October 30, 20130 comments
Press Release – Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at NZ Inc
The international spiritual leader of more than 100 million Ahmadi Muslims has arrived in New Zealand. The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and Fifth Khalifa, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad was welcomed by King Tuheitia to Trangawaewae marae …October 30, 2013
Muslim supreme head arrives in New Zealand
The international spiritual leader of more than 100 million Ahmadi Muslims has arrived in New Zealand.
The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and Fifth Khalifa, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad was welcomed by King Tuheitia to Tūrangawaewae marae in Ngaruawahia today along with 100 Ahmadi Muslims from the Auckland community, which presented the completed Maori translation of the Holy Qur’an to the Maori people.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim community has been working on the translation project for more than 20 years. The first 16 parts were released to New Zealanders in 2010 in the form of a book comprising of both the original Arabic text with Maori translation.
As part of his NZ tour His Holiness will also be officially opening one of the largest mosques in New Zealand. The mosque in Manukau, Auckland will officially open on Friday, November 1 at 1pm and will also mark the beginning of the community’s annual spiritual convention expected to attract more than 300 international guests. By mid November the mosque will also be open to the public.
The mosque is set on a 2.1 ha site and is able to house 600 worshippers at one time.
Mohammad Iqbal, National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community New Zealand says it is a privilege and honour to be able to host His Holiness.
“His Holiness has been hugely influential overseas and recently addressed the European Parliament, Capitol Hill and the Canadian Government, ” says Mr Iqbal. “His Holiness is also incredibly fascinating in his own right with strong and vocal opinions on the Syrian conflict.”
Upon completing his Masters Degree in Agricultural Economics in Pakistan, His Holiness dedicated his life to Islam and served in Ghana from 1977 to 1985 before returning to Pakistan. During this time His Holiness was engaged in social, educational and agricultural development projects. He is accredited with successfully growing wheat on Ghanaian soil for the first time in the nation’s history.
About terrorism His Holiness believes that peace should always be encouraged. Ahmadi Muslims are highly persecuted internationally in countries like Pakistan and Indonesia, where basic freedoms have been stripped. His Holiness continues to encourage peace in the face of continued targeted killings and unlawful arrests.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a dynamic, fast-growing international revival movement within Islam. Founded in 1889 by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) in Punjab, India, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community spans 200 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions.
ENDS
Elder learns Te Reo to translate Koran
NEW BEGINNINGS: Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad and King Tuheitia at the opening in South Auckland of New Zealand’s biggest mosque.
Islam’s holy book, the Koran, has been translated into Maori by an 81-year-old Pakistani physicist.
“It took six or seven years to learn Maori,” translator Shakil Ahmad Monir said yesterday at its launch at the new Baitul Muqeet mosque – the country’s largest, with a capacity of 700 – in Homai, Auckland.
“It was quite hard, but I didn’t give up,” said Monir.
The Koran, in Te Reo, is Kur’anu Tapu.
Monir confessed to struggling a little with Maori plurals. His advancing years posed a few problems too, he said.
“My eyes are failing me a bit,” he said. “And my memory, but I will not give up.”
Much of the world of Islam objects to the translation of the Koran from Arabic, saying that is the language given to mankind by the Prophet Mohammed.
This translation – as well as translations of sayings and verses from the Koran in Samoan and Fijian – was carried out by the Ahmadiyya Muslims, a much-persecuted group founded in India. The translation sits next to the original Arabic text.
Ahmadiyya’s caliph or leader, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, was joined by the Maori King, Tuheitia Paki, yesterday to launch the translation.
The caliph told the Sunday Star-Times the mainstream Islamic notion that Muslims had to take the word of God in Arabic was wrong. “They have deviated from the right path.”
He did not know how many Maori followed Islam but he hoped more would come now that the Koran has been translated. The objective of translating it into 73 languages was because not everybody could understand Arabic.
“There is nothing sinful, it is necessary and essential to hear the true message of the Koran for the people in the language they speak,” the caliph said.
Prophet Mohammed had a message for all, and all deserved to be able to read it, he said
The caliph said the Koran did not preach jihad or holy war, and extremist Muslims were not acting in accordance with the true teachings. The Koran stated only that the righteous could defend themselves when attacked. The same applied for all religions.
“If we are defending Islam, we are defending all religions.
Ahmadiyya are not regarded as extremists, but Pakistani authorities regard them as apostate and thus illegal.
