‘You cannot defend Prophet Mohammed with violence’ — Ameer warns Muslims

Alhaji Bin Salih, the Ameer and Missionary-in-Charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana, has called for religious restraint in light of recent events involving an imam, a pastor, and an assault on the pastor while in police custody. Speaking at a Majlis Ansarullah gathering, the Ameer urged Muslims and Ghanaians to avoid responding to religious provocation with insults or violence.

His appeal came after the arrest of an imam for allegedly calling for violence against those who insulted the Prophet Mohammed, followed by the arrest of a pastor over derogatory comments about the Prophet. The situation escalated when a Muslim man was captured on video slapping the handcuffed pastor at the Ghana Police Service Headquarters in Accra.

The Ameer emphasized that one cannot defend the Prophet Mohammed with violence, citing examples from the Prophet's own life, such as his conduct during the stoning incident in Ta'if and his forgiveness following the Conquest of Makkah. He stressed that forgiveness and restraint can be more powerful than retaliation and reminded Ghanaians of their long history of peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians.

The Ameer's warning comes as social media has become a platform for rapidly spreading religiously provocative content, which can quickly escalate into real-world confrontations. In response to the controversy, a meeting between religious leaders and the police was held to de-escalate tensions, resulting in the three men embracing as a gesture of forgiveness and peaceful coexistence.

The Ameer emphasized that protecting Ghana's peace is a collective responsibility, urging ordinary citizens to lead by example and pass on messages of tolerance and peaceful coexistence to younger generations.