Ahmadi Muslims & Jews breakfast together

Fasting is an act of worship, a historic tradition and a test of obedience and holiness. Fasting deepens one’s connection to God. It encourages charity and care for the poor. And those who fast are helped to remember the blessings of life. Members of two faiths shared those and other thoughts on fasting at a rare gathering Tuesday evening in Lynwood, USA. After the sun was down, the event ended with a sumptuous meal where Muslims and Jews joined together …

July 4 And The Ahmadiyya – OpEd By Katrina Lantos Swett

Last Saturday, on June 29, I was honored to speak in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to the Ahmadiyya Muslim American Community’s 65th Annual Convention. For the past several years, the Ahmadiyya have chosen Harrisburg for their convention, just days before America’s July 4 celebration. Two hours east of Harrisburg is Philadelphia, where our Declaration of Independence was signed on that date. Less than an hour south is Gettysburg, where 150 years ago, in the days leading up to July 4, a crucial …

Khalifa of Islam Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad presented with key to Los Angeles

The Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat and Fifth Khalifa, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad delivered the keynote address at a special reception held in his honour at the Montage in Beverly Hills, LA on 11 May 2013. More than 300 politicians, academics and community leaders attended, including the California Lieutenant Governor, mayoral candidate Eric Garcetti, and several members of the United States Congress. During the event the Los Angeles City Council presented Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad with the golden key …

Clamoring for the Khalifa

CHINO, Calif.—This week, thousands of families arrayed in their colorful best are crowding into a sprawling mosque set among the golden hills of this old agricultural community east of Los Angeles. Some have come from across the country, and some from as far as Ghana. A few even risked travel out of Syria. They clamor to see Mirza Masroor Ahmad, a subdued, 62-year-old former wheat farmer and the world’s only “Muslim Pope.” The khalifa, as he is called, is the …

“Muhammad: Messenger of Peace” event to be held in Washington DC

As part of a nationwide campaign launched this month Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is inviting members of the public to come and learn more about the Holy Prophet of Islam Muhammad SAW. All across the USA over 70 chapters of the community are taking part in this first ever nationwide “Muhammad Messenger of Peace” campaign. The campaign aims to afford all Americans the opportunity to understand Prophet Muhammad’s views on human rights, women’s rights, war and peace, and interfaith harmony in …

Ahmadi Muslims meet US lawmakers on persecution in Pakistan

Washington: Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community during their ‘Day on the Hill’ on last Friday briefed US lawmakers on their alleged persecution in Pakistan, official sources have said. Community leaders from 30 States visited nearly 400 Congressional offices on the Hill and met lawmakers and their staff on the issues of their concerns during their third annual event held on February 15, according to a media release issued on Wednesday. Delegates to the event briefed a broad array of …

Oshkosh Interfaith event brings Catholic & Muslim leaders together

Leaders from St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Oshkosh came together last week for an interfaith discussion with the community to highlight the positive contributions religion has made to the world. Father Luke Ferris, of St. Raphael, and Khurram Ahmad, president of the Ahmadiyya community in Oshkosh, each spoke about how their religions have affected society during the forum at the community’s mosque on Eagle Street. The speakers were followed by a question and …

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 …

Ahmadiyya sympathy over Connecticut school shooting

CHINO – Leaders of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s Baitul Hameed Mosque conveyed their sympathy and condolences to the families of Sandy Hook Elementary School during their afternoon sermon today. Earlier, a gunman opened fire inside Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut, killing 26 people, most of them children. “We are so sorry, we are so sad, it is great tragedy not just for the people of that town, although they have suffered a lot there are feeling more pain …

Pakistan, when will you accept me?

Though I was born in Pakistan, I was still a baby when my dad had to move to The Gambia in West Africa. The Gambia is a small peaceful country. Here, I remember my mother teaching me the Urdu  Qaida and telling me interesting stories about Pakistan. I could see she missed Pakistan a great deal. She would sometimes break down in tears, relating stories of the persecution she had witnessed growing up in her hometown in Sindh. My father …

Khalifa of Islam to Visit United States

His Holiness to speak at Capitol Hill and attend oldest annual Muslim convention Thousands of American Muslims wait in anticipation for the historic U.S. visit of His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, worldwide spiritual and administrative head (Khalifa) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, in June.  As the Muslim leader commanding the largest following of Muslims in the world, His Holiness visits the U.S. shortly after contacting several world leaders — including President Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Iranian President …