Ghana: Kumasi T.I. Ahmadiyya, T.I. Amass score big in sports competitions

"T. I. Ahmadiyya Secondary School has grown from small beginnings to become one of the most respected Secondary Schools not only in Kumasi but in the Ashanti Region and indeed Ghana." Otumfuo Osei Tutu, Asantehene.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Ghana Desk
Source & Credit: GNA | Peace FM
Edited by Ahmadiyya Times staff

Eight Regional athletic records, five in the women's division and three in the men's event were broken at the end of the two-day Ashanti Region Schools and Colleges Super-Zonal Athletics competition held at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Friday.

While William Akuka Awunime of Prempeh College set a new record which previously stood in the name of Martin Etsey of the Kumasi T.I. Ahmadiyya Secondary, Elizabeth Dadzie of Kumasi T.I. Ahmadiyya also set two new records in the long jump and triple jump. She broke the record of 5.44 metres in the long jump event set in 2009 by Gloria Konadu of Saint Monica's SHS with a new leap of 5.52 metres.

Ghaddafi gives new meaning to the term 'personal jihad'

In 2009, Gadhafi proposed that Switzerland be abolished as a country and its territory be split among Germany, France and Italy. That didn’t work. Now his focus has shifted to exploit his religion to fool Muslims into believing it is their religious obligation to wage a physical defense against Switzerland. This mis-use of Islam is what other so-called Muslim leaders and clerics have been doing for years.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Opinion
Source & Credit: Examiner.com | February 27, 2010
By Harris Zafar | Portland, OR

Gadhafi declares Jihad on Switzerland


What would you do if your son was arrested overseas on charges of assault? Would you do everything you can to help him? Or would you do everything you can to annihilate the country in which he was arrested? For Libyan President, Muammar Gadhafi, the second option makes more sense.

This Thursday, Gadhafi called on all Muslims worldwide to wage a jihad against Switzerland, supposedly in response to Switzerland’s new law banning the construction of minarets in mosques built in their country. At a meeting meant to commemorate the birthday of the Prophet of Islam, Gadhafi said:

“The masses of Muslims must go to all airports in the Islamic world and prevent any Swiss plane landing, to all harbors and prevent any Swiss ships docking, inspect all shops and markets to stop any Swiss goods being sold.”

Pakistan and the 'Ahmadis': The right to believe

The Pakistani flag is one-third white; the color is supposed to represent the rights of religious minorities. The acts and constitutional amendments that undergird the persecution of Ahmadis are therefore contradictory to the very essence of the country’s formation.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit: Tribe.net | US Politics
By Rooshanie Ejaz . HRS | February 26, 2010

For the Ahmadiyyah Muslims of Pakistan, life is spent in a constant struggle. I myself was born into a Sunni Muslim family in Pakistan, hence I didn’t understand how tragic the reality of persecution is for a religious minority in Pakistan until I investigated the matter personally. Being part of the mainstream circles of society did not prepare me for the realization of the atrocities being carried out under the umbrella of protection of the Pakistani Government.

Indonesia: NU to set `distorted notion of pluralism' right

[The] organization is lining up with other Muslim organizations, including Muhammadiyah and several hardline groups such as Hizbut Tahrir and Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), to fight the review at the Court.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source & Credit: The Jakarta Post,  Jakarta   |  National
By Staff writer

Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the largest Islamic organization in the country, will hold a national meeting next month to discuss pluralism, a notion it believes has been misunderstood and distorted at the same time, Antara news agency reported Thursday.

The meeting will be held in Jakarta from March 12-13.

Businesses with agendas: A Muslim headscarf endangers Abercrombie & Fitch's “look”

This is not the first time this retailer has faced discrimination lawsuits. Last year, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Abercrombie & Fitch for allegedly discriminating against a 17-year-old Muslim in Oklahoma by refusing to hire her because she covered her head.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Opinion
Source & Credit: Examiner.com | February 25, 2010
By Harris Zafar | Portland

Muslims need not apply

Abercrombie & Ftich’s website states that the retailer is “committed to increasing and leveraging the diversity of our associates and management across the organization. Those differences will be supported by a culture of inclusion.” Unfortunately, this does not seem apply to Muslim women.

Ghana: Real AMASS [T.I. Ahmadiyya SHS] retains title at athletics competition

Real AMASS who are the defending champions picked 117.5 points and received a trophy from the event organizers, the Schools and Colleges Sports Federation.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source & Credit: GhanaWeb | Sports
By GNA | February 28, 1010

Kumasi, GNA - Kumasi T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School (Real AMASS), won this year's Ashanti Region Super zonal Inter-Schools and Colleges athletics competition in both the boys and girls categories held at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi.

Real AMASS who are the defending champions picked 117.5 points and received a trophy from the event organizers, the Schools and Colleges Sports Federation.

