Hafiz Habeebullah Adeyemi, Student Jamia Ahmadiyya International Ghana
As the Israel-Palestine conflict unfortunately continues to escalate, the world continues to witness numerous horrific incidents in which scores of people are dying. In response to these unbearable occurrences, thousands of people took to the streets of major cities like London and Paris, to show support to Palestinians and pressure their governments to push for a total ceasefire.
Moreover, there have been posts across almost all social media platforms and others are engaging in heated discussions to protest in support of the oppressed Palestinians, who are evidently being bombarded every day.
Recently, a group of us engaged in a discussion on this issue and, of course, we went back and forth delving into the latest updates of the war, expressing our sincere concerns, and, like many others, we in this way protested in support of the Palestinians.
We were all in our ways passionately expressing our views when a friend politely asked “What do we gain from these discussions?” I was personally startled at his question because I felt it was obvious that we were in our own way showing our support for the Palestinians by expressing our heartfelt concerns.
Yet, the following words of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh were brought before me: “Ahmadis are not allowed to hate any particular group of people or a nation. We have not been fermented with the enzyme of hatred. Therefore we cannot, like certain misguided nations, indulge in prayers against the Western powers or harbour any intrinsic hatred against anyone.” (The Gulf Crisis and The New World Order, p. 345)
It was then that it dawned upon me that although most of us show our sincere support for the oppressed civilians of Palestine, it may come across as, at times, resentment and entertain negative thoughts against the Jewish Community and the West as a whole.
We begin to call them all sorts of names not because we are ill-mannered but because we instinctively think that we are only expressing our sincere concerns and showing our support for Palestine and the oppressed world at large.
This is why it is very important that we pay heed to the recent advice given by the Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa during his Friday sermons:
“Ahmadis should not engage in discussions about which country’s leader is good and which one is not, and that Muslims shouldn’t speak against such and such person; because these are all futile discussions.” (Friday Sermon 27 October 2023, www.alhakam.org)
Nelson Mandela, in his book, whilst contemplating the intricacies of human nature, expresses that beneath the surface of every individual’s heart lies a reservoir of mercy and generosity:
“I always knew that deep down in every human heart, there is mercy and generosity. No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” (The Long Walk To Freedom, p. 639)
The Khulafa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat have always extensively advised the Jamaat on how we must react when the world is in such a precarious condition as it is today. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh said:
“O Ahmadis! -You posses the power of prayer. Recognise its magnificence which lies in your humility. Never forget the basic difference between worldly powers and spiritual powers. Worldly powers are based upon pomp and pride, while spiritual powers have the hallmark of absolute humility. Thus, the amplitude of your prayer is dependent upon your mode of humility before God. The greater the recognition of your helplessness in prayers, the greater will be the strength in your supplications. Your prayers will be granted effectiveness as a result of your helplessness. […] Prostrate before God in meekness, humility and desperation pleading that O Allah, frustrate the evil designs of these great powers. Preserve whatever virtue is left in these nations. […] Do not pray for the destruction or annihilation of any nation out of prejudice and partiality. […] Keep your conscience clear of your own vice and the multitude of other vices and then pray exclusively for the sake of Allah while shunning all types of national and racial prejudices. If you pray in this way, then I am certain that by the grace of Allah, your prayers are bound to be accepted.” (The Gulf Crisis and The New World Order, p. 345)
Recently, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa, in various of his Friday Sermons, has called upon Ahmadi Muslims to resort to prayers as it is the greatest weapon in countering injustices:
“In any case, all we have is the weapon of prayer, which every Ahmadi should use now, more than ever before.” (Friday Sermon 13 October 2023, www.alhakam.org)
Then, the following week, Huzooraa reminded:
“In any case, we must focus on prayers. May Allah bring an end to this war. May Allah save the innocent Palestinians and save them from further cruelty. May He eradicate injustice from the world, wherever it may be. And may Allah the Almighty grant us the ability to pray.” (Friday Sermon 20 October 2023, www.alhakam.org)
Further, Huzooraa reminded the Jamaat:
“Thus, along with prayers, you should try and spread the message around you that injustices must be brought to an end. If an Ahmadi has connections with people, then they should explain this to them. This is courage, this is the standard of obeying the commandments of Allah the Almighty.” (Friday Sermon 27 October 2023, www.alhakam.org)