Ahmadiyya, established in 1920, has worked with local, state, and national governments, interfaith organizations, and other Muslim organizations and boasts "a proven model to combat radicalization and terrorism in America."
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| Imam Azhar Haneef, national vice president, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA Photo: Saima Sheikh |
Source/Credit: North Jersey
By NJ Staff Writer | April 13, 2016
"You can’t shake hands with a closed fist. These terrorists are trying to hijack a religion. It’s not fair, it’s not right," said Parsippany Mayor James Barberio at an event for the campaign, The True Islam and the Extremists, held March 30 at The Villa at Mountain Lakes.
Hosted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, which condemns all terrorist attacks, the goal of the evening was to dispel the myths and misconceptions about Islam. Along with Barberio, others in attendance included Mountain Lakes Police Chief Shawn Bennett and Morris County Sheriff Edward Rochford.
In a press release, Ahmadiyya stated that it "believes that education of all Americans — Muslims and non-Muslims alike — is the solution to remedy this misinformation about true Islam and in the best interest of our national security."
Ahmadiyya, established in 1920, has worked with local, state, and national governments, interfaith organizations, and other Muslim organizations and boasts "a proven model to combat radicalization and terrorism in America."
Reiterating that it is not only non-Muslims who misunderstand the religion, Ahmadiyya quotes a survey conducted last fall by YouGov. "While true Islam backs free speech, 52 percent of Muslim Americans believe the state or someone from society should punish those who blaspheme against or insult Prophet Muhammad. Likewise, while Prophet Muhammad taught that loyalty to one’s nation of residence is part of a Muslim’s faith, only 52 percent of Muslim Americans believe Islam always requires loyalty to your country of residence.
"Moreover, while true Islam teaches separation of mosque and state, only about one in three Muslim Americans, or 32 percent, believes Islam supports separation of mosque and state. In contrast, 40 percent said it does not, while 28 percent were unsure. Perhaps most concerning, 18 percent of Muslim Americans did not agree or declined to answer when asked whether true Islam condemns every form of terrorism. (7 percent and 12 percent, respectively)."
Reporting findings in a 2011 Pew survey, Ahmadiyya stated, "Only 34 percent of Muslim Americans felt Muslim leaders have done enough to speak out against extremism. The same survey found that nearly half or 48 percent of Muslim Americans feel Muslim American leadership has not adequately addressed terrorism."
According to Ahmadiyya, the following 11 points are taught by the Holy Qur’an and the Prophet Muhammad:
"True Islam wholly rejects all forms of terrorism; True Islam believes in nonviolent Jihad of the self and of the pen; True Islam believes in the equality, education, and empowerment of women; True Islam advocates freedom of conscience, religion, and speech; True Islam advocates for the separation of mosque and state; True Islam believes in loyalty to your country of residence; True Islam encompasses the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; True Islam believes in all verses of the Qur’an and forbids lying; True Islam recognizes that no religion can monopolize salvation; True Islam believes in the need for unified Muslim leadership; and True Islam rejects the concept of a bloody Messiah."
At the Mountain Lakes event, Barberio said, "What is happening now in this world is these terrorists are hijacking a religion, and that is not right. I commend Ahmadiyya Muslims for coming out and standing up for what is right. You defend your religion with peace, love, and care."
Bennett offered, "I quote Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) ‘To overcome evil with good is good; to resist evil with evil is evil.’ I think this organization is doing a fantastic job."
Rochford said, "We stand with Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. We are here to help you. We are here to support you. When something goes wrong, we will be here, hands in hands with you."
In his keynote address, Imam Azhar Haneef, national vice president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, said, "Anyone who commits violence in the name of faith is acting on a false narrative and false understanding of faith. What we are here to say is no religion has ever professed and proclaimed the denunciation of anyone’s flag, the destruction of homelands and to deny people their fundamental liberties. Religion has never preached and asked us to practice extremism or terrorism.
"Religion has always asked us to practice love, harmony, justice and peace and good will on this earth. It is the people who follow the religion over the course of time, and forget this message. Those who do commit acts of terror violate two core beliefs of Islam — a strong belief in God and a strong adherence to humanity."
As to the necessity of community events like the one on March 30, an Ahmadiyya spokesperson noted it allows the group to "build community and eradicate fears."
Continuing, "By getting to know what True Islam stands for and dispelling the myths, non-Muslims are empowered with the truth rather than manipulated by the fear that extremist positioning fosters. Tolerance is built with understanding as well as an opportunity for friendships to develop. The campaign and these efforts also enable non-Muslims to assist in maintaining a safer nation by openly discussing extremism.
"Non-Muslims can feel comfortable in their knowledge and be able to engage in dialogue that ISIS would not expect. ISIS and other groups of their ilk seek to divide us. By coming together with a shared understanding, we can diminish ISIS attempt to create a division in our Western society by showing them that no religion promotes terrorism and that ISIS is simply an organization of radicals, not those following true Islam."
Email: kintish@northjersey.com
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