This article by
Seidu Malik appeared in this Sunday’s Charlotte Observer on the Op-Ed page. The
man who wrote it is a PhD. Is this article misleading? You decide. I have
followed it with a definition of caliphate and also the links to the complete quotations
from the Quran used in the article so that you may refer to them.
“Youth Beware……”
By Seidu Malik -
Charlotte Observer Sunday May 2, 2015
The rate at which some vulnerable youth are becoming brain-washed into believing ISIS propaganda calls for a serious dialogue on the issue. Any youth contemplating joining ISIS should bear in mind that the barbaric killings of Christians, destruction of ancient artifacts and murder of innocent people in the region under the control of ISIS have absolutely no affiliation to the ethics and tenets of Islam. There should be no compulsion in religion (Quran 2:257) and the prophet Muhammad never forced anyone to accept him. It is therefore very strange that despite all these atrocities, some youth still fall victim to this diabolical organization which has become adept at spreading misinformation and taking advantage of ignorance.
It is important for youth to understand that ISIS is flourishing in unstable countries in the Middle East, such as Syria, Iraq and Libya, due to breakdown of law and order. When there is a power vacuum in a country as a result of war, any splinter group can emerge to fill the void left behind. Such is certainly the case here. ISIS’s barbaric actions contradict the Quran and the traditions of the prophet Muhammad. Hence, the ISIS organization should be viewed as a political unit struggling for power in the affected countries.
Quran requires tolerance
Islam as a religion shows great tolerance to people of other religious faiths and, in fact, it is incumbent upon Muslims to protect the lives and property of those of other faiths (Quran 22:41). Even idol worshippers, which the Quran categorically reject as false (Quran 6:109) are not to be abused or insulted. But what does the world see ISIS doing today? Brutal killings of Christians, journalists, foreign aid workers, raping and enslaving of women and children just to mention a few.
Are these actions not against the prophet Muhammad’s own words when he sought to protect the Christian monastery at Mount Sinai, Egypt?: “No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.” Did the prophet not give his mosque for a delegation of Christians to hold their church service? Did he not send some of his companions to seek asylum in the Christian kingdom of Abyssinia? Since the answer is yes, why should ISIS murder Christians in Libya and other areas under their control?
It is apparent that ISIS is distorting true Islamic teachings to suit its political ideology and therefore the youth should not buy into its sophisticated propaganda. If the purpose of joining ISIS is for spiritual development from their so-called “caliphate,” it is bound to fail because the true caliphate of Islam as clearly exhibited by the companions of the prophet Muhammad for more than a century and recently by the Ahmadiyya Community have never resorted to violence to spread the true message of Islam.
A better way
You cannot win people’s hearts and minds by terror and neither can you force someone to believe in your faith. ISIS is a political organization doomed to fail and it will certainly be a mistake on the part of some youth to join such an organization. ISIS’s current despicable actions are against the genuine teachings of the Quran and therefore have no hope of uplifting the spiritual progress of anyone. Not all that glitters is gold and therefore do not be fooled through propaganda or savvy Internet videos into thinking that ISIS represents the true Islam.
If some youth are in the quest for leadership or spiritual uplift, there is an alternative peace-loving caliphate found only in the Ahmadiyya Muslim community with a well-structured organization, huge literature base and clear leadership qualities to help any seeker of truth satisfy his or her spiritual thirst. By this, it is hoped that those youth in search of spiritual enlightenment will abandon the suicidal mission of travelling overseas to join ISIS but will instead turn to the peace-loving caliphate in the comfort of their own homes in America to really understand the true meaning and value of Islam which categorically rejects the killing of innocent souls (Quran 5:33).*
Seidu Malik, Ph.D, is the education youth leader for the RTP Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. He lives in Chapel Hill.
Let's just start with that last paragraph and the reference to 5:33;
* 5:33 Sahih International - Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment.
Caliphate -
the era of Islam's ascendancy from the death of Mohammed until the 13th
century; some Moslems still maintain that the Moslem world must always have a
calif as head of the community; "their goal was to reestablish the
Caliphate"
2. caliphate - the
territorial jurisdiction of a caliph
↔jurisdiction - in law; the territory within which power
can be exercised
3. caliphate - the
office of a caliph
Note by me:
The 1st caliphate
was after Muhammad died in 632. The last ended in 1924 when Ataturk- the father
of Modern secular Turkey - abolished the Caliphate for all time. The Caliphate is to extend the Islamic faith as far and as wide as possible; with world wide submission the object.
(22:41) (Allah will certainly help) those84 who, were We
to bestow authority on them in the land, will establish Prayers, render Zakah,
enjoin good, and forbid evil.85 The end of all matters rests with Allah.86
84. Those who help Allah are the people who invite
mankind to Tauhid and exert their utmost to establish the true faith and
righteousness.
85 “If We give them authority”: In this one sentence, the
real aim of the Islamic State and the characteristics of those who conduct its
affairs have been stated concisely but comprehensively. Those who help Allah
and deserve His succor behave righteously, establish Salat, make arrangements
for the collection of Zakat and use their power and authority to propagate good
and eradicate evil. (Non-believers.)
86. That is, it is Allah Who decides whom to give power
in the land and when. This is meant to remove the misunderstanding of the proud
and arrogant people who think that the destiny of the land and its dwellers is
in their hands, and there is none to depose them from power. But Allah
dethrones the most haughty ruler in supernatural ways and gives power to the
most humble in order to show that He is All-Powerful, All-Mighty.
[2:257] There should be no compulsion in religion.
Surely, right has become distinct from wrong; so whosoever refuses to be led by
those who transgress, and believes in Allah, has surely grasped a strong handle
which knows no breaking. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
6:109 And they
swear by Allah their strongest oaths that if a sign came to them, they would
surely believe in it. Say, "The signs are only with Allah ." And what
will make you perceive that even if a sign came, they would not believe, is followed by 110 which states;"And We will turn away their hearts and their eyes just as they refused to believe in it the first time. And We will leave them in their transgression, wandering blindly." This is followed by 111 which goes a bit further; "And even if We had sent down to them the angels [with the message] and the dead spoke to them [of it] and We gathered together every [created] thing in front of them, they would not believe unless Allah should will. But most of them, [of that], are ignorant."
And of course, 5:33 again, simply because it is so revealing;
Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah
and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that
they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from
opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a
disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment.
