Thousands attend opening of new Ahmadiyya Mosque in Vancouver
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad inaugurates the Baitur Rahman Mosque with Friday Sermon
The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat and Fifth Khalifa, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad inaugurated the Baitur Rahman Mosque in Vancouver on 17 May 2013 by delivering his weekly Friday Sermon from the new Mosque.
The Mosque, which is the largest Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosque in British Columbia, was packed with more than 3,000 Ahmadi Muslim men, women and children who had travelled from across Canada to attend the opening. Ahmadi Muslims from the United States and certain other countries were also in attendance.
Speaking about the significance of the new Mosque, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“With the Grace of Allah the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat is today opening a new Mosque in the Canadian Province of British Columbia. A Mosque has a special effect both on Muslims and non-Muslims alike. When a Mosque is built, new avenues of spreading the message of Islam are created and this is why the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat continually reminded his followers about the importance of constructing Mosques.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said that upon the opening of Baitur Rahman the responsibilities of the local Ahmadi Muslims had increased. He said it was imperative that they practiced what they preached and that no difference existed between their words and their actions. Ahmadi Muslims had to spread the true message of peaceful Islam not just through their words, but through their conduct and behaviour.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Prove to those who come to visit this Mosque that every single act of an Ahmadi Muslim is conducted with the intention of benefitting and helping others. It is due to the teachings of Islam and the Quran that we think only of benefitting others, rather than favouring ourselves. Indeed, we do not just think of helping others but through our acts we work towards this aim. God Willing, with the opening of this Mosque people will witness for themselves this reality.”