Largest U.S. Muslim group claims 'never had a single' member involved in radical attack

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The fundamental difference between Ahmadi's and other Muslims is theological; centering around the teachings of a late 1800's messenger named Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who taught peace over war.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: NBC 4 News
By NBC News | December 4, 2015

ROSEDALE, Md. (WBFF) -- An unassuming building in Rosedale is the new home to a growing sect of Islam.

With 70 chapters and roughly 15,000 members, the Ahmadiyya community is the oldest and largest Muslim community in the United States, and they have presence in 207 countries worldwide.

Abdul Bennett, an outreach minister for the Ahmadiyya community, explains the faith.

"It's a messianic sect within the fold of Islam. There are 73 different sects, which are like denominations in Christianity."

Of its tens of millions of members worldwide, the Ahmadiyya community has never had a single one involved in any kind of radical attack.

"The religion means peace," says Bennett. "It is difficult to incite a person at peace into disrespecting himself or committing crimes against his community."

The fundamental difference between Ahmadi's and other Muslims is theological; centering around the teachings of a late 1800's messenger named Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who taught peace over war.

"Of the 73 sects," says Bennett, "They all agree there's going to be a reformer. We believe he has come, they believe he (Ahmad) is an imposter."

That difference of belief has often led to violence against Ahmadi's, even at the hands of other Muslims.

"Sometimes we've lost in one day 80 people, they've come in and mowed us down while we're praying," he says.

Being a target, however, seems to have led to greater resolve within the community.

"We're the fastest growing sect within Islam and it's not because we're fighting a bloody jihad, we're fighting a peace offensive. And we're winning, we're growing."



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