We just want to tell people that Islam means peace, and we practice peace.

Source: edmontonsun.com

A busy Edmonton mosque is reaching out to all citizens to show that Islam is first and foremost a religion of peace, believing in “jihad of the pen, not jihad of violence.”

Ahmadiyyaya Muslim Jama’at Outreach director Mohyuddin Mirza pose for a photo at the Al-Hadi Mosque in Edmonton, Alberta on September 28, 2014. Mirza were some of the key speakers for Ahmadiyya Muslim Community philosophy of preaching and practice of Jihad of pen, not of Jihad of sword. Perry Mah/Edmonton Sun

“We just want to tell people that Islam means peace, and we practice peace,” said Mohyuddin Mirza, the outreach director of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Edmonton and an organizer of an education session to be held at the Hadi Mosque, 7005 98 Ave., on Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Mirza said the education sessions are to help promote peace, understanding and mutual respect between practising Muslims and the rest of the community, as many only know Islam from what they hear in the news of extremist factions.

“[The biggest misconception] is the the name of Islam is associated with terrorists who go on killing sprees,” said Mirza. “Islam does not promote this in any way, and we are condemning it in every possible way.”

The sessions, hosted by Mirza and Hadi Mosque Imam Taha Sayid, will first discuss the prophet Mohammed in a historical context before exploring the issue of freedom of speech and freedom of religion, and the burden of personal responsibility as it relates to both.

Mirza said the second conversation is… read more at edmontonsun.com