Rabwah Times

My Take: New Year’s resolution – don’t get murdered

My New Year’s resolution is to not die for my faith. I’d hoped that 2012 would bring a revolution among Muslims and Muslim-majority nations to free oppressed minds. Yet I find myself still waiting to not die.  That’s the “curse” of being an Ahmadi Muslim in too much of the Muslim world. Ahmadi Muslims believe Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) is the long awaited messiah and Mahdi the Prophet Mohammed foretold, sent to unite mankind and establish peace. But this isn’t …

Ahmadis prepare for Australia Day celebrations

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Australia (AMAA) are inviting residents to celebrate Australia Day at their centenary hall at Marsden Park on Sunday, January 27. The association, which is actively involved in social work in The Hills through the year, said they will celebrate “what’s great about Australia and being an Australian.” The 2-4pm program will include displays, library visits, refreshments, guest speakers and speeches. “It’s about reflecting on what we have achieved and are proud of in this great nation,”spokesman …

Khatme Nabuwat hoax prompts Ahmadi mosque search

It turned out to be a rumour that around 25 members of Ahmadiyya community managed to gather at a ‘disputed’ worship place in Rawalpindi to attend Friday prayers, when local police carried out a search operation of the building on the request of a mob, fraught with great emotion, gathered in front of the worship place. The rumour was aired by none other than Sharjil Mir, the head of so-called Action Committee Khatm-e-Nabuwat. However, later it exposed that Mir had …

Taliban kill 21 kidnapped Pakistani soldiers

The bullet-riddled bodies of the personnel were found on Saturday night, two days after they were abducted from their military post located a short distance from Peshawar, the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. On 27th December around 30 Taliban armed with mortars and rocket launchers launched an attack on two checkpoints south of Peshawar, killing two security personnel, wounding another and kidnapping 23 others. Taliban lined up the Levies personnel on a cricket pitch and tied their hands with rope before …

Ahmadi Muslims gather in Chino for annual gathering

About 1,500 Ahmadis — a Muslim minority in Pakistan — live in Southern California, and 20,000 nationwide. Persecuted for years, Ahmadis are considered heretical for believing there was a prophet after Muhammad. They’re gathering at Baitul Hameed Mosque in Chino this weekend for their annual convention. Discussions at the event, which is open to the public, will focus on the life of the Prophet Muhammad and his significance for people of all faiths. Over the last decade, various religious groups …

Ahmadis arrive in India for 121st annual convention

AMRITSAR: Ahmadiyya’s from across the world including Pakistan would converge at Qadian in Gurdaspur district to participate in the three day 121st Annual Convention of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamat, India beginning on December 29th. The Ahmadiyya Muslim community within Islam was founded in 1889 and spans over 250 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions having current headquarters in UK, informed Secretary Press Committee, Sheikh Mujahid Ahmad . Notably In Pakistan Ahmadiyya’s have been declared as non Muslims, they are not …

Ahmadi Muslim Women share baubles for Peace

BERINGEN – On Tuesday morning visitors to the Municipal Administrative Centre (SAC) got a nice surprise as the women from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association presented Christmas ornaments. The women wanted to do a little something to express their gratitude to the local population, because they can live and work in Belgium. Turkish, Moroccan, Italian and women of other origins also took part in the action. ‘ Today is the International Day of Migrants ‘, explained Executive Yasemin Soysal, the staff …

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: Commemorative tree planted

A tree was planted to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee year, which was donated to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Women and girls from the group gathered on Tooting Bec Common to plant the commemorative tree last week. The tree was awarded to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community charity by the National Tree Council, and is one of 60 donated to mark the occasion. Councillor Nicola Nardelli, deputy mayor of Wandsworth and Pauline Buchanan, director general of the tree council took part in …

Christmas gifts from Ahmadi Muslim Women

Schleswig. Many children have to spend Christmas in hospital. The compassion to these children called Anela Shoaib Arshad and Maria, members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat community in Schleswig to action. Together with their mothers and Zubida Qamat Shoaib Arshad they contacted to Dr. Martin Jung, chief of child and adolescent psychiatry at the Helios Clinic, because they wanted the children prepare a Christmas joy. For many years, the community engaged regularly for the benefit of the community and the …

Germany’s first Institute of Islamic Theology opens in Hessen

On 17th December the Ahmadiyya Muslim community opened the first & only “Institute of Islamic theology and languages.” in Hessen, Germany. Students will complete a seven year course in Quranic interpretations, Islamic mysticism, Arabic and German history in the center. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat started construction of the new center three years ago in Riedstadt, located about 45 kilometers south of Frankfurt. The new Islamic institute takes up approximately 7,000 square meters, which include seven classrooms, an auditorium for 100 …

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon made Lord-in-Waiting to the Queen

LONDON: A Pakistani origin House of Lords member has been made Lord in Waiting to the Queen Elizabeth II at her majesty The Queen’s household. Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon an active member of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has formally taken up his role at The Queen’s household. In this role, Lord Tariq will perform various duties of state, including the receiving of heads of states on behalf of her majesty. Lord Ahmad formally assumed his duties alongside fellow Conservative ministers, …

Muhammad: When bad things happen to good people, maintain trust in God

As we prepare to lay 26 souls to rest in Newtown, Conn., countless are left behind, alone. As long as good people have existed, bad things have happened to them. And as long as religion has existed, believers and non-believers alike rightfully ask, “Why does God let bad things happen to good people?” Islam’s answer to the question of suffering does not serve to “justify” or mitigate the pain associated with the horror of losing a child. Nor does it …