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The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, has admonished critics of the Islamic Faith to desist from judging Islam based on acts of a ''tiny minority extremists''.

The World Leader who addressed the 50th Jalsa Salana (Annual Convention) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the United Kingdom, called on ''Islam’s critics to judge the religion on its true teachings, rather than focusing upon the hateful acts of a tiny minority of extremists.''

The event which saw more than 38, 000 people attending took place at Hadeeqatul Mahdi in Alton, Hampshire.

His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said that ''critics of Islam continued to raise unjust and entirely unfounded allegations against the religion.''

He bemoaned the distortion of the teaching of Islam, a situation he explained, gives people negative impression about Islam, a religion build on the foundation of peace and unity.

“Today’s disorder and terrorism is a result of the fact that people are distorting the teachings of religion and most certainly their hate filled and evil actions do not have any link to the true teachings of Islam.”

Islam he added laid the foundation for peace by promoting true equality between people and nations. Islam taught that no nation or people held superiority over others, adding that, Islam sought to create peace at every level of society and that the basis for peace in society lay in a person’s home.

Islam, His Holiness said, laid particular emphasis on the rights of parents, and that critics in developed nations who routinely branded Islam as a cruel religion were themselves forgetting their fundamental obligation to their parents.

“In the developed world many people claim that they do not even have the time to meet their parents regularly, let alone to serve them and care for them in old age. The more advanced they consider themselves the further away they move from fulfilling their basic responsibilities,'' Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said.

His Holiness emphasised that true justice could not be established without creating a link with God Almighty.

“Without recognising and fulfilling the rights of the worship of God Almighty, justice cannot be established and one cannot pay attention towards kindness and humanity. Those who call themselves Muslims but continue to act against the teachings of Islam do so because they have not truly recognised God, nor are they fulfilling their obligations towards Him.”

He urged parents to ensure that they play their role in training and teaching their wards the true Islamic teachings since: “A lack of care and moral training from parents is one reason that children can become vulnerable to extremism and towards committing atrocities in the name of Islam. Such parents are ignoring their duties towards their children in the vain pursuit of wealth and so their children are left bereft of even a basic knowledge of their religion. This in essence is a means of destroying their children.”

Islam he noted has become a target for many in an era when religion was being attacked by many.

“In this day and age religion is also being routinely mocked and derided and Islam is especially being targeted in this regard. When people make derogatory remarks or produce offensive caricatures to mock Islam or the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) it grieves Muslims worldwide. Of course any violent reaction is completely against the teachings of Islam but where is the wisdom in producing such materials that can threaten the peace of society?”

He quizzed, “Does the fact that certain groups or individuals are acting contrary to the teachings of Islam give non-Muslims the licence to provoke and hurt the sentiments of all Muslims including us Ahmadi Muslims, who are at the forefront of promoting the peaceful teachings of Islam?”

Explaining Islam’s teachings in relation to mutual respect and interfaith dialogue, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: “Islam teaches that disorder should be curbed, rather than encouraged or inflamed.”

Speaking of the deteriorating state of the peace of the world, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: “The conflicts that existed on a small scale are now developing into international conflicts. In the past, when I said that the injustice in the world was pushing us towards nuclear war many government officials, analysts and politicians said that this is a far-fetched claim and overly pessimistic. However now they are themselves saying that a nuclear is looming and anything is possible.”

 Muslim nations and the major powers had played a role in undermining the world’s peace.

He quoted media reports asking why certain countries were selling weapons to nations that were engaged in wars where innocent people were being killed.

“On the one hand, Muslim nations have failed to act with justice, whilst on the other hand certain developed countries have prioritised the arms trade over and beyond establishing peace. If only they had acted with justice and integrity the dangerous situation that the world faces today would have been avoided. Sadly, vested interests have blinded both sides.”

“It is the task and responsibility of Ahmadi Muslims to inform the world of the benefits of the true peaceful teachings of Islam. May Allah enable us to do so and grant sense to the world.”