Their founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, aimed to reform current practices in Islam that were not consistent with the teachings of the Holy Koran and Prophet Mohammed.
Oye! News from England
Prime Minister David Cameron Praises Young British Muslims
Category: EnglandPublished on Friday, 01 November 2013 09:51Written by Tapa Menon
Young Muslims are planning to turn up at Heathrow Airport and London’s rail and underground stations in force – to collect money for the Poppy Appeal.
Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA) will be helping The Royal British Legion for the fourth year running as a mark of good citizenship and a testament to the Islamic edict of demonstrating loyalty to your country.
More than 300 AMYA volunteers will be stationed at train and tube stations across the city of London, as well as other parts of the UK, with the hope of raising more than £20,000.
This is part of a nationwide campaign by the AMYA to contribute to the country in different ways. Other initiatives have included blood drives, charity events, green initiatives, peace conferences, and interfaith meetings.
The Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Muslims are obliged to be loyal to the country in which they live. Honouring those who fought to defend and safeguard one’s country is an important principle of Islam and in fact is an important principle of peace – especially when it is carried out with a sincere heart and for the sake of winning God’s pleasure.”
Prime Minister David Cameron said:
“I send my best wishes to the Ahmadiyya Muslim youth organisation who are supporting this year’s Poppy Appeal. I’m delighted to hear over 300 members will be out in force throughout November collecting at train stations and other places around the country. It’s great to see so many young people giving up their own time to help those who have served our country while remembering those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
Russell Thompson OBE, Director of Fundraising at The Royal British Legion, said:
”Our beneficiaries come from all walks of life, as do our supporters, and we are proud to be an organisation that stands shoulder to shoulder with people of all faiths and backgrounds. We are grateful to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association for collecting for this year’s Poppy Appeal…
”The money they raise will make it possible for the Legion to provide our beneficiaries with £1.4million every week in direct welfare support.”
Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg said:
“Each year, hundreds and thousands of volunteers brave the cold to sell their poppies up and down the country…Among those giving their time -and hoping to raise thousands of pounds- are the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association, who will once again be selling poppies at underground and railway stations. This volunteer work represents an essential part of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community’s really important contribution to UK national life – whether through helping to raise wider awareness and understanding of the Islamic faith, or fundraising and feeding the homeless, donating blood, and other charitable acts.
So I’d like to extend a big thank you to all those involved in the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association… who will be out there with their collection boxes, selling poppies for the Royal British Legion.”
The Home Secretary Theresa May said:
“The Ahmadiyya Muslim Association has a long tradition of raising money for good causes and has raised more than £1.5million for various charities including the Royal British Legion. I welcome this latest campaign by their youth association and would encourage everyone who sees them collecting for the Poppy Appeal to give generously.”
Commenting on the AMYA’s collections in London, the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said:
“The Poppy Appeal gives us all the perfect opportunity to give something back to those brave men and women who have served our country, as well as support those who have helped them in their time of need. I know Londoners across the city will be joining me to help raise over a £1million on London Poppy Day so that the Royal British Legion can continue its excellent and life enhancing work. The fantastic efforts of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association, which is hoping to raise a stonking £30,000, will help ensure we reach that target.”
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Muslim leader visits Turangawaewae marae
Updated at 8:18 pm on 29 October 2013
The spiritual leader of a worldwide Muslim community persecuted in some Islamic countries was welcomed onto the Turangawaewae marae in Ngaruawahia on Tuesday.
His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, wearing white, was welcomed onto the marae.
RADIO NEW ZEALAND
He is the Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was founded in 1889 and has millions of followers worldwide and about 400 in New Zealand.
The fifth Caliph is in New Zealand to open the sect’s first mosque in this country in Auckland on Friday.
His Holiness has presented a copy of the first Koran to be translated into Te Reo Maori to the Maori King, Tuheitia. The translation has taken 25 years to complete.
The Ahmadiyya community is not recognised by mainstream Islam because of its recognition of all prophets.
It is persecuted in countries such as Pakistan and recognised a
Prayers for opening
NEW START: Mohammed Iqbal and Shafiq Ur Rehman are thrilled with the Ahmadiyya Muslim community’s newly completed mosque in Wiri.
BRUCE MERCER/FAIRFAX MEDIA
SPECIAL VISIT: His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, spiritual leader of the worldwide Ahmaddiyya Muslim Community, pictured at Turangawaewae Marae, will open the new mosque today. Photo: BRUCE MERCERhs/hsFAIRFAX MEDI
The opening of New Zealand’s largest purpose-built mosque will be beamed live to millions of Muslims around the globe today.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim community’s worldwide spiritual leader Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad will lead his regular Friday prayers after officially opening the new Wiri building.
