Through Force or Faith? — Page 62
?— A Reply to Pope Benedict XVI 62 and we do not have a government. Besides, in the times of the Promised Messiah as , jihad has been forbidden in the sense that force is not to be used anyway. We do not raise our hand against anyone even under mundane conditions. The question of raising our hand against those who affiliate themselves with the Holy Prophet s as cannot even arise. The adversaries of the Ahmad i s may do whatever they like, from us there is always the message of good- will for them. We have faith that Allah, the Exalted, Himself shall open the avenues to eradicate these atrocities. Tomorrow, if not today, God-willing, these avenues shall open and God-willing, Ahmad i s shall breathe freedom everywhere. But we also agonize that if these governments and their mis- creants do not stop, then those whom Allah, the Exalted, accord- ing to His decree, may send for protection, may not observe any limits. It is quite possible that many among them would be those who would not abide by the tenants of Islam. They would have no limits to their excesses and they could go beyond any bounds. Therefore, we should pray for them too that Allah may give them common sense. Whereas, on the one hand, this message is a reas- surance for the oppressed Muslims, on the other hand, it is a grave warning for those who, despite calling themselves Muslim, do not desist from tyranny. Thus, as I said, Allah, the Exalted, has vouchsafed the secu- rity of every human being in this proclamation. One who is called a Muslim, and yet fails to act accordingly, comes under the cen- sure of Allah, the Exalted. Therefore, all those who are known as Muslim, they should, instead of defiling Islam, try to benefit from it by rectifying their conduct and acting on the dictates of Allah, the Exalted, ever more diligently. Otherwise, God’s help will never