Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Violence has no justification at all!
Wara l-ħruġ tal-film dwar il-Profeta Mohammed… Ir-reazzjoni vjolenti ta’ xi Musulmani hija insult ikbar minn dik provduta mill-film – Laiq Ahmed Atif, President Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta
minn joseph farrugia
“Il-film dwar il-Profeta Muhammad huwa insult iżda hija insult ikbar ir-reazzjoni minn xi Musulmani biex jiġġustifikaw in-nuqqas ta’ qbil tagħhom dwar dan il-film. L-Iżlam tfisser paċi u fl-ebda ħin la l-Profeta Muhammad u lanqas il-Koran ma jappellaw għal din it-tip ta’ reazzjoni.”
Dan qalu Laiq Ahmed Atif, president tal-komunità Ahmadiyya f’Malta li hija fergħa mir-reliġjon Iżlamika. Il-film Amerikan dwar il-Profeta Muhammad, “The Innocence of Muslims”, qajjem reazzjoni vjolenti fejn saħansitra nqatel ambaxxatur Amerikan f’Benghazi fil-Libja. Iżda r-reazzjoni vjolenti nfirxet fl-Asja u fil-Lvant Nofsani, bl-ambaxxati Amerikani jkunu l-mira ewlenija.
Għall-Musulmani l-Profeta Muhammad huwa l-bażi tar-reliġjon Iżlamika. “Il-Profeta Muhammad huwa l-bażi tar-reliġjon tagħna għax kien mibgħut minn Alla bħala profeta biex imexxi l-messaġġ tiegħu. Il-Musulmani jemmnu fil-profeti u l-messaġġiera kollha li ntbagħtu minn Alla, inklużi Abraham, David, Mosè u Muhammad. U għall-Musulmani l-Profeta Muhammad huwa l-fundatur tal-Iżlam. Il-Koran huwa ġabra kompleta tal-messaġġi ta’ Alla kif żvelati lill-Profeta Muhammad permezz tal-Arkanġlu Gabriel.”
Din mhix l-ewwel darba li stqarrijiet jew filmati dwar il-Profeta Muhammad jew kontra l-Koran wasslu għal reazzjonijiet ta’ rabja u vjolenza fost il-komunità Iżlamika. Atif jgħid: “Fil-passat nafu x’ġara meta qassis ried jaħraq il-Koran jew fid-Danimarka meta tpinġiet karikatura dwar il-Profeta Muhammad. U din id-darba r-reazzjoni kienet l-istess. Irridu nammettu li l-film kien provokattiv u ried jumilja u jweġġa’ s-sentimenti tal-Musulmani u tar-reliġjon Iżlamika.
“Naħseb li l-intenzjonijiet tal-film kienu tlieta: Li jweġġa’ s-sentimenti tal-Musulmani; Li jipprovoka l-vjolenza u joħloq il-kunflitti fid-dinja u jagħmel ħsara lill-paċi tad-dinja; U biex jumilja lill-Profeta Muhammad u lill-persuni li jemmnu fit-tagħlim tiegħu.”
Mistoqsi allura jekk hemmx ħtieġa għal din it-tip ta’ reazzjoni kull meta jkun hemm xi ħaġa kontra l-Koran jew il-Profeta Muhammad, Atif mill-ewwel insista li ma jaqbilx mal-imġieba vjolenti.
Mistoqsi allura jekk hemmx ħtieġa għal din it-tip ta’ reazzjoni kull meta jkun hemm xi ħaġa kontra l-Koran jew il-Profeta Muhammad, Atif mill-ewwel insista li ma jaqbilx mal-imġieba vjolenti.
Huwa qal: “Jekk il-film kien insult, il-vjolenza li qiegħda titwettaq bħala reazzjoni hija insult ikbar.Dak li qiegħed iseħħ huwa biss barbariżmu u la l-Profeta Muhammad u lanqas il-Koran ma jesiġu tagħlim ta’ dan it-tip.”
