A local Muslim leader has called for “justice, kindness and kinship” amidst the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel.
With thousands of deaths within just over a week of conflict, Imam Mohammad Atae Rabbi Hadi, the Queensland missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, said he hoped for peace in the volatile region.
“The situation is very complicated,” Imam Hadi said.
“Peace can only happen through diplomatic talk and actual dialogue – not war.
“On both sides, there are innocent lives being taken.
“If we’re talking about Islam in such a circumstance you don’t in any way try to harm innocent lives.”
He echoed the words of Ahmadiyya’s world-wide leader, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, who said non-extremist Palestinians should be protected and “influential nations” like the USA should abstain from inflaming the situation.
“Both parties need to be just and try to resolve this in a way that reduces casualties,” Imam Hadi said.
He said the actions of Hamas – an Islamic political and militant resistance organisation – including the murdering of innocent civilians, contradicted the fundamental teachings of Islam.
He said three of the basic tenets of the religion were kindness, justice and kindship.
“Islam is a way of life that many westerners are already living,” Imam Hadi said.
“The ideals of fairness, justness and treating people well is in itself Islam.
“Removing litter from the road, greeting one another with a smile – things the Holy Prophet spoke about – are all basic etiquettes Islam teaches.”
Imam Hadi said along with extremists, the media also played a role in distorting true Islamic teachings.
Imam Hadi’s Baitul-Masroor Mosque, located at Stockleigh, has been the subject of several threats in recent years.
A day after the 2019 Christchurch Mosque shooting that killed 51 people, a man drove through the Stockleigh mosque’s security gates and yelled offensive words at those inside.
And in 2017 a severed pig’s head was left outside the mosque.
The imam at the time responded by inviting those who were responsible “over for a meal”.
“Ultimately, that’s what’s required – human connection – and that’s what we’ve been trying to do with Muslims Down Under,” Imam Hadi said.
The Muslims Down Under campaign endeavours “to educate and raise awareness about Islam and Muslims”, along with the “misconceptions and ignorance that leads to discrimination and Islamophobia”.
People can sign up to meet a Muslim, learn and make friends through the Coffee with Islam program.
“The more we try to increase human connection, the more quickly you can resolve these issues,” Imam Hadi said.
“When you sit across the room from someone, you realise we’re not that different – you may choose to dress differently, we might choose to present ourselves differently, but fundamentally we’re the same.”
As an organisation, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community “categorically rejects terrorism”, instead proffering the bloodless and intellectual “jihad (a struggle) of the pen”.
Imam Hadi said his place of worship, the mosque on Neville Road at Stockleigh, was “always open for curious locals to ask questions and feel safe”.
An open day is being held at the mosque on Sunday 29 October, from 11am to 3pm, for locals to enjoy a lunch and ask questions.
RSVP zainbaig@ahmadiyya.org.au.
