Through Force or Faith? — Page 2
?— A Reply to Pope Benedict XVI 2 the founder of Islam which painted a wrong picture of what Islam is, and so has caused much distress to Muslims. This also displays how against Islam he [the Pope] feels in his heart of hearts. The position of the Pope is such that it was not appropriate for him to say such things in this way irrespective of the context. These days, when sentiments of hatred against Muslims are being stoked up in the West under one pretence or another, such a statement from the Pope is akin to adding fuel to the fire. What he should have said was that although some misguided Islamic organizations have adopted violent methods, Islamic teachings appear to be against them and that we should work together to maintain peace in the world so that we can save innocent people from death and destruction. Instead, he has led his followers to believe that this is the Islamic teaching. I thought the Pope was a responsible person and a scholar, and that he had some knowledge about Islam. Rather than this, his statements have revealed his total lack of knowledge. He should have tried to promote peace in the world by propagating the teachings of the Messiah whose suc- cessorship he claims. The Messiah taught to be kind even towards one’s enemies. On the one hand, imputing erroneous things to the Holy Prophet s as and the Quran is playing with the emotions of Muslims (as I have previously said), and as a result has caused those who cannot control their emotions to act out in a way that provides further opportunity for propaganda against Muslims; and then on the other hand, the followers of the Pope, as well as those who live in the West who already believe Islam to be an extremist religion, will further increase in their hatred of Muslims. May Allah show mercy and protect the world from discord and turmoil. Ahmad i s