How is it loyal or moral for Muslims to wear the poppy and participate in Anzac and Remembrance Day commemorations? Isn’t this a betrayal of their fellow Muslims who have been killed or displaced as a result of recent military conflicts?

This commemoration is all about saluting the sacrifices made by service men, women and their families who served their countries in times of need. This is not about politics, but about people. The Prophet Muhammad taught that loyalty towards ones country of residence is an essential part of one’s faith. What better way to demonstrate this loyalty than to acknowledge those who have fought for it? The soldiers that took part in wars are mainly ordinary men and women serving their country. If unjust wars have been declared and fought by a Government, it is not the servicemen or women that are to blame. The role of a soldier is not to make complex political decisions, but simply to follow orders and defend their nation. Soldiers cannot be held accountable for the transgressions of their governments.

Every year, members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, New Zealand all over the country attend dawn and civic parades to reflect upon the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women and those who continue to serve the nation.