Published on Jul 22 2010 by Nadimur Rahman

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The world leader of an Islamic community has made a clarion call for Muslims to unite against terror and ‘jihadist’ violence.

The Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, said those who yearn for peace should not countenance anyone who sought to cause mayhem.

Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community will this month pledge to oppose all forms of extremism and violence – weeks after suffering the worst terrorist attacks in the community’s history.

More than 30,000 people attending the Ahmadiyya Muslim convention in Hampshire between July 30-Aug 1 will make a solemn oath to remain wedded to the peaceful practice of Islam.

In May, more than 200 Ahmadi Muslims were murdered and injured in a gun, grenade and suicide attack on two mosques in Lahore. Now, in an international pledge ceremony – witnessed around the globe through satellite TV – Ahmadi Muslims will form a human chain and pledge themselves to peace.

Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the fifth Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, said:

“Those who love and yearn for peace should stand united against terror and ‘jihadist’ violence. Extremists are creating havoc and seek to destroy those who disagree with their dogma. We will continue to respond with patience and prayer and let never give up our belief and trust in God.

“We must always stride to be the standard bearers of the true Islam –and have love for all and hatred for none.

“Allah created all the worlds and is The Master of all creation. Those who commit murder in His name will only incur His wrath. Those who kill will bear a heavy burden for God has proclaimed that to take one life of an innocent is like murdering all of humanity.

“We are a community of peace, even in the face of such adversity. By spreading a message of peace, we can extinguish the flames of hatred.”

 

Rafiq Hayat, National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK added that the purpose of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has been, for over a century, to propagate the peaceful practice of Islam – a mission that is opposed by extremists.

“Those who murder in the name of Allah, and those who incite others to hatred, are not only enemies of Islam but of all of humanity.

“Through Ahmadiyya, the renaissance of Islam has begun and it is through purity of faith and enlightened thinking – not intolerance and prejudice- that the beauty of our faith will be seen.

“Though we are stricken with grief and we all know of someone who has lost a loved one in the terrorist attacks, we remain steadfast and prostrate ourselves before Allah for divine protection and justice.”

[ENDS]

Contact
Basharat Nazir, Press Secretary
Phone: 07703 483 384
Email: media@ahmadiyya.org.uk
Web: www.loveforallhatredfornone.org
Web: www.ahmadiyya.org.uk

NOTE TO EDITORS
About the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the most dynamic denomination in modern Islam having spread to 195 countries within a century. The community represents the renaissance of Islam.

Ethos
Love for All, Hatred for None

Beliefs
Ahmadiyya Muslims believe:
 In Islam and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as the greatest prophet
to bring the final and complete religion, Islam for all of humanity
 In peace, good citizenship and loyalty, tolerance, interfaith dialogue, justice and service to humanity
 That there is no compulsion in religion and that Jihad is a struggle to purify oneself and is not a means of violence on others: to believe in One God and do good deeds is the greatest Jihad

Key Difference
The Ahmadiyya Muslim community differs from other Muslims over the Second Coming of Jesus (ie the advent of the Promised Messiah)

Non-Ahmadi Muslims believe that Jesus physically ascended to heaven 2000 years ago and that he never died – and they believe Jesus will physically return on Earth as the Promised Messiah

Ahmadi Muslims believe Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) died on earth like all Prophets after completing his Divine mission and that he did not physically ascend to the heavens. Ahmadis believe Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be upon him), is the Promised Messiah who had the spiritual qualities of Jesus as a Messiah of Peace.

History
The Ahmadiyya Muslim community was founded in 1889 by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, India. Through Divine guidance, he claimed that he was the Promised Messiah and Mahdi (Guided One) awaited by the major religions and his mission was to revive the true teachings of Islam as prophesied by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him.) By the time of his death in 1908, tens of thousands of people had accepted him.

The founder of the community was succeeded by a system of spiritual leadership, called Khilafat. The current Khalifa, His Holiness Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, is the fifth Khalifa of the community. He guides the community to act in accordance with all Islamic injunctions rather than simply proclaim Islam’s greatness.

The community is established all over the world and has been promoting Islam’s message of peace, love and tolerance. Ahmadi Muslims reject violence, are loyal to their country of residence and support complete freedom of religion for all. The community wholly rejects the prevalent misinterpretation of the concept of Jihad, does not believe in conversion into or from another religion by force, and was the first Muslim organisation to condemn terrorism and suicide bombings.

There are an estimated 160 million Ahmadi Muslims living in 195 countries. The community runs schools, hospitals and clinics in many parts of the world. Through its charity, Humanity First, the community is actively involved in providing relief in disaster areas; organising water wells and running gift of sight programmes. In this country, the Community has raised over a million pounds for British charities such as Save the Children; Cancer Research and the Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Currently Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is engaged with a national doorstep awareness campaign to reassert true Islamic principles of peace, and to counter the extremists who hijack the faith for political ends. Buses in London and across the country are carrying a message of loyalty, freedom and peace. Ahmadi Muslims are personally calling on nearly three million households and presenting people with a leaflet that highlights Islam’s commitment to fundamental values of: loyalty, freedom, equality, respect and peace. The campaign is supported by a new website www.LoveForAllHatredForNone.org

The UK chapter of the community was established in 1913. It is one of the oldest Muslim communities in the UK and built the first purpose built mosque in London in 1924, known as The London Mosque. In 2003 the community opened the largest mosque in Western Europe in Morden, Surrey, called the Baitul Futuh Mosque, which can accommodate more than 10,000 people. The community has 90 branches across Britain and operates its own 24-hour multi-language satellite TV station from the UK, MTA International, on Sky channel 787.

Baitul Futuh Mosque, 181 London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5PT