USA: Ahmadi Muslim youth to gather for 33rd retreat in Cheswick

The event, which will include participants from 65 Ahmadiyya Muslim chapters across the country, will feature sporting events such as cricket, basketball and volleyball; educational competitions, including Quran memorization and recitation; and workshops on topics such as spirituality and peer pressure.

Scene from 2010 USA Ahmadiyya Youth Assoc. conference

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
By Rachel Weaver |  July 14, 2011

More than 1,000 Muslim Americans are planning to visit Allegheny County this weekend for a retreat meant to foster brotherhood within their community and raise awareness among others.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA Youth Auxiliary's 33rd national conference will be held Friday through Sunday at the Pittsburgh Indoor Sports Arena in Harmar.

"Post-9/11, there is a great deal of confusion about if you can be an American and a Muslim at the same time," said Qasim Rashid, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA spokesman. "There really is no contradiction. You can be a proud American and a proud practicing Muslim."


The event, which will include participants from 65 Ahmadiyya Muslim chapters across the country, will feature sporting events such as cricket, basketball and volleyball; educational competitions, including Quran memorization and recitation; and workshops on topics such as spirituality and peer pressure.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a movement within Islam. Followers believe the Messiah came in the person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, who lived from 1835 to 1908. The community believes God sent him to end religious wars, condemn bloodshed and reinstitute peace.

The belief has made members of the community the target of violence and criticism by mainstream Muslims, who view Ahmad as a heretic. In Pakistan, the government legally does not consider them Muslims. In May 2010, gunmen attacked two Ahmadiyya Muslim mosques in Lahore, killing 86.

Rashid estimates about 15,000 Ahmadiyya Muslims live in America. Conference organizers chose Pittsburgh after they found that the city "welcomed us with open arms," he said.

"It's a great honor to host the event," Rashid said.

Omar Shaheed, president of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, helped bring the conference here.

"We haven't had an event here in over 20 years," said Shaheed of West Mifflin. "It's a chance for people throughout America and overseas to visit Pittsburgh.

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