MUSLIMS DRIVE FORWARD ‘BRITISH’ VALUES – Community marks 125 year anniversary country
A British Muslim community whose worldwide headquarters are in London has sponsored 125 buses to run in the South-West of England and Wales to mark 125 years since its foundation in 1889.
It is part of a wider awareness campaign that has spanned the UK from Glasgow to Bournemouth and also sponsored buses across the UK during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee congratulating Her Majesty The Queen.
Its message is simple – that it stands for loyalty, freedom, equality, respect and peace, values common to Islam and Britain.
Muhammad Noman, Regional President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community South West said:
“There remains a concern about Islam especially in light of events in other countries carried out by Jihadist groups. We certainly believe in Jihad – but the true concept of Jihad is one of self-reformation and not of harming others.
“A true Muslim can never raise his voice in hatred against his fellow citizens, nor for that matter against the ruling authority or government of the time. He should remain loyal and fully abide by the laws of the land of which he is a subject.”
The campaign comes at a time when there are renewed debates for ‘British values’ to be asserted by all the citizens of Britain.
Muhammad Noman added: “The true peaceful Islam is poles apart from the exclusion and hatred that is preached by a minority. Such extremists do not represent Islam, yet, through the media, their words and deeds have a damaging impact on Muslims and non-‐Muslims every day. By emphasising the values highlighted in our campaign we hope to facilitate a better understanding of Islam so that people are able to judge for themselves the actions of those who claim to speak and act in its good name. Islam stresses the promotion of peace in words and deeds.”
The buses will feature the community’s slogan of ‘Love for All, Hatred for None’ representing the essence of the true call of Islam – a message that is anathema to the extremists bent on murder and mayhem.
The bus campaign is part of a wider series of activities to mark 125 years of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community. This includes interfaith peace symposiums, fundraising events in aid of British charities
