Let’s Forge Ties of Peaceful Co-existence, Mutual Love, Affection -Huzoor
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has opened a new house of worship, “Fath-e-Azeem mosque) in the historic city of Zion, Illinois, USA.
The historic city of Zion is the home of a Christian leader Alexander Dowie, who engaged the founder and leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Ghulam Ahmad, in a prayer duel. This prayer challenge was a victory for Islam and the Ahmadiyya Muslim community today.
Earlier before the inauguration, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V delivered khutbah, the Friday sermon in the mosque, attended by dignitaries, friends, locals and neighbours.
The inauguration address followed on Saturday with a reception for the members of the Zion community
A Nigerian, Hafiz Mubarak Kukoyi Sahib recited a portion from the Holy Quran – Surah as-Saff, Chapter 61, Verses 7-10; the translation was given by Nasrullah Ahmad Sahib. Thereafter, an introduction to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was given by Amjad Mahmood Sahib.
The Mayor of Zion, Hon Billy McKinney was the first dignitary to make a presentation. He prayed and wished that the new Fath-e-Azeem mosque would be a means of building bridges between all religions in Zion as Ahmadi Muslims brought the message, “Love for all, hatred for none” to the city.
Mayor McKinney praised Islamic teachings towards other religions and presented the key to the city of Zion to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa.
In the words of Hon. Joice Maison, member, Illinois General Assembly, the mosque was a special moment “for the whole city of Zion” and highlighted how the vision of Alexander Dowie, to keep Zion as a theocratic state closed to those who did not follow him, was something that thankfully failed and now Zion celebrated representation from all kinds of faiths.
She praised the efforts of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa towards world peace and women’s rights and prayed the mosque would continue to spread peaceful coexistence.
Hon Raja Krishnamoorthi, member of the United States Congress, commended the organisers for the great outing.
Krishnamoorthi spoke highly of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the USA who “lived out and embodied” the values Hazrat Amirul Momineen preached to them.
Dr Katrina Lantos Swett, President of Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice commended Ahmadi Muslims for practising what they preach.
Dr Swett described the prayer-duel between Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad and Alexander Dowie as historic.
“Though the victory went to Ahmadi but it was a victory for humanity as well because it was a victory of respect, tolerance and peace that Hazrat Ahmad as embodied.”
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V , leader of the Ahmadiyya Community, thanked the guests for joining the Jamaat.
“This is a testament to open hearts, tolerance and open-mindedness of the people of Zion.”
“We believe that having a mosque affords two overarching benefits. Firstly, it enables Muslims to join together to worship God Almighty and to fulfil their religious duties and obligations to their faith.
Islam instructs Muslims to worship five times daily. In addition, it serves to introduce Islam and its teachings to the wider community.
He urged those who worship in the mosque earnestly to strive to reflect and represent Islam’s teachings, to stir a curiosity and interest in Islam amongst the local people.
He emphasised that some may wonder what distinguished Ahmadi Muslims from other Muslims. It was destined, according to a prophecy of Prophet Muhammad that the true essence of Islam would be lost and Muslims would go astray.
At the same time, Allah and the Prophet gave the glad tiding that “at a time of such spiritual to social inclusion of orphans and vulnerable youths, God Almighty would send a Promised Reformer to revive and rejuvenate the original teachings of Islam and he would bear the title of the Messiah of Muhammad . That Messiah would proclaim that Islam’s teachings were of peace, love and harmony. He would urge all people to live together peacefully and to forge ties of mutual love and affection”, no matter their religious beliefs.
Hazrat Amirul Momineen said Ahmadi Muslims firmly believed that Messiah was Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad who conveyed the message of Islam in its pristine condition. “Indeed, the Promised Messiah proclaimed that he would convey the teachings of Islam whilst walking upon spiritual footsteps of the Messiah of Moses, the Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him. Thus, like Prophet Jesus, the Promised Messiahas exhibited sympathy and compassion for mankind. His every word and deed were for the sake of peace and to cultivate the spirit of reconciliation of society.
“He reminded his followers that the very meaning of Islam was of peace and security.”
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih, V said the Holy Quran proved the early wars in Islam were entirely defensive in nature and never once in the blessed era of Prophet Muhammad or his Rightly Guided Khulafa were wars fought out of injustice.
“In the modern era, whilst geopolitical conflicts continued to wreak havoc and destruction in the world, the Promised Messiah said that religious wars had ended. Hence, there was no justification for Muslims or the people of any faith to fight in the name of religion.
He started that the objective of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is not to conquer lands, cease territories, overcome cities or vanquish nations. Nor, in those lands where our teachings and beliefs have been accepted in large numbers have we asserted a desire to gain political power or worldly influence.
“Our only mission and sole aspiration is to win the hearts of mankind through love and to bring people closer to God Almighty
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said the Ahmadiyya Community would never resort to violence or oppression and its history proved this. This was based entirely on the original teachings of the Holy Quran.
He alluded to King Charles’ respect for Islam and his desire to be the defender of ‘all faiths and not just one faith (Christianity) – this desire of the King was commendable.
The spiritual leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community commended the United States government for establishing the office of international religious freedom and also held a global summit for universal religious freedom.
“Those who have been driven out from their homes unjustly only because they said, ‘Our Lord is Allah’ — And if Allah did not repel some men using others, there would surely have been pulled down cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft commemorated. And Allah will surely help one who helps Him. Allah is indeed Powerful, Mighty”.
He reiterated the belief that the Holy Quran is the only divine scripture that [not] only grants absolute religious freedom to the people of all religions and beliefs but goes further by instructing Muslims and those who enter mosques, to protect the religious rights of non-Muslims.
According to the prayer, the duel was a respectfully and persuasive approach to respect the sentiments of Muslims.
Though Dowie was confrontational to Islam and prayed against its propagation as quoted in his writing ‘I pray to God that Islam should soon disappear from the face of the earth, O God accept my prayer, O God destroy Islam.’
Mr Dowie further wrote that if Muslims did not embrace Christianity, they would face death and destruction.
It is historical and commendable that the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, in the face of this hatred, desired that millions of people were not harmed and wanted to diffuse the situation– which would have been the case if Dowie’s desires were acted on.
Therefore, to douse the tension, the Promised messiah challenged Dowie to a prayer duel.
“It was a fair and meaningful means to determine the truth. It is no exaggeration to state that it was a magnificent example of restraint in the face of immense provocation and hostility.” Hazrat Khalifatul Masih noted.
“It is the paramount objective of the Ahmadiyya Muslims Community to direct mankind to the path of spiritual salvation and to ensure that all people, irrespective of their cast, creed and colour, live together with the spirit of goodwill and harmony and in true peace and security.”