Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam
Reader comment on item: [Finding Moderate Muslims:] Do you believe in modernity?

Submitted by Ansar Raza (Canada), Dec 27, 2004 at 22:39

Dear Dr. Pipes

I believe that a scholar like you must have knowledge of Ahmadiyya movement in Islam which always advocate modernity, peace and condemns terrorism whether in Palestine, Kashmir, Chechnya or anywhere else in the world, holy war and blood-shedding in the name of religion; grants equal rights to women; accepts the validity of all other religions; always ready to learn from East, West, North, South.
We believe that all the citizens have equal rights in a state whether Muslim or non-Muslim and any Muslim have right and liberty to convert to any other religion or no religion. Mere disagreement in theology doesn't entail "takfir".
The founder of the movement who claimed to be the Promised Messiah, preached non-violence and exhorted his followers to win the hearts not the lands for Islam.
It is ironical that the western scholars including yourself, who are busy day and night and very rightly condemning the jihad and lust of the Muslims for lands and rule over the whole world, cannot discern the standard-bearer of peace, modernity, submission to the law of the land and condemnation of terrorism, i.e., the Ahmadiyya movement in Islam.
Is it in your own interest for Muslim bashing or Islam bashing to turn a deaf ear towards this community. It should be appreciated not ignored that there is an organized community amongst the Muslims which is propagating for more than hundred years that all holy wars are now forbidden and abrogated by God in this modern age; that the Muslims should not run after power but should endeavor to spread the message of Islam by argument, not by suicide-killing and that wherever they are living they have to abide by the law of the land?
When I was reading one of your articles wherein moderate Muslim individuals were mentioned, I thought that you probably have also mentioned Ahmadiyya movement. To my utter dismay, much unknown individuals were brought to limelight but a community of millions of people spread in more than 150 countries was not considered worth mentioning.
That sheer ignorance force me to conclude that not only the so-called Muslims have double standards, but even the western intellectuals claiming themselves the pioneers of freedom of conscious, equality and modernity also have double standards.
Please prove me wrong.
Ansar Raza
Maple, Ontario, Canada

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Daniel Pipes replies:

To the best of my knowledge, yes, the Ahmadiyya movement is innocent of the radical and jihadist impulses that so wrack Sunni and Shi`i Islam.

DP