USA: Ahmadiyya Muslim community teaches peace, and is the fastest growing sect of Islam worldwide

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

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Ddesk
Source/Credit: KLEW TV
By Mary McKenzie | December 7, 2015

BALTIMORE, MD – With the terror attacks in Paris, and now in San Bernardino, the Muslim faith is being tied to terrorism.

But there is a sect of Islam that is teaching peace, and has never had a member radicalized.

Reporter Mary McKenzie spoke to one of their leaders today.

It may not look like a traditional mosque, the minarets and domes aren't in place yet. But this unassuming building in Baltimore is the new home to a growing sect of Islam.

"In the US we're among 70 chapters, we're about 15k, worldwide we're in 207 countries... Abdul Bennett is an outreach minister for Ahmadiyya community.

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

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

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

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community is actually the fastest growing sect of Islam worldwide and this facility which is about 4x the previous mosque here in Baltimore hopefully will accommodate that growth.

"The way we try to conduct ourselves is such that we want to be an asset to society," said Bennett. "With the bad reputation that Islam has today, we try to stand out as Muslims and try to show that true Muslims this is how they behave."

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

"They all agree there's going to be a reformer," said Bennett. "We believe he has come, they believe he is an imposter."

That has often led to violence against Ahmadi's, 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," said Bennett.

But in this case, being a target, has 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," said Bennett. "And we're winning, we're growing."


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