In response to allegations on Islam, my following letter was published on 21st December 2011 in The Barrie Examiner under the title of “Qur’an full of love for humanity“:

(Re: ‘Not everyone is looking for peace’ in the Dec. 16 edition of the Examiner)

In her letter, Monti Hannona again cites second-hand sources to make her points about Muslims and Qu’ran. That was the whole point of my argument, which she clearly ignored.

If Muslims are acting against their own teachings then it is not the fault of Qur’an. Do all Christians follow the teachings of the New Testament and turn the other cheek?

How hypocritical to say that those who criticize the Bible or Christians for their atrocities are atheists or pro-Muslims, and those who criticize Qur’an are Muslim scientists?

How she negates her own argument within the same letter can only be termed as delusional.

Ms. Hannona says the teaching of turning your other cheek does not work in all situations. But this is not how Jesus applied it.

Is she creating a new religion?

Islam did not spread with the sword. Swords can win territories, but not hearts.

Which sword brought millions of Chinese and Indonesians into Islam?

It is the beautiful teaching of love and peace that wins hearts. Which sword is converting people to Islam today?

Qur’an’s teaching is full of love for humanity.

It teaches how to establish social, economic and political peace in our lives. I would encourage you to use the primary source of Islam to shun the extremists instead of promoting their corruption.

Peace to all.

This article, rather than contributing to any form of scholarly debate, merely highlights the same age old criticisms and attacks of the Orientalists. Judging the entire religion of Islam through the lens of Western perfection will no doubt cause it to appear defunct. Similarly, judging any other religion or culture through the same lens will produce the same results. Has the writer not read the Bible or the Bhagavad Gita? The reality is that nowhere do we find gender equality. However, Islam is the only religion, that having recognized the differences between males and females, protects each within their own unique spheres of life which they have been created for.

Although, every flippant statement of Kanwar’s can be counter argued, I will just take one point. Mahfooz Kanwar claims that “At birth, all infants are equal, but Islam makes then unequal”. This statement would be true if Kanwar was living in some form of Utopia, but if he is living on Planet Earth, then he would be shocked to learn that it is far from the truth. Women are still today fighting for basic rights in the most developed countries. Has Kanwar not heard of the Global Gender Gap Report published by the World Economic Forum? Women in the most developed nations are still fighting for equal pay, equal access to jobs and political representation.

The truth of the matter is human civilization and history is full of examples where one group; by virtue of them being physically, mentally, intellectually or financially stronger, perceives themselves to have the right to subjugate the other. Rather than argue back and forth over the meanings behind Arabic verses from the Holy Quran, I challenge Kanwar to show one example where the Founder of Islam, the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon Him, used force against any one of his wives. In the words of the Prophet himself, “the best among you is he who is best in his treatment of his wife” (Abu Dawud).

CALGARY, July 6 /CNW/ – The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, along with other distinguished guests, attended the banquet hosted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Canada to celebrate yesterday’s inauguration of the Baitun Nur Mosque. The mosque, one of the largest in North America, is a spectacular 48,000 square foot complex.

The mosque inauguration was particularly significant as it occurred during the centenary celebratory year of the establishment of the institution of Khilafat (Succession) in the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, as well as its re-establishment in the Islamic world-at-large. Both the inauguration and the banquet were graced by the presence of the current Khalifa of the Community, His Holiness Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V (may Allah strengthen his hands).

During his banquet address, His Holiness emphasized that the Baitun Nur Mosque will convey messages of peace, love and harmony. He encouraged the political, community and faith leaders in attendance to join with his Community in conveying these messages.

His Holiness explained that, according to the teachings of Islam, Muslims must defend the sanctity of all places of worship, which includes churches, synagogues and temples, as well as mosques. Causing harm to and forcing religious beliefs upon others are against the commandments of God and the true
concept of Islam.

His Holiness warned that the world’s arsenal of nuclear armaments and weapons of mass destruction have brought humanity to the precipice of destruction, and future generations will not forgive any failure to contain this arsenal. Humanity needs to turn towards a true concept of religion and
strive towards loving God. To love God is to selflessly love and serve humanity in order to seek God’s pleasure. The Baitun Nur Mosque will be a center for such love and service.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper praised the Community by stating, “Ahmadis are renowned for their devotion to peace, universal brotherhood and submission to the will of God, the core principles of true Islam. They are also renowned for working together to serve the greater good through social, health and education initiatives, wherever they live in the world, Ahmadis are renowned for participating in the larger community and peacefully co-existing with people of all faiths, languages and cultures.”

Prime Minister Harper also paid tribute to His Holiness by referring to him as a champion of peace and religious freedom. The Prime Minister stated, “We especially applaud the Khalifa for denouncing those who pervert faith by claiming it as a justification for violence. Calgarians, Albertans and Canadians will see the moderate, benevolent face of Islam in this mosque and the people who worship here. They will see your love for Canada and your patriotism, and they will see that just as Ahmadis have embraced Canada, Canada has embraced you.”

Also sitting at the banquet head table were the Right Honourable Stephane Dion (Leader of the Opposition), Honourable Deepak Obrai, Honourable Lorne Calvert (former Premier of Saskatchewan), Honourable Ron Stevens (Deputy Premier of Alberta), Don Morgan (Saskatchewan Minister of Justice), Honourable Greg Sorbara (former Ontario Minister of Finance), Dave Hayer (BC MPP), Mohammed Amiri (Alberta MPP), His Worship Dave Bronconnier (Mayor of Calgary), Her Worship Susan Fennell (Mayor of Brampton), His Worship Don Atchison (Mayor of Saskatoon) and Bishop Fred Henry. Total attendance consisted of 6 Members of Federal and Provincial Parliament, 20 MLA’s, 9 mayors, 20 councilors and
aldermen, along with community, faith and leaders and members of academia and the media.

The banquet was televised live around the world via the Community’s 24-hour satellite television service, Muslim Television Ahmadiyya (MTA).

For more information, please visit www.baitunnur.org or www.ahmadiyya.ca or www.alislam.org