Source/Credit: The Times of India
By Shreya Roy Chowdhury/TNN | September 24, 2011
NEW DELHI: The Islamic concept of jihad is often misunderstood in the current times of war and terrorism . And Ahmadiyyas have organized an exhibition to tell the world about what they claimed to be the real message of Quran - peace and brotherhood .Throughtheir 'Holy Quran Exhibition' at Constitution Club, they said they wanted to change common perceptions .
This is perhaps one of the rare occasions when members of this sect, who face persecution in Pakistan , have come out to proclaim the inclusivity of their faith and answer querieson a wide rangeofissues . A 10-minute video on Islam's emphasis on peace and rejection of war is a highlight of the exhibition . "This is an effort by the Ahmadiyyas to tell society that Quran is for everybody ," says Sayed Salahuddin , a volunteer.
But the exhibition has triggered strong protests from other Muslim sects at the venue . They were protesting against the Ahmadiyyas' claim of being Muslims . The protests forced rescheduling of the exhibition , which will now end on Saturday instead of Sunday .
When the organizers set up the exhibition on Friday morning , they put up display boards addressing issues of jihad , women's rights , science and globalization along withhandsome volumes of over 70 translations of the Quran .
But after the protests , the organizers scaled down the exhibition . The books are gone and so have the displays. "We were advised by police to remove the books as mischief-mongers from other sects might desecrate them . We agreed , because we believe in peace ," said Sayed Tanvir Ahmed , one of the organizers , who had come from Qadian , Punjab , where the Ahmadiyya sect was born .
But the man who led the protests , Kamal Faruqui , executive committee member of All-I ndia Muslim Personal Law Board said , "We did not want to create a law and order problem . We wanted a token protest . Ahmadiyyas can't call themselvesMuslims .Tobe a Muslim , you have to believe in the oneness of God and finality of prophethood . Anyone who doesn't believe in this is not a Muslim . They have been declared non-Muslims allover theworld ," he said.
He heard about the exhibition on Thursday and rumours were confirmed by advertisements in the newspapers. "It's not a new organization ," continued Faruqui , "They have every right under the Constitution to practise their religion and be treated as a minority . But by calling themselves Muslims , they are deceiving the people."
The Ahmadiyyas are branded heretics in Pakistan andfaceopposition ."We are not popular among Muslims ," said Shiraz Ahmad , in charge of education for the Ahmadiyyas in India . "But we never retaliate . We spread the message of peace . We are declared non-Muslims by ulemas because they are afraid they'll lose control if the masses follow us,"saidAhmad .Buthe also likes challenges . "We have been facing oppression for over 100 years . But where there is opposition , people also ask questions . They think , let's go find out."
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