Source/Credit:Courier-Post | Online
By Lucas Murray | September 19, 2011
PALMYRA — When nearly 3,000 people perished at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in a Pennsylvania field a decade ago, the perception of Muslims and the religion they’ve practiced for centuries went from bad to worse.
While the horrific events of that day can never be reversed, a group of Muslims is engaged this month in a nationwide blood drive to change the perception of Islam from a religion associated with violence to one that values life.
On Sunday, those efforts continued locally, with a blood drive at the Islamic Center of South Jersey in Palmyra.
“Irrespective of what faith or religion we are, this was an attack on America,” said Imran Bhutta, who helped coordinate the drive at the center. “We as Americans feel solidarity with our fellow Americans, particularly with the victims of 9/11.”
The goal of the blood drive dubbed “Muslims for Life” is to collect 10,000 units of blood from people across the country. Organizers expect the donations to help save 30,000 lives — or 10 times the number of lives lost because of the actions of radical Muslims.
“It’s a peaceful religion to begin with,” Bhutta said. “From time to time, it gets hijacked by people for the wrong causes. It’s a religion practiced by 1.5 billion people. We are for doing anything that will save life.”
An estimated 45,000 Muslims live, work and pray in South Jersey.
“Islam was given a bad name by these fanatics who created the most heinous crime in the history of humankind,” said Farooq Padder, president of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam. “Islam preaches peace, it practices peace. That’s the image we want to show the world — that Islam is not what people think.”
Through Sunday, the nationwide movement has collected 7,000 units of blood from 107 locations across the country.
About 150 blood drives will be held through the end of the month.
Last weekend, there were two successful drives at the Al-Nasr Mosque in Willingboro.
The drive will continue this Sunday at the Voorhees Mosque, sponsored by the Muslim American Community Organization.
Earlier this month, a drive was held at the Katz Jewish Community Center in Cherry Hill. Padder noted that it’s not just Muslims who are participating.
“The beauty in this is that really all faiths have come together,” Padder said. “Regardless of what faith people belong to, people have been very enthusiastic. One can see the goodness of the people showing itself. It’s inspiring.”
The goal for this particular drive was anywhere from 30 to 50 units.
Many of those who donated came from the community surrounding the Palmyra mosque, with neighbors and members of local churches contributing to the effort.
Bhutta said there’s an added benefit in having these specialized drives, because it increases the pool from which donors can be taken.
Those who wouldn’t normally give blood get to go through the process and potentially donate again.
“This sends a message about the sanctity of life, that we have to save lives rather than take them,” Padder said. “We all need to live together in a spirit of love, peace and harmony.”
Reach Lucas K. Murray at (856) 486-2476 or lkmurray@gannett.com
Read original post here: Muslims lead blood drives to repair rift
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