Those in attendance engaged in prayer and took time to reflect. In a speech, Imtiaz stressed the importance of learning and knowing one's own history.
Source/Credit: Toronto Sun
By Dani-Ellee Dube | November 7, 2014
The year was 1914 and the First World War was well underway. History recounts a heroic battle between British Allies and German forces at the Battle of Ypres, but often overlooks the role Muslims played in the Allies' victory.
On Friday, the Baitun Naseer Mosque in Cumberland remembered those who fought for freedom, including the 400,000 Indian-Muslims who fought alongside Britain, during the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama's Muslims for Remembrance Day event.
"We are gathered here today to pay tribute and honour the soldiers who laid their lives [for us]," said Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Imam Imtiaz Ahmed. "We are proud to be a part of this noble cause and provide support to those who have made sacrifices for our beloved country, Canada."
Aleem Ahmed, a member of the mosque, agrees.
"The militaries are fighting for a cause and it's to establish world peace," said Aleem. "Many consider that the Canadian army is different and that we are different. No, we're not different and as far as world peace is concerned, we are all the same."
To pay their respects, those in attendance engaged in prayer and took time to reflect. In a speech, Imtiaz stressed the importance of learning and knowing one's own history.
"I think it's unfortunately on the part of Muslims not knowing their history," said Imtiaz. "It troubles me when I see some Muslims groups in England burning poppies. They don't know that their forefathers, they were there with Britain soldiers and they were fighting alongside them in the battlefields."
"We as Muslims, especially youth, should know the history," he added. "Everything is on Google now, so find your history. Don't be mislead by these terrorists groups."
This year, the event took place across nine cities, including Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal, Mississauga, Hamilton and Saskatoon. As part of the campaign leading up to the event, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community helped raise funds through poppy sales for the Canadian Legion.
dani-elle.dube@sunmedia.ca
Read original post here: Canada: Ahmadiyya Muslim community honours fallen soldiers
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