"The prophet Muhammad had two names: One was Muhammed and the other Ahmad. Our name is from Ahmad. Our motto is “Love for All, Hatred for None."
Source/Credit: Otawa Citizen
By Chris Cobb | November 24, 2014
Imam Imtiaz Ahmed is Muslim community leader of Stop the CrISIS, an initiative to counter the radicalization of Canada’s Muslim youth. He will be a guest speaker Thursday evening at an inaugural University of Ottawa Muslim Student Group event to locally launch the initiative. The 32-year-old imam, from Pakistan, is leader of the Ahmadiyya sect of Muslims in Ottawa — a congregation of about 500 in and around Cumberland. He spoke to the Citizen about Stop the CrISIS — a title that emphasizes the last four letters.
Q Who are Ahmadiyya Muslims?
A The prophet Muhammad had two names: One was Muhammed and the other Ahmad. Our name is from Ahmad. Our motto is “Love for All, Hatred for None.”
Q How did Stop the CrISIS come about?
A Islam literally means peace and promotes peace. Jihad is misrepresented. It means to fight against your inner self — your evil inclinations and the striving to become a better person. In the wake of recent events we felt we needed to go out and denounce and reject the nefarious acts of ISIS and all terrorist groups. We must teach our youth why ISIS runs counter to the teachings of Islam. ISIS does not represent Islam.
Q Is it a national campaign?
A Yes. It started at our national headquarters in Toronto about two weeks ago. So it’s very new.
Q Exactly what is the crisis?
A ISIS is a crisis worldwide — not in Canada yet but it has the potential to be so. That’s what we’re trying to stop. So when our youth are approached by these kinds of Muslims they are able to refute what they are told.
Q Are young Muslims being approached by extremist elements in Canada?
A I have not heard of any but it is a concern.
Q Young Muslim men from the U.K., the United States, France and other countries have joined ISIS. So isn’t it logically the case that efforts to radicalize young Canadians are also happening?
A Yes. We’ve seen it in two recent heinous acts and we need to stop it before it takes root in Canada.
Q So how do you go about it?
A We have an auxiliary youth organization and I work closely with them so they don’t fall prey to these terrorist ideologies. We teach the youth that this is our community and our country and we want to be an integral part of it. We do food drives, we’ve adopted a park (in Orléans) and last year we did a blood drive. Last year, we donated 10,000 pounds of non-perishable food to the Orléans food bank. We have cricket, basketball and different sports. I’ve also run sessions on ISIS to teach our youth how it runs counter to Islam.
Q How do young Muslims receive those messages?
A Very well. I’ve had some come to me and say they didn’t understand about ISIS and I tell them: “Don’t keep it to yourself. When you go to college or university, talk to your fellows and friends.”
Q Is it the case than many young Muslims don’t understand Islam?
A This is the key. Many Muslims, especially the youth, don’t know their religion, the scriptures or life of the Prophet. So it’s important they read and understand. They will find out immediately that ISIS runs counter to Islam.
Q In your material you mention “caliphate.” What is that?
A It is to carry on the work of the prophet. This “caliph” of ISIS (Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi) has a barbaric agenda. He says he wants to take over the world and establish Sharia law and all that. It’s absurd. Look at the life of the Prophet — Muslims, Jews and Pagan Arabs lived in harmony in Medina. And everyone was judged by their own laws.
Q What impact on the Canadian Muslim community is all this having in terms of the perception of those outside it?
A It’s concerning that some people might think that all Muslims are “like that” but so far my experience has been good. After the attack on Parliament I got messages from people who said they understood that this had nothing to do with Islam.
Q There are different Muslim groups in Ottawa and they don’t all speak to one another. What interaction have you had with other groups?
A They don’t talk to us. We aren’t all on the same page but I won’t be judgmental.
Q So it’s inter-community rivalry? Is that the right term?
A You could say that.
Q Is the Stop the CrISIS meeting at U of O on Thursday for all Muslims and non-Muslims?
A It is open for everyone. We need to work together so we want to show Canadians that this is a concern for us all.
Thursday’s event begins at 6.30 p.m., Alumni Auditorium, University Centre, University of Ottawa.
ccobb@ottawacitizen.com
twitter.com/chrisicobb
Read original post here: Waging war against ISIS on the home front - Video
This content-post is archived for backup and to keep archived records of any news Islam Ahmadiyya. The views expressed by the author and source of this news archive do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of Ahmadiyya Times.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for your comments. Any comments irrelevant to the post's subject matter, containing abuses, and/or vulgar language will not be approved.