Source: The Star Gazette

Written by Jeff Murray

Dr. Zia Shah of Binghamton, left, talks about the Muslim Prophet Muhammad during a public conference Sunday at the Southeast Steuben County Library in Corning. Naveed Malik is on the right in the picture. /  JEFF MURRAY / STAFF PHOTO

CORNING — The actions of a few Islamic radicals have given the Prophet Muhammad and Islam a bad reputation, according to a Muslim organization dedicated to painting a more accurate picture of the religion’s founder.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community held a public forum Sunday in Corning as part of a nationwide effort to promote Muhammad as a messenger of peace.

The theme of the conference was “Love for all, hatred for none.”

The event, held at the Southeast Steuben County Library in Corning, attracted about 40 people, Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

The main speaker was Dr. Zia Shah, of Binghamton, who talked about the life and times of Muhammad and how in many ways, Islam is not that different from Christianity.

“We also love Jesus as a noble prophet of God. Jesus’ name is mentioned more in the Koran than Muhammad,” Shah said. “We also love and cherish Mother Mary. One verse of the Koran describes Mother Mary as a role model for not only all Muslim women, but all Muslim men.

Read further in the Star Gazette.

Mohammad in the eyes of scholars:

Michael H. Hart

“My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world’s most influential  persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was  the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and  secular levels.” [The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in  History]

Montgomery Watt

“The more one reflects on the history of Muhammad and of early Islam, the  more one is amazed at the vastness of his achievements…study of his life may  contribute to a fresh appraisal and appreciation of one of the greatest of the  sons of Adam.” [Muhammad at Madinah]

Karen Armstrong

“If we could view Muhammad as we do any other important historical figure we  would surely consider him to be one of the greatest geniuses the world has  known.” [Muhammad – A Biography of the Prophet]

Read about Muhammad and watch a documentary / movie

A Beautiful Book to Introduce Islam to the non-Muslims!