Snohmish, USA: Ahmadiyya Muslims hosted interfaith conference, common threads in each religion explored

“My expectation is to bridge our gaps and to learn more about each other. I would just like people to know about our community. There are Muslims that do not believe in jihad and I want people to know about it.” Imran Ghumman, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit: HeraldNet | Snohomish County
By Amy Daybert, Herald Writer

Christians, Muslims share similarities: An interfaith conference explores common threads of each religion

SNOHOMISH, WA — Deacon Gene Vanderzanden of St. Michael Catholic Church met Imran Ghumman of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community for the first time one week ago. At their meeting, Ghumman gave Vanderzanden a copy of the Koran.

Major Earthquake in Chile, Humanity First readies medical releif team

Humanity First is closely monitoring the situation and planning a first response with a medical relief team ready to leave for Chile.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | US Desk
Source: Humanity First, Telegraph, UK
By Ahmadiyya Times staff writer

A massive earthquake struck Chile on Saturday morning and triggered a tsunami across the Pacific. A significant loss of human lives is expected and many homes and buildings have been destroyed, particularly in the city of Concepcion which was near the epicenter.

According to the available information, the death toll stood at 214 shortly after the earthquake.

The 8.8 magnitude tremor devastated large parts of southern Chile and huge waves raced at up to 400 miles an hour across the Pacific.

Humanity First is closely monitoring the situation and planning a first response with a medical relief team ready to leave for Chile.

Setting records straight: When the 'big boys' make mistakes

The following letter by Sardar Anees Ahmad was written to The Washington Post. The letter corrects an error about the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in an article The Washington  Post had ran a few weeks prior. Currently, The Washington Post is ranked 5th in terms of circulation, with ~580,000 daily readers.

File photo - Mob attacking Ahmadiyyas

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | US Desk
Source & Credit: The Washington Post | Letters to the Editor
By Sardar Anees Ahmad | Waterloo, NY | February 27, 2010

A leader but also a follower

I am grateful for your [The Washington Post's] informative and timely Feb. 11 news story "A reemergence in the heart of Pakistan." The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has experienced intense persecution since Pakistan's founding. Both my grandfather and my uncle were murdered simply because they were Ahmedi Muslims.

Eye on Pakistanization of Indonesia: Obama Urged to Examine Indonesia’s Rights Record

Ahmadiyah, a minority Islamic sect, was banned by the government in 2008 and its followers have faced constant harassment and intimidation by hard-line Muslim groups.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source & Credit: The Jakarta Globe
By Nivell Rayda | February 26, 2010

Obama Urged to Examine Indonesia’s Rights Record

Human Rights Watch on Friday called on US President Barack Obama to make human rights a key issue for discussion during his visit to Indonesia next month.

While Indonesian presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said that strengthening bilateral economic ties would be the focus of the visit, the possibility of talks on other issues was still being discussed. Obama is scheduled to visit from March 20 to 22.

Obama’s trip to Indonesia should promote human rights

"Indonesia has held two consecutive credible elections, but it is still critical for President Obama to speak out on human rights issues," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source & Credit: Zee News | PTI

Washington: US President Barack Obama should reaffirm that human rights and the rule of law are essential pillars of America's engagement with Indonesia during his upcoming visit to that country, a leading human rights
body has said.

Indonesia has taken many important steps to move from an authoritarian state to an emerging, rights-respecting democracy, Human Rights Watch said in a statement yesterday.

The Human Rights Watch said there have been worrying trends, however, particularly regarding freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and religion.

Human Rights Watch letter to President Obama ahead Of Indonesia trip - Eurasia Review

In June 2008 the minister of religious affairs issued a decree ordering members of the Ahmadiyah religious movement to cease their public religious activities. Thereafter, Islamist militants forcibly closed or attacked several Ahmadiyah mosques and displaced adherents from their homes. 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source:Human Rights Watch | February 26, 2010
By Kenneth Roth | Executive Director

Human Rights Watch letter to President Obama ahead Of Indonesia trip - Eurasia Review

Dear President Obama,

We write as you prepare to depart for Jakarta to launch the US-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership. We urge you to seize this opportunity to reaffirm that human rights and the rule of law are essential pillars of US engagement in Indonesia. We ask that you do this by publicly calling for the Indonesian government to make critical human rights improvements and by implementing the Comprehensive Partnership in ways that will ensure that cooperation with the United States leads to improvements, rather than setbacks, in Indonesia's human rights record.

Going Bonkers: Libya's Gaddafi urges 'holy war' against Switzerland

Libya retaliated by canceling oil supplies, withdrawing billions of dollars from Swiss banks, refusing visas to Swiss citizens and recalling some of its diplomats. 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source & Credit: BBC News |
Fenruary 26, 2010

Muammar Gaddafi has reportedly been blacklisted by Switzerland.

Libya's Muammar Gaddafi has called for a jihad, or holy war, against Switzerland, as an ongoing diplomatic row between the two nations heats up.

He criticised a recent Swiss vote against the building of minarets and said Muslims must boycott the country.

