Perspective: Meeting our Muslim friends and neighbors

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Funny thing is, in Pakistan, where many of the Niagara Falls congregants are from, the members of this group is not even considered real Muslims. They have their own brand of persecution there. 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: Niagra Gazette
By Michele DeLuca | February 3, 2016

For some time now, I've been wondering what it would feel like to be a Muslim in this country.

Terrorism seems to have created a mass fear of those who follow the religion of Islam. So much so that some are calling for all Muslims to be banished from American soil. I have been wondering lately what it might feel like to be a spiritual, peace-loving Muslim during times such as these, especially if you live right here in good old Niagara Falls.

When I saw that the local mosque was holding a community blood drive last Saturday, I set my sights on visiting to learn more about the efforts of local Muslims to reach out to the community and be good neighbors.

I didn't make it to the blood drive, which I was told was fairly successful, but last Friday I drove over to the the mosque of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Buffalo Chapter at 96th Street and Colvin Boulevard, on the edge of the boundaries of Love Canal.

There, I met the mosque leader, Dr. Nasir Khan, who told me the blood drive was one among scores held nationwide as part of a five-year effort since the terrorist attacks of 9/11. The "Muslims for Life" campaign began on the 10th anniversary of the attacks, with the intent to collect 10,000 bags of blood. The reasoning is that each bag can save up to three or more lives. More than 1,000 blood drives have been held in this country, collecting nearly 40,000 pints. That is a lot of lives potentially saved.

The drives are held to make people aware of the difference between the practices of Islamic terrorists and "True Islam."

"The only time we are allowed to shed blood is if we are saving someone's life," Khan told me when I visited his mosque.

Funny thing is, in Pakistan, where many of the Niagara Falls congregants are from, the members of this group is not even considered real Muslims. They have their own brand of persecution there.

The Falls congregation are Ahmadiyya Muslims and accept a Messiah called Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.

"The way we separate ourselves is similar to the Christians and the Jews. While the Jewish people wait for the Messiah, the Christians believe the Messiah, Jesus Christ, was born and lived as man," Khan explained.

The community believes that Ahmad, who was born in 1835, was sent by God, like Jesus, to end religious wars, condemn bloodshed and reinstitute morality, justice and peace. Ahmad died in India in 1908 and has had five appointed successors.

Such beliefs have led to accusations of deviant worship from the government of Pakistan.

"The government of Pakistan has banned us from saying we are Muslim," said Khan, who is an internist and associate professor at the medical school at University at Buffalo. He explained that a person cannot rise to high levels of government or the military in Pakistan and Pakistan's passport demands the holder affirm he or she is not a follower of Ahmadi. Some have been imprisoned for saying the Muslim greeting "Peace be upon you."

Here, in Niagara Falls, in a country built on religious freedom, this group is simply trying to worship God. They are also trying to educate their neighbors on their devotion to peace. The chapter has held almost 30 interfaith conferences where Western New Yorkers of all denominations gather to share their common values. The conferences typically attract 75 to 150 people at a hotel in Cheektowaga.

Khan showed me around the mosque, which is sparsely decorated and looks pretty much like any medium-sized church, but without Christian artifacts. While the chapel is now a gathering space, there are two carpeted prayer rooms where men and women go separately to pray. Friday, the day I was there, there were about a dozen people who responded to the traditional Muslim "call to prayer" over the loudspeaker.

Khan offered me one of the many brochures available at the church which describes the "True Islam," which rejects all forms of terrorism; believes in equality of women; advocates freedom of religion; advocates for the separation of mosque and state; believes in loyalty to your country of residence; and recognizes no religion can monopolize salvation.

So, that is the message of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

They surely don't sound like the kind of folks we should want to throw out of our country. But don't take my word for it.

If you want to know more about them, they welcome visitors each Wednesday for an open house at 6 p.m.

Go meet them yourself.

Then see if you want to join calls to banish them from American soil.

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Michele DeLuca can be reached at 282-2311, ext. 2263 or via email at michele.deluca@niagara-gazette.com.

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