by Amir Nasir Quraishi 

To my Christian brothers and sisters everywhere I hope and pray that you will have blessed day this Easter. As a Muslim living here all my life, I have often enjoyed going on Easter egg hunts as well as watching The Ten Commandments, which came on TV during this time. Nonetheless it is awful what happened to the two Coptic Churches in Egypt.

As Ahmadi Muslims, we wholeheartedly condemn terrorism near and far. It is horrific what happened 5 days ago in Egypt when ISIS claimed responsibility for the senseless killings that took the lives of 44 individuals in two Churches. The Quran says, “Whosoever kills an innocent human being, it shall be as if they have killed all mankind.” (5:33)

To All Muslims who do horrendous things, they should remember the teachings of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be upon Him) and the Covenant he made with the Christians of his time.

“This is a message from [Prophet] Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them.

Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them.

No compulsion [in religion] is to be on them.

Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries.

No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses.

Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.

No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight.

The Muslims are to fight for them.

If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray.

Their Churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants.

No one of the nation (of Muslims) is to disobey this covenant till the Last Day (end of the world).”

Those who follow Islam are meant to be the protector of people of all faiths, not their enemy. It is awful what Muslims have done in the name of religion to people of other faiths and how they have forgotten their humanity. Unfortunately this year, two Churches will not be able to celebrate their holiday including other Christians living in these places.

I request all my Christian friends that they remember the victims in their prayers, and pray for Muslims world over that they will stop these actions, and learn to love God and His creation according to the true teachings of Islam.

I wish you all a truly blessed Easter holiday.