Sunday 12 October 2008
By Willy BraccianoA sign that reads "behind these walls is the Moubarak Mosque" is the only clue on a street in the French town of Saint-Prix to the presence of the first mosque to be built in in the country for the Ahmadiyya movement. The modern building blends in with the others in this residential neighbourhood.
Thierry Kponou, a member of the community, said: "The word Moubarak means 'benediction' and 'thank you'. This is really an appropriate name for a mosque built with the help of so many people!"
These people are the Ahmadis, a community that considers itself Muslim, though rejected by mainstream Islam. 1,000 Ahmadis live in France. Most settled here 26 years ago in the town of Saint-Prix. They reject the idea of Holy War and advocate peace.
Omar Ahmed, a mosque official, said the community is founded upon "love for all, hate for no one. We embrace all the concepts related to this philosophy: mutual aid, solidarity. This has been our path for more than a century."
The movement was founded in 1889 in India by Ghulam Ahmad, who claimed to be the Mahdi, the promised messiah. The 20-million-strong community is now established in 193 countries across the world. Despite distinctive beliefs, their spiritual culture is similar to Islam.
Ashfaq Rabbani, president of the Ahmadiyya community in France, said: "We pray five times a day. We fast, observe the Ramadan, celebrate Eid. It’s all the same: the Ahmadiyya community respects the five pillars of Islam and accept the Koran as the holy text. The only difference is that we believe that Ghulam Madhi is the promised messiah."
It is for this belief that the Ahmadis were labelled "non-Muslim" by the Organization of the Islamic Conference in 1973.
Masroor Ahmad, the caliph and fifth successor to the self-proclaimed Mahdi, came from London to inaugurate the mosque. He is the community’s supreme leader, similar to the pope for the Catholics.
Ahmed Nasser, an Ahmadi missionary, said: "We say that the messiah is here to shine his light on what religions have taught us and to reunite all these religions."
Discriminated against in many countries, particularly Pakistan, the Ahmadi have generated a lot of anger, mostly among extremist Muslims.
The mayor of Saint-Prix, Jean-Pierre Enjalbert, was at first against the idea of an Ahmadiyya mosque in his town, but later changed his mind and gave his approval.
Said Enjalbert: "What reassured us is the fact we’ve got to know them through all these years, had time to observe them, see how they act. I came to many meetings, listened to what they had to say and learned what their message was."
Thanks to satellite TV and the Internet, the Ahmadiyya message is reaching beyond borders and local censorship. Broadcasting 24 hours a day, their TV Channel airs the inauguration ceremonies for each new mosque live. The next one is due to open in Berlin this week.
16/11/2008 11:20:12 Alert a moderator
lol
By Maurice - Mauritius
In fact brother.. In Mauritius, Ahmadiyya has 12 Masjid I think (regardless the missions converted into masjid)... well, of course, we'll compete in building more mosques to win Allah's Pleasure, but with FRANCE??? are u sure about u wanna challenge us???lol... well, anyway, Congrats France.. Its nice to see that uve finally been gifted the opportunity to Adore Allah in a Mosque... May Allah continue to make France Prosperous, and may HE and Only HE be our Protector till the end of days.. Praise to Allah, the Lord of All the Worlds..
28/10/2008 04:29:17 Alert a moderator
Jamaat Mauritius should take tuition
By A Mauritian - Mauritius
LOVE FOR ALL, HATRED FOR NONE.
Jamaat Mauritius should take tuition from Jamaat France.
20/10/2008 20:08:18 Alert a moderator
Inauguration of Moubarack Mosque
By Moussa Taujoo - Mauritius
The Ahmadi Muslims place great importance on the construction of Mosques and are building hundreds of such places of worship all over the world to glorify Allah Almighty. By their motto ‘Love for All Hatred for None’ and their practice, the Ahmadi Muslims show that Islam is a religion that teaches peace, love and service to humanity irrespective of creed, caste or colour.
20/10/2008 13:21:11 Alert a moderator
The Truth:
By Ahmad1 - CH
To know and understand God is a virtue, and Islam is human philosophy between peace and war, depending who is preaching it.
20/10/2008 06:59:12 Alert a moderator
Beautiful Masjid Moubarak in France
By Munira - Mauritius
Thanks to this channel for reporting objectively, may Allah have mercy on you. Alhamdullilah! The first mosque of the Promised Messiah's(as) Jamaat in France! May Allah cause hundreds of His houses to be built in each European country. Ameen. Certainly, the sun will rise from the west Inshallah. When the French people will hear the message of love and peace coming from this blessed mosque, those of pious nature will accept the truth of this Jamaat, Insh'Allah. Assalaamou alaikum wrb to all of my dear Ahmadi brothers and sisters!
