Ghana: Ahmadiyya Imam call for Eid to be the sign of lasting peace

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The Ahmadi Muslims, led by the Ashanti Regional Missionary, Maulvi Masroor Ahmed Muzaffar, used the occasion to pray for peace and prosperity for the nation.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch |
Source/Credit: Ghana Web
By Daily Graphic | August 9, 2013

At the celebration of the Eid by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission at the T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School Park, the Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Yaw Adusei, called on Muslims to translate the spiritual significance of Eid-Ul-Fitr into the peace of the nation.

He said this year’s Eid was very significant, as it happened at the time the Supreme Court was preparing to give its ruling on the presidential election petition.

Mr Adusei, therefore, admonished the congregation to continuously pray not only for their welfare but also the peace and harmony of the nation.

“Ghana is at a critical period of its democratic journey and the patience and hospitality of Ghanaians are under serious test,” he said, adding, “This is time to prove to the outside world that Ghana is really democratically mature.”
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Perspective: My name is human

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Though Pakistan was founded by people who believed in a more enlightened understanding of Islam, they were unable to formulate it properly into legislation before the country was taken over by more extremist elements, therefore this country is still in the midst of this debate.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Int'l Desk
Source/Credit: Daily Dawn | Pakistan
By Arieb Azhar | August 6, 2013

There was a time when the Christian church used to insist upon establishing ‘the kingdom of heaven’ on earth through the state. This doctrine was made the basis to justify many crimes of humanity that were committed in God’s name, such as the Medieval and the Spanish Inquisitions and the Crusade wars.

The separation of the church and state in the Christian world was first established by the German monk Martin Luther. His doctrine of the ‘two kingdoms of God’, one of a secular state and one of establishing faith in the hearts of believers through the Gospels, came to be known as the Protestant Reformation. In his book, ‘On Secular Authority’, he advocated the principle of ‘the liberty of conscience’ – which prohibits any human authority from coercing anyone’s spiritual beliefs. He insisted that God requires voluntary belief, and that since coerced belief is always insincere, it must never be allowed.
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UK: Richard Dawkins' tweets on Islam are as rational as the rants of an extremist Muslim cleric

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The whole process of trying to parse the painfully obvious fallacy reminded me of the task of arguing against extremist Muslim clerics when they try to denigrate non-Muslims, the same momentary sense of helplessness and not knowing where to start.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | UK Desk
Source/Credit: The Guardian | UK
By Nesrine Malik | August 8, 2013

My Eid was interrupted by Richard Dawkins tweeting about how few Nobel prizes Muslims have won. His logic rings a bell ...

Today is the first day of Eid, the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. I took the day off, as Eid on your own at work without family can be a rather bleak affair, and was surprised to find that when I logged on to Twitter (not a nice place over the past few days) there were lots of genuine Eid messages from non-Muslims and Muslim fasters, luxuriating in their first morning teas in a month. Even David Cameron's "Eid Mubarak" registered quite low on my cynicism scale. I posted my own Eid greeting, and proceeded to bask in the unfamiliar good will of the morning.

Then Richard Dawkins, like a guest arriving too drunk to a polite and civil party, crashed into Eid. His tweet, apropos nothing at all, jarring with all the rest stated:

All the world's Muslims have fewer Nobel Prizes than Trinity College, Cambridge. They did great things in the Middle Ages, though.

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Ghana: Minister calls for spiritual leadership for Wa Zongo community

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Maulvi Abdul Hamid Tahir, the Regional Missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission who led the prayers thanked Allah for giving all Muslims good health and the courage to go through the Ramadan successfully.

Dr. Ephraim Avea Nsoh

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch |
Source/Credit: Ghana News Agency
By GNA | August 8, 2013

GNA – Dr. Ephraim Avea Nsoh, the Upper West Regional Minister, has appealed to the Regional Chief Imam and the Muslim leadership in Wa to use time tested practices of Islam to select an Imam for the Zongo Community in the town.

He said an Imam was a spiritual leader whose selection should be peaceful and devoid of rancour to enable him to lead his community as Allah requires of him.

Dr. Nsoh made the appeal when he joined the Ahmadiyya Muslim community at their prayer ground in Wa to mark the end of the Ramadan.

He also appealed to the leaders of the various religious groups within the Islamic religion in Wa to religiously guide the utterances, behaviour and actions of their followers to live together in harmony.
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Perspective: Midnight Oil

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Among this dedicated group a good number were young; the age when sleep is sweet and comforting. But these people knew well that worship is more precious and comforting then sleep. 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: Ahmadiyya Times
By Rashid Arshed | August 8, 2012

I drove into the parking lot of Baitul Hamid mosque in Chino, California. It was very early in the morning. The lights of prayer hall were extinguished and Adhan (call to prayer) had not been called yet. But the Conference room on the ground floor and the rooms upstairs were brightly lit. Lit they were not only by the electric power but by the power of Noor, a spiritual light that was evident in the atmosphere.

It was the last Ashra (ten days) of Ramadhan and about 22 adults, male and female were in Itekaaf. Three people in the Conference rooms were about to finish their Sehri (Ramdhan morning meal), as I could see them through the window. The people upstairs and in the women's area must be also about to close their Sehri and preparing for the Fajr (morning prayers). They must have been up most of the night supplicating and offering Tahajjad (early AM prayers) prayer to seek the pleasure of Allah.

Some of them getting up at one O’ clock, the others a bit earlier or later. Among this dedicated group a good number were young; the age when sleep is sweet and comforting. But these people knew well that worship is more precious and comforting then sleep.
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USA: Dallas Muslim community celebrates Eid to mark end of Ramadan

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"It is also a special opportunity to build bridges of understanding with our non-Muslim neighbors, and that is why we invite all Americans to join us in Eid festivities Friday."

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: Allen American Star
By Allen American | August 8, 2013

American Muslims nationwide will gather Aug. 9 to celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan in a festival known as Eid-ul-Fitr. The joyous day comes as a reminder for all Muslims to reflect on their spiritual condition after a month of fasting and to work towards maintaining and improving it through prayers and righteous conduct.

During this month Muslims pay Fitrana, which is an important form of charity spent on the needy so they too can enjoy the festivities of Eid. Fitrana is yet another reminder of sacrificing for the cause of humanity.

"Eid is a time of celebration, reflection, and charity," said Wasim Malik, national vice president of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA. "It is also a special opportunity to build bridges of understanding with our non-Muslim neighbors, and that is why we invite all Americans to join us in Eid festivities Friday."
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Ghana: Ahmadiyya leader asks political parties to accept Supreme Court verdict

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Maulvi Yusuf Yawson gave the assurance that Ahmadiyya Muslims would continue to be law-abiding and promote peace, unity and stability.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch |
Source/Credit: Ghana Business
By GNA | August 8, 2013

The National Democratic Congress and New Patriotic Party, the two parties involved in the 2012 election petition before the Supreme Court, have been advised to accept the verdict of the court to ensure peace.

Maulvi Muhammad Yusuf Yawson, Deputy Ameer of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, who made the call, however, said any of the parties that would not be satisfied with the court’s verdict, could seek redress by going for a review of the decision.

He made the call after Muslims said prayers on the occasion of the Eid-Al-Fitr celebration at Ahmadiyya Muslim Conference Centre at Ashongman, Accra, on Thursday.

Eid-Al-Fitr is celebrated to mark the end of Ramadan (fasting) which is one of the fundamental pillars of Islam.
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