Recently I was gifted the book World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace written by respected Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Worldwide Head of Ahmadi Muslims. Here are my reflections after reading the book. Before I begin, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mr Shareef, a member of the Community in Karunagapalli, for gifting me this book.

To begin with, I must admit that this book by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad^aba helped me clear a lot of misunderstandings I held about Islam. His book is of immense value, especially in the contemporary world, where there is widespread bloodshed in the name of religion. While most of the non-Muslim population globally considers Islam as the leading cause of terrorism and unrest, the author makes the readers realize the true teachings of Islam and its role in establishing peace based on the teachings of the Holy Quran and the sayings of the Holy Prophet^sa. Why is the world unaware of the actual teachings of Islam and its prophet and the true essence of this religion? This fundamental question astounds me like any other person.

This book also gave me a closer insight into the beliefs of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, who are persecuted widely for professing their faith and living to its tenets truthfully.

Through this book, Mirza Masroor Ahmad^aba also answers a crucial question, the misapprehension of which has always put Muslims under a shadow of suspicion. What is of higher priority for a Muslim? What is he loyal to? His religion or his motherland? This is answered beautifully in this book in the words of the Holy Prophet^sa himself. If a person loves God and Islam sincerely, then he will love his motherland with the same passion. The author emphatically states that there is no contradiction between a person’s love for God and his love for his nation. The beliefs that “every nation in the world is entitled to equal rights” and “an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab” are truly virtuous. The teaching that “a true Muslim is the one from whose hands and tongue other people are safe” is indeed sublime. The prophetic commandments that “one should never usurp the rights of others” and “one should never cause injustice to others” pave the way for everlasting peace in the world.

The author rightly points out that in a world where flames of hatred are spreading like wildfire fuelled by religious sentiments, true believers should shun anger and strive for the good of the world. The Quranic injunction that forbids one from looking enviously upon the wealth of others is an important warning, not only for Muslims but for all such nations that are keen to exploit the resources of other countries.

Today, while religious conversion remains a prime agenda of various religions, the author quotes the statement of the Holy Quran, which says if God had so willed, the whole of mankind would have believed while He does not force them. How is it right, then, to force people to become believers? This single verse is enough to end all the problems that are caused in the name of religious conversion. If all Muslim communities comprehend this teaching like the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, it will solve such issues to a large extent.

As a strong nationalist and a representative of RSS, I would like to convey my sincere gratitude to my Ahmadi Muslim brothers, who are loyal citizens of this country. I stand in solidarity with them as they are relentlessly persecuted for their beliefs, for preaching the true teachings of Islam and its prophet, and for showing love and respect towards others. I also express my support to Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad^aba, who is the true face of the Community, and my endorsement of his book World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace. I firmly believe that one day, the voices of opposition will be subdued, and your voice will echo worldwide.