Interfaith Leaders gather at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Comm. Center

Interfaith leaders from around Michigan gathered at Masjid Mahmood, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Center on March 15th as part of the Detroit Regional Interfaith Voice for Equity’s monthly meeting.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community hosted the leaders and welcomed 45+ leaders from various congregations.

Imam Shamshad Nasir Regional Imam and Missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Detroit kicked off the meeting with Islamic greeting of peace and welcomed the interfaith leaders to Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Center.

In his welcome remarks, Imam Shamshad Nasir provided an introduction of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community and its founder Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be upon him). He elaborated the peaceful teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and how Ahmadiyya Muslim Community truly adheres to those teachings in all of their actions including welcoming with open arms any and all faiths to our community center.

Imam Shamshad Nasir said “Ahmadi Muslims are those Muslims who believe that the second coming of Jesus has been fulfilled in the person of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (a.s) of Qadian” The messiah that so many faiths have been anxiously waiting for including Muslims, Hindus, Christians and Jews has come with all the signs and conditions foretold in the religious scriptures.

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (a.s) brought back the teachings that muslims have forgotten or have twisted.

Rev. John Harvey, Serenity Christian in Hazel Park, Rev. Louis Forsythe, Pleasant Grove MBC in Detroit and Rev. Louise Ott, Congregational Church of Birmingham later gave brief presentations on the DRIVE initiatives and encouraged DRIVE members to be actively make the organization of the Interfaith leaders a successful and active by participating and becoming members.

After the meeting, guests gathered in the gym area for a delicious lunch provided by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Many of the guests had the opportunity to take a tour of the mosque and the community center. The leaders remarked about the beautiful layout of the mosque and many of the open features including the library area.

The appreciated many of the displays in the mosque and library area. Many leaders took books on Philosophy of the teachings of Islam and other literature, brochures.

The interfaith leaders thanked Imam Shamshad Nasir and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community for inviting, hosting and for the delicious food.

Many of the Interfaith leaders remarked that they had never been to a mosque and that this was their very first time they have been in a mosque. There were three leaders who specifically asked to continue further dialogue and interaction with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. One of the pastors asked if he can bring a group of 20+ people from his congregation to visit the mosque and have a dialogue with the Imam. He promised to get back with specifics and potential date and time.

In all, 45 members participated in the program. The program ended with prayers by Apostle John Harvey, followed by Lunch and Social hour.

More than 20 pamphlets about Introduction to Islam and Ahmadiyyat and Jihad were taken by the attendees along with few copies of philosophy of the teachings of Islam.

Many religious leaders met with Imam Shamshad and other members of the Ahmadiyys Muslim Community during social hour and expressed their feelings of gratitude for hosting the meeting at the Masjid Mahmood.

Interfaith leaders left with a great impression of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and showed interest in future dialogue.

About the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a dynamic and fast growing international revival movement within Islam, founded in 1889. Today its membership exceeds tens of millions globally spanning 200 countries. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community came to Detroit in 1921 and founded the longest running Muslim periodical in America called the "Muslim Sunrise". We have initiated campaigns such as Muslims for Peace, Muslims for Loyalty, and Muslims for Life — where the latter has raised 90,000 pints of blood with the American Red Cross to commemorate the victims of 9/11.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community,
1730 W. Auburn Rd, Rochester Hills, Michigan 48309
Contact: Muhammad Ahmad, Director Outreach
(248) 677-1318), muhammad.ahmad@ahmadiyya.us
www.TrueIslam.com | www.alislam.org | www.muslimsforpeace.org