“Wherever the supreme leader delivers his Friday prayers from, it’s televised around the world,” Ahmadiyya New Zealand central missionary Shafiq Ur Rehman says.
The 400-strong community is “hugely appreciative” of the chance to open a mosque in New Zealand because it faces persecution elsewhere, Mr Rehman says.
“We are thankful of the freedom here. In Pakistan they have declared us non-Muslims. There’s no right to use Islamic terminology. Hundreds have been martyred.”
Ahmadiyya goes right back to foundation teachings of the Muslim faith, he says.
“Islam is peace. We’re trying to remove misunderstandings. There are a lot of negative stereotypes. We strongly condemn terrorism of any form.”
Ahmadiyya New Zealand national president Mohammed Iqbal says it is fantastic to have the building completed in time for the group’s 25th anniversary in New Zealand.
“It’s the first proper house of worship for us – a proper mosque,” he says.
“It’s all been self-funded by community members within New Zealand. We had some fundraisers but people really rallied together to dip into their own pockets.”
The mosque can accommodate up to 500 and will be used mainly for prayers but other events can also be held.
Mr Iqbal says its location serves its community well, with worshippers coming from as far away as Whangarei and Hamilton.
Today’s event also marks the launch of the Kur’anu Tapu – a version of the Muslim holy book, the qur’an – translated into Maori.
“It’s taken 25 years to complete the translation,” Mr Iqbal says.
A partially completed version was released in 2010.
– © Fairfax NZ New
Hundreds walk to stamp out hunger, promote peace
Muslim youth group effort raises $21K at College Park campus event
By Jamie Anfenson-Comeau Staff Writer
Greg Dohler/The Gazette
University of Maryland, College Park, student Adeel Malik (front, left), president of the student chapter of Humanity First, and Humanity First member Waleed Mahmood (front, right) of Germantown, lead a walkathon Sunday at the campus in College Park to raise awareness and money to fight hunger.
More than 200 people of varying faiths answered the call of a Muslim youth group to combat hunger, taking part in a walkathon through the University of Maryland, College Park, campus Sunday afternoon.
The walk, hosted by the Silver Spring-based Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Organization (Majlis Khuddam-ul Ahmadiyya, or MKA), drew in students and community members as part of the organization’s efforts to fight hunger and promote the image of Islam as a religion of peace. The walk raised more than $21,000 locally and $90,000 as part of a national campaign to raise funds for hunger-related nonprofits, according to Saima Sheikh, media associate with Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, the youth group’s parent organization.
The MKA is a service-based organization that works to promote Islam as a religion of peace through its grassroots Muslims for Peace campaign and to highlight Islam’s call to service through its Muslim Youth Against Hunger campaign, according to its website.
“We wanted to highlight the point that all religions, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, whatever religion we say, they are promoting the sanctity of life,” said Naseem Mahdi, vice president of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA. “I believe that we are all united on this issue, that we should fight against hunger, we should fight against poverty, and we should fight against terrorism and violence, especially in the name of religion.”
Mahdi said the group’s efforts also help to combat negative stereotypes of Muslims in the media.
“Naturally, with this work we are trying to bring forth the real face of Islam. The real face of Islam is not about killing innocents. It is about the teachings of promoting life and peace and helping others,” Mahdi said.
Five student organizations — Health Leads, Medlife, Food Recovery Network, Humanity First Student Organization and the Association of Indian Development — partnered with the university branch of the youth organization and brought their members to the event, said Haris Raja, 31, assistant vice president of the Ahmadiyya Community’s Muslim Youth Organization and a recent graduate from the University of Maryland.
“We want to show support and solidarity for our fellow Americans who are in need, and we want to play an active role in alleviating hunger,” Raja said. “Just in this area, we have 12 percent of the Prince George’s population who are food insecure. We are trying to combat that hunger problem with our efforts however much we can.”
Rakiba Kibria, marketing and fundraising assistant for the New York-based nonprofit organization WhyHunger, one of the organizations being aided by walk, said the nonprofit organization works with partners in the U.S. and abroad that promote healthy, nutritious food for everyone.
“Islam is rooted in volunteerism, and MKA really symbolizes it to the extreme,” Kibria said. “They’re really focusing on hunger and putting it on a positive route, so Muslim youth can have a positive impact as well.”
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