The Ahmadi-Muslims' I Love Muhammad Campaign

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community held an interfaith meeting at Baitul Baqi mosque on Saturday, March 16th to tell Georgians why they love Muhammad (peace be on him), the Messenger of Peace.  The campaign is a response to movies and press that portray the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in a negative light. The Ahmadi-Muslim Community’s belief is that jihad has nothing to do with swords and everything to do with explaining the true history of Islam.

Like all meetings, the program began with a recitation of
the Holy Quran. Osama Rehman, a high school student from Cobb County, did the
translation. The President, Hazeem Pudhiapura, welcomed all the guests for
coming to the mosque on such a beautiful spring day. He conveyed his pleasure
that the audience came for the sake of spirituality or to serve humanity.

Dr. Muhammad Noori, Cardiac Surgeon at Emory Children’s hospital, was the moderator. He showed a video presentation on the history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. It explained how Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is the metaphorical second coming of Jesus. According to his teachings, this Muslim Community rejected violence over 100 years ago. Rather, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s goal was to usher in a new age of peace.

The video summarized the good works of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, which emphasized that Ahmadi-Muslims are only as good as their service to mankind.

The Ahmadi-Muslims have a long list of accomplishments in this regard: building
mosques, schools, and hospitals around the world. In addition, they have
translated the Quran into 60 languages. Now that is dedication to teaching what
is in the Quran.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has become active in advertising what Islam is through the Muslims for Peace Campaign. In addition, with the help of like-minded people, they were able to donate blood to help save 10 times the number of lives lost in 9/11. Dr. Noori explained that between the need for whole blood and platelets, 36,000 people would benefit from the blood drive  held by the Community.

The President gave credit to the Georgians who made it possible. He added that asking for blood in the name of 9/11 was a hard sell, particularly coming from Muslims, but it has helped to change the hearts of many. But, Ahmadi-Muslims are motivated by a belief in the sanctity of life.

Mr. Mahmood Ahmad, an engineer spoke about the life of Muhammad (pbuh). He reminded us that before Muhammad (pbuh) became a prophet women had no rights and the tribes warred with each other.

Despite the fact that Muhammad (pbuh) lost his father, his mother and his grandfather, he was committed to being a peace maker. He helped the poor and he honored his guests. His reputation for honesty in the community was so great that he was called ‘Al Ameen’, the trustworthy. The angel Gabriel spoke to Muhammad (pbuh) in the cave of Hira, just as he spoke to Moses and Abraham before him.

George Bernard Shaw, the Irish playwright, called Muhammad (pbuh) the Savior of Humanity. Indeed, the Quran says, “I have not sent you but as a mercy for mankind.”

Mr. Ahmad emphasized that Muhammad (pbuh) was the first man in history to write a charter for women’s rights. He noted that women have had to demand every right they have ever received, but no man ever volunteered to give them those rights. And, Muhammad (pbuh) declared that all races are equal. Mankind should be judged by their level of righteousness, not by any other standard of measure.

Even though Muhammad (pbuh) attained the status of Ruler of Arabia and the leader of Islam, he lived in a mud hut, in the most humble way.

Mr. Qamar Zafar and Mr. Ghayyur Khan spearheaded the question and answer session. Someone asked, “How are Ahmadi-Muslims different from other Muslims?” The short answer to the question was that the Ahmadi-Muslim community has the benefit of leadership. Other Muslims believe in jihad of the sword, because their clerics have told them this, but Ahmadiyya Islam follows Ahmad who said that the true jihad is “self-purification.”

The Ahmadi-Muslims believe that Muhammad’s (pbuh) prediction that a time would come when Muslims would become “the worst of creation” has arrived. Muslims who kill in the name of religion and kill others using blasphemy laws do not comprehend the compassion and mercy Muhammad (pbuh) intended for the
world.

 All the guests received a gift to take home. The event ended with a silent prayer called a dua or supplication. Afterwards, the guests received “refreshments,” but it looked more like dinner.  One delighted guest said: “You have outdone
yourselves.”