Huwa qal: “Il-Profeta Muhammad sofra attakki kontrieh u kien imżebblaħ ukoll iżda qatt ma uża l-vjolenza kontrihom u qatt ma pprotesta fit-toroq u qatt ma għamel ħsara lill-proprjetajiet pubbliċi jew privati. Qatt lanqas ma qatel lil xi ħadd minħabba insult jew umiljazzjoni. Barra minn hekk l-Iżlam jipproteġi l-ħajja umana għax jgħid: ‘Min joqtol bniedem… ikun bħallikieku qatel il-bnedmin kollha’.”
Ħafna jassoċjaw il-vjolenza Musulmana mal-Ġiħad, li għal ħafna tfisser gwerra qaddisa. Iżda Atif qal: “Ġiħad hija kelma Għarbija li tfisser tistinka biex tilħaq xi oġettiv partikolari. Il-Ġiħad jista’ jsir b’diversi modi iżda kollha biex jistabbilixxu u jippromwovu l-paċi fis-soċjetà. Il-Koran jenfasizza li l-Ġiħad isir bil-għaqal, bit-tolleranza u b‘rispett lejn l-oħrajn u t-twemmin tagħhom u jipprojbixxi l-użu tal-isfurzar fir-reliġjon. Il-Musulmani jistgħu jaqbdu l-armi biss biex jiddefendu lilhom infushom kontra moħqrija, theddid għal ħajjithom u persekuzzjoni għax ikunu pprattikaw ir-reliġjon tagħhom. Għalhekk l-iskop tal-Ġiħad huwa biex terġa’ tirrenja l-paċi.”
Mistoqsi dwar il-ħidma tal-komunità Ahmadiyya fir-reazzjoni għall-film dwar il-Profeta Muhammad, Atif qal: “Il-komunità Ahmadija tikkundanna dak kollu li sar mill-bidu. Nikkundannaw il-film għax kien provokattiv u bla bażi u nikkundannaw ir-reazzjoni vjolenti tal-Musulmani għax ma għandhom ebda dritt jattakkaw proprjetajiet u persuni oħrajn u wisq anqas joqtlu.”
Allura x’inhi l-ħidma tal-komunità Ahmadiyya f’dan kollu? Atif qal li l-komunità tiegħu taħdem ħafna għall-paċi u t-tolleranza u jwasslu l-messaġġ tagħhom billi jippriedkaw it-tagħlim tal-Profeta Mohammed fejn qatt ma ppromwova l-vjolenza. “Il-motto tal-komunità tagħna huwa ‘Imħabba għal kulħadd u mibgħeda għal ħadd’. Dan billi kull Ahmadi fi kwalunkwe pajjiż ikun ċittadin tassew leali ta’ dak il-pajjiż, juri rispett lejn id-diversità, jirrispetta l-ugwaljanza u jippromwovi l-paċi. Fi żmien meta ċerti forzi huma involuti biex jagħmlu ħsara kbira lill-paċi tad-dinja, u meta qed iseħħu ċerti konfrontazzjonijiet bla bżonn bħal fil-każ tal-film u l-ħitan tal-mibgħeda u l-intolleranza qegħdin jinbnew, l-oġġettiv tal-istabbilizzazzjoni għall-paċi u l-imħabba hija dejjem iktar importanti.
“Nemmen li ħruq ta’ bnadar, qtil jew attakki mhumiex aċċettabbli biex jipprotestaw u l-Iżlam estremament jiskoraġġixxi xi mġiba negattiva bħal din. U aħna bil-qawwa nikkundannaw xi reazzjoni bħal din li toħloq diżordni u timmina l-paċi tad-dinja. Din ir-reazzjoni ma tagħmilx ġieħ lill-Profeta Muhammad li huwa kompletament kontra t-tagħlim u l-prattiċi tiegħu.