19/10/2008 20:10:25 Alert a moderator
Long life to Ahmadiyyat- Long Life to France
By Shehzad - Mauritius
This new mosque will be very beneficial for the french in general. It will help promote mutual understanding and respect of values. LOVE FOR ALL HATRED FOR NONE.
18/10/2008 13:22:17 Alert a moderator
longue vie a Ahmadiyyat!!!!...
By Madiha Bashir - Mauritius
It's sooo refreshing to finally see an Ahmadis mosque in France. Ahmadis muslims are indeed the TRUE MUSLIMS.u'll see it for urself if you get to know us better. visit www.alislam.org
Un grand merci a France24 pour ce magnifique reportage.
17/10/2008 00:16:17 Alert a moderator
Accomplishment of Prophecy
By Mehtaab - Mauritius
This bears proof to the veracity of the Promised Messiah; "I will carry thy message to the corners of the earth.." was revealed to him by God.
17/10/2008 13:00:59 Alert a moderator
Masjid in France
By Tawheed Joolfoo - Mauritius
i know the Ahmadis are pacifist for sure since I'm one myself.
16/10/2008 09:50:45 Alert a moderator
love 4 all hate 4 non
By ubaib - pakistan
i appriciate the Aamadiyya community of france whose work. day and night and side by side for this holly work.it shows the commitment of the ahmadiyya jamat with khalaphat
15/10/2008 20:52:37 Alert a moderator
The Ark of Ahmadiyya
By Sajid Mahmoud - Mauritius
The Messiah came to build an Ark, namely, the Ark of Ahmadiyya.. Whoso will enter this Ark will be safeguarded from spiritual calamities. The Messiah came to show us that the there is a Lord who Exist and Who See, and Hears everything. The Messiah showed us the real way of witnessing the Existence of that Supreme Being Orchestrating everything is the Heavens and the earth. The Day will come when the world will understand that Hazrat Muhammad (saw) is the Man to follow in order to reach that Supreme Allah. And Whoso who has witness the Existence of God, will know that he is nothing. That's y Allah said in Quran "And the True Servants of the Gracious Lord are those who walk with humility on earth, and when ignorant are insulting them, they say "PEACE".. since the True Servants who witnessed the Existence of Allah will humbled themselves before that Mighty Being and will have pity on these ignorants more than anger. Eventually, this leads to PEACE. Islam Ahmadiyyat demonstrate ways of witnessing the Presence of the Revealer of the Quran so that everybody may have one thing in their mind. How to reach Him more and more? May Allah guide me and the whole world towards Him more and more. Blessed be the Messiah, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian.
15/10/2008 19:35:11 Alert a moderator
Inauguration of the first Ahmadi Mosque in France
By Anonyme - france
A well made, objective and informative documentary on the ahmadi mosque in France. It is refreshing to see that there are still Muslims in the world who believe in peace and tolerance, and better still, journalists who are willing to show them. Islamophobia has taken the world by storm. Thank you France 24 for showing the better side of Islam and that not all of us in the West have become prejudiced towards Muslims.
15/10/2008 18:55:25 Alert a moderator
Let the message of peace prevail all over
By Shahid - Albania, Tirana
Congratulations on this blessed and joyous moment of the history of Ahmadiyya movement. Hope this world will become the abode of peace and brotherhood under the banner of Islam. Love for All, Hatred for None.
15/10/2008 18:54:10 Alert a moderator
Message of Love and Tolerance
By Waseem - Mauritius
Long live France! Long live St Prix! Long live Channel 24! Long live Ahmadiyyat! Love for All. Hatred for None. As the Holy Prophet saw said "None is grateful to Allah unless he be grateful to mankind".
15/10/2008 14:48:52 Alert a moderator
first Mosque in France
By Munir Ahmed Raja - Germany / Laudenbach
France should be proud of their Open heartedness.
Islam Ahmadiyya is the solution of all problems of Mankind, and we would keep on spreading this Massage of Peace till everybody knows that Islam is " Love for all, hatred for none."
15/10/2008 14:24:39 Alert a moderator
Congratulation
By Kamil Ahmad - Mauritius
Congratulation to the Jamaat Ahmadiyya of France. Congratulation to The Jamaat Ahmadiyya Love For All,Hatred For None
15/10/2008 12:23:08 Alert a moderator
Love For All Hatred For None
By Nasir - Mauritius
One of many many mosques to be built by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
15/10/2008 10:02:32 Alert a moderator
nare takbeer
By Anonyme - london
mashallah
15/10/2008 02:08:35 Alert a moderator
Love For All Hatred for None
By Waheed - Australia/Sydney
This is the true message of ISLAM "Love for All Hatred for None"
14/10/2008 23:49:17 Alert a moderator
Love For All Hatred For None
By Bilal Mahmood - London
It is like a breath of fresh air to watch an unbiased and unprejudiced reporting about the true branch of Islam ie. Ahmadiyya. It aches our hearts to see people from inside and outside the Islamic faith who exploit the religion of Islam for their own political agendas. Islam literally means peace and it teaches nothing but peace, harmony, tolerance and understanding with everyone regardless of their faith, colour, or creed.
