Source/Credit: Suwanee Patch
By Saima Ahmad | October 11, 2011
It has been 120 years for the Ahmadi Muslims to be vocal and say Islam is not a promoter of terrorism,” says Naseem Mahdi, vice president and missionary in charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, the first Muslim organization to set foot in the United States.
“We hope to give a very strong message that though the blood of 3,000 was spilled, on the 10th anniversary we are giving our blood to save lives,” he said in an interview to Rosalind Bentley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution regarding the Muslims for Life campaign launched for the month of September this year.
The objective of this campaign is to convey the message of sanctity of life by holding blood drives across the nation in order to give the gift of life to at least 30,000 people in need. Life is considered very sacred in Islam, be it human life, animals or even plants. On one hand, it condemns taking innocent lives, declaring killing of one innocent as killing of the whole mankind and on the other hand it calls suicide a sin.
Last year the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community ran two successful campaigns, Muslims for Peace and Muslims for Loyalty. Muslims for Life is a continuation of this effort coinciding with the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Although, the target set was ambitious 10,000 pints, even by the standards of the organizers, but the response from the American public has shown that this campaign was dead on spot and efforts like these are needed especially from the Muslim community.
Amazingly, the organizers have been able to not only achieve the target a week before the end of September but to go beyond with current blood unit count to be 11,036. There are still some blood drives remaining, and complete results will be shared once they are done.
People from every faith, social background, race, and ethnicity came out to show support for this effort, and media gave it plenty of attention as well. Please visit the campaign website www.muslimsforlife.org to get a complete list of all those who partnered with the Ahmadiyya Muslim community on this effort and to see media coverage from all over the country.
Mahdi had the unique opportunity to introduce this campaign to President Obama when he met him over this year’s Iftar dinner at the White House, where the president appreciated the idea.
Others who showed support by actually donating blood included Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Muslim Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN), Congressman Tom Petri (R-WI), and Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA). These were among 16,000 congressmen, lawmakers, mayors and other public representatives who were introduced to this campaign via letters.
“I’m honored to have participated in the Muslims for Life blood drive,” said Rep. Ellison. “It was one of the best ways to remember, reflect, pray, and give thanks for the victims and recognize the heroes of 9/11. Bless you for organizing the blood drive.”
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee said, “To all those who wonder how Muslim Americans have responded to the horrific attacks of 9/11, they need only to look at this campaign.” She added, “What an inspiring effort to honor those who have fallen, and I am privileged to stand by those who give their blood to save lives.”
“I join with the Ahmadiyya Community and the American Red Cross to pay homage to the 3,000 Americans who lost their lives 10 years ago,” Rep. Speier said. “The effort by the Ahmadiyya Community to give blood in recognition of the lives that were lost is a very powerful statement.”
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, GA chapter, also took part in this campaign and has been able to contribute more than 1200 pints of blood.
“The blood drive is a non-violent action in response and it is to commemorate the innocent victims who lost their lives,” Hazeem Pudhiapura, president of the Georgia Chapter, told the AJC's Bentley in an interview. “So we will give blood to save lives”, he added.
In another interview, Mr. Pudhiapura conveyed to Rick Badie of AJC that Islamic terrorists did more than hijack planes and kill thousands on Sept. 11, 2001. They stole something else, too.
“They also hijacked Islam from mainstream Muslims,” said Pudhiapura.
“We want to take that back from these terrorists and return it to those who are promoting sanctity, peace and loyalty,” he added.
Flyers were distributed at various locations throughout September to create public awareness in addition to public service announcement at media outlets. Most of the locals appreciated this campaign, while there were still a few skeptics who were not open to the idea of a peaceful engagement from a Muslim community.
The blood drives took place at Deactur Book Festival (Decatur), Town Center Mall (Marietta), Discover Mills Mall (Lawrenceville), Baitul Baqi Mosque (Norcross), Hong Kong shopping plaza (parking lot) in Norcross, Dalton, Monsour center (Kennesaw), Pendergrass Flea Market to name a few.
Red Cross and Life South have shown tremendous support for this effort since our state is low on blood donations most of the year; this campaign was received with a warm welcome from both agencies. All month long people could walk into any of the 17 Red Cross blood donation centers and donate under this campaign by just mentioning the code Muslims for Life.
Apart from hosting blood drives, Ahmadi Muslims also volunteered at Red Cross hosted blood drives during this month including those at local hospitals, Georgia Tech, and Georgia State University blood drives.
“We are humbled by the public response and want to convey our deepest gratitude to the people of Georgia who got our message and donated as Americans without any regard for race, color or religion. It is a great feeling to know that we are surrounded by such kind people,” said Mrs. Mahmooda Rehman, who is President of the Women’s Auxiliary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Georgia Chapter.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, which bears the motto “Love for all, hatred for none," is hopeful that this campaign would have shed some light on the fact that Islam is all for life and a promoter of peace. It condemns any form of terrorism and forbids creation of disorder of any sort.
Read original post here: Muslims for Life a Great Success
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