Malta: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to host interfaith peace conference

The organizers hope that these programs will serve the aim that every religion would come to know more about the opinions of others and thus a better atmosphere of love and understanding will be developed. 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community | Malta
By Staff writer | February 21, 2010

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Malta will host an interfaith dialogue and Peace Conference.

The program which is scheduled for February 27, 2010 will be held at Grand Hotel Excelsior – Floriana at 6:30 PM.

Many faiths will be represented at the conference which include Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, among others.

INDONESIA: Freedom of religion not protected

The state, by only recognising six religions and enforcing a blasphemy law which alienates and criminalises those that hold beliefs outside of those six, is in effect, giving Indonesians a choice between one of six religions. The right to choose between one religion or another is a false choice and only creates the illusion of freedom. 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source & Credit: The Asian Human Rights Commission
Statement | February 23, 2010  |

U.S. President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Indonesia, the place of his childhood, in March. It is important that the President does not waste this opportunity and uses his good relations with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to raise the issue of religious tolerance in Indonesia.

Late last year Obama stated that “Indonesia is important... as one of the world's largest democracies, as one of the world's largest Islamic nations... it has enormous influence and really is... a potential model for the kind of development strategies, democracy strategies, as well as interfaith strategies that are going to be so important moving forward.”

Banning English from mosques clashes with Islamic understanding of cultural plurality

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Letters
Source & Credit: The Middletown
By Zahir Mannan  | February 24, 2010

Banning English from mosques clashes with Islamic understanding of cultural plurality
Dear Editor,
Will banishing English from American mosques nurture Muslim identity or diffuse cultural intolerability? Unlike those who believe speaking English in mosques as a violation of Islamic law, the Quran declares ethnic and cultural diversity to be a source of universal fraternity (49:14). I am an American-born Muslim who regularly attends mosque functions where members pray in Arabic but communicate in English, yet our integrity as Muslims remains intact.

Muhammad spoke in Arabic primarily because it was the language understood by the majority of his audience, but did he forbid other languages in a mosque? On the contrary, he not only had disciples who spoke Farsi, Semitic and Hebrew, among other tongues, but once allowed a Christian delegation to hold their own worship service in his mosque.

Shunning English from American mosques clashes with the fundamental Islamic understanding of cultural plurality. Alas, this is a trend found more commonly in biased communities.

Zahir Mannan
Biology/pre-med student at SCSU
Middletown

Allen, Texas: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to hold Inter-Faith Conference on March 6

Forum on 'Religion is the Divine guidance for peace and harmony to unite humanity'

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit: Plano Star |
February 25, 2010

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Dallas Chapter invites the community to an Inter-Faith conference in Allen on March 6.

The chief guests at the conference in their Mosque will be Allen Mayor Stephen Terrell and Plano Mayor Phil Dyer.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community with a motto of "Love for all, hatred for none" is represented in 193 countries. The event will run from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 6 at the Mosque, situated at 1850 Hedgcoxe Road in Allen. The program will be followed by a question and answer session and refreshments.

Qadian, India: Mamata didi give nod, green light for Qadian-Beas rail project

The proposal will now have to be cleared by the Planning Commission before work starts on the project, Bajwa stated.

Qadian Train Station

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source & Credit: The Tribune |February 24, 2010
By  Ravi Dhaliwal | Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur MP had his way today when Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee today agreed to his proposal of laying down the 40-km-long rail line from Qadian to Beas.

A visibly elated Bajwa said over phone that the project had been cleared under the Socially Desirable Rail Connectivity Proposals. “A majority of the projects cleared by the Railway Ministry fall under the Economically Viable Proposals.

However, keeping in view social factors of the region, the ministry has cleared this project,” Bajwa claimed, adding: “Some areas have absolutely no economic viability but it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that people get proper transport and rail facilities. That is the reason why the government has cleared the Qadian-Beas rail project.”

Bajwa also thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee for the project approval.

The proposal will now have to be cleared by the Planning Commission before work starts on the project, Bajwa stated.

Read more here: Green flag for Qadian-Beas rail project

Faith and common sense: Freedom of conscience in Islam

Rights and obligations go hand in hand as they should in all spheres of life. While, therefore, it is not necessary but essential that we should intensify and multiply our efforts towards the safeguarding of human rights, we must all, individually and collectively, strive to deepen our consciousness of the duties we owe to each other at all levels. 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit: The Review of Religions | August/September 1992
By Bashir Ahmad Rafiq

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations on December 10, 1948, embodies the broadest consensus of contemporary civilization on the subject of human rights.

Life is dynamism, so is human society. One characteristic of dynamism is that it generates friction, and in terms of social values that means differences even disputes. Differences, or let us say, the right to differ lies at the root of all knowledge, inquiry, investigation, research progress. While, therefore, we must strive to safeguard the right to differ, to question, to dissent and even to protest, we must at the same time strive to secure that our differences in every sphere - religious, philosophical, scientific, social, economic, political and whatever, should act and react beneficently and not destructively.

