Inland Empire, California: Ahmadiyya Muslims drive home message of peace

“A true Muslim can never raise his voice in hatred against his fellow citizens, nor for that matter against the ruling authority or Government of the time." [Khalifa of Islam, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad]

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | US Desk
Source: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
By Ahmadiyya Times Staff

Ahmadiyya Muslim messages of peace are being spread across Los Angeles Inland Empire on 167 buses.

The campaign by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Greater Los Angeles and Inland Empire aims to assert the Islamic principles of peaceful co-existence as part of a nationwide effort against extremism.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Asim Ansari, president of the Inland Empire chapter said: “The true peaceful Islam is nothing like the hatred that is preached by a very small but violent minority.


“A handful of extremists do not represent Muslims or Islam but their words and deeds are having a devastating effect on the community at large."

A similar campaign of carrying messages of peace on buses has been undertaken by the members of the community in the UK with great success. In the UK, members have also distributed 100,000 'peace pamphlets' door to door.

Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad

Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, worldwide leader of the International Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, said: “A true Muslim can never raise his voice in hatred against his fellow citizens, nor for that matter against the ruling authority or Government of the time.

“He should remain loyal and fully abide by the laws of the land of which he is a subject.”

He said: “The initiative will bring communities closer together. By condemning extremism in a peaceful way the campaign will promote a better understanding of Islam and help with community cohesion.”

Imam Shamshad Nasir, Regional Missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community for the Southwest region said: “We intend to emphasize the true values of Islam through this campaign and we hope to create a better understanding of Islam so that people are able to judge for themselves the actions of those falsely claiming to speak and act in its good name.

“Islam places highest importance on the promotion of peace in words and deeds,” Imam Shamshad further stressed.

The advertisement banners have been placed on 98 busses in Riverside County and 69 busses in San Bernardino County.  Later on, the community plans to expand the advertising campaign to other parts of Los Angeles and Orange Counties in Southern California.


“The community feels that the campaign is very necessary to share understanding of the emphasis Islam places on peace and harmony,” said Monas Chaudry, a community representative for Interfaith Outreach and Dialogue.


Inland Empire: About 60 Miles due East of Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, colloquially known as the IE, is a metropolitan region centered around the cities of Riverside and San Bernardino in Southern California. The Inland Empire is the largest of the three main regions of Southern California in terms of land area; and the other two being the Greater Los Angeles and the Border Region areas, surround IE to the West and South respectively. [Wikipedia]

About the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community:
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a dynamic, reformist and fast growing international movement within Islam. Founded by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, India in 1889, the Community spans over 190 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions. The community is actively engaged in refuting the Jihad doctrine through interfaith outreach programs. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, established in 1921, is the first American-Muslim organization.[alislam.org]


-- Compiled by Ahmadiyya Times staff from multiple sources.
-- Edited by Imran Jattala