The 2016 US election is a riveting topic that constantly makes its way into conversations, no matter where you are and who you’re speaking with. This election deeply divides our entire nation, one is either absolutely ecstatic, or completely devastated. This election is one for the history books.
President elects Donald Trump has expressed many anti-immigration feelings throughout his campaign. He repeated, in his many rallies, that he does not want any more Muslims in the United States. He wants to block the entrance of more Syrian refugees and other Muslims and deportation seems to be on his list also.
This kind of hate and bigotry is not a new thing for Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. In our 100+ years of history, we have faced oppression from dictators, persecution by democratically elected Prime Ministers, fire-bombing from mobs, censorship by Judges and killings by terrorists. While our persecutors and their methodologies may have varied, what remained constant was Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s response to such atrocities. Based on the principals of Islam and teachings of our Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) we are patient, law-abiding, loyal and non-violent citizens of 200+ countries and territories. Our community has been able to achieve such a unanimous response because of the guidance of our Khalifa, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih the 5th.
Just like his predecessors, he makes sure that we follow the teachings of Islam and stay on the right path. Recently His Holiness has been on the tour of Canada. In an interview to City News in Calgary he said about Mr. Trump’s rhetoric “ -that was the election campaign tactics, and now he is going to rule the government. And I don’t think [an] American President is given a free hand, that whatever he likes, he can do…” And he’s right. We have a checks and balances government that depends on each other to make changes in the laws and such.
And even if Trump does get his radical laws passed and implemented, we have no right to protest. His Holiness has made it clear that his followers should not protest on the streets or anything of that kind. Those protests cause chaos and even more cries of anger follow.
And His Holiness also stated that Trump was: “-he is ignorant with regards to Islamic teachings. Had he known the true teachings of Islam, he would not have said all these things.”
But while consoling us, His Holiness also states the reality of the situation: “the world is already disturbed…that will be the start of the World War [III]… and a civil war in the country.” Our Khalifa isn’t concerned with what our new President is going to try to achieve, but the consequences of this clash of beliefs and the consequences of actions that are continually blocked or implemented. Protesters are already making their way through the streets of Manhattan, Baltimore, and California.
Many people are still very worried about the actions of our future President. But Allah says in Quran:
“-but it may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you, and it may be that you like a thing while it is bad for you. Allah knows all things, and you know not” (2:217)
In the end our faith is not in President Obama, or Secretary Clinton, our faith is in Allah. He will help us through any trying time, as he as before. Any adverse actions by Mr. Trump will be just another blimp on the path of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
Shifa Ahmed