Eye on jihad: Taliban, thugs or torch-bearers of Islam

The following comments were written in response to an article authored by Dr. Shah Alam Khan in a February 23rd post on TowCirles.Net entitled Taliban, thugs or torch-bearers of Islam, which included:

"What surprises me is the eerie silence of the Muslim ulema in the subcontinent (particularly in India) in their condemnation of this cowardly act of appalling brutality. Where are those who leave no opportunity to condemn what is inconvenient to them, no matter how comfortable it might be to Islam in general and Muslims in particular?"

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Comments
Source & Credit: TowCirles.Net
By Qasim Rashid | February 24, 2010

Taliban, thugs or torch-bearers of Islam

While I agree with the authors sentiment that the Taliban must be stopped, I fail to understand his concern that moderate Muslims, particularly in India, are not speaking out.

It was on the very soil of India that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, whom Ahmadiyya Muslims consider the long awaited Messiah and Mahdi, declared over 100 years ago that violence has no place in Islam. Since he established the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in 1889, this community of moderate Muslims has expanded to every country of the world with tens of millions of adherents.

Majlis Ansarullah Gambia: Ahmadiyya elders meet

Oustaz Darboe encouraged the gathering to always read the Quran and follow its teachings. "The culture of reading the Holy Quran should always be in us" he said. Darboe further revealed that such a gathering helps the Ansarulah to better manage their families.
 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source & Credit:The Point | Gambia
By Nfamara Jawneh | February 23, 2010

The Ansarulah (helpers of God), a group of elders under the umbrella of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat of The Gambia on Saturday held its annual gathering at their central mosque in Tallinding.

In his welcoming remarks, Oustaz Fafanding Darboe, the National President of Ansarulah spoke about the significance of the gathering.

According to him, the group comprises men from forty years and above.

He reminded the participants that their role is to propagate the teachings of Islam. The Ansarulah, he said, is started in the Ahmadiyya faith since in 1940. He told them that to serve in such a body is a big blessing from God, which he said must be cherished.

Eye on Jihad: Pakistan cuts short visit of Indian Sikh pilgrims

A senior security official told the media that authorities had shortened the visit of the Sikhs to only one day due to the recent killing of the two abducted Sikhs in Khyber tribal region.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source & Credit: The Times of India | Pakistan
February 23, 2010

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities have cut short the visit of Indian pilgrims to Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasanabdal city of Punjab province due to the security situation, days after the killing of two abducted Sikhs by the Taliban in the restive northwestern tribal belt.

The visit of the Sikh 'yatris' or pilgrims was shortened from three days to one day due to the security situation, media reports said.

The Sikhs had travelled to Hasanabdal for religious rituals.

They were earlier scheduled to stay in Hasanabdal for three days and participate in the 'Saka Nankana Sahib Anniversary', which is being observed for the second time after the partition of the subcontinent.

Faith and logic: Unity is Strength

The Holy Prophet of Islam has likened the true spirit of Islamic brotherhood to that of a building every part of which reinforces other parts and, as an undivided symbol of unity, commanded Muslims when lined up for prayer to stand together shoulder to shoulder like a solid wall leaving no space for even a rod to be passed between them.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff  |Articles
Source & Credit: Review of Religions | July 1993
Editorial


Unity is strength! The fundamental message of Islam is the Unity of God and the establishment of the unity of mankind bound together by ties of practical brotherhood. This is the clarion call of Islam which abhors strife, hatred, greed, selfishness, pride, intolerance and such like unbrotherly dispositions. The aim of every Muslim should be in accordance with the injunction of the Holy Quran:

Help one another in righteousness and piety.

Humanity First: Pockets of survival in Haiti sustain sport's spirit

 Humanity First, the humanitarian organization ..., adopted a community that has settled on a soccer field. Seven thousand displaced residents currently call the plot of land home.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Haiti
Source & Credit: National Post | February 23, 2010
By Tim Rindlisbacher, BSc (PT), MD, Dip. Sport Med

Severity Of Injuries; Fractures, breaks are not like we are used to seeing

The words "sports medicine" and "natural disaster" don't belong in the same sentence. So, to discuss sports injuries in the context of post-earthquake Haiti would trivialize the daily misery experienced by its survivors. Youth sport, however, has survived the Earth's seismic insult. Haitian parents forage for food and water with absolutely no time for leisure. Haitian children are left to carry the legacy of sport albeit in severely confined playing spaces. Their story deserves to be told.

During my recent medical relief mission to the impoverished nation, I witnessed sport rising from the rubble. Most of the basketball courts in Port-au-Prince now serve as well-defined living quarters for scores of families.

Investment, Interest, and Islam

The fourth Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam, Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, made himself available, at various times, to his community and to others to answer any questions that they put to him. We present below a transcript of two questions from a session recorded at Nasir Baagh, the Ahmadiyya Muslim centre in Germany on the 11th September 1993.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit: The Review of Religions,
From Audio Q&A sessions | Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad (1930 - 2003)
Transcribed by Amatul Hadi Ahmad

Question - It is very important in Islam not to hoard money but to keep it working. How does Islam view placing money on the capitalist stock market system?
Answer - The Islamic economic system runs on a different principle and you have to understand that system before you can get an answer to the question which you have specifically asked. There are two possible ways of drawing capital into the working machinery of the economy - to circulate capital so that it can turn the wheels of the economy and keep it going.

