USA: Christians, Muslims can co-exist with mutual respect

I expect that you don’t know about the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Let me explain that we were founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, India in 1889. He claimed to be the Promised Messiah who denounced all acts of violence. Ahmadis were the first Muslims in America in 1920, so we have a history of nonviolence. Our motto is: Love for All, Hatred for None.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch |
Source/Credit: The Marietta Daily Journal
By Allison Knight-Khan | November 13, 2011

DEAR EDITOR:

The prevailing winds since 9/11 have been suspicion and distrust towards all Muslims, but according to William Watson, “Hate and mistrust are the children of blindness.”

I knew an Irish doctor who saved a man’s life. Then he noticed, “I hate Irish” tattooed on his arm. According to the thinking of MDJ guest columnist Pete Borden (“Acceptance is earned, not an entitlement,” Nov. 1) who was right? The man who hated the Irish? Or, the doctor who owed it to the world to prove that Irish are good just because some Irish belonged to the IRA?

While I understand that some Christians feel the “proper venue” for religion is at church on Sunday, Islam is a 24/7 religion. That is why we pray five times a day. If we wash five times a day, won’t we get cleaner?

One of the Cobb board members spoke at Sprayberry high school last year. He said, “First you choose the habit, and then the habit chooses you.”


I choose to follow the Quranic teaching not to display my beauty. The scarf enables us to be recognized and although some view the coat as a hindrance, its purpose is to prevent difficulties. I didn’t get hired by some people who were distrustful of what the hijab represents, but I did get hired by Cobb County because they valued my education.

In the past, marriages were arranged, but when I grew up, people dated. Now people talk of “hooking up.” Can there be any doubt that the supposed “sexual revolution” has done anything but damage the status of women?

While I believe Mr. Borden is right that I cannot expect any “warm and fuzzy feeling,” when I first meet people, after a time, they usually thaw out and warm up. Perhaps dialogues like this one will help people understand our community better.

You may well ask, “Where are the moderate Muslims?” The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community represents the middle way.

Asking someone who was at 9/11 if they approve of terrorist attacks is a lot like asking someone who has been in an earthquake if they like earthquakes. The answer is no. I am not for terrorism.

During September, our community collected 11,000 units of blood to honor the victims of 9/11. In Georgia, we collected one tenth of the total for America. It’s not because we have a huge congregation. We don’t. But we are dedicated to serving America in a positive way. I volunteered at Kennesaw, Douglasville and at the University of Georgia. I discovered blood donors are lovely people and this small 10 percent of our population supplies all of America with blood. It couldn’t be for the cookies, I swear.

I expect that you don’t know about the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Let me explain that we were founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, India in 1889. He claimed to be the Promised Messiah who denounced all acts of violence. Ahmadis were the first Muslims in America in 1920, so we have a history of nonviolence. Our motto is: Love for All, Hatred for None.

I cannot assimilate, if assimilation means taking off my hijab, because that is part of my religion. But I think Christians and Muslims can coexist better with mutual respect. Emerson once said: “Men are respectable only as they respect.” Could he be wrong?

Allison Knight-Khan
Powder Springs

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