Chino mosque members remember victims during Ramadan

Source/Credit: The SB Sun | Writer: Neil Nisperos | Date: 8/14/2010

CHINO - A year of tragedy is underscoring the importance of the 2010 Ramadan observance for the Ahmadiyya Muslim community.

The Baitul Hameed Mosque community in Chino, which serves hundreds of Ahmadiyya Muslims in the Inland Empire, began the observance on Wednesday.

Ramadan, a month of daily fasting, offers Muslims all over the world the opportunity to strengthen and deepen their spirituality in order to be closer to God.

Prayers this month will be dedicated to the victims of Ahmadiyya persecution, Chino Muslim community members said.

Taliban extremists killed 86 Ahmadiyya Muslims this past May as they were worshipping at two of the group's mosques in Lahore, Pakistan. More than 100 were seriously injured.

"During the month of Ramadan, special prayers will be offered for those who were murdered, and for the more than 100 people who were seriously injured," said Imam Shamshad Nasir, who heads the Chino mosque. "Some of them are still in the hospital and some of them lost their limbs during this attack. We are praying for them and their families."

Ahmadiyya Muslims contend their founder - the 19thcentury Indian-born Muslim cleric Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad - to be the messiah mentioned in the Quran. Because the belief is considered heretical by larger Muslims sects, Ahmadiyya groups have been violently persecuted for their beliefs, particularly in Pakistan where the state officially considers them non-Muslims.

Mubarika Sadiq, president of the regional women's auxiliary group for the local Ahmadiyya community, said many Ahmadiyyas in the area have ties to people who were injured or killed in Lahore.

"Everybody knew somebody who passed away or was injured or was affected," Sadiq said. "It was sad this happened, especially because we believe that Islam means peace. Our (Ahmadiyya) motto is love for all and hatred for none, so it's really sad. But at the same time, we don't want to respond in that kind of way. When struck by such a thing, we believe that it is a time for patience."

In addition to the attack, many in the Ahmadiyya community here also know those suffering through devastating monsoon flooding in Pakistan this summer that has killed about 1,600 and impacted millions.

"The flooding is so painful," said Aisha Mateen, a member of the Chino mosque's women's auxiliary. "This is a tragedy, but in the month of Ramadhan, we're going to pray more for the families suffering, the people that were martyred and the families left behind. We're going to pray for them more and more so that God gives them courage."

Local Ahmadiyya Muslims have been busy collecting donations to aid flood victims and survivors of the Lahore attacks, but aid for the poor in the local region is also a priority.

As part of Ramadan, the women's auxiliary is holding a "Feed the Hungry" outreach project. Boxes to collect non-perishable food items will be placed at the Baitul Hameed Mosque on Aug. 20. The food will be given to the Foothill Family Shelter in Upland.

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, runs for 30 days to Sept. 9.

For more information, call 909-627-2252

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Ahmadiyya Muslims to hold Annual Convention

LOS ANGELES (Source: India Post): The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has been holding its Annual Conventions, known as 'Jalsa Salana', in different parts of the world for over 100 years. This year marks the 24th Jalsa Salana West Coast, USA. Members from 11 chapters spanning from as far north as Seattle, Washington down through Oregon, California, Nevada, and Arizona will make the Journey to the Inland Empire, where for the first time in many years, the convention returns to the Baitul Hameed Mosque in Chino.

The event is set to begin on Friday, December 25 2009 and go on until Sunday, December 27, 2009.  Attendance is estimated to top 1000 this year, as members of the community from as far as Washington DC, Cleveland, Chicago, and even Canada are expected to attend.  

Many of the community's national office holders will be in attendance including the National Vice Presidents of the Community, and the newly appointed Missionary In-charge USA, Mr. Naseem Mahdi. Mr. Mahdi will address the audience on Sunday spaking about the Holy Prophet Muhammad and his service to Humankind.    

The purpose of the three day convention as laid out by the founder of the community, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, is to enable every sincere individual to personally experience religious benefits and so that they may enhance their knowledge. Topics this year range on a vast number of issues including, Calling people to God and how to best convey the Message of Islam. 

Women will also have their own session, in which dealing with today's recession will be addressed. The national president of the community's women's auxiliary, Dr. Shenaz Butt is also expected to address the gathering.

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Members Gather to Study Life of Prophet

Chino-(source: Staff Writer) Members of the Mosque gathered Saturday evening to begin a weekly group book-reading session. The session is open to all who wish to attend. In this session members read and discuss books of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

The first book choosen was Life of Muhammad In the first session a interesting dialogue took place where participants compared Arabia at the time of the Prophet to today's society. These sessions will take place every Saturday before the evening prayer (Maghrib).