Arsalan Iftikhar

Arsalan Iftikhar, a public diplomat and a contributing editor of ‘Islamica Magazine’, wants to show the world a gentle version of Islam and he says it has something to do with Islamic Pacifism, something the world has not seen yet.

Arsalan says, “After 9/11, we have seen this phenomenon of what people call quote unquote Islamic extremism. On the other hand, I want to show the other side of what over a billion Muslims believe, which is Islamic pacifism—a gentle version of Islam, the true kindness, the true mercy, the true compassion that our Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) and all religious traditions have taught. The concept of Love Thy God.”

But, if the majority of followers of Islam mean peace, then how come, we don’t hear these voices. According to Arsalans spiritual guide Imam Magid, “we’re only paying attention to a few radical voices. No one is listening to the silent majority.” But, isn’t this because they are silent?

Arsalan Iftikhar wants to disarm people on both sides of isle by adding a more humane style to his brand of pacifism. He’s not talking about the usual kind of pacifism that just sits silently while the world burns. He says, he wants to fight but with his words, his logic and the power of reasoning. He dreams that one day there will be a Muslim pacifist, a Hindu pacifist, a Christian pacifist, a Jewish pacifist, a Buddhist pacifist-- all working together as a global pacifist movement.