suggest that Islamic State or more commonly referred to as “ISIS”, embodies the views of all the Muslims is like insinuating that the Nazis represent the Jewish or that the KKK speaks for the Caucasian people. Every time Islam is said to have a link with extremists, it inevitably hurts the sentiments of a Muslim to see his or her faith be tarnished because of ruthless beings and meaningless allegations. These extremists use media as a platform to publicly promote itself. This as a result, only allows the extremists to gain popularity- an example of ISIS that has hijacked the name of religion to convince the rest of the world that they are the real Islam. Thanks but no thanks to them, they are succeeding. It’s no doubt that ISIS’s online propaganda is running in circles around governments. Their target being, the Western world. If only lessons were learnt from the mistakes of the past, we would not have to see this day.

And so the argument is about Islam’s true representation. The word Islam is derived from the word Salam which in return means peace. However, many people confuse this and imply it to some sort of enslavement to Allah (God). It is not a one sided relationship but rather a covenant between Allah and his followers. So the word Islam in an essence, is obeying Allah’s commands and wisdom to bring only peace for a Muslim. As a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community that is known for its charitable, secular education and humanitarian efforts, I believe that the foundation of Islam lies solely in the Holy Book Quran. Which undoubtedly, rejects extremism and or terrorism of any kind. With this belief in mind, it should be remembered that the Caliphate of the ‘Islamic’ State is completely un-Islamic from all aspects. However, the idea of Caliphate is central to Islam and there is absolutely nothing wrong as long as it’s a peaceful one. I along with millions of Ahmadis around the world have been under a spiritual Caliphate for more than a hundred years and it has only guided us to the peaceful teachings of Islam and unconditional loyalty to one’s nation. 

I say this with sheer confidence because I am guided by the true Caliphate of Islam, Mirza Masroor Ahmad; the 5th successor of and Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community -that has spread peacefully to over 200 countries around the world with the motto "Love for all Hatred for none". Unlike the so-called Caliphate who leads the ISIS, Mirza Masroor Ahmad epitomizes leadership through the compassionate exemplification of Prophet Muhammad. It is because of this very Islamic leadership not even one man or woman has ever joined a terrorist organization in Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s 127 year old history. You maybe questioning why you haven’t heard of this Muslim Community, my answer to you is because of the misunderstanding of what Islam and Muslims really are.

We believe in the Jihad of Pen, using the power of word to spread peace around the world. As Mirza Tahir Ahmad, the 4th successor of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community once said, “Swords can win territories but not hearts forces can bend heads but not minds,” and that is exactly what is rooted in every mind and heart of an Ahmadi Muslim. Failing Muslim leadership and misunderstandings of the real image of Islam has led to radicalism and ignorance.

The solution? Education and compassion through the real Caliphate, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad and the clearing out of doubts by the non-Muslim communities- that is what the world, in particular the Muslim world needs today. ISIS is nothing but merely an antithesis of Islam and one need not fall into a never ending spiral of such organisations, but educate themselves with what’s true. Take a moment to see the reality of true Islam and forsake the mirage that has been embedded by societal assumptions.

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