USA: Ahmadiyya Muslims Community | Promoting peace, love and harmony

After attacks on two mosques belonging to belonging to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Lahore, Pakistan, on May 28, it was time for more people to speak out against the rise of extremists, who have a distorted view of the Islamic faith.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: My Suburban Life | Glen Ellyn News
By Cyndi Loza | November 23, 2010

Civic leaders hold forum to bridge the gap between different denominations

Glen Ellyn, IL — Civic leaders and representatives from various religious backgrounds came together Sunday with the goal of promoting peace, love and harmony in Glen Ellyn.

The Chicago West chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community held a forum that featured 13 speakers from different religions Sunday to share their ideas and best practices to promote peace within society at the Baet-ul-Jamaay Mosque, 2S510 Route 53, Glen Ellyn.
Lisle resident Al Athar was among the 400 people who attended.

“I think it’s a great idea to try to get people from diverse backgrounds ... to try to create some understanding,” Athar said. “If people live together, I think they should understand each other.”

Athar said there are many similarities across religions of which people are unaware. For example, he said Muslims must believe in all the prophets of God, which includes Jesus.

Haris Ahmed, public relations secretary for the Chicago West chapter, said the event was held to build bridges between different denominations and eliminate misunderstandings.

“We are peacemakers, and we want to engage and eliminate misconceptions,” Ahmed said.

Since Pakistan declared members of the community non-Muslim in 1974 and then passed a blasphemy law in 1984, more than 100 Ahmadis have been murdered for their faith, according to a news release from the Chicago West chapter. Though about 5 million Ahmadiyya Muslims live in Pakistan without basic rights to freedom of speech and religion, the community advocates and works toward peace.

After attacks on two mosques belonging to belonging to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Lahore, Pakistan, on May 28, Ahmed said it was time for more people to speak out against the rise of extremists, who have a distorted view of the Islamic faith.

“They’re hitting a community that’s been known for its peaceful tolerance,” Ahmed said in June. “There is no place for violence of any kind in Islam.”


-- cloza@mysuburbanlife.com


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