USA: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community begins its three-day convention at Chino mosque

Attending the convention also provides a chance to meet and spend time with other Ahmadiyya Muslim community members living in other parts of the country.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: The Daily Bulletin
By Monica Rodriguez | December 23, 2011

CHINO - Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community from the western United States began gathering Friday at the Baitul Hameed Mosque for the first of three days of religious talks, fellowship and spiritual renewal.

More than 1,000 members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community are expected to take part in their 26th annual Convention West Coast USA.

The convention offers members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim faith a chance to attend seminars where they can increase their knowledge and understanding of the faith, pray together, but also take a moment to socialize, said Rashid Syed, public relations secretary for the Chino mosque.

The convention is an event that draws individuals and families alike, Syed said.


"They come as a family and they are here all three days," he said. "We have activities for kids, for the ladies and for the men."

The annual convention also provides those of other religions a chance to attend all or part of the events and begin to develop an understanding of the Ahmadiyya Muslim faith, Syed said.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community members live by the strongly held principal of "love for all, hatred for none."

They often participate in inter-faith activities in order to give various religious groups, including their own, a chance to get to know and understand each other, he said.

Members of the community said they believe in working toward peace and in working in favor of their fellow human beings.
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However, members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim faith are often misunderstood and persecuted because of their beliefs, Syed said.

"We think that 120 years ago the Messiah came," he said.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community members contend Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who established the community in India is the Messiah, Syed said.

The community also believes in the various prophets and in Jesus Christ, he said.

Among those attending the three-day convention is Jonathan M.A. Ghaffar and his wife.

The Chino resident said he has been attending the convention or assisting in putting it on for about 14 years.

"The purpose (of the convention) is to refocus ourselves spiritually," he said.

Through the convention some who may have drifted away from the Ahmadiyya Muslim faith can reconnect and become active again, said Ghaffar, who co-host a radio show on understanding Islam.

Attending the convention also provides a chance to meet and spend time with other Ahmadiyya Muslim community members living in other parts of the country, he said.

"It's sort of like a church reunion ... and a church revival," Ghaffar said.

Activities will begin at 10 a.m. today at the Baitul Hameed Mosque, 11941 Ramona Ave. and conclude at 7:30 p.m.

The program includes the reciting of portions of the Holy Quran, poetry readings, as well as talks designed for men and talks for women with focus on raising children, the relationship among couples, the power of prayer and Islam as a way of life.

Activities began at 1:30 p.m. Friday and will conclude mid-day.


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