Over the past few weeks as hostility against Ahmadis has intensified I’ve had to endure numerous people sending me foul and photoshopped images of the founder of our community. I’m quite good at internalising the hatred that comes my way, but stuff like this genuinely overwhelms.

Obviously there is nothing I can do about it. If people want to indulge in this kind of behaviour they will. They are hardly going to stop because of my insignificant sentiments.

The only thing I will say is that there is no place in Islamic teachings for this kind of abuse. The Holy Prophet (SAW) taught his followers not to abuse the holy personages of other communities and religions in they retaliate in the same coin.

The Quran too explicitly says that they only way people of different faiths can come together and live in harmony is to set aside the differences between them and come together through common interest and cause.

Another important ethical Islamic teaching is to treat others how you wish to be treated. Therefore, those who consider themselves to ‘true Muslims’ should at least have the rectitude to follow their own faith, and refrain from this kind of behaviour.

Abuse me all you want. I’m a pretty easy target, lots to make fun of about me. But don’t things which if they were done to you, you would riot on the streets, lots shops and burn down buildings, because this kind of behaviour damages you more than it does me.