Royal wedding day protest plans

Extremists Muslims are reported to have threatened to disrupt or ruin the Royal wedding taking place this week. This is a sad reflection on the scholarship of our brothers because such threats could only have been made by anyone who is ignorant of Islamic teaching. The Holy Quran, the hadith (sayings of the Holy Prophet) and Islamic history all belie such behaviour.

The Holy Quran says : “Surely those who believe and those who are Jews and the Sabians and the Christians — whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and does good — they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve.” (5:69)

So, although, as a religion Islam believes that “whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and does good — they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve”; it specifically names Christians.

Muslims also owe a debt to the Christians which stretches back 1500 years. When we were persecuted in Arabia, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) allowed a section of his followers to seek sanctuary under Negus, the Christian King ruling Ethiopia. Even when approached by his friends to return the Muslims to their homeland, this noble king refused. The Holy Prophet Muhammad held him in such high esteem that when Negus died the Holy Prophet announced Negus’ death saying: “Our brother has died . . .” These threats to disrupt the Royal wedding amount to ungratefulness to Negus’ kindness to early Muslims.

The threats are to the Royal wedding but there is no doubt, whether or not the Royal couple are injured and proceedings disrupted, there will innocent bystanders who certainly will be injured.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“One who hurts a non-Muslim, he hurts me, and one who hurts me, hurts God.”

Therefore, to injure the people taking part in or watching the wedding procession is tantamount to inuring God. And, in Islam, there cannot be a crime worse crime than this.

The Prophet also said: “Whoever hurts a non Muslim, I shall be his complainant, and for whomever I am a complainant, I shall ask for his right on the day of Resurrection.”

To hurt a non-Muslim, after these strict injunctions of the Holy Prophet is tantamount to violation of the fundamental principles of Islam. It is regretted that our brothers bring the noble religion of Islam into disrepute by their words and deeds.

The Ahmadiyya Association for Propagation of Islam condemns all such statements, whether or not they are carried out. We wish the young couple a most joyous wedding day and a long and happy marriage.