Cultural understanding and racial harmony

These shining examples of racial harmony draw their philosophical underpinning from the Holy Quran where mankind is referred to as one community and a single nation.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Articles
Source: Review of Religions | February 1993
By Dr. Ijaz Ahmad Qamar

The edifice and the whole superstructure of Islamic faith is predicated on one cardinal principle, the principle of the unity of the Creator (God/Allah) and the unity of humanity which He has created. I have basically two sources of knowledge to expand on this concept. One of them is the Holy Scripture of Islam - The Quran and the other is the collection of the sayings and doings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) - the Hadith.

Challenge To A Minority

The early history of Islam tells us that old stalwarts with an entrenched position in society and the political system never readily accepted the truth. Only the young, the weak and politically insignificant segment of society were blessed with the courage and foresight to do otherwise.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Articles
Source & Credit: Review of Religions
February 1989  | Vol. LXXXIV No. 2


When we pay attention to the Holy Quran, we are constantly reminded of an interesting phenomenon. This phenomenon is that the smaller numbers and the materially weak, and not the majority, the rich and powerful, are chosen for greatness. It is the former who are ultimately successful and the latter vanquished.

This phenomenon is so pervasive that the question of majority and minority is not applicable in matters of personal faith and belief, but is a question important in political assemblies. This is because worldly people only look for power, might, size, and strength, while the opposite is true for the people who look beyond worldly affairs.

Religion & Common Sense: Putting the faith in faithfulness

As a Muslim, I understand and value the wisdom behind my faith’s instructions on a successful marriage. My understanding of these instructions – plus my sense of morality – prevents me from even considering infidelity. 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Article
Source & Credit: Portland Muslim Examiner
By Harris Zafar | February 21, 2010


What do Tiger Woods, Alex Rodriguez, John Edwards, Kobe Bryant, David Letterman, Hulk Hogan and Bill Clinton have in common? All of them are joined by a weakness, preventing them from remaining loyal to their wives. These men are just a sample of the growing number of celebrities who have failed to remain loyal in their marriages.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Zion, IL: Interfaith event planed - 'Life after death'

"Open examination of religious principles helps to demystify the belief in a higher power. The purpose of the program is to inform and develop an understanding of the universal thought and needs of humankind."

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community | Zion, Il.
By Staff writer | February 18, 2010

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
An Interfaith Dialogue and Presentation on Life after Death

The Zion, Illinois chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (AMC) will host an interfaith dialogue and presentation on life after death entitled, "Where do we go from here."

The event will take place on Saturday, February 27, 2010 from 1:30 to 3:30PM at Kenosha Public Museum: 5500 First Avenue, Kenosha, WI.

Faith and comon sense: Secularism vs Islamism

The Islamists care little for votes and elections but rely on sympathisers in the administration, the education system and the military to promote an agenda concerned with ritual and revival rather than welfare and progress.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source & Credit: Dawn.com | Editorial
By Iqbal Akhund | February 22, 2010

In a recent TV debate on this subject, the applause meter would have given the win to Islamism. The debaters, three on each side, faced a small mixed audience — quite a few girls, many wearing hijabs, also young men in jeans and a handful of beards.

The ‘secularists’ appealed, in measured tones, to the intellect, made references to European history, called for tolerance, pluralism and progress. The ‘Islamists’ were assertive, emotional and received applause when they spoke of the ‘moral decadence’ of the West and condemned, to louder applause, the West’s aggression against Muslims in Palestine, Chechnya and Iraq.

Pakistan: The path to freedom

Muslims who rightly wish to be free of Western dominance will never accomplish that admirable goal by denying themselves all that is good and true from what emerged from the brave struggles of Europe’s intellectual heroes to free their cultures from 2000 years religious bigotry. Those people are Muslims’ spiritual friends not enemies.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source & Credit: The News | February 22, 2010
By Charles Ferndale | Excerpts

"The rise of extremist, religious intolerance over the last thirty years has not been restricted to Pakistan, nor even to the Muslim communities of the world. It has infested Christian communities (mainly in America) and Jewish communities (mainly in America) as well as others, like Shiv Sena, the Hindu fascists of India. We can say then that not all extremism is caused by poverty. Battles for scarce resources, coupled to human nature, are, however, probably key elements in all forms of intolerance, as they have always been the root causes of all human conflicts.

