|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
As-salamu alaykum simply means ‘peace be upon you,’ and that’s exactly the message a group from the Ahmadiyya Muslim community sought to deliver during a recent visit to Pukekohe.
Ahead of their visit, the group’s imam (or leader) Asif Munir was a little concerned that his group would not be welcome here.
“I put a notice on Facebook to say we were coming but we received so much hostility and a lot of nasty comments. I think some people spread a lot of Islamophobia because there are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to the teachings of Islam,” he says.
“But when we arrived, it was very different – we received so much love from people who genuinely wanted to know what Islam really means because so many wrongly associate it with violence and extremism.”
From their table on King Street, Munir and his fellow envoys found passers by were welcoming and interested to learn.
“In Pukekohe, we spent time speaking with locals, answering questions and working to build greater understanding about Islam,” Munir says. “We shared our chai (tea) with people who talked with us and there were so many good people that we ran out.”
Pukekohe was one of the most recent stops for the group as they seek to spread understanding in towns and cities across the North Island.
Fittingly, given the tour concludes on Anzac Day, core to their message is fostering unity due to the growing risks of global conflict and the dangers of nuclear weapons.
“This campaign is inspired by the guidance of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. He has consistently spoken about the need for peace, justice and global stability in the world,” Munir says.
“Given the current global climate, grassroots efforts promoting dialogue are important. During the tour, we’ve had meaningful conversations about his message with a wide range of people.”
These issues and more will be discussed during the Baitul Muqeet Mosque open day in nearby Wiri on Anzac Day. Everyone, regardless of their faith is welcome.
