“Thank God in America we are free to worship God as we please. In Muslim countries this freedom is not allowed. We must all pray for everyone’s right to freedom of faith.” [Imam Shmashad Nasir]
Source/Credit: Baitul Hamid Mosque
Edited By Ahmadiyya Times | October 24, 2013
Six members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, including Imam Shamshad A. Nasir of the Baitul Hameed Mosque in Chino, attended the 18th annual Upland Interfaith Prayer Breakfast on Oct. 23rd.
The event, as in past years, was held from 7:00 am to 8:00 am at the Upland Fire Station at Arrow Hwy and 2nd Ave.
The yearly prayer breakfast is sponsored by the Upland Interfaith Council, the City of Upland, its Mayor Ray Musser and the City Council.
The theme this year was “One nation – All Faiths.”
The invited speakers -- Ahmadi and Sunni Muslims, Bahai, Jewish, Mormon, Catholics and Protestants -- gave their remarks and expressed their thanks and appreciation for the blessing of having religious freedom in America, which allows and protects our diversity of beliefs.
Imam Shamshad echoed this sentiment when he said, “Thank God in America we are free to worship God as we please. In Muslim countries this freedom is not allowed. We must all pray for everyone’s right to freedom of faith.”
Imam Shamshad also cited the need for teaching young people about the reality of God and the power of prayer to cope with life’s problems, especially in light of the recent senseless and tragic suicide of a 12-year-old girl in Florida who was bullied at school and on social media by some of her classmates.
The keynote address was given by LaVerne University chaplain Dr. Zandra Wagoner, who spoke on “Building Unity among Diversity.”
Dr. Wagoner, an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren, one of only three historic “Peace” churches, highlighted the need to go beyond dialog within the interfaith community and work together to produce positive works for the community.
Rev. Chase said that, over the years, those who regularly attend the annual Interfaith Prayer Breakfast are demonstrating the idea of inter-religious harmony by not just sitting with fellow faith members at one table – "one group over here, another group over there" – but are now freely mixing together, with each table hosting a variety of faith members.
“As we do this interfaith work over the years, we are becoming one family working together for a common goal and a common good,” Rev. Chase said.
-- Ahmadi Muslims participate in 18th annual Upland Interfaith Prayer Breakfast
-- By Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Baitul Hameeed Mosque, Chino
-- Edited by Ahmadiyya Times
This content-post is archived for backup and to keep archived records of any news Islam Ahmadiyya. The views expressed by the author and source of this news archive do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of Ahmadiyya Times.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for your comments. Any comments irrelevant to the post's subject matter, containing abuses, and/or vulgar language will not be approved.