Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community lays foundation stone for new Mosque in Frankenthal, Germany
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad says Islam has liberated women and granted them true freedom
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is pleased to announce that on 30 August 2016, the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad laid the foundation stone for the first Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosque in the German town of Frankenthal in the State of Rhineland-Pflaz. His Holiness has named it the ‘Noor Mosque’ (Mosque of Light).
Around 95 guests attended the ceremony, including various dignitaries, such as the Lord Mayor of Frankenthal, Martin Hebich and the State Minister of Migration and Integration, Miguel Vicente.
During the formal session, Abdullah Wagishauser, the National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Germany, gave a welcome address, followed by guest remarks by dignitaries.
Lord Mayor, Martin Hebich said:
“We are extremely pleased that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is part of our community and that you are building your own Mosque here because you have been at the forefront of promoting peace, openness and tolerance.”
Minister for Migration and Integration, Miguel Vicente said:
“Immigrants, no matter their religion or background, should adhere to our system of democracy and having known the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community for many years, I know that you certainly believe in this value. Indeed the fact that you are persecuted in certain countries and denied your rights means that you value freedom and democracy even more than others.”
The keynote address was delivered by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, who explained the true purposes of Mosques and the peaceful objectives of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
Reflecting upon the teachings of Islam, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“You can summarise the teachings of the Holy Quran in two lines – to fulfil the rights of worship of God Almighty and to fulfil the rights of God’s Creation.”
Outlining the objectives of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is that community which was established only for the sake of spreading a message of peace, security, love and mercy throughout the world.”
At a time when it is often alleged that Islam does not grant equality between the sexes, His Holiness spoke of how Islam had established the true freedom of women and enshrined their rights.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Islam guarantees the rights of women and has granted them true freedom. Its teachings liberate women and enable them to step out of the shadow of men and to excel and contribute to society in the very best way.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad continued:
“With the Grace of Allah, Ahmadi Muslim children are all well educated and often our girls and ladies excel our boys and men. This in itself refutes the erroneous belief that Islam does not fulfil the rights of women.”
His Holiness said that a Mosque was a House of God and as such was open to all peace-loving people. Hence, it was incumbent upon true Muslims to serve all members of society, irrespective of their faith or backgrounds.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Earlier the Lord Mayor said that this plot of land was previously owned by the authorities and was now under the ownership of our Community. However, according to our belief, a Mosque is a House of God and so it is not the property of any particular individual or community. Rather, when this Mosque or any true Mosque is built its ownership remains in the Hand of Allah the Almighty.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad continued:
“The very first chapter of the Holy Quran states that Allah the Almighty is the Lord of all the Worlds and so He is the Lord of every person, whether Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim or of any other belief. Thus, when the ownership of a Mosque lies with that God who is the Lord of all the Worlds, it follows that the Mosque will forever be a source of peace, refuge and tranquillity for all people.”
Thanking the Lord Mayor for a tree he had gifted to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community on behalf of the town, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“I wish to thank the Lord Mayor for the generous gift of a tree which he said was a sign of the strong roots we have laid in this town. This was a very kind sentiment on his part. Islam says that Muslims should follow the commands of Allah and so become like those trees that have strong roots in the ground but whose branches reach the heavens.”
His Holiness refuted the allegation that true Muslims were a threat to the people of the West or any other part of the world. He said that those who conducted terrorist acts or promoted extremism were acting against Islam’s true teachings.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Islam teaches a Muslim to be loyal to the nation in which he resides. Certainly, Ahmadi Muslims should be and are known as those people who follow the law of the land more than anyone else. They should be known as the people who strive above all others towards the progress of their nation and as the people who spread the message of peace, security and love in their society.”
Concluding, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Where on the one hand, Ahmadi Muslims who will attend this Mosque will fulfil the rights of Allah the Almighty, it is also incumbent upon them to fulfil the rights of their neighbours and the wider society. In Islam the scope of a neighbour is extremely wide, and so in essence, every person living in this town is our neighbour.”
Following the conclusion of his address, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad laid the foundation stone for the new Mosque.
The respected wife of His Holiness, Hazrat Amtul Sabooh Begum also laid a stone in the foundation of the Mosque and thereafter the Lord Mayor, other dignitaries and a number of Central, National and Local Ahmadi Muslim officials also laid stones.
The event concluded with a silent prayer led by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad.