Through Force or Faith? — Page 108
?— A Reply to Pope Benedict XVI 108 this grave error, either due to their ignorance or obstinacy, which unfortunately crept into Muslims due to their departure from the true Islamic teachings. As a consequence of actions based on this error, opponents of Islam get the opportunity to hold a pure and holy faith like Islam culpable. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has not only always expressed its disagreement to such beliefs and actions but has always rejected and condemned them in no uncertain terms. More than a century ago, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, peace be upon him (1835–1908) declared: The Promised Messiah has come into the world so that he may repel the notion of taking up the sword in the name of religion, and that, through his reasoning and arguments, he may establish that Islam is a faith which does not at all need the help of the sword for the purpose of its propaga- tion, but that the inherent qualities of its teachings and its verities, insights, reasons, proofs and the living support and signs of God Almighty, and its inherent attractions are the factors that have throughout its history contrib- uted to its progress and its propagation. Let all those who proclaim that Islam had been spread by the sword take note that their claim is false. Islam is not in need of any coercion for its propagation. Should anyone doubt this, let him come to me and stay with me and observe for him- self that Islam proves through reasoning and divine signs that it is a living faith. ( Malf ūzā t, vol. 3, p. 176, published 1984, London)