After reciting the Tashahhud, the Ta’uz and the first chapter Al Fatiha of the Holy Quran, Imam Zafrullah Domun said:

Last week I ended my sermon with a quotation from the booklet written by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad ^as entitled “Jihad and the British Government”. This book is available at www.alislam.com/library/english. As I said before the booklet was written to correct the wrong notions about Jihad that was pervasive among the Muslims of that time. Today I will give you some more extracts from this booklet so that anyone who might read this sermon might know how noble are the teachings of Islam and how far away from its essence are those who want to spread its teachings. Speaking about how the companions of the Holy Prophet Mohammad ^saw bore patiently the tribulations that befell them when they embraced the new faith that he was preaching. He says:

“Glory be to God! How truly inspired by the spirit of the Prophets and the righteous were those who behaved like humble, weak babies when commanded in Mecca not to resist evil even if they were cut to pieces, acting as if their hands and arms possessed no strength. Some of them were killed in the following manner: two camels were made to stand close to each other, while each of the victim’s legs were tied to the camels. Then, the camels were made to run in opposite directions. The victims were immediately torn apart just as a carrot or radish is split open. Unfortunately, the Muslims—and the maulavis in particular— ignore all these events and think of the whole world as their prey. Many maulavis are just like a hunter who moves stealthily towards a deer he is stalking in the forest, shooting his gun at precisely the right moment. They know nothing about compassion for humanity. According to them, it is an act of Islamic virtue to fire a pistol or gun at an innocent person. Where are those who will act like the Companion^ra of the Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and remain patient while suffering torture? Has God commanded us to capture complete strangers and cut them to pieces or to shoot them without reason or proof of an offence? Can a religion be from God if it teaches that you can enter Paradise by killing His blameless and innocent creatures—to whom you have not even delivered the message? Is it not shameful that a complete stranger should be unjustly killed while occupied in his daily affairs, thus widowing his wife, making his children orphans, and turning his house into a funeral parlour? Which hadith or verse of the Holy Qur’an authorizes such behaviour? Is there any maulavi who can respond? Foolish people hear the word jihad, and make it an excuse for the fulfillment of their own selfish desires. Or perhaps it is sheer madness that inclines them towards bloodshed.”

As I said last week when we read these writings and we see what has been happening in the world of Islam by those who say that Non Muslims should be killed and by those who divided the world in the  world of peace (dar ul salam) and the world of war (dar ul harb). The Holy Prophet saw bore patiently for about ten years all the persecutions of those who were against him. Only when he emigrated to Medina that it was revealed to him “ozena lillazina yoqatalouna be annahoum zolemou wa innallaha ala nasrehim la qadir…”and the next verse. These verses are translated as follows:

“Permission to fight is given to those against whom war is made, because they have been wronged — and Allah indeed has power to help them 

Those who have been driven out from their homes unjustly only because they said, ‘Our Lord is Allah’ — And if Allah did not repel some men by means of others, there would surely have been pulled down cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft commemorated. And Allah will surely help one who helps Him. Allah is indeed Powerful, Mighty” (22:40-41).

So if war has been declared against you, it is your duty to defend yourselves. The early Muslims believed in the message of the Holy Prophet ^saw and war was waged against them. They recognized Allah as their Lord and this displeased those who held power in the society at that time. There is a similarity in the situation of the early Muslims and the situation of the members of Jamaat Ahmadiyya Al Mouslemeen. Because we say that we recognize Allah as our Lord others tell us that we should recognize “khilafat” as more important because it is through khilafat that we will know Allah. We have told them that we have ample proof to say that what they are saying is wrong. They make as if they do not understand what we are saying and they turn their backs and go on believing what they believed before. Anyhow this is another story. We leave it for the time being.

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^as continues

 “It should be remembered that today’s Islamic scholars (who are called maulavis) completely misunderstand jihad and misrepresent it to the general public. The public’s violent instincts are inflamed as a result and they are stripped of all noble human virtues. This is in fact what has happened. I know for certain that maulavis who persist in propagating these blood-spattered doctrines are in fact responsible for murders committed by ignorant, egotistical people who know nothing of why Islam was forced to fight battles in its early history. When these maulavis meet present day rulers, they bow down as if ready to prostrate; but among their own kind they insist repeatedly that this country is “dar-ul-harb” [the zone of war]. They consider jihad to be obligatory in their hearts, and few of them think otherwise. They adhere so strongly to their doctrine of jihad—which is completely misguided and entirely contradicts the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and hadith—that they label as “dajjal ” [Antichrist] and advocate the murder of anyone who objects. A fatwa [edict] of this kind was pronounced against me some time ago. Some of this country’s maulavis labelled me a dajjal and a kafir [infidel] and—without fear of the British Government’s laws—published a fatwa stating that I should be killed, and that it would be a blessed deed to loot my belongings or abduct the women of my house. What was the reasoning for this? Only that I incurred their displeasure because I am the Promised Messiah and preach against their concept of jihad, rejecting notions of the bloodthirsty Messiah and Mahdi whose advent would, they had hoped, allow them to engage in loot and plunder.”