“Il-komunità Ahmadiyya qatt ma użat vjolenza, imma r-reazzjoni tagħna kienet ta’ paċi u paċenzja. Nemmnu li bil-paċenzja u t-talb nuru lid-dinja l-karattru veru tal-Profeta Muhammad, li kien kien ħanin mal-popli kollha u favur il-paċi.”
Atif appella: “Nappellaw għal reċiproku dwar l-unur u d-dinjità u biex ikun stabbilit il-veru sens ta’ rispett u ġieħ għall-profeti u l-fundaturi tar-reliġjonijiet kollha.”
Il-komunità Ahmadiyya fl-Iżlam hija organizzazzjoni reliġjuża, b’fergħat aktar minn 202 pajjiżi mferrxin madwar l-Afrika, l-Amerika ta’ Fuq, l-Amerika t’Isfel, l-Asja, l-Awstralja u l-Ewropa.
Atif appella: “Nappellaw għal reċiproku dwar l-unur u d-dinjità u biex ikun stabbilit il-veru sens ta’ rispett u ġieħ għall-profeti u l-fundaturi tar-reliġjonijiet kollha.”
Il-komunità Ahmadiyya fl-Iżlam hija organizzazzjoni reliġjuża, b’fergħat aktar minn 202 pajjiżi mferrxin madwar l-Afrika, l-Amerika ta’ Fuq, l-Amerika t’Isfel, l-Asja, l-Awstralja u l-Ewropa.
Twaqqfet minn Ħażrat Mirża Gulam Ahmad fl-1889, f’raħal żgħir u remot jismu Kadjan fil-Punġab, fl-Indja. Il-komunità li beda hi l-inkorporazzjoni tal-messaġġ benevolenti tal-Iżlam u l-purità oriġinali tiegħu li jippromwovi l-paċi u l-fraternità universali mibnija fuq twemmin f’Alla, Ħanin u li Dejjem Jaħfer. Din il-komunità hija denominazzjoni moderna, b’membri internazzjonali li jgħoddu l-miljuni.
Respecting religious feelings and sentiments!
Respecting the feelings and sentiments of each other is a noble virtue. The basic ethics, morals, principles and decency are the assets of human beings. And every religion of the world – be it Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, or Judaism – they all teach, promote and highly recommend these noble virtues and ethics.
Islam does not prescribe any punishment for blasphemy in this world nor vests such authority in anyone
- Laiq Ahmed Atif
These values guarantee the promotion of love, harmony, tolerance, respect and brotherhood in the society, which will ultimately result in a serene, tranquil, secure and peaceful environment.
Every heart is inclined towards good and every good-natured person wants peace established in the world. And when we analyse and examine the current situation in the world we find that many are restless in attaining this objective of peace. Yet, we keep seeing certain individuals, organisations and powers engaged in destroying peace and spreading spite, animosity and malice, building walls and fences of hatred. And sometimes they even target and challenge the prophets of God and founders of religions. History of mankind is full of such people who have adopted a brazen attitude towards the messengers of God and holy personages of the world’s faiths.
Recently, certain elements using the slogans of liberty and freedom of speech have made a foul, provocative and false film about the Prophet Muhammad.
As a result of this, there has been a violent reaction among various organisations and countries. To vent their anger and displeasure, they have resorted to furious protests, often leading to arson and destruction of private and public property.
There were also attacks on foreign embassies and their staff, and in Libya the American ambassador together with three other staff members were killed.
I believe that killing, burning flags, creating general turmoil, or going on strike is not an acceptable way to protest. Like many other world religions, Islam also extremely discourages such actions.
We strongly condemn any reactions which create disorder and destroy peace. This reaction shows no respect to the Holy Prophet Muhammad. On the contrary, it goes completely against his teachings and practices.
