Islam - Peaceful Religion — Page 7
The Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, the Promised Messiah (as) says: ‘I know not wherefrom our opponents or from whom they have heard that Islam was spread by the sword. God says in the Holy Qur’an that there is no compulsion in the Islamic faith. Then who gave the order of force? What were the weapons of that force? And what kind of sincerity and belief is it of those compelled to become Muslims that without being paid and despite being a mere two to three hundred men, they should confront a force of thousands? Then, when they should have grown into thousands, they should defeat several hundred thousands, and, in order to save their faith from the enemy, they should offer their heads like sacrificial lambs and should seal the truth of their faith with their own blood. And they should be so passionate for spreading the Oneness of God that like refugees, they should endure such hardship and reach the desert of Africa and spread Islam on that continent; and should bear such difficulties and reach China not in the form of invaders but as refugees and should call the people of China to Islam. Say honestly, is this the work of those who were forced to become Muslims? Those whose hearts disbelieve, can their tongues believe? No, but this is the work of those whose hearts are filled with the light of faith and in whose hearts there is none but God and God. ’ ( Paigham Sulh: Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 23, pp. 468-469) FREEDOM OF FAITH AND CONSCIENCE Amongst the very many traditions about the teaching of Islam on the freedom of faith and conscience, perhaps just one account is enough after which there is no need of further clarification. ‘Despite becoming the subjects of the Holy Prophet (sa) , some groups of opponents wanted to hang on to their own faith. The question came to their mind as to what would happen to them because they knew that the Holy Prophet (sa) required that every man had the right to believe in any faith. These opponents had not accepted this demand but in the past had used force against the Muslims. When the opponents had been defeated, the Holy Prophet (sa) , decided to remove their P AGE 7 Islam Ð A Religion of Peace Each one of you is free in matters of faith. You are our Zimmi (a non-Muslim living in a Muslim country). God and His Messenger shall be fully responsible for your safety. ’ (The Holy Prophet (sa) )