Shamshad Nasir, Missionary, USA
Muhammad Ahmad Sahib reports that the Troy Public Library held a programme in coordination with Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Detroit, titled “Real Talk about Islam” on 5 March 2020.
The library administration advertised this event on their website in addition to the Jamaat’s poster, for more than six weeks. Reference Librarian, Natasha Rogers welcomed the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to the library and after a brief introduction, she invited Shamshad Nasir Sahib, Regional Missionary, to speak on the subject of “Real Talk about Islam”.
He thanked the library administration for organising such a wonderful programme and for inviting the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to represent Islam and addressed questions from the attendees.
He then thanked the Librarian, Natasha Rogers for hosting such an event at the Troy Public Library. Next, he welcomed and thanked the attendees as well for coming to attend the event and understand the basic teachings of Islam.
Shamshad Sahib started by providing a brief summary of the fundamental Islamic beliefs and the five pillars of Islam. He read verses from the Holy Quran and translated them into English, then gave a summary of the message the Holy Quran gives. Islam means peace. When we greet each other, we say ‘Assalamo alaikum’, which means peace be on you”.
At the end of the formal speech, Shamshad Sahib opened the forum for questions and answers.
Many attendees asked questions on a diverse set of topics. One of the attendees seemed to have come prepared with verses of the Holy Quran on Jihad and raised objections that the Holy Quran taught violence. Shamshad Sahib addressed his question in detail from the Holy Quran with the background of the verses and also compared the Quranic teachings to the teachings in the Bible.
Interestingly, a couple of attendees did not like the questioner’s way of back and forth arguing and so they started speaking in favour of Islam. One lady specifically took the questioner to task by saying, “I have many Muslim friends and they are very good people and I have learned many new aspects of the Islamic teaching today, and these are beautiful and peaceful teachings”.
Another lady also confronted the person saying that they had come over with some sort of agenda and they were not there to listen to their agenda. They had come to listen to an Imam.
Another attendee wanted to know more about the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and said that he had read about the community and that they were very peaceful and organised. He then posed his question “Why are Ahmadi Muslims not doing enough to counter the other Muslims who are either hurting Christians or killing others”.
To this, Shamshad Sahib answered that this very programme was a testament that we are here to spread the true teachings of Islam and remove any misunderstandings. We always respond to anything that other Muslims do in the name of Islam but actually has nothing to do even remotely with Islam. The gentleman agreed and said that he would also like to attend the Ramadan Open House Dinner and further learn about Islam, Insha-Allah.
May Allah the Almighty help spread the message of Ahmadiyyat – the true Islam – throughout the world. Amin