Source: 3news.co.nz

IS – ISIS or ISIL – has been described as being so extreme, even Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda – which carried out the September 11 attacks – has rejected their beliefs and methods.

A local Muslim leader says jihadists in Iraq and Syria have no right to call themselves the Islamic State (IS) because their “brutality” goes against the teachings of the prophet Muhammad.

The group now controls large swathes of Iraq and Syria, and is knocking on the door of Turkey’s southern border.

“The name of Islam is being tarnished because of the acts of some extremist groups, and that is not the true image of Islam,” says Ahmadiyya New Zealand central missionary Shafiq Ur Rehman.

Click to watch the video: Interview of Ahmadiyya missionary Shafiq Ur Rehman

He says anyone who reads the Koran will come to understand how wrong the jihadists are.

“It’s a wrong interpretation of the Koran. If we read the teachings of Islam, if we read the holy Koran and we try to understand the spirit of Islam, then nobody will agree with the image of Islam they are portraying. Nobody will accept their claims that they are Muslims.”

Mr Rehman wants people to stop using the name Islamic State.

“When you call them Islamic and we see their acts, the brutality, it hurts the feelings of other Muslims.

“Being law-abiding citizens of a country, that is part of the Muslim faith. That is what the holy prophet of Islam taught – to love your homeland, the country of your residence, is part of faith.”

To prove it, Mr Rehman is inviting Kiwis to visit the country’s biggest purpose-built mosque Masjid Baitul Muqeet in Manukau this weekend.

“We want to give the true picture of Islam by inviting people to the house of God, the mosque, and to show what true Islam is – which is peace in totality, if you look at Islamic teachings,” says Mr Rehman.

“That is the first message we want to give to the public – that’s come look at the true teachings of Islam, look at the place of worship. It’s nothing other than peace. Then see the belief in God. Everything revolves around that.”

The mosque opens its doors at 10am this Saturday, and includes a guided tour and an exhibition about the faith.

3 News