The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement Blog

Email to Professor Irshad Manji

Submitted by Rashid Jahangiri.

Professor Irshad Manji is a journalist, author and controversial personality in the Muslim world. Currently she holds directorship of ‘Moral Courage Project’ at New York University.

I sent her following email.

Dear Professor Irshad Manji:
Assalam Alaikum,

First a disclosure: I am member of Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement (it is different from Qadiani-Ahmadiyya). Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement holds belief that Holy Prophet Muhammad SAWS was The Last Messenger and that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad sahib of Qadian was only a REFORMER (Mujaddid) of 14th Islamic Century, and that ALL reciters of Kalima-Shahada are Muslims, and belief in Mirza Ghulam Ahmad sahib is NOT a requirement for a Muslim.

After reading your book ‘The Trouble with Islam Today’ I developed an opinion about you. And actually I was planning to come to your talk on your book, in spring of 2004 in Jesuits University ‘University of San Francisco’ to have discussion with you. But after listening to your talk on your book ‘Allah Liberty and Love’, recorded on September 13, 2011 and aired on C-Span on September 17, 2011, I have formed a different opinion about you.

In your talk you made a comment that “Non-Muslims are forcing Muslims to reform”. This reminds me of reformer Mirza Ghulam Ahmad sahib, who faced opposition of a much bigger magnitude in 19th century India than you’re facing today in North America and Western Europe. MGA sahib was in great distress to see that his efforts to reform Muslims were not bearing fruit; he had a revelation “A Warner came to the world, but world did not heed him, but Allah will establish his truthfulness by heavy powerful attacks”. And this is what we are seeing today.

Prof. Manji, I think in last four hundred years 9/11 is the best thing that happened for Islam (please pay attention: I am using word Islam and NOT Muslims). Again 9/11 is the best thing that happened for Islam. My reason: In last four hundred years Islam has been the victim and perpetrators are both Muslims and Non-Muslims. Muslim perpetrators interpret Islam wrong and non-Muslim perpetrators slam Islam with wrong interpretation of Muslim perpetrators. In post 9/11 environment both perpetrators are getting weak. Muslim perpetrators are getting militarily weak and non-Muslim perpetrators are getting economically, morally and ethically weak. Now when both these perpetrators get weak, reformers voices and efforts will gain strength. And as peace takes hold, Islam will flourish. As by its nature Islam only flourishes in peace time. In war times, Islam only struggles to survive.

In reference to Holy Prophet Muhammad SAWS cartoons published by Danish newspapers and then in USA newspaper etc. City of Philadelphia held a discussion in February 2006. I attended and spoke in it and wrote a piece in Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement newspaper ‘The Light – London Edition’ June 2006. Please take a look. I am sure you will find something new and interesting:
http://ahmadiyya.org/uk/light-jun06.pdf

A member of Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement is writing an online book that answers bashing of Holy Quran, Holy Prophet Muhammad SAWS, and Islam in general by people at ‘Jihad Watch’. Please take a look and see if you could contribute your thoughts and suggestions:
Project Rebuttal – “Islam: What The West Needs To Know”:
https://ahmadiyya.org/WordPress/project-rebuttal/

Prof. Manji, I would like to meet you and have little discussion on your book ‘The Trouble with Islam Today’.

Link to Prof. Irshad Manji websites:
http://wagner.nyu.edu/Manji
https://www.irshadmanji.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irshad_Manji