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Letter: Ahmadiyah Muslims, what next?
Mon, 05/05/2008 11:24 AM | Reader's Forum
The real issue is not about who is a Muslim, but it is about how the majorities treat their minorities.
Should the bad decisions of a few in the name of Islam reflect on the Muslim community at large? Now, Indonesia is planning to ban the "heretical" Muslim sect, should that reflect on Islam? The least we can do is to speak up against the tyranny of one group of people against the other.
The easy option is to do nothing and let the world believe that it is Islam, and if we did that, we would lose our right to complain that it is not us. Well, it is us. The actions are not the work of a looney brigade or some fringe groups; it is the government of Indonesia succumbing to please the few among them.
God is about justice and he wants us to live in peace and harmony, after all, each of us is his creation, and he will not discriminate any one of us. God (Koran: 49:13) says "Behold, we have created you all out of a male and a female, and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him."
A majority of Muslims understand that Islam is a religion of peace, a religion of freedom and justice, and a religion that does not force people to behave. Indeed, if we start looking at ourselves, Alhamdu Lillah, Praise the Lord, the majority of us get along with all and live a life of peace and co-existence.
When Hazrat Bakr was agreed upon to be the caliph, the consensus was with him and the few who disagreed dropped their opposition and followed the leader in the same manner as Republicans and Democrats who fight among themselves until a candidate is nominated, then every one rallies around the selected one.
The problem with us or any majority of people is we do not give our consensus; we do not exercise our rights and by default give others, the right to govern us.
It is time for Muslims to stand up and speak out.
Remember the Good Samaritan American women during 9/11? They wore hijab to show solidarity with Muslim women. The time is coming when a whole mass of population will declare themselves Muslim to show solidarity with the Ahmadiyah, what are you going to do? What prevents one from incorporating their group with the name Muslim or Islam? There are a lot of websites with the words Muslim and Islam, but they are actually anti-Islam. What are you going to do about it?
It is time for Muslims to wake up and act righteous and speak out.
MIKE GHOUSE
Dallas
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The Reader (not verified) — Mon, 05/26/2008 - 2:26am
I agree MIKE, here is my comment for the others who disagree with him.
they can call themselves how ever they want to call it.
many people call themselves muslim but dont follow islamic laws.
then why people who follow the islamic laws, claim themselves to be muslim can not call themselves as muslims?
ok there are some differences, but isnt that the same as the differences among the mainstream muslims who call themselves to be muslims?
dont you know that there are many Hasan and Ali and Ahmad (muslim names) who go out clubbing and drinking alcoholic beverages and committing adultry and do all kinds of others thats forbidden by Islam?
and there are also many other Hasan and ali and Ahmad who believes that drinking and all the above is Haram (forbidden)
does that mean you will attack the first hasan/ali/husin and force them to declare that they is a non-muslim?
who are you to decide anyway?
there is no copyright issue in naming religion as far as I know.
I am a muslim who has never heard of Ahmadiyah until recently. I welcome them. they may pray in my house if they want to as i will let christians and hindus pray at my house as well. damn, I will let Ahmadiyah people and hindu ands and christians and budhist pray in my mosque and use my praying rug if they want to.
by letting them doing that, its not making myself a less of a muslim.it wont stain my praying rug. it wont change me, it wont make any difference what so ever in what i believe. so why should i bother.
religion is our direct relation to god. from one individual to his or her god.
if you are afraid that your believe can be threatened by other's believe, then you have your own problem. it shows that you are insecure with your own believe.
and how is it possible to be insecure with what you, yourself believe?
and if you are insecure with your own believe, then what do you actually believe anyway?
anyone can contact me at exitube@yahoo.com if you found out any information about religion's name copyright.
Lampu
Tahir Iqbal (not verified) — Mon, 05/19/2008 - 11:16am
Dear Readers,
I salute the courage of "The Jakarta Post" who have started an important debate about Ahmadiyya issue. Perhaps the time is coming when Allah's promise is about to be fulfilled and that is: The purest sect in Islam will be distinguished among a mushroom of different sects.
Let us see what is Ahmadiyya all about. To be an Ahmadi, one has enter into a Pledge of Allegiance called Ba'ait or Bay'ah which has Ten conditions. Let us look at the very conditions that make any one an Ahmadi:
CONDITIONS OF BA'AIT (Pledge to become an Ahmadi):
1. That he/she shall abstain from Shirk (association of any partner with God) right up to the day of his/her death.
2. That he/she shall keep away from falsehood, fornication, adultery, trespasses of the eye, debauchery, dissipation, cruelty, dishonesty, mischief and rebellion; and will not permit himself/herself to be carried away by passions, however strong they might be.
3. That he/she shall regularly offer the five daily prayers in accordance with the commandments of God and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him); and shall try his/her best to be regular in offering the Tahajud (pre-dawn supererogatory prayers) and invoking Darood (blessings) on the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him); that he/she shall make it his/her daily routine to ask forgiveness for his/her sins, to remember the bounties of God and to praise and glorify Him.
4. That under the impulse of any passions, he/she shall cause no harm whatsoever to the creatures of Allah in general, and Muslims in particular, neither by his/her tongue nor by his/her hands nor by any other means.
5. That he/she shall remain faithful to God in all circumstances of life, in sorrow and happiness, adversity and prosperity, in felicity and trial; and shall in all conditions remain resigned to the decree of Allah and keep himself/herself ready to face all kinds of indignities and sufferings in His way and shall never turn away from it at the onslaught of any misfortune; on the contrary, he/she shall march forward.
6. That he/she shall refrain from following un-islamic customs and lustful inclinations, and shall completely submit himself/herself to the authority of the Holy Quran; and shall make the Word of God and the Sayings of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) the guiding principle in every walk of his/her life.
7. That he/she shall entirely give up pride and vanity and shall pass all his/her life in humbleness, cheerfulness, forbearance and meekness.
8. That he/she shall hold faith, the honor of faith, and the cause of Islam dearer to him/her than his/her life, wealth, honor, children and all other dear ones.
9. That he/she shall keep himself/herself occupied in the service of God's creatures for His sake only; and shall endeavor to benefit mankind to the best of his/her God-given abilities and powers.
10. That he/she shall enter into a bond of brotherhood with this humble servant of God, pledging obedience to me in everything good, for the sake of Allah, and remain faithful to it till the day of his/her death; that he/she shall exert such a high devotion in the observance of this bond as is not to be found in any other worldly relationship and connections demanding devoted dutifulness.
These conditions were made mandatory by the Founder of Ahmadiyya Movement on January 12, 1889 for any one to become an Ahmadi or enter in to Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam.
This is exactly what Islam demands of an Ideal Muslim thus how Ahmadis become non-Muslim? Does any of these conditions conflict with Islam? It is the command of Allah to seek truth thus, before passing judgements, please pray and seek guidance from Allah to seek truth.
TAHIR IQBAL
CHICAGO, IL
Khalidabdullah — Wed, 05/07/2008 - 10:52am
Ahmadiyyah cannot claim to be Muslim since they reject that the Prophet Muhammad is the Seal of the Prophets and the last and final messenger to mankind. They can be recognised as Ahmadiyyah but not as Muslim.
MUBARAK (not verified) — Wed, 05/07/2008 - 10:14am
Thanks for the sound thoughts of Mr.Mike Ghouse.
The Reader (not verified) — Tue, 05/06/2008 - 8:23am
Do you understand about Islam, nothink. So if you have no understanding about something especially great idea about islam, dont make justification about it. Learn Islam more and more....