A recent film which mocks the Prophet Muhammad hurt the feelings of Muslims. It was only intended to hurl insult and hurt the feelings and sentiments of Muslims. This attitude of prejudice, hatred and malice gained nothing except destroying peace.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat strongly condemns the making of the extremely contemptible, provocative, and blasphemous film about the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
We believe that free speech is a valuable right – but not at the cost of the much higher value of, and right to life. We appeal for mutual respect, honour and dignity and to establish the true sense of respect and honour for all the prophets and founders of religions.
Let me make it clear that Islam does not prescribe any punishment for blasphemy in this world nor vests such authority in anyone. There is not a single verse in the Holy Koran or a single example from the practices of the Prophet Muhammad, for the punishment of blasphemy.
Islam teaches its followers to be kind, respectful to others and must take care of the feelings and sentiments of the people of other faiths. It strongly discourages indecent behaviour and indecent talk, or hurting the sensitivity of others. Muslims are required to remember they should abstain from any actions that may cause others to feel hurt. And they should never compromise the peace of the world.
As far as Islam is concerned, it sets a fundamental article of faith and that is to believe in all the prophets and messengers of God, without exception, and they are required that they should make no distinction between them by accepting some and rejecting others.
The Holy Koran states: “This Messenger of Ours believes in that which has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers: all of them believe in Allah, and in His angels, and in His Books, and in His Messengers, saying, ‘We make no distinction between any of His Messengers’.” (2:286)
I will conclude by quoting the founder of our community who summarised the Islamic belief of paying great respect and honour to all the messengers, prophets and founders of different religions:
“One of the principles which forms the basis of my belief refers to the established religions of the world. These religions have met with wide acceptance in various regions of the earth. They have acquired a measure of age, and have reached a stage of maturity. God has informed me that none of these religions were false at their source and none of the prophets impostors.
“This is a beautiful principle, which promotes peace and harmony, and which lays the foundation for reconciliation, and which helps the moral condition of man. All prophets that have appeared in the world, regardless of whether they dwelt in India or Persia or China, or in some other country, we believe in the truth of them, one and all.”
Mr Atif is president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta.
Dark clouds of terrorism!
Source: 
By: LAIQ AHMED ATIF, President Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta amjmalta@gmail.com
The world is not at rest and much of it today is embroiled in wars, disorder and enmities. Some countries are threatened by foreign powers, while some are facing internal uncertainty. Tribes are fighting against tribes, religious entities and denominations are adopting intolerant way of doing things with those who confess to adhere to different beliefs or faith, countries are fighting against countries, nations are armed against nations, rulers are bombing their own people and public is out there to fight for their rights and freedom.
Religious, economic and political uncertainties have emerged in countries in the face of war or conflict. The financial crises which are looming over the world are making the situation worse. Greed, selfishness, thirst of power and superiority are creating many other problems and disorders in the world.
The situation in Afghanistan is still critical, and from time to time we witness certain attacks and killings by the extremists. It looks like there is a long way to go to establish certainty, credibility, real democracy and peace in Afghanistan. Also, the world is very conscious about the current situation in the Middle East and especially in Syria, and it is a reality that there is critical need and hard work to make their revolutions a success. Many people express their concerns about the current situation in these countries, and the situation in Syria is getting worse every day. The relations between Iran and Israel are also not trustworthy.
Violence against the Muslim minority in Burma, the attacks on churches and Christian community in Kenya, and clashes between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria are also worrying the millions of peaceful people around the world. The political situation in Iraq has not developed properly and from time to time we read news about certain attacks and suicides bombs.
Thousands of innocent men, women and children have been killed in these horrific incidents around the world in recent years.
These occurrences are not new; however, 11 September is known as a day of human tragedy, when in few hours around 3,000 innocent human beings, including women and children, died. This year we are marking the 11th anniversary of these heinous and inhuman attacks.
Since the 9/11 attacks, the extremists have extended their activities to many parts of the world. In fact, extremism and terrorism do not only harm human beings physically, but also emotionally and physiologically. Moreover, terrorism and extremism have also shaken the world economy and a huge burden has been put on the world economy to combat these acts of terrorism. Billions have been invested on fighting against terrorism, extremism and fundamentalism, and there seems to be no end to these heinous and inhuman crimes and cruelties against humanity. Many countries are sparing a big portion of their annual budgets to combat this terrorism so that mankind can have a peaceful haven and environment.