Faith and Logic: Polygamy in Islam

Indeed, the Holy Qur'an is the only religion text restricting polygamy. Islam greatly reduced the permissible number, as Arabs had hundreds of wives. Furthermore, Islam never mandated polygamy. Polygamy is only allowed when certain circumstances arise, particularly relating to orphans, demonstrating Islam's primary concern with that much-neglected societal section.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Articles
Source & Credit: Rochester Muslim Examiner
By Sardar Anees Ahmad | February 10, 2010

"Polygamy." While an image of Islam often appears, what do other faiths say? Hinduism has long permitted Niyoga -- that is, allowing a woman to copulate with up to eleven men to bear a child if her husband was sterile or passed without offspring. Indian law allowed polygamy until passage of the 1954 Hindu Marriage Act. A 1975 committee reported that in India 5% of Hindu marriages were polygamous, compared with 4% of Muslim marriages. Buddhism considers marriage a secular institution, and is consequently mute regarding polygamy. Hence, Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhists commonly have a consort in addition to their spouse. Sikhism allows polygamy, as four of ten Sikh gurus were polygamists.

Faith and economics: Ahmadiyya Muslim students sponsor talk on global credit crunch

The free event, sponsored by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Student Association, explores solutions to the credit crunch from Sikh, Hindu, Islamic and Christian perspectives.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | US Desk
Source & Credit: Journal Sentinel | Religious Briefing
By Annysa Johnson | February 21, 2010

Economists and a local businessman were among the presenters for an interfaith discussion about the effects of the credit crunch on global economies from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee union's Fireside Lounge, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd.

The free event, sponsored by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Student Association, explored solutions to the credit crunch from Sikh, Hindu, Islamic and Christian perspectives.

Presenters were Swarnjit Arora, associate professor of economics and director of UWM's Institute for Survey and Policy Research; N. Kundan Kishor, assistant professor of economics at UWM; Milwaukee-area businessman and UWM grad Maudood Ahmad; Earl Ingram, talk show host at WMCS-AM (1290); and nationally recognized youth poet Muhibb Dyer. For more information, go to www.islaminmilwaukee.org.

Read the original pre-event post here:  Muslim students sponsor talk on global credit crunch

Faith & common sense: Can Christians worship Allah?

Allah Himself is declaring that His name, Allah, is oft commemorated in Cloisters, Churches, and Synagogues.  On what grounds then, can anyone find issue with Christians choosing to worship Allah?

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit: Chicago Islam Examiner
By Qasim Rashid | February 10, 2010

Malaysian Christians are facing vigilante justice for their use of the word “Allah” during their worship service. An extremist group claiming to be Muslim petitioned the Malaysian government to ban the use of Allah to anyone but Muslims. Over the past several years, Malaysia, a generally secular nation, has slowly endorsed legislation to discriminate against religious minorities. Fortunately, the high Court in Malaysia rejected this particular demand.

Nigeria: Point of View | Sunday Islamic activities are not obligatory

...[C]onflicts dwell in the mind. If we all learn to respect one another, realising that even if we are not united by creed, we are united by humanity, conflicts will not have a safe haven in our midst. The only true religion is the one that preaches love.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit:The Guardian | Nigeria
By DR. SAHEED TIMEHIN, Lecturer in Foreign Language Departments, Lagos State University, Ojoo, Lago
& Co-chairman (Muslim) of  Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC)

MUSLIMS worship everyday. There are two types of worship in Islam - obligatory and superogatory. The five daily prayers and the Friday prayer are obligatory forms of worship. The superogatory ones can be done at anytime and or any day. The choice of Sunday is only a matter of convenience since Muslims do not have free Fridays. Muslims hardly have the opportunity of worshiping together with members of their families. The only free day is Sunday because we work during the week and at times, on Saturdays. Apart from that, Saturdays are generally reserved for social functions and the traffic is usually heavy.

Nigeria: Point of view | Sunday Islamic activities are not obligatory

We use Sunday, which is for us feedback. The benefits are tremendous. The people's lives have been enriched. Many Muslims are now sure of what they believe. Many Muslims come back and testify about how their lives have changed for the better because they are makingprogress in their families and businesses. 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source & Credit:The Guardian - Nigeria
By TAOHEED OLAOSEBIKAN SOBOYEDE,
Administrative Secretary, National General Secretary
Ahmadiyya Muslim Juma'at, National Headquarter

FRIDAY worship service is quite monotonous. The faithful just come in for prayers, listen to the sermon and go back without being able to ask questions or make observations. Hence, many know very little about their religion. As a result, many become very vulnerable and are easily lured into other religions. Others are willing to cause problems in the name of fighting for God. That is why Islamic leaders saw the need to have another day added to the Friday time of worship. After carefully considering it, they decided that Sunday was the ideal day since it was a day of rest.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Malta to host interfaith peace conference

The organizers hope that these programs will serve the aim that every religion would come to know more about the opinions of others and thus a better atmosphere of love and understanding will be developed. 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community | Malta
By Staff writer | February 21, 2010

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Malta will host an interfaith dialogue and Peace Conference.

The program which is scheduled for February 27, 2010 will be held at Grand Hotel Excelsior – Floriana at 6:30 PM.

Many faiths will be represented at the conference which include Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, among others.

