by Safeer Ahmad

When I first read what happened in Brussels, my throat clenched and I grew anxious, hoping that the so called “Islamic State” had not been responsible. Sadly that was not the case. Yet again a European country faces the terror of extremism. As an Ahmadi Muslim, I condemn these truly inhumane acts of violence on innocent civilian life. My prayers go out to the victims and their families as they have to face the hardship of losing loved ones. We Muslims stand with Belgium and the rest of the world against the “Islamic State”, pray for their recovery, and hope that justice will be served.

But, it is imperative that the difference is made between a Muslim and an extremist waging a war for political gains like ISIS is doing. The day of the attack, the hashtag “Stop Islam” went viral as many individuals jumped to the conclusions that these terror attacks speak for all Muslims. This is so far from the truth and the difference has to be known between what these terrorists do and who Muslims really are.

I’m sure by reading/watching the news, it can be reasonably inferred that these attacks were made in retaliation of the capture of Saleh Abdesalam, the mastermind of the Paris attack last year. Most likely the time table for these attacks was sped up in case the authorities were to extract the information from Saleh. Let’s examine just how “Islamic” Saleh is.  Abdesalam has a very notable history with using drugs and drinking alcohol, both strictly prohibited in Islam. If that isn’t enough to convince you that Saleh is not a real Muslim, consider this verse of the Holy Quran, the highest authority and holy text of Islam, which states, “that whosoever killed a person, it shall be as if he has killed all of mankind; and whoso saved a life, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all of mankind.” (5.32).

Taking both these points into account, it is undeniably evident that terrorism is never justified in Islam and those who perpetrate these mass killings ignore the basic tenets and the highest authority of Islam. They simply have no regard for what Islam really teaches, which is loyalty to one’s country, love for all of God’s creation, and peace for all.
It’s also worth mentioning the disparity in responses between an attack on a non-Muslim country and a Muslim country. Ever since October, Turkey has been hit with over four terror attacks, including one last week that killed 37 people and injured around a hundred more in Ankara. Just recently, two Americans and three others were killed in a suicide bombing in a population heavy area. In Baghdad, Iraq, 29 people were killed in a soccer stadium from a suicide bombing. In the village of Dalori in Nigeria, 86 children were burned alive. In Aden, Yemen, 22 people were killed from a bombing. These tragedies have been largely sidelined by the mass media and have not been equally regarded as the attacks in Belgium and Paris have.

We were Hebdo, we were Paris, but why were we not Ankara? Why are we not Baghdad, Aden, or Dalori?  I am in no way saying that what happened in Belgium wasn’t a tragedy, I am merely pointing to the fact that the killings that happen in Muslims majority countries on a daily basis seem to not be discussed as they should. It should be recognized that ISIS is not only attacking Christians; Muslims are facing it just as us much. Actually Muslims are having it much worse, but then again, how would you know?

In times like these where the world faces terrorist threats like these almost daily all around the globe, we must stand together. We must show ISIS that they cannot divide us as a people. No matter your race, religion, or ethnicity, by standing together, we can win the fight against terrorism. One way to accomplish this is by endorsing the True Islam Campaign launched by the Ahmadiyya Muslim that focuses on clearing up common misconceptions people may have about the religion of Islam in the form of 11 points. I urge you to simply go to the website trueislam.com and decide for yourself on whether or not endorsing would help.