Love for all
Elizabeth Dwinell writes about a visit from members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
Sevenoaks Local Meeting recently invited several members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (AMC) to come and give a presentation, having seen a notice from the University of the Third Age (U3A) Edenbridge. This consisted of a short lecture, a video, and a question and answer session.
Our guests set up a comprehensive exhibition of books and donated a copy of the Qur’an and other literature to the Meeting house library. Friends from Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Rochester, Blackheath and Ashford Meetings attended and nine people from the AMC.
In the lecture we heard about the importance of peace to Muslims, contrary to the image portrayed by extremist Islamic groups and in some press reports. ‘Islam’ means ‘peace’ and ‘submission to God’s will’. The motto of the Ahmadiyya Group is ‘Love for all – Hatred for none’. The articles of faith were listed:
1. The Unity of God
2. The existence of angels
3. The importance of the Qur’an
4. The belief in prophets
5. The Day of Judgement
6. The Divine Decree
The five pillars of Islam were explained:
1. God. ‘There is none worthy of worship except God. Muhammad is the Messenger of God’.
2. Prayer. The importance of prayer.
3. Fasting. Muslims fast for one month a year, from dawn to dusk.
4. Charity. A certain percentage of one’s income is donated to charity.
5. Pilgrimage. Undertaking the pilgrimage to Mecca.
The video showed examples of charity work, including emergency response teams in the UK and Africa, fundraising, education, worship and seminars, which are open to those of all faiths or none, to discuss the way forward to a lasting peace for all creation.
Several testimonials from various leaders in world politics and religion showed the international respect for the work the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has done since its founding over a century ago.
In the question and answer session, the speaker expanded on the subjects of nature, gender-separated prayer, creation, and studying the Bible alongside the Qur’an. Several aspects of the presentation were similar to our Quaker tradition, including historical persecution, witnessing for peace and tolerance, and the fundamental importance of faith as a personal experience.
We had a deep experience sharing our Meeting for Worship, lunch and the afternoon with the team members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Clapham Branch. We have been invited to visit the mosque in Morden.
Further information: www.alislam.org or www.ukmuslimsforpeace.org
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