Terrorists ‘damaging the name of Islam’ says Muslim leader
Terrorists are doing irreparable damage to the name of Islam by committing “some of the worst possible atrocities”, according to a Muslim leader in Sheffield.
Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the city are attempting to repair the damage done by terrorists by emphasising their religion’s peaceful side and by highlighting the “life and character of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.”
They say that recent atrocities by terrorist groups have given people “the wrong impression that Islam is a religion of violence”.
On Saturday they held a special conference to help educate people about the true nature of Islam. Saeed Nazir, General Secretary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Sheffield and President of the Ahmadiyya Students Association Society at the University of Sheffield, said that some “Muslims are doing irreparable damage to its name by committing some of the worst possible atrocities”.
The special conference was held to educate people about the religion by “highlighting the life and character of the Holy Prophet Muhammad” because Islam as whole is being “tarnished”. He said: “It is very important for us to take a stance and try to educate the members of society that Islam is a religion of peace. It does not allow any sort of violence.”The event began with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by an introduction by the Community.
50% of those who attended the conference were non-muslims. According to Saeed, people should take it upon themselves to educate themselves whether a religion is “peaceful or not” and not let certain individuals who are violent decide for them.
He said that it is the individual who commits violence, not the religion.
“Christianity does not allow for violence, neither does Judaism and nor Islam.”
Such peace conferences create awareness and then allow those who attend them to spread the message of peace as well.