14/10/2008 22:57:37 Alert a moderator
Correction
By Fascinating - Mauritius
I just wanted to say that its not a 20million strong community. Its a 200 million strong community.
14/10/2008 12:19:36 Alert a moderator
Mubark Mosque
By shafiq - Australia/Sydney
this is beutiful mosque and i congu to ahmadiya community France for that .
13/10/2008 22:39:18 Alert a moderator
unbiased opinion
By Salman Khan - USA/Houston
After being born in in the USA 42 years ago, I have finally read an article on a denomination(sect) of Islam that is non-biased in its commentary. This is truly remarkable, and is a pleasure to read. Since 9-11, we Muslims have been persecuted here, in the USA, for our beliefs. Our wives and children have been taunted and teased and our children have been picked at by bullies in school. I have been verbally and physically assaulted by people I do not know because "I look a certain way," (middle-eastern). Many of us have lost jobs after 9-11, after we had already proven ourselves competent by having the qualifications for the job. Sometimes, even our neighbors who used to be friendly, have shunned us. 99% of us denounced the terroristic committed by a few for political gain.
It is sad to see in my country, the USA, the backwardness of some people and the racism that has been apparent. This country was built on the backs of immigrants who worked hard and contributed to this society
13/10/2008 22:15:10 Alert a moderator
Moubarak Mosque,France.
By Farid Yusuf - Antwerpen-Belgium
Thank you France 24 for an excellent report on the inaguration of the Mubarak Mosque. You have showed the real face of Islam to the world by making this excellent report. May Allah bless you and give you the courage of keep making true reports like this. Thank You very much again.
13/10/2008 20:33:26 Alert a moderator
Ahmadis inaugurate their first French mosque
By Bizimunda - Belgium
Congratulation to Jamaat Ahmdiyya France to inaugurate their first mosque in France(Saint Prix).
My self was present on that day, it was such a nice and great moment for me to attend this occasion as we all know that this is the year of Khilafat and this was a great opportunity for them to inaugurate their mosque and which is done by Khalifat Ul Masih 5th.
They appointed me as official photographer on that occasion :).
God bless to all members of Jamaat Ahmadiyya France and around the world.
www.bizimunda.net
13/10/2008 19:32:04 Alert a moderator
Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam
By Khalid Saifullah - Tongeren Belgium
The followers of all great religions awaited the
advent of a Promised One in the Latter Days, as it is
predicted in their Holy Scriptures. The Hindus are awaited
Krishna, the Jews and Christians the Messiah, the Buddhists
the Buddha and the Muslims the al-Imam al-Mahdi, as well
as the Messiah. Under Divine guidance, Hadhrat Mirza
Ghulam Ahmad made the momentous disclosure that in fact
only one such person representing all the Promised.
13/10/2008 18:24:05 Alert a moderator
An Example of Tolerance
By Nassim - Mauritius
I have attended this inauguration, Thank to God for making this possible. I notice that it is an example of tolerance on both side, the city has allowed the muslim community to open using a more convenient architecture for the neighbourhood, and the muslim ahmadiyya association in France cooperated in those lines. The objective of a mosque is the worship of God, not to have the best architecture from outside. The Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Worldwide, His Holiness Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad has reminded us about this main objective in the Friday Sermon last Friday in the Moubarak Mosque in France and diffused around the world live. Congratulation for this first mosque of the many to come InshAllah.
13/10/2008 15:33:12 Alert a moderator
Rennaisance Of Islam
By Raza - Beringen Belgium
I would first like to thank the members of the Ahmadiyya Community in France and then thank the authorities for granting them the chance to really live and practice the true teaching of Islam in this modern age.
Secondly i would like to thank the media for covering this historic event in such a fantastic reportage. Despite the pressure of world politics these days they still manages to cover it in freedom and truth.
Please pray for the community of Belgium for it's own new mosque in the near future.Ameen
13/10/2008 14:55:55 Alert a moderator
Inaguaration of Mubarak mosque
By Adeel - brussels
Congratulation to the Ahmadiyya Muslim community of France for building building such a beautiful mosque, i hope this will make this small more colorful. Hats off to France 24 for covering this story. Keep up with supporting peaceful Muslim community.
13/10/2008 10:31:37 Alert a moderator
Ahmadiyya Mosque in France
By R.E. Malik - Switzerland / Geneva
Congratulation to the Ahmadiyya community in France for building the mosque and thanks to France 24 for projected community work of peace lovely Muslims of the world.