In his Friday Sermon delivered on 28th September, 2012 at Baitul-Futuh Mosque, Morden, Surrey, UK, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad(aba), the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, said:

When I arrived for last week’s Friday sermon there was a heavy media contingent [at the mosque]. I asked Amir Sahib the reason for this and he told me that in light of the recent hurtful and insensitive film made in the United States about the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the international reaction among Muslims, they had come to report on the Jama‘at’s point of view. I told him to inform them that my Friday sermon would be on this very subject and that they could gauge the reaction of Ahmadis from that. Such are the works of God that not only did He bring these numerous journalists here but He also put it in my mind to deliver a sermon on this topic.

Apart from print journalists a number of television reporters were also in attendance, including one from the BBC’s Newsnight program, another BBC reporter, representatives of New Zealand national television and French television as well as numerous others. The reporter from New Zealand, who was sitting on my right, asked the first question. He inquired what message I wished to convey [with regards to the circumstances surrounding the movie]. I replied that I had said everything in the sermon. I told him that he had listened to the translation and therefore he knew that I had elaborated on the high station and rank of the Holy Prophet(sa) and explained that his example is one that should be followed by all Muslims. While the anger of Muslims is justified and only natural, in certain instances, their reaction is completely unwarranted. Those of a worldly disposition cannot understand the love Muslims have for the Holy Prophet(sa), therefore they are entirely unaware of the extent to which our feelings are injured by such reprehensible acts. This is a threat to the peace of the world.

He then said to me that I had used harsh language and declared that these perpetrators would go to Hell. Although he didn’t say as much, he meant that I too was acting in the same way as those whom I condemned. Because he pressed the point, I told him that the decree of God takes effect against those who continually deride and mock His loved ones and do not cease in this and it is possible for this to excite God’s wrath and result in severe punishment…

I told the journalists present that the Jama‘at was not in favour of reactionary protests or rioting. An Ahmadi will never be involved in demonstrations that disturb the peace. A journalist later reported that Ahmadis are a minority sect in Islam who have suffered at the hands of Muslims. Therefore, it remains to be seen whether the message of their Khalifah resonates among the wider Muslim world...

The reporter from Newsnight, a current affairs program here in the UK, mentioned that he had seen the film and found nothing in it that would prompt such a fierce reaction within the Muslim world. He said that by delivering such a detailed and forceful sermon on the subject [I too had overreacted]. The movie was in his words a bit of joke. God forbid. This is what has become of the etiquettes and conduct of these people. I said to him that I could not understand how he could watch such a film. I further said that it was impossible for him to understand the status given to the Holy Prophet(sa) by Muslims and the love and affection they have for him. Though I had not seen the film myself, from what I am told, there are one or two things in the film which are completely intolerable and yet he says that there is nothing untoward in it. I told him that after hearing these things I did not have the strength of will to watch the film for they would disturb anyone. I asked him how he would respond if someone were to abuse his father; for he would be certain to react and speak out against this. In the sight of Muslims the status of the Holy Prophet(sa) is far beyond [that of a parent]…

These people will not be dissuaded from their misdemeanors and on the pretext of Muslim demonstrations it seems that they are ready to injure our feelings again. They spread the foulness of their deeds from one place to another. Only two days ago a Spanish magazine published cartoons of the Holy Prophet(sa) and justified it in the name of satire. They also argued that it was the best response to Muslim protests.

So we must again silence these detractors and inform educated people that such acts only serve to threaten the peace of the world. It is imperative that these injustices be shown up for what they are…

During Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, the Promised Messiah(as) wrote a book entitled ‘Tohfa-e-Qaisariyyah’ [A Gift for the Queen] in which he praised the just and fair government of her Majesty and delivered to her the message of Islam. He also wrote on how to establish peace in the world, inter-religious harmony and the need to uphold the sanctity and honour of the Prophets and other esteemed religious personages. On the occasion of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, a translation of this book was prepared and published in an attractive edition and was presented to her relevant office along with a letter I had written in her name. [Afterwards] I received a reply thanking me for the gift and informing me that the book had been included in the Queen’s collection and that she would take the time to read it. Whether she does or not is another matter, the more important thing is that we have fulfilled our responsibility. Today, the peace of the world is as threatened as it was when the book was first published. Indeed in many ways the current climate is far more precarious. The increasing attacks on Islam and the person of the Holy Prophet(sa) mean that the message of the Promised Messiah(as) needs to be widely disseminated once again…