Canada: Visitors clearing up misconceptions of Islam

“So what we are trying to do is just trying to convey the message to people in North America and Canada that Quran contains the message of peace and that message of equal rights for everyone, including women and non-Muslims."

Harith Chaudhary and Ansar Raza, of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at,
during the open house at the Parry Sound Public Library Sunday afternoon.
Sarah Bissontte/Beacon Star

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch |
Source/Credit: Cottage Country New
By Sarah Bissonette | January 20, 2011

PARRY SOUND - Ansar Raza and Harith Chaudhary put up banners on the Muslim faith and waited for people to come and ask questions Saturday.

Raza, a religious minister with Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at and Chaudhary, local outreach co-ordinator with the organization's youth wing, were in at the Parry Sound Library to dispel myths around Islam.

"First of all, we are going to every town, city in Canada to propagate the message of Islam," said Raza.
"Particularly, this exhibition is focused on the Quran because last year what happened was one Christian priest tried to make a Quran burning day.

“So what we are trying to do is just trying to convey the message to people in North America and Canada that Quran contains the message of peace and that message of equal rights for everyone, including women and non-Muslims."

A Florida pastor had threatened to burn copies of the Quran on the ninth anniversary of 9/11 in 2010. After international outcry the holy book wasn't burned. But, according to an American newspaper, the pastor did burn a copy of the Quran last spring.


The group also wants to dispel the belief that religion is the cause of wars and that Islam's Prophet Muhammad is a warrior. Instead, Raza pointed out, Islam means peace and believers simply convey their message to others and then let them decide.

"We believe in Jesus Christ as a true prophet of God," said Raza. "You can see that we revere his mother so much that Muslim women are encouraged to walk in her foot steps, she's the chosen one. And, she bore Jesus …(through) immaculate conception. We believe he is the prophet of God, not the son of God."

According to Raza, people were at the library for the presentation before the doors opened at noon for the four-hour open house, and five people had attended by the mid-way point.

"They asked about everything," said Raza. "They were so interested that for at least 35 to 40 minutes they spent reading every banner. They came five minutes before the start of the exhibition and when they left it was 12:35. And the rest of the time they kept on asking questions about five daily prayers and what we do if we are travelling, about fasting, about our system, about our scholars - whether they are holy people or just scholars - is there any middle man between you and God, all of these things. They were very serious."

The organization hopes to hold an interfaith conference in Parry Sound, possibly in the summer, once it's made contact with local churches.


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