In another extract he says:

“Now that the Promised Messiah has come, it is the duty of every Muslim to refrain from such jihad. There could have been some justification for misunderstanding this issue if I had not come. But I have arrived and you have witnessed the day that was promised. Therefore, those who now raise the sword on religion’s behalf have no excuse before God Almighty. Those who possess sight, read the ahadith and ponder over the Holy Qur’an should understand well that the kind of jihad practiced by many of today’s barbaric people is not Islamic jihad. Rather, these misguided activities that have spread amongst the Muslims are instigated by nafse-‘ammarah [self that incites to evil] or by a crude desire for Paradise…”

Now examine this extract and what Ben Laden tells the Taliban to do and you will easily understand why the ideas of Jihad prevalent amongst the Muslims are so dangerous.  Speaking about the exemplary patience of the Holy Prophet ^saw and his companions , Hazrat Masih says:

     “I have just mentioned that during his entire life our Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was never the first to raise the sword. Indeed, he suffered for a long time at the hands of the disbelievers and displayed a degree of patience that is not possible for every person. His Companions ^ra held fast to the same lofty principle, doing as they were commanded, withstanding atrocities and demonstrating patience. They were trampled underfoot but did not utter a sound. Their children were cut to pieces before their very eyes. They were tortured with fire and water but, like innocent children, did not retaliate against this evil. Can anyone show that the people of any of the Prophets—despite possessing the ability to retaliate—heard God’s command and exercised similar restraint? Who can demonstrate that there has ever been another group like this?For these were a people who possessed bravery, unity in numbers, strength, ability to fight and all masculine qualities, and yet repeatedly restrained themselves for thirteen years in the face of a merciless and bloodthirsty enemy. The patience shown by our Lord and Master^sa and his Companions^ra was not due to their powerlessness. In fact, the hands and arms of the devoted Companions ^ra who exercised restraint at this time of patience were no different after the permission for jihad was granted. On occasion only one thousand young Muslims defeated one hundred thousand enemy soldiers. Events transpired in this way so that people would know that the patience demonstrated in Mecca was not due to any weakness or frailty; Muslims laid down their weapons upon hearing God’s command and were prepared to be slaughtered like goats and lambs. This type of patience is certainly beyond human capacity. Even if one studies the history of the whole world and all the Prophets, one cannot find such an abundance of virtues in any other community or in the followers of any other Prophet. If we listen to stories about patience from the past, then immediately it crosses one’s mind that the conditions of the time indicate that the reason for this patience was in fact cowardice or lack of power to retaliate. But the Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his Companions^ra demonstrated very real bravery over a period of thirteen years. Despite being brave warriors of stout heart, and despite being persecuted, bloodied with spears and seeing their children killed, they did not retaliate against evil. Such patience over thirteen years in the face of dangerous tribulations is unmatched. Those who doubt this should step forward and provide us with an example of similar patience from among the righteous people of the past……”

Many Muslims like to say that they would like to live the Islam of the companions. Here we find a good example of the Islam lived by the companions and we should try to emulate them and never be eager for the blood of others.

In another extract we read:

“It may also be noted that despite the extent of the injustice done to his Companions ^ra, our Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not of his own accord suggest any plan of escape. Instead, he repeatedly urged them to be patient despite much suffering. Anyone begging permission to retaliate was stopped and told: “I have been commanded to be patient.” Until the commandment to retaliate descended from Heaven, the Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) always preached forbearance and tolerance…..”

Speaking about how far from the teachings of Islam the behaviour of some Muslims are the Promised Messiah says:

“Unfortunately, the Muslims—and the maulavis in particular— ignore all these events and think of the whole world as their prey. Many maulavis are just like a hunter who moves stealthily towards a deer he is stalking in the forest, shooting his gun at precisely the right moment. They know nothing about compassion for humanity. According to them, it is an act of Islamic virtue to fire a pistol or gun at an innocent person. Where are those who will act like the Companions ^ra of the Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and remain patient while suffering torture? Has God commanded us to capture complete strangers and cut them to pieces or to shoot them without reason or proof of an offence? Can a religion be from God if it teaches that you can enter Paradise by killing His blameless and innocent creatures—to whom you have not even delivered the message? Is it not shameful that a complete stranger should be unjustly killed while occupied in his daily affairs, thus widowing his wife, making his children orphans, and turning his house into a funeral parlour? Which hadith or verse of the Holy Qur’an authorizes such behaviour? Is there any maulavi who can respond? Foolish people hear the word jihad, and make it an excuse for the fulfillment of their own selfish desires. Or perhaps it is sheer madness that inclines them towards bloodshed.”

Hence real Islam is peaceful and does not tolerate of any strife. However to deepen our understanding very often we have to confront our ideas with that of others. Such discussions are aimed only to enhance knowledge and to verify “convictions”. Such exchange should always be done with the above aim in mind and with complete respect and tolerance towards other fellow Muslims or non Muslims. It is in this way that practical Islam is spread around the world and not through high-sounding but empty slogans like “Love for all and hatred for none” where what is said and what is done is diametrically opposed. May Allah open the heart of all Muslims to practice Real Islam and not the one that they have invented for themselves.