USA: Ahmadiyya Muslim youth group in Fitchburg works to educate public on religion

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"With the world situation and stuff happening, we want to promote peace and answer people’s questions to get Islamophobia out of their heads."

Photo: Paula J. Owen / The Telegram

Times of Ahmad | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: The Telegram
By Paula J. Owen | September 11, 2017

While holding a sign that read, “I am Muslim. Ask me anything,” friends Hazkeel Ahmer and Rayyan Q. Mehmud handed out educational leaflets to those who would take them as they passed by the 12-year-olds on Main Street’s sidewalk Saturday evening.

The boys are members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Youth Association, and they, along with other Ahmadiyya Muslim youth across the country, were trying to spread the message, they said, that they stand for peace.

Many who drove by on the busy downtown road waved and honked their horns in support of the boys and Rayyan’s father, youth association leader Furqan Q. Mehmud, who was standing across the street, also holding a sign, and wearing a shirt that read ”#MeetAMuslim.”

“Some people ignored us, but most are listening and talking to us,” Rayyan said. “There was one car that drove by with people who were laughing and called us terrorists and that made me sad, but mostly they are honking and giving us the thumbs up.”

“We’re a peaceful religion and we spread the truth,” Rayyan added.

Mr. Mehmud said every Ahmadiyya Muslim youth chapter in the United States was participating in the event Saturday – more than 3,000 youth.

“We’ve got good feedback,” Mr. Mehmud said. He said his parents, Bashir U. and Farida Mehmud, were persecuted in their native country of Pakistan and could have been imprisoned for their beliefs.

The couple moved to the United States in 1977 and Bashir Mehmud became president of the Fitchburg chapter of the international Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

Though Ahmadis are Muslim, they differ from mainstream Muslims over some doctrinal issues.

As Furqan Mehmud was talking to a reporter, Rosa Castillo of Fitchburg walked by, smiled at him and took a flier. Ms. Castillo said she works as a waitress at the restaurant next door to the mosque but had never stopped in or talked to anyone who prays there.

“I think what they are doing is a good idea,” Ms. Castillo said. She said she doesn’t have any friends who are Muslim and that she would read the information the boys handed her. “I am open to learning about them.”

This was the second time this year, Furqan Mehmud said, that the youth association did a “Meet a Muslim” event.

They also started holding public “coffee sessions” at the mosque - before Donald Trump was elected president - on 6 to 7 p.m. Saturdays.

“After Trump was officially elected, a lot of people came in, and also after the Muslim ban,” he said, referring to the Trump administration’s travel restrictions. “One woman, who is not Muslim, comes every Friday during prayer service. With the world situation and stuff happening, we want to promote peace and answer people’s questions to get Islamophobia out of their heads.”

He said they receive many emails from around the country from people saying they are “sorry you have to do this.”

“We appreciate it, but we feel it’s our job,” he said.


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