USA: Muslim community spreads peace at the Racine Public Library

“There’s no compulsion in religion; that means that I can’t force anyone to believe in anything. Declaring war against someone because they’re not Muslim is totally wrong.” [Junayd Latif, outreach coordinator]

 Junayd Latif, outreach coordinator

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: Journal Times
By Kimber Solana | May 21, 2011

RACINE — An Illinois-based Muslim community sought to share Islam’s message of peace Saturday in hopes of drawing a stark contrast to the political and militant ideology of terrorist leaders — nearly a month after the death of Osama bin Laden.

Aptly called “Muslims for Peace,” the Racine Public Library outreach event was organized by the Ahmadiyya Muslim community of Lake County, Ill. It was the group’s first talk in Wisconsin, the sixth in a series of outreach efforts to share what they say are the true teachings of Islam.

“The message that we are all working toward peace is very powerful,’ said Alice Rademacher, 74, of Caledonia.

The retired nurse was one of about 15 people who came to hear, and converse, about Islam and the Quran.


The topics discussed included the meaning of the word Islam, the misperceptions that have formed when Quran verses are taken out of context, and how violence, although justified when used for defense, has strict limitations.

“There’s no compulsion in religion; that means that I can’t force anyone to believe in anything,” said Junayd Latif, outreach coordinator, who led the event. “Declaring war against someone because they’re not Muslim is totally wrong.”

Despite the wide-ranging discussion, one message was made clear: Whether Muslim, Christian, Jewish or any other religion, their foundation and common goal is peace, not violence.

“All people of faith are in one family,” Latif said.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community was founded in 1889 and has members in more than 190 countries, including about 20,000 in the U.S. It is the only Islamic organization to believe that their long-awaited messiah came in the person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, India, who lived from 1835 to 1908.

Latif said the Ahmadiyya Muslim community believes that God sent Ahmad, like Jesus, to end religious wars, condemn bloodshed and reinstitute morality, justice and peace.

 -- KIMBER SOLANA kimber.solana@journaltimes.com


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