The 6 & 9 August 1945 tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Ahmadiyya call for peace

Ata-ul-Haye Nasir, Ahmadiyya Archive & Research Centre

The United States callously dropped nuclear bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August 1945. This horrific act resulted in a huge catastrophe, leaving thousands of people dead and injured while destroying the cities as well.

During his Friday Sermon on 10 August 1945, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih II^ra said:

“About five days ago, the first atomic bomb was used on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, which is a cantonment and a port as well, where the Japanese fleet is stationed or get prepared. […] 

“As far as humanity is concerned, destruction of this kind cannot be declared lawful. There had always been wars and enmities, but despite those enmities and wars, there were some limits fixed, which were never violated. However, there is no limit now.

“Is there anyone who can say that there were no women and children residing in the city which has been bombarded in this way and that the women and children are also responsible for the war? […]

“Although our voice may be [considered] of no value, it is our religious and moral duty to announce to the world that we do not consider such bloodshed as lawful, notwithstanding if our announcement makes certain governments pleased or displeased [from us]. […]

“If the door to such a war is opened now, it will prove to be very dangerous for the world. The people of the past – after long experience – had fixed some limitations through which the chances of war would stop at a specific stage, no matter how dangerous their wars had been.” (Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 26, pp. 314-315)

Huzoor^ra continued by stating that the Ahmadis around the world were always at the forefront to offer sacrifices for their respective countries, but they could not support any inhumane or un-Islamic act.

Huzoor^ra further said:

“As a result of these happenings, I can foresee that in the future, wars will not reduce; rather, they will increase. […] Moreover, it is invalid and childish to think that atomic [power] will strengthen the hands of the big powers, and no one can attain military power against them. […] 

“So, the need of the time is to reduce these lethal [weapons], instead of increasing them. The Holy Prophet^sa has stated an insightful point that it is Allah’s right to give the punishment of Fire. The Muslims should not punish and harm their enemy with fire. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Jihad) […] The Holy Prophet^sa knew that the fire [atomic power] would cause the expansion of war, instead of reducing it.” (Ibid, pp. 317-318)

Further, Huzoor^ra stated that there was no doubt that during warfare, if a certain government used sophisticated weapons against another, then the latter was also permitted to respond to it in a like manner, but without crossing the limits, meaning that according to the teachings of Islam, it was prohibited to have an unnecessary inclination towards such sophisticated weapons, such as nuclear bombs. 

Huzoor^ra elaborated:

“1300 years ago, the Holy Prophet^sa told the world a pathway for reducing disputes; [therefore] until the world follows that pathway, disputes will only increase instead of decreasing. The people of America and Europe cannot have peace until they pay attention towards this teaching of the Holy Prophet^sa.” (Ibid, p. 318)

Huzoor^ra further said:

“Therefore, this is my religious obligation to announce, though the government would be displeased, that I believe that [nuclear weapons] are a big hurdle in the way of peace. For this reason, I have stated that such harmful means should not be used against the enemy, which produces destruction of this kind.

“It is our duty – no matter if our voice is [considered to be] effective or not – to tell the government that due to our sentiments of well-wishing towards you, we are compelled to express that we do not agree with this act. Moreover, we are compelled to give you such advice through which future wars and disorders cease to exist. […]   

“I also wish to mention that with the invention of this [atomic] bomb, a great prophecy of the Promised Messiah^as has been fulfilled. […] There is a revelation of the Promised Messiah^as:

ان شہروں کو دیکھ کر رونا آئے گا

“‘These [ruined] cities will cause people to weep.’ (Tadhkirah [English], p. 981)”. (Ibid, p. 319)

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra said that it was clear that the places where these atomic bombs had been dropped would cause people to weep, and on the other hand, it would also testify to the truthfulness of the Promised Messiah^as.

Huzoor^ra said that on the one hand, we were aggrieved that the world was moving towards the path of destruction, but on the other, it was a source of increasing our faith that the prophecy of the Promised Messiah^as has been fulfilled. 

On 23 November 2015, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V^aa delivered the keynote address at a special reception held in his honour at the Hilton Hotel in Odaiba, Tokyo. He said:

“This year marks 70 years since those desperate days in history when nuclear bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki inflicting utter destruction, misery and torment upon your nation.” 

Huzoor^aa continued:

“Your nation of Japan had to contend with the most horrific devastation and grief imaginable when hundreds of thousands of your citizens were mercilessly killed and two of your cities were demolished and destroyed in nuclear attacks that shamed humanity.”

Huzoor^aa added:

“You are the people who truly understand the horrific and destructive consequences of nuclear warfare. You are the people who know that the repercussions and after-effects of such weapons are not limited to one generation but continue for generations to come. You are the people who can testify to the unprecedented evil of nuclear weapons. Therefore, perhaps no country knows better the value of peace and security than the Japanese people.” (“Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community delivers historic address in Tokyo, Japan”, www.pressahmadiyya.com)

During his Friday Sermon on 13 August 2021, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V^aa quoted a non-Ahmadi Japanese, Macshima Osamu Sahib of Hiroshima, who stated:

“I am currently watching the Jalsa and just watched the Friday Sermon of 6 August. Upon watching this, I was reminded of the service rendered by the Jamaat in Japan and how the Second Khalifa of the Community [Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra] spoke out against the destruction caused to Hiroshima by the atom bomb in his Friday Sermon of 10 August 1945. This was among the very first voices to speak in favour of Hiroshima. 

“Then, the current Khalifa visited Hiroshima and his message of peace and harmony holds great significance for me. Today, whilst watching MTA on Hiroshima Day, first it is my wish that just like MTA Africa, MTA Japan also is established very soon and secondly, after witnessing the atmosphere of the Jalsa and people joining together from all over the world, the idea continues to take root in my heart that the Jamaat has a very significant role in uniting the world on a single platform and establishing peace and harmony in the world.” (Al Hakam, 10 September 2021, Issue 182, p. 27)

May Allah the Almighty guide the world and enable the world leaders to establish lasting peace.

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