Source: sbsun.com

Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community gather at the Baitul Hameed Mosque for Friday prayer in Chino. Tonight marks the first night of Ramadan, the holy fasting month during which Muslims refrain from eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset. John Valenzuela — staff photographer

CHINO >> Ahmadiyya Muslims gathered at the Baitul Hameed Mosque on Friday afternoon for their weekly prayer and service. But the service was a bit different than others in the past decade.

Imam Shamshad Nasir missionary SW region speaking on the High Morals of the Holy Prophet

Imam Shamshad Nasir, the teacher and missionary who had been leading the Ahmadiyya Community here since 2004, was reassigned to the northern Midwest region and left Wednesday.

“Many of us got up for prayer at 4:45 a.m. and expected him to walk through the door, but then realized that he had already left,” said Jonathan Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar, secretary of publications for the Los Angeles East Chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. “This place felt deserted, and there’s a sense of loss. We were used to his presence, and he’s not here anymore.”

On Tuesday evening, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community held a farewell meeting where nearly 200 people thanked Nasir for his service, said Naila Ahmed, Los Angeles Inland Empire Ladies Auxiliary general secretary. Whether it was for his constant smile or his interfaith work, many people spoke and thanked Nasir for his time with the local mosque.

“He has the knowledge of the Quran and has his own way of interacting, using Urdu and English,” Ahmed said. “He was very close to …read more at sbsun.com