Tariq Mahmood, Canada
In his first ‘Apostolic Exhortation’, Pope Leo XIV has emphatically declared that the Catholic Church is committed to supporting what it calls ‘rejected’ immigrants.
The Pope’s statement directly addressed immigration, stating that the real perpetrator of inequality was the global economic system. Being an American himself (where immigration is extremely prevalent in the current political climate), his statement tackles a very contested subject, which currently divides the conservative and liberals of every country, from Europe and North America, to the shores of Africa and Australia: is immigration a force for good or the agent of evil?
Pope Leo’s answer exemplifies one point: the entire world seems to be asking the wrong question. He quotes Pope Francis, who once stated, ‘our response to the challenges posed by contemporary migration can be summed up in four verbs: welcome, protect, promote and integrate. Yet these verbs do not apply only to migrants and refugees.’
Pope Leo XIV intends to carry on this spirit wholeheartedly: ‘The Church, like a mother, accompanies those who are walking. Where the world sees threats, she sees children; where walls are built, she builds bridges… She knows that in every rejected migrant, it is Christ himself who knocks at the door of the community.’
The Pope reaffirmed the Church’s ‘tradition of working for and with migrants’ which is ‘expressed in initiatives such as refugee reception centers, border missions and the efforts of Caritas Internationalis and other institutions.’ As Pope Francis once summarised regarding the Catholic Church’s position on immigration, ‘We ourselves need to see, and then to enable others to see, that migrants and refugees do not only represent a problem to be solved, but are brothers and sisters to be welcomed, respected and loved.’
Both Pope Francis and Pope Leo exhibit exemplary moral characters, in a day and age that desperately lacks it.
Islam’s Stance on Immigration
During his papacy, Pope Francis had always resolved to bridge the so-called ‘gap’ between Muslims and Christians, stating in one speech that ‘Christians and Muslims are brothers and sisters’ and that ‘together, we must say no to hatred, no to revenge, and no to violence.’ He even sought to erase from the minds of Christians the very notion of hating Islam, and eradicated any misconception: ‘Our respect for true followers of Islam should lead us to avoid hateful generalisations, for authentic Islam and the proper reading of the Koran are opposed to every form of violence.’Pope Francis recognised that Islam and Christianity were both aligned in many ways, especially when it had to do with the treatment of humankind and peace throughout the world.
Thus, it should not surprise us that Pope Leo XIV’s sentiments regarding immigration are completely in line with the true teachings of Islam. Where Pope Leo outlined the root cause of this inequality (namely the current economic system) the Fifth Caliph and Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) beautifully elucidated the exact same cause over a decade ago whilst addressing the European Parliament,
‘In fact, a major root cause of the discord has been the global financial crisis. When there was no recession or credit crunch, nobody ever bothered about the influx of immigrants; Muslims or non-Muslims or Africans. However, the situation is now different and that has caused all this.’
Furthermore, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) reminds us that – in implementing the peaceful teachings of Islam – cruelties such as separating a mother from her child, and unlawfully arresting people would never be permitted. In a Friday Sermon in 2020, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) beautifully stated,
‘Recently, it was reported that the migrants who had arrived in the USA were separated from one another and the children were also separated from their mothers. In some cases, the children could not even recognise their mothers after some time. In any case, Islam’s teaching are so detailed that it even states that a child should not be separated from their mother and not to cause them distress on account of this.’
Thus, Islam has always taught that compassion and mercy must be extended to the migrants, rather than hatred and malice.
Nonetheless, it is critical to remember that the Islamic approach to immigration is practical. In the Holy Qur’an for example, Allah the Almighty states that those who were persecuted will be asked as to why they didn’t migrate, with the angels declaring, ‘Was not Allah’s earth vast enough for you to migrate therein?’ [1] Thus, immigration is recognised as a necessity when the need arises! One should reside in their country if persecution inhibits them from the same rights that everyone else enjoys.
That being said, the Caliph, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) has always reminded countries that they must not ‘neglect the needs of the local people.’ On the other hand, governments should extend their hand to provide immigrants with ‘some form of training or apprenticeships so that they can soon develop those skills.’ This important point highlights the ground reality in many countries; with large numbers of immigrants entering various countries, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) has always emphasised the need for immigrants to learn new skills, earn their own living, integrate into society, and to become patriotic residents of their new home.
Just recently, a woman from Ireland asked Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) about the fact that anti-Islamic sentiments are on the rise, with many citing a lack of integration as the key issue. Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) responded, ‘We should be [integrated]; we shouldn’t isolate ourselves…Integration doesn’t mean that you go and socialise with them in a club. Integration means building relationships with your neighbours – and we should build such relationships. I’ve said this many times…There should be proof of loyalty to the country; we are serving the country as doctors, as teachers, as engineers or in any other form of service to the country. Some even join the army…Integration means to serve the country…We are serving, and we are also loyal to the country. And what is loyalty? Loyalty means not speaking against the country. It means serving for its betterment and progress.’
As we witness the ongoing turmoil due to various conflicts, and the surge of immigration towards safer lands, Muslims around the globe are reminded of the fact that the founder of their faith, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa), was a migrant as well. When his land refused to let him practice his faith, and even attempted to take his life, God Almighty commanded him to migrate to Madinah, which became his new home. The people of Madinah received him with such grace and honour, that their names are forever etched beside the term Ansar or ‘helpers’. Thus, Islam demands that we remember our own roots, and hearken back to the true teachings of Islam.
About the Author: Tariq Mahmood is an Imam of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Canada and serves in the editorial board of The Review of Religions.
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