The scene strongly resembled the big music festivals that take place in England. More than 35,000 people from 90 countries attended the annual gathering of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, outside London.
Source/Credit: Ta Nea News
By Manos Charalambakis | August 28, 2015
[This is a translation of an article written in Greek by Manos Charalambakis in Ta Nea, a Newspaper in Greece.]
The woman sitting next to me on the flight to London was restless. She played nervously with a kompoloi. Then she opened her laptop and forgot herself for a few minutes, then she read her book. When the plane had slight turbulence she griped the handles of her seat and sighed. It was evident, she was afraid of airplanes.
But as it turned out later, the young American who was traveling with her spouse, feared something else more: Islamic fundamentalists threatening to massacre the world. What awakened her phobia was a flyer that I had with me and was reading. About the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. It is a branch of Muslims that has nothing to do with terrorism. Absolutely peaceful. It openly condemns ISIS and makes campaigns for peace. I was studying the brochure because I was invited to cover the annual gathering of the community in London.
Of course, if the couple of Americans had come with me to the farm where the annual gathering of the Ahmadiyya community took place - in Alton, Hampshire, about 50 km outside of London-, they would have realized that there exists a completely different face of Islam. They would have observed everywhere the main slogan of the community "Love for all. Hatred for none." A community of peace-loving Muslims, yet unknown to the general public.
It is estimated that more than 35,000 people, community members and other guests, gathered in the 813 acre farm located an hour from London and sent a message of love and peace. They traveled from 90 countries to attend the three-day event (21-23 August), the 49th annual gathering of the Ahmadiyya community, also known as Jalsa Salana UK.
The messages. The aim of gathering, as the spiritual leader, the Khalifa Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, emphasized, is to "promote the true and peaceful teachings of Islam". He added with meaning that a portion of Muslims have misrepresented the true teachings of Islam to such an extent that people fear the great and true messages.
The scene strongly resembled the big music festivals that take place in England. One could see huge lawns, tents, campers, bazaar, places to eat. With the difference, however, that the campers and visitors had come for religious reasons.
What one felt walking the vast spaces of the farm was an atmosphere of reconciliation, unity, joy, celebration. The approximately 2,500 volunteers who were scattered in various places rejoiced to guide, to help visitors. To make visible the hospitality offered. Therefore at every opportunity they would ask me - like all guests - "Are you having fun? Are you entertained?". They wanted to show in any way that Islam has another face.
The unity message the community wanted to send was seen in practice. Most of the participants were British, mostly of Pakistani origin. But there were also people from every corner of the world. From Argentina and Panama to Australia, Singapore, Gambia, Burkina Faso. Among them politicians, ministers, members of parliaments. In fact too many of the guests were not Muslims but believers of other religions. The motto of the community “Love for All. Hatred for None” could be seen everywhere. In the tentb of enormous dimensions that could hold 15,000 people - where all the speeches and prayers took place-, to eating places and outdoors. Hanging in many places were similar slogans for peace like this: "Only defensive wars are permitted."
The Holy Shroud. The last thing you would expect to see in a congregation of 35,000 Muslims would be an object that is considered sacred to Christianity. Yet, in one of the tents there was the copy of the Holy Shroud that is kept in Turin, Italy. Yes, the Ahmadiyya Muslims believe that Christ survived the crucifixion and died later, but they accept the Holy Shroud. They generally accept teachings of other religions and respect other religions - "No compulsion in religion" is a slogan that existed in various areas. A message that was conveyed in the best way by the American photographer Barrie Schwartz, member of the group who had photographed the Holy Shroud of Christ. He was invited to speak about the Holy Shroud. On the last day of the congregation the American excitedly spoke about his experience in front of 10,000 visitors: "This is the first time a Jew - me- talks about something that is considered sacred to Christianity in a Muslim congregation! I did not know the Ahmadiyya community. In America we usually hear the bad news. But you are the good ones."
The Imam Atta-Ul Naseer, the representative of the community in Greece, who has been living in Athens for the past two years, constantly pointed me to watch what the Khalifa was saying. "You hear what he says about peace? Do you see the serene, gentle face? Nothing to do with the so-called Khalifa of ISIS, Al Baghdadi".
The security measures taken for the Khalifa of Ahmadiyya, however, were draconian. Entry and exit from the area of the congregation was conducted with the escort of 15 cars and dozens of people of the community that made a human wall to protect him. Indeed at those moments the farm stayed closed for about ten minutes. "This is because he speaks out against terrorism and ISIS" explained a member of the community. Also inside the farm, before anyone entered the big stage for the speeches and prayer they had to go through scanning.
Who are they
ORIGINS FROM INDIA
The Ahmadiyya Muslim community was founded in India in 1989 by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, from whom comes the name Ahmadiyya. The objective of its members is to revive - as they say - the true message of Islam. The community emphasizes that it teaches the true Islam in all its purity and that Islam is the religion of peace. They focus on this area and argue openly against violence, wars and acts of terrorism by Islamic fundamentalists and ISIS with speeches, documents and statements of the Khalifa. They constantly campaign for peace (symposia, annual prizes). However, for the rest of the Muslims, Ahmadiyya is considered something of a sect. In Pakistan its members are prosecuted. The state does not recognize them as Muslims because they do not recognize Muhammad as the last prophet.
The Ahmadiyya implement the institution of the Caliphate. The Khalifa, is the spiritual leader of the community. The leader now is the fifth Khalifa, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, who lives in London.
In terms of relations with other religions, the community says that Islam believes in all prophets and religious teachers being sent by God (Christ, Buddha, Krishna).
Great weight is put on the charity and welfare sector, underlining the offer to mankind. It has set up NGOs (Humanity First) and has established hospitals and schools.
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Translation: Atta-Ul Naseer, Imam & National President, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at, Greece
-- Perspective: The peaceful face of Islam | Manos Charalambakis
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