In the EU’s Schengen area, Schengen Information System (SIS) was set up and it was felt that organised crime is becoming ever more sophisticated and regularly uses European or international networks for its activities. Terrorism has clearly shown that it can strike, with great brutality, anywhere in the world. And this system of information sharing will help to combat terrorism and extremism within the Schengen area. And through this system the competent authorities in the Member States are working in cooperation and it has become a vital factor in the smooth running of the area of security, freedom and justice.
Before I conclude this piece, I think that after so much hard work, investment, and loss of human lives, the world is still facing threats of terrorism and dark shades of terrorism are visible. Moreover, dark clouds of terrorism, extremism and fundamentalism are still looming over mankind.
It should be our goal to establish high values of tolerance, harmony, love, and respect, in every village, every town, every city, every country, every society and indeed, in every part of the world, to save humanity from such dark clouds of extremism and terrorism and thus the world becomes a haven of peace, love, brotherhood and friendship.
I will conclude by quoting from a speech of the Head of our community, delivered in the UK Parliament:
“It is my fear, that in view of the direction in which things are moving today, the political and economic dynamics of the countries of the world may lead to a world war. It is not only the poorer countries of the world, but also the richer nations that are being affected by this. Therefore, it is the duty of the superpowers to sit down and find a solution to save humanity from the brink of disaster.”
The article was published in the Malta Independent on 11 September 2012.
Strieħ fis-sliem, Perit
Laiq Ahmed Atif, President, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta,
News of the death of former prime minister Dom Mintoff on August 20 spread quickly in Malta and abroad. He was mourned by thousands of Maltese and many sent messages of condolence to his family.
I never had the chance to meet Mr Mintoff personally, but I always heard people talking about his strong character and commitment.
This shows that he left an indelible mark on Maltese politics and on the history of this beautiful island.
People mostly appreciate his reforms in the social sector especially those helping the poor and the needy. An architect by profession, he was also considered the architect of the Maltese welfare state.
We wish to express our sincerest condolences to Mr Mintoff’s family, friends and dear ones. May God bless them with the patience and strength to deal with this sad loss.
May he rest in peace. Strieħ fis-sliem, Perit.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Celebrating Eid with the needy people
President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta distributes fruit baskets to families and single women at Hal Far Refugee Camp ____________________________________
The President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta Laiq Ahmed Atif distributed fruit hampers to families and single women living at Hal Far Refugee Camp as part of the Muslim celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr festival.
“Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat is always committed to helping those who are in need irrespective of their faith, creed, nationality or politics, based on the philosophy of ‘humanity first’ and ‘love for all hatred for none’,” Atif said.
“Ramadan is a month of sacrifices, self purification and fasting which not only fosters discipline, strength and increased focus on worship. It also inspires sympathy for the hungry and poor, encouraging Muslims to donate generously to those in most need,” Atif said.
Mourning Mintoff’s death
News of the death of former prime minister Dom Mintoff on August 20 spread quickly in Malta and abroad. He was mourned by thousands of Maltese and many sent messages of condolence to his family.
I never had the chance to meet Mr Mintoff personally, but I always heard people talking about his strong character and commitment.
This shows that he left an indelible mark on Maltese politics and on the history of this beautiful island.
People mostly appreciate his reforms in the social sector especially those helping the poor and the needy. An architect by profession, he was also considered the architect of the Maltese welfare state.
We wish to express our sincerest condolences to Mr Mintoff’s family, friends and dear ones. May God bless them with the patience and strength to deal with this sad loss.
May he rest in peace. Strieħ fis-sliem, Perit.
Laiq Ahmed Atif, President, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta, Ta’ Xbiex:
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