A MEMBER of a
Southside based Islamic sect that promotes peace and tolerance has offered an
insight into how they reach out the local community in a bid encourage
understanding among Irish people.
Originally from
Pakistan, Imran Ahmed Sheikh (32), now lives in Lucan where he is just one of
about 150 members of the Irish branch of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association.
The association
is a specific sect of Islam and its members congregate and pray at a makeshift
mosque, which doubles as a community centre, at Fforster Walk in Lucan.
Imran explained
that the motto of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association is
‘love for all and hatred
for none’.
He said the sect
is the leading Islamic organisation that categorically rejects terrorism in any
form though the promotion of
“Jihad of the pen
? rather than the sword.
“It is a
dynamic, fast growing international revival movement within Islam,
? he
explained.
“Founded in 1889, it spans over 195 countries with a membership
exceeding tens of millions.
?
In sharp
contrast to fundamentalist Islamic groups that demand that strict Sharia law is
enforced in the countries where they live, the Ahmadiyya Association firmly
believes that Islam and religion should be kept separate.
“We believe that
the religious affairs and the planning of the state should be separate,
? Imran
said.
“The separation
is important because otherwise the political view will influence the religious
beliefs. As well as that there should be no dictating to people in one state
that they should be following one religion as opposed to another.
?
Imran explained
that the sect has one major difference from all other forms of Islam in that it
follows the teachings of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who founded the Ahmadiyya movement
in the late 19th century.
“There are many
sects in Islam,
? he stated.
“There is one major difference in our sect compared
to others. In Christianity they are waiting for the second coming but we
believe that the person we were waiting for arrived in 1889. He was a prophet
but he is in subordination to the first prophet, Mohammed.
?
This year
Ramadan, which is the Islamic period of fasting, coincided with the entire
month of August and ended on Thursday, September 1.
It is the period
when participating Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex
during daylight hours. The aim of the month long fast is to teach Muslims the
virtues of patience and humility to enhance their spirituality and ultimately
bring them closer to God.
According to
Imran, fasting during the month of Ramadan helped the members of the sect in
Lucan to heighten their spiritual awareness.
“Ramadan is
similar to lent,
? he revealed.
“In the mornings we wake up at about 4am and eat
breakfast. During the day then you cannot eat or drink and at 9pm or so you end
the fast.
“Once you go in
this mode your whole routine is the same. You still go to work and you still do
normal things but your way of thinking is different and you go into a different
kind of state.
“Maybe you are
thinking about people who are needy, like the poor people in Africa because
they don’t even have food or water for days. You are thinking about them and
you are thanking God that you are living in a country that has all these basic
needs. Ramadan allows you to become closer to God.
?
In addition,
Imran revealed how the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association has worked hard recently to
integrate with the local community in Lucan.
“There are two
nursing homes in Lucan and every Christmas time we go there and we celebrate
with the residents. We also recently organised a week long exhibition about
Islam in the Pearse Street Library.
?
Prominent
members of the association, including its national president Dr Aleem Uddin,
held an open day and an exhibition to coincide with the end of Ramadan.
At the open day
members of the association were available to answer questions that members of the
public had about Ramadan or the end of Ramadan, which is known as Eid.
Anyone who wants
to learn more about the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association can log to
www.alislam.org. Imran can also be contacted by sending and email to
imranahmed20@hotmail.com