Faith and Common sense | Talibanization of Europe Part 2

These episodes are not isolated. This is a European phenomena and the next episode is already in the works. This time the equation of bigotry from among the Taliban style Muslims and Hitler's Europe goes head to head in Netherlands.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit:  | The Northwestern .com
By Saad Ahmad | February 14, 2010

I had earlier commented on the Swiss intolerance when they banned religious buildings of a certain type. An interesting twist to that story was that even though most of the world, including European Union, condemned that – there was one certain bigot from France that said that he understood it; who was he? French president Sarkozy. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/08/sarkozy-sympathises-minaret-ban-switzerland)

Humanity First: Nine from Underwood-Memorial Hospital take expertise to Haiti

"There are lots of other volunteers who are working there, but there will be all kinds of other people that will be needed down the road." Dr Farooq Padder. HFUSA

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | 
Source & Credit:  The Gloucester County Times | February 13, 2010
By Carly Romalino | cromalino@sjnewsco.com

 They packed their mosquito nets and sunscreen, but the eight-day trip to the Caribbean won't be a vacation for nine Underwood-Memorial Hospital doctors and nurses.

Today, emergency department nurses Donald Trauger, Kathy Dohanicz and cardiac catheterization nurse Marcus Treadgill will ship out for Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where they will work with victims of the Jan. 12 7.0-magnitude earthquake.

Chicago, USA Black History Month event at Sadiq Mosque on south side - Feb 20

Three presenters will speak, the first of which will be at 1pm sharp. Among the speakers are Respected Abdul Karim, the current President of the Al Sadiq Mosque.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit:  Examiner.com | Fenruary 17, 2010
By Qasim Rashid

The Al-Sadiq Mosque, one of America's oldest Mosque's and certainly Chicago's oldest Mosque will host their annual Black History Month event on Saturday, February 20th.

The event open to the public and will begin promptly with lunch at 12pm. Three presenters will speak, the first of which will be at 1pm sharp. Among the speakers are Respected Abdul Karim, the current President of the Al Sadiq Mosque. Sister Naimah Latif, author of Slavery: The African American Psychic Trauma, will also present a rich historical perspective on African Americans. A respected elder and speaker on Islam, Brother Yacub Muhammad will also be speaking.

UK: Cambridgshire Ahmadiyya Muslim Community launces an offenseve - a peace campaign

"We want to clear up the misconception about Islam being put out by the western media. People are not getting the right picture. This message of peace is an integral part of Islam." Mohammad Fawad Khokhar, AMA

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | UK Desk
Source & Credit:Cambs 24 | News Feature

Cambs Muslim community launches peace campaign

AS British troops go on the offensive against the Taliban in Afghanistan, a Cambridgeshire Muslim community has launched an offensive of its own - a peace campaign.

Its message of 'Love for All, Hatred for None' can be found on posters on the sides of buses travelling across the county and is designed to let people know about 'the real Islam'.

Humanity First: Civitans to honor clergy with lunch

Dr. Phillip Snodgrass, an emergency room physician in Little Rock. Snodgrass recently returned from a trip with a Humanity First Disaster Relief Team to Haiti where they treated more than 2,000 patients at Humanity First Medical Camps in Carrefour, Port-au-Prince, and Da Da Duo.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit:The North Little Rock Times
By Times staff | February 18, 2010

Clergy from the area are invited to an appreciation luncheon Tuesday sponsored by the North Little Rock Civitan Club.

Sharon Gaskin, the luncheon chairman, said it is a culmination of Clergy Appreciation Week, which is held throughout North America.

Faith and science: Poor as a nation

An analysis of relationship between lack of education and poverty by Nobel Laureate, Professor Dr. Abdus Salam, Director, International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy. The following article was published in the Urdu monthly magazine `Tahzeebul Akhlaq', Aligarh Muslim University, India, January 1986. Rendered into English by Mr. Zakaria Virk, Kingston, Canada.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Credit: Al Islam.org
Source: The Review of Religions, June 1990
By Professor Dr. Abdus Salam (Nobel Laureate)

I was admitted to Jhang College, Pakistan in 1938 at the tender age of 12. I spent four years there. In those days it was an intermediate college, grade 9, 10, first year and second year classes were taught there. The majority of students in the college was Hindu. It was my good fortune that I had some of the exceptionally learned and most affectionate teachers assigned to me. Shaikh Ijaz Ahmad was my English teacher, Soofi Zia-ul Haq was my Arabic teacher, Khawaja Mirajud Din taught Persian language while mathematics and science subjects were taught by Hindu as well as Sikh teachers. Science and mathematics in those days were considered to be the domain of Hindu and Sikh students. Lala Badri Nath & Lala Ram Lal taught maths with great proficiency, while Lala Hans Raj taught physics, and chemistry was taught by Lala Naubat Rai.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community: The urge for real peace

"To ensure lasting peace, we must love God because without God there can be no peace. If all human beings live in the love of God, then it will be possible to achieve eternal and everlasting peace. It is my fervent prayer that we all find everlasting peace in this world and in the life to come." Laiq A. Atif, President Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Malta.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source & Credit: Times of Malta
By Laiq Ahmed Atif | February 17, 2010

The world at large is worried about future prospects of world peace.

