Muslims were targeted by presidential candidate Donald Trump after the shootings in San Bernardino, when he suggested banning members of that religion from entering the U.S.
 |
| Photo: Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer |
Source/Credit: The Plain Dealer
By Brian Albrecht | December 18, 2015
CLEVELAND, Ohio – A modest but heartfelt effort to ease religious misunderstanding and emphasize solidarity as Americans was made tonight in a prayer vigil at the Bait-ul-Ahad Mosque in Bedford.
More than 60 people attended the vigil. Most were members of the mosque, but they were joined by several non-Muslims with a common desire for peace and understanding in troubled times.
The purpose of the vigil was threefold, according to religious leader (Imam) Adnan Ahmad.
First was to denounce what Ahmad described as the "barbaric" attack in San Bernardino, California, where a Muslim couple shot and killed 14 people on Dec. 2, wounding 21 others.
Ahmad said this and other terrorist attacks by Muslims represent a "hijacking" of their faith. "Islam categorically rejects violence," he said. "Islam is a religion of peace."
A second goal of the vigil was to "stand in solidarity with the American community at large," Ahmad said. "We also feel your pain. We condemn the attacks."
Thirdly, he hoped the vigil would provide a reassurance: "We want to tell Americans that there's no need to fear Islam."
Mosque member Ethan Gottschalk, of Maple Heights, similarly hoped the vigil would bring "a positive light to a dark time right now."
Among the non-Muslim guests was Bedford Mayor Stanley Koci, a self-described Catholic who praised the vigil's mission.
"We need to have more discussion," he told the assembled guests. "The misconceptions that go out (about Muslims) are just terrible.
"If we could all talk more, I think we'd be better off," he added.
Tim O'Connor, also Catholic, drove from North Olmsted to attend the vigil. "It's important for us to close ranks with our Muslim brothers against the hatred, bigotry and violence," he said.
Mosque member Fatima Usama, of Beachwood, said she came to the vigil because "I'm in pain. That (San Bernardino attack) was a dastardly thing. It's just so sad."
The mosque is part of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community that was founded in 1889, and now spans 206 countries with 160 million members, including 30,000 in 75 chapters of one of the oldest American-Muslim organizations established (in 1920) in the U.S.
Its teachings are based on those of Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas (1835-1908) who declared more than a century ago that an aggressive "jihad by the sword" has no place in Islam. According to the organization, their first spiritual leader also "cautioned against irrational interpretations of Quarnic pronouncements and misapplications of Islamic law."
Investigators have said the married couple that killed 14 and wounded 21 at a social services center in San Bernardino, before being shot and killed by police, were radicalized Muslims who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
Muslims were targeted by presidential candidate Donald Trump after the shootings in San Bernardino, when he suggested banning members of that religion from entering the U.S.
Ahmed Sita, 68, of Bedford Heights, mosque general secretary, said he was shocked by Trump's statement. "This country was founded on freedom," including freedom of religion, he said.
One member was overheard saying that the current mood of the country "isn't as bad as it was after 9-11. But everybody's talking. The politicians have got the people all riled up."
Prior to the vigil, Dr. Nasim Rehmatullah, Cleveland chapter president and senior vice president of the national organization said in recent weeks one of their mosques was vandalized in Los Angeles, and one of their Utah mosque members questioned for four hours after someone wrongly accused him of texting "terrorist" messages while aboard an airliner.
He believes Trump's statement and the accompanying furor will be short-lived.
"America consists of all sorts of people with a lot of ethnic backgrounds and religions. That's why people come here," he said. "In times of fear and a lot of hype by politicians this will happen over a short period of time. Most Americans are very good and generous and kind people."
He hoped that the impact of the prayer vigil would be that it "gets people together and they come to know what true Islam is all about, rather than extremism.
"One of the purposes is to bring people to a Muslim mosque so they can see and meet us, and see that we are no different than any other Americans."
Read original post here: Muslim prayer vigil seeks solidarity, understanding
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. Ahmadiyya Times is not an organ of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, nor in any way associated with any of the community's official websites.
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.