Source/Credit: Duluth Islam Examiner
By Bushra Qamar | September 10, 2011
This Sunday marks the ten year anniversary of the terrible events of September 11, 2001. As I hear the cacophony of voices reminiscing about that terrible day and where they were and what they were doing, I am forced to look back and mourn all the losses. Three thousand lives were lost that day but a far greater loss was the loss of innocence of a country that had for the past 200 years opened its arms to multitudes of people from around the world. But that day forward the word Muslim became synonymous with terrorism, the media played videos of cheering Arabs at the fall of the towers, and the sight of a few cheering Arabs angered me as much as any American . But at the time what angered me more was the absence of the mention of the millions who cried, as America cried. People have been asking where the moderate Muslims voices were since that day but we never got the chance to get our voices heard.
I remember waking up that day and putting on my TV and being amazed at having CNN playing on a channel not reserved for it. As I watched the footage of the twin towers I had no idea what was happening, I only prayed for the people who at the time the anchors said could be anywhere from twenty five to fifty thousand at this time of day. I immediately called my family back home and in tears told them to turn on there TV and to pray also. The second plane hit and it did not only hit the second tower but it hit the very foundation of the faith the hijackers proclaimed to be following. Islam declares that "whosoever killed a person — unless it be for killing a person or for creating disorder in the land — it shall be as if he had killed all mankind; and whoso gave life to one, it shall be as if he had given life to all mankind"(Chapter 5 verse 33). The hijackers and their ilk pick and choose Quranic words twisting them to mean what they want it to mean and not only misguide themselves but misguide the rest of the world into believing that Islam is a religion that condones violence. As you can see from the verse above far from condoning violence Islam condemns violence and creating disorder in the world.
The ash that covered ground zero and New York that day may have long gone, but there is a much deeper and wider ash cloud of suspicion that was cast on every Muslim that day. Ten years on and we still find ourselves crying hoarse about our innocence, but it took me ten years to understand that words alone cannot wash away this ash cloud of suspicion. So, this year me and thousands of Muslims like me are not only proclaiming our innocence, we are trying to take back our Faith from those who hijacked its true teachings and identity on 9/11.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the oldest Muslim organization introduced in America in the early 1920's, is holding a country wide campaign called Muslims For Life, and plan on collecting 10,000 units of blood during the month of September. Ten times more lives will be saved then were lost on 9/11, if this target is achieved. This is our way of honoring the victims of 9/11 and I hope our American brethren will join us in donating their blood for this cause as we certainly cannot do this alone. You can visit mulsimsforlife.org for locations of blood drives near you, or go to any red cross blood donation center in Georgia and mention Muslims for life when you donate. I hope this answers at least partially, the people who question where the moderate Muslims are? To them we say “Here we are, and we need your help”.
Who: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (AMC), Georgia Chapter
What: 9/11 ten-year anniversary commemoration blood-drive to honor 9/11 victims
When & Where: September 11th Baitul Baqi, 6113 Oakbrook Pkwy, Norcross, GA, 30093 10a.m to 4 p.m
Partner Life South Prayer/Vigil 4:00 p.m
Hong Kong Market (Parking Lot) 5495 Jimmy Carter Blvd, Norcross, GA 30093 - 10 a.m to 4 p.m
September 1st to 30th
At All Georgia Red Cross blood donation centers (mention code Mulsims for life)
Read original post here: Muslims Honoring victims of 9/11
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