News courtesy: Mubarika Kalim, Event coordinator, Calgary, Canada

Ahmadiyya Muslim Women Auxiliary organizes Annual International Women’s Day Interfaith Seminar at Bait-un-Nur Mosque, Calgary, Canada.  The Muslim Times has the best collection of articles for the Muslim women rights

The Women’s Auxiliary of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamā’at organized its Annual International Women’s Day Interfaith Seminar and Exhibition on Saturday March 9, 2019 at Baitun Nur Mosque Calgary, the largest mosque in Western Canada.

The event promotes a deeper understanding of Women in Islam and other faiths.

Presenters from Bahaii Faith, Christianity, Sikhism, Aboriginal Spirituality and Islam spoke about the”Status of Women According to my Faith”.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Women Auxiliary organizes Annual International Women’s Day Interfaith Seminar at Bait-un-Nur Mosque, Calgary, Canada

MLA Anum Kazim moderated the event, which was attended by over 320 guests from different walks of life. Honorable Rachel Notley, the Premier of Alberta sent a special message for the event which was read by MLA Brandy Payne.

At this occasion at check of $3000 was presented to local charity “Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter”.

The presenters were invited to highlight the efforts and achievements of their respective faith/tradition to improve the pre-existing condition of women in spiritual, intellectual, economic and social spheres, based on the core teachings of their holy scriptures.

Video of the event: https://www.facebook.com/ChannelPunjabiCanada/videos/2328540654055042/

Ms. Shayda Cummings said that according to Baha’i faith there is equality between all men and women. Feminism is the desire for equality between men and women; which starts at home, within the family.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Women Auxiliary organizes Annual International Women’s Day Interfaith Seminar at Bait-un-Nur Mosque, Calgary, Canada

The Christian speaker,Ms. Liz highlighted that Jesus was born of a woman, which supports the point that women play a huge role for the world.

The Sikh presenter Ms. Gurmit said that in her faith there is no discrimination between genders, caste, race or colour.

Sandra Sutter explained that according to Aboriginal Spirituality: “The Land is the Mother and women work the same way as the Land. All relationships are like the relationships of land, water and earth. Women have to be covered for prayers as they hold high value and are closer to land.”

According to the Islamic perspective Ms Matin said:

“Islam improved Women’s status spiritually and economically. Women were given basic rights to seek knowledge, share inheritance and were freed from financial responsibility. Islam teaches equity between men and women as they hold different roles and responsibilities.”

The presentations were followed by a Q&A session.

Guests expressed their gratitude for being given a chance to learn and clear misconceptions about different faiths.

Dinner was served to all the guests after the seminar.

Exhibition

There were various exhibitions set up throughout the mosque, in which guests could interact and have discussions with the volunteers available to answer their question.

The prominent features of the exhibition were:

• Translations of The Holy Qu’ran in various languages
• Life of Mohammad (saw)
• Muhammad: the Liberator of Women.
• Women in Islam
• Miniature diorama detailing Jesus (as)’s life in Jerusalem and his journey to India.
• Information on The Lost Tribes and The Tomb of Jesus
• Various Projects of Humanity First

— End of Report —