The pace at which peace is fast disappearing from the world has caused every sane and sensible person to worry. Today, man is riddled with problems that promise a very ominous future for mankind as a whole, and the direction in which things are moving may cause troubles to mankind and may destroy world peace.

Therefore, it is very important to sit down and find a solution to save humanity from the brink of disaster and to spread a message of peace and harmony and of hope for mankind. And to achieve this goal, we should not leave any stone unturned.

US: Black History Month | Ayuba Suleiman Diallo, the first known Muslim in America

During one of his attempts to escape, he met Thomas Bluett, an Englishmen, who, impressed by Ayuba’s Muslim education, helped him gain his liberty and return to Africa.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit: Wikipedia, Voyages
By Staff writers

Black History Month is celebrated annually in the United States and Canada in February in remembrance of important people and events in the African history as it relates to the history of North America.

Originally founded as "Negro History Week", the remembrance started in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a United States historian.  In the begining, the second week of February was chosen because of the birthdays of two remarkable Americans: former President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass; both greatly 'influenced the lives and social condition of African Americans'.

Future of Western society: A religious perspective

It had become customary for the 4th Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association in Islam, Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad (1930 - 2003), to make himself available, at various times, to his community and to others to answer any of their questions. Below we present a transcript of a question from a session recorded 30 September 1983 in West Ferry - Australia.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Archives
Source: The Review of Religions | January 1994
Ref: Q&A with hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad
Transcribed by Amatul Hadi Ahmad


Question: How do you see the future of western society from your religion's viewpoint?

"Where do we go from here?" Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Zion, IL to host interfaith event on the 'life after death'

"Open examination of religious principles helps to demystify the belief in a higher power. The purpose of the program is to inform and develop an understanding of the universal thought and needs of humankind."

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community | Zion, Il.
By Staff writer | February 18, 2010

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
An Interfaith Dialogue and Presentation on Life after Death

The Zion, Illinois chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (AMC) will host an interfaith dialogue and presentation on life after death entitled, "Where do we go from here."

The event will take place on Saturday, February 27, 2010 from 1:30 to 3:30PM at Kenosha Public Museum: 5500 First Avenue, Kenosha, WI.

US: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Condemns French Parliament’s Recommendation on Islamic Veil

In 2004, the French government forbade Muslim girls from wearing their head scarves in public schools. And now the parliamentary recommendation goes further by proposing to deny education to a woman who chooses to cover herself.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Press release
Source: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA | PR.com
February 18, 2009

Silver Spring, MD --(PR.com)-- Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA strongly condemns recommendations of a French Parliamentary report published on January 26th, which called for a partial ban of the Islamic veil. "In a damaging display of secular extremism," states Dr. Nasim Rehmatullah, Vice President of AMC USA, "the French parliament recommends denying Muslim women the choice of covering their faces in public areas. If any woman covers herself with the Islamic veil, she would be denied any public service she sought. So a woman in need of treatment would be denied health services if she covered her face. She will also be denied education on the same grounds. Such an extreme secular stance damages societal peace."

Faith and logic: Socio-Economic Policy

The rift between the haves and the have-nots has caused a visible polarisation in the social fibre of many societies. We will need to take positive action to tackle unemployment to stave off the mischief idle hands and idle minds can get into.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Articles
Sourc: The Review of Religions | Editorial
November 1992 | Vol. LXXXVII No. 11

A boom financed by spending borrowed money and a centrally controlled interest rate policy in the major industrial economies of the West has left in its wake the serious social and economic consequences of a long-lasting recession. Its effects are going to be felt not only by the West but also by the the Third World and the emerging economies of the former East bloc countries. Is this the peace dividend resulting from the thawing of the cold war?

Humanity First: Frederick doctor, Mission Ryan partner returning to Haiti

From Jan. 22 to Jan. 28, Choe and Zimmerman spent a week in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, offering medical assistance at a Humanity First-sponsored clinic in Port-au-Prince, opening a one-day medical clinic near the Haitian border.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit: The Frederick News-Post
By Ron Cassie for The Frederick News-Post

Three weeks after returning from a relief trip to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, Frederick Dr. Julian Choe and his Mission Ryan partner, Mark Zimmerman, are returning to aid earthquake victims.

Choe and Zimmerman have made seven previous trips to the Dominican Republic to bring medical care to sugar cane plantation workers. They have re-directed their efforts temporarily to assist victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake.

From Jan. 22 to Jan. 28, Choe and Zimmerman spent a week in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, offering medical assistance at a Humanity First-sponsored clinic in Port-au-Prince, opening a one-day medical clinic near the Haitian border and delivering $500 worth of powered milk to a Santo Domingo hospital overflowing with Haitian children.