USA: Muslims Remember 9/11, Donating 10,000 Pints of Blood

One of the pillars of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's teachings is divesting Islam of fanaticism. Thus, the Ahmadiyya Muslims reject all forms of terrorism. The Ahmadiyya sect is also the only Muslim group whose religious tenets embrace a separation of mosque and state.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: Yahoo! Contributor Network
By Carol Bengle Gilbert | September 6, 2011

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community wants to reclaim its religion from extremists and restore its good name.

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the group decided to give its own blood to those in need. With blood drives scheduled for 130 sites throughout the United States, the Muslim group's plan is to donate 10,000 pints of blood.

"Terrorists not only caused death and destruction on 9/11, but they also hijacked the Islamic faith," one flyer from the group reads.

In launching the Muslims for Life campaign, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Vice President Naseem Mahdi told a gathering at the National Press Club, "[Terrorists] did not just hijack planes -- they hijacked Islam, my faith and the faith of over 1.5 billion Muslims -- and our purpose with this Muslims for Life Campaign is to snatch the flag of Islam from the hands of those terrorists..."

The Ahmadiyya Muslims launched their ambitious blood drive last month. Mahdi spoke to President Barack Obama about the blood drive at the third annual White House Iftar dinner on Aug. 10.
The Iftar is the meal that ends the Muslim day of fasting. Mahdi said afterward, "We support the president's call to honor the memories of our fellow Americans who perished on 9/11."

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Rejects Fanaticism and Terrorism

The Ahmadiyya Muslims were founded in 1889. Their religious tenets center on a messiah, Mira Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908), whose arrival was foretold by Muhammad. One of the pillars of Ahmad's teachings is divesting Islam of fanaticism. Thus, the Ahmadiyya Muslims reject all forms of terrorism. The Ahmadiyya sect is also the only Muslim group whose religious tenets embrace a separation of mosque and state.

Tens of millions of Muslims worldwide are members of the Ahmadiyya branch, which operates in 195 countries. There are about 15,000 members in the United States.

Other Groups Sponsor 9/11 Blood Drives

The Muslims for Life blood drive is being conducted in cooperation with the American Red Cross. Mosque and prayer centers throughout the country will serve as donation sites. According to the Muslims for Life website, 10,000 pints of blood can help save 30,000 lives.

Other groups like Pocono Raceway and Daytona International Speedway are also sponsoring 9/11 blood drives but none matches the scope of the Muslim effort. Police, fire and rescue groups nationwide are sponsoring individual blood drives.

The American Red Cross says that every two seconds, there's a need for blood by someone in the United States. A single car crash victim may need up to 100 pints of blood.

Fewer than 38 percent of the population is eligible to give blood, according to the Red Cross. Nevertheless, the organization manages to collect 16 million annual donations. Five million patients receive blood in any given year.


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