Canada: Ahmadiyya Muslims take on difficult but important work in Cornwall

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The open house being held on Saturday at the library is being called “Islam Understood,” and will be running from noon until 4 p.m. It is part of a nationwide campaign of similar open houses in communities across Canada.

Cornwall Standard-Freeholder/Postmedia Network
Regional Amir for Cornwall, Ashraf Sia, thanks Mayor Leslie O'Shaughnessy
for attending an open house held at the Masjid Baitun Nasir mosque on Tuesday.

Times of Ahmad | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: Cornwall Standard-Freeholder
By Alan S. Hale | April 18, 2017

Members of the Masjid Baitun Nasir mosque in Cornwall held an open house on Tuesday as part of ongoing efforts to reach out to the community and try to combat the negative impressions many people have of Islam and Muslims caused by terrorist attacks and news stories coming out of the Middle East in recent years.

The congregation’s youth group, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association, will also be hosting another open house at the library this Saturday.

The youth association’s national director, Imam Imtiaz Ahmed, said convincing people not to judge Muslims and Islam based on the actions of fanatical extremists is difficult but important work.

“Islam nowadays has been hijacked by some of its own followers — or so-called followers — who are using the religion for their own agendas and goals. Many times these people commit nefarious acts in the name of Islam, but in reality have nothing to do with Islam,” said Ahmed. “So what we are doing is reaching out to the wider community to talk to them and let them come and ask questions. We will try to remove those misconceptions. “

The open house was attended by a few members of the public as well as Mayor Leslie O’Shaughnessy.  The mayor said he and the congregation had a very productive conversation, where the focus was on how local Muslims could become more engaged in the community as a whole.

“I had one person ask me how she could get access to a list of groups in need of volunteers,” said O’Shaughnessy. “It was a very community-oriented meeting.”

The open house being held on Saturday at the library is being called “Islam Understood,” and will be running from noon until 4 p.m. It is part of a nationwide campaign of similar open houses in communities across Canada.

Banners will be set up in the room the youth association has booked, there also be displays on various Islamic topics for people to examine, and people will be available to answer any questions.

“It will be a friendly environment where people can ask questions one-on-one or talk about misconceptions.”



Read original post here: Canada: Difficult but important work in Cornwall


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