Letter: Don’t interfere with people’s faith

Islam is a religion of peace and respects the right of freedom of faith and conscience equally to everyone. It doesn’t grant permission to any government or organization to deprive people of their right to choose a religion and practice it.

The Holy Koran speaks of freedom to those who are not even true believers.

In Sura Hujurat verse l5, the Koran states: “The Arabs of the desert say, ‘We believe’, say: ‘You have not believed yet’, but rather say ‘We have accepted Islam, for the true belief has not entered into your hearts’.”

The above verse mentions those people who have no belief in their hearts and still they enjoy the right to call themselves Muslims if they wish. They can name themselves Muslims and can pose and practice as Muslims.

Unfortunately, the entire Muslim history is full of such ugly and despicable episodes where Islam, the religion of peace was itself employed to shatter the peace of innocent believers who of course believed in Islam but not in the way and style as others would have them.

In fact, a study of Islamic history proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Islam has been misemployed for the persecution of Muslim themselves.

The chapter is not closed. What has been happening in Pakistan and Indonesia vis-a-vis Ahmadiyah Muslim and not too infrequently against the Shiite Muslim minority is enough to realize this heinous problem, which should have died a long ago, lives on.

The sincere Muslim leaders should come forward and should eradicate this problem.

Hamid Ullah Kausar
Jakarta