Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | International
By Munazza Abbasi | UK Desk
February 10, 2010 | 04:46 PM [PST]
Local MPs united with Muslims at the House of Commons to celebrate 100 years of their worldwide spiritual institution.
The event was arranged by Siobhain McDonagh, Labour MP for Mitcham and Morden, as a celebration of the establishment of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (AMC) on March 23 1889 by its founder Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.
Siobhain said the event, which took place earlier this week on February 8, was “a truly wonderful sight from our perspective and it will be remembered in the history of the House of Commons.”
The Community has tens of millions of followers spread across 195 countries and is currently lead internationally by the fifth successor of the founder, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad.
The local members of the Community from Siobhain McDonagh’s constituency were also addressed by the MP’s Labour Action Team for St. Helier and other local MPs who shared their happiness of being friends of the AMC.
Labour Councillor for Merton, Stephen Alambritis, said: “As you would press the play button on a Dictaphone, you press the button of playing a game of fair play in ensuring equality.”
The AMC is firm in its belief that Islam is a religion of peace and any actions that do not promote peace, do not have any support whatsoever in Islam. The community actively aims to put these beliefs into practice.
“Islam should be observed in a practical way,” said the Imam of the Baitul Fazl Mosque in Southfields, Ataul Mujeeb Rashid. “Rather than promoting terrorism and bloodshed, we are conveying the literal meaning of Islam, peace, especially through our slogan: Love for all, hatred for none.”
Maxi Martin, Councillor for Merton said: “I have been a friend of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community for a few years, but it has left me with a lot to remember. I hope you all manage to live by this slogan, just like I try to do.”
Referring to the AMC's Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden, which is the largest in Western Europe, Stephen Alambritis said: “Despite its glamorousness, its slogan is a more beautiful visionary statement.”
Imam Ataul Mujeeb Rashid said: “Service to mankind is very dear to us. Along with respect of other religions and your neighbours, the most important value that Islam promotes is the love of your country.
It is a part of our faith. It is an obligation on us to simply satisfy Islamic teachings, not to impress society,” he added.
Labour parliamentary candidate for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields, Stuart King, praised the community’s efforts on a global and local scale. He acknowledged the Community’s voluntarily aided charity organisation, Humanity First, whose aid was one of the first to reach earthquake-stricken Haiti.
The Community’s youth were also praised for their efforts in organising blood donations, which resulted in 80 new donors, becoming a nationwide event “which was never seen before,” said Stuart.
“This is a very important and beautiful day in our history of Ahmadiyyat that we are celebrating this day in Parliament,” said Rafiq Ahmad Hayat, President of the AMC UK.
The event was concluded by a tour of the Palace of Westminster, which left visitors wishing to return in the future.
-- Ahmadiyya Times report by Munazza Abbasi
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