The Imam also explained that Islam requires belief in all the prophets sent by God to other religions, and that it is a condition of the Muslim faith to respect the scriptures, holy places and followers of other religions.
Source/Credit: Baitul Hameed Mosque
By Press Release | November 18, 2013
An intensive two-day Leadership Training Conference, sponsored by the Universal Peace Federation of North America, was held Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15-16, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in El Segundo, CA. The UPF is an interfaith-based outreach organization dedicated to bringing together people from various religious, social service and educational backgrounds to promote peace, interfaith dialog, mutual empowerment and social justice.
About 60 people attended the conference, and because the focus was on leadership training, there was a lot of attention paid to helping young people become better leaders so they can not only set and achieve their goals, but do so with spiritual integrity and become productive members of society.
The first speaker was UPF- North America chairman Dr. Ki Hoon Kim. He narrated a video presentation detailing the history, objectives and accomplishments of the UPF. A large roster of speakers contributed their unique perspectives and experiences on such topics as: “Building a Nation and a World of Peace” and “The Significance of Marriage and Family for a Stable and Prosperous Society.”
Friday’s speakers were Dr. Thomas Walsh, president of UPF International; Mr. Ricardo de Sena, UPF’s UN relations director; Ms. Diana Olga Elizarraras Kim of Mexico’s National Council of Women’s Rights; Rev. Phillip Hellmich, director of peace at Shift Network, Inc.; Prof. David C. McGaffey, director of the Global Stewards Institute; Dr. Gary Spanovich, founder of Wholistic Peace Institute in Seattle; and Rev. Kevin Thompson of the Family Federation for World Peace in N. California. L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca was the special guest speaker during the dinner at 6:00 pm.
Friday’s evening lineup included Minister Michellene Milsap from Sadoc Christian Peace Family Church in Compton, CA; Pasadena City Commissioner Nat Nehdar; and Dr. David Burgess, former district director of UPF-USA in the Pacific Northwest.
Imam Shamshad came from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s Baitul Hameed Mosque in Chino, CA and spoke for about 15-minutes on how Islam upholds the necessity of living in peace with believers from other faiths. The Imam stressed that Islam requires all Muslims to seek peace and make peace whenever possible, adding that Islam forbids Muslims from being the aggressors in any conflict and only allows fighting in self-defense.
The Imam also explained that Islam requires belief in all the prophets sent by God to other religions, and that it is a condition of the Muslim faith to respect the scriptures, holy places and followers of other religions. And since Islam mandates doing good works to serve humanity, it is only natural that Muslims work together with the members of other faiths and join them in helping the poor and needy and doing other good works for humanity.
On the subject of creating a vision for the nation’s youth, Imam Shamshad cited the Prophet Muhammad pbuh), who was the example for all Muslims to follow. The Holy Prophet (pbuh), while still a youth himself, helped the poor, widows, orphans, and others in need in Mecca. He also instructed parents to show kindness and respect to their children as well as affection and love. In this way, when they became parents themselves, they would show this same love and kindness not only to their own children, but to their parents in their old age.
This is exactly what the Holy Quran teaches: “If your parents attain old age, do not show them any disrespect. Indeed, be kind to them and provide for them and lower to them your wing of mercy, and care for them as they cared for you in your childhood.” In this way, when parents and children love and respect each other, it creates stable and spiritually successful families, and by extension, societies.
Imam Shamshad ended his address by quoting the wise observation of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s 2nd Khalifa, Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (1889-1965), who said on the topic of reforming a nation, “A nation cannot be reformed without the reformation of its youth.” This is why so much attention is given in Islam to the proper raising and training of children. The success of society depends on its youth being righteous, humble, God-fearing and willing to serve God, parents and humanity in general.
Imam Shamshad also brought and distributed for free more than 50 copies of the book “World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace” by Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the current (and 5th) Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Community.
The book is a compilation of public addresses given over the past three years by His Holiness during his frequent world tours, visiting chapters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community across North America, Europe, India, Asia and Africa. (There are now thousands of Ahmadiyya Muslim chapters in 204 countries around the world. The Community was established in 1889 in Qadian, India by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Go to: Alislam.org for more info.)
His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad has, since being elected Khalifa in 2003, addressed the legislative bodies of government in the US, Canada, Great Britain, France, Spain, Germany, Japan, Australia, Singapore, and the European Union. The purpose of his speeches has always been to educate the political and military leaders, educators and the media about the true teachings of Islam. Another key element of the Khalifa’s public addresses is explaining how to achieve true and lasting peace and warning about the looming threat of cataclysmic destruction from a Third World War and how to prevent it.
Readers who wish to receive a free copy of “World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace” are invited to call the Baitul Hameed Mosque toll-free at 1-866-WHY-ISLAM or on the local number: 909-627-2252. Readers can also reach Imam Shamshad directly at 909-636-8332. He can also be contacted via his Email at: shamshadanasir@gmail.com.
-- USA: Ahmadiyya Muslim Imam calls for interfaith dialog & cooperation; gives away book on peace
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