Muslims stand against extremism in Mountain Lakes

Anyone who commits violence in the name of faith is acting on “a false narrative and false understanding of faith,” according to keynote speaker Imam Azhar Haneef during a dinner and discussion of “True Islam and the Extremists” Wednesday at the Villa at Mountain Lakes.

Speaking to a near-capacity audience filled with law-enforcement and elected leaders from throughout New Jersey, Haneff was representing the Ahmadiyya Muslims in New Jersey as vice president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s national organization.

It was the third such meeting at the Villa in the last 12 months, drawing a near-capacity crowd of about 250, doubling the attendance of the previous event.

“What we are here to say is no religion has ever professed and proclaimed the denunciation of anyone’s flag, the destruction of homelands and to deny people their fundamental liberties,” Haneef said. “Religion has never preached and asked us to practice extremism or terrorism. Religion has always asked us to practice love, harmony, justice and peace and good will on this earth. It is the people who follow the religion over the course of time, and forget this message.”

The audience, which included legislators, freeholders, mayors, sheriffs and police chiefs from at least three counties, dined with members of the Ahmadiyya community, which numbers approximately 1,500 in New Jersey and 22,000 in the United States among an estimated tens of millions around the world. Table chats took place in between guest speakers professing their support of the cause of peace and unity as divisive discussions about ISIS, terrorism and the true nature of Islam continue to permeate the national conversation and presidential debates.

Morris County Sheriff Edward Rochford asked all the police and sheriff’s officers in the room to stand.

“What I want you to know is this is Morris County,” he said. “Look at all the law-enforcement that came out to support the Ahmadiyyan community. We don’t care what color you are, we don’t care what your religion is, we don’t care what your nationality is. We are here to help you. The more friends we make in the community, the better it is for you, and for us, and you can trust us. And if you see something that doesn’t look right, you will call us.”

“These terrorists are trying to hijack a religion, it’s not fair, it’s not right,” said Parsippany Mayor James Barberio, who like Rochford has attended all three events at the Villa.

Haneef spoke of his six years of study in Pakistan, more than 30 years ago, long before Islamic terrorists and suicide bombers were making headlines, and was asked by his fellow international students to sing a patriotic song from his homeland.

“We are one nation, under God, indivisible, and we grant liberty and justice for all,” he said. “Those words I’ve heard since I was a small boy in school throughout my entire life. Those are the words of a true patriot. Those words are also those of a Muslim, and those are the words I sang as a Muslim-American when I was in Pakistan as a student to let my friends know what my country stands for, what I stand for, and what the faith that we believe in stands for.”

Islamic terrorism, he said, did not even exist until the 20th century.

“For the first 13 centuries and 60 some-odd years or so, Islam was free of this idea of extremists,” he said. “It’s a recent phenomenon, and it’s something we can all say has nothing to do with the faith. I can attest to that. I did my studies in Pakistan in the ‘80s and throughout all of my six years of studies, there wasn’t a single act of terror in the state of Pakistan. Not a single one, No suicide bombings, there were no kidnappings based on faith, there were no attacks on mosques. It didn’t happen until 1989.”

Those who do commit acts of terror, he said, violate two core beliefs of Islam — a strong belief in God and a strong adherence to humanity.

“Remember, as mentioned by the prophet himself in his final message to the people when he stood before them in Mecca, was to not commit the act of violence against others as you did in your days of ignorance,” he said.

Mountain Lakes Police chief Shawn Bennett quoted from the Quran, saying “To overcome evil is good, to resist evil by evil is evil,” and I think this organization is doing a fantastic job living that.”

“We stand united today on this common podium and in these conversations to keep us fighting a common enemy, those who seek to destroy the order of this earth as opposed to those who seek to create peace and harmony and justice for all,” Haneef said.

After his remarks, Haneef was asked to comment on the dramatically different tone of conversation at the villa compared to what he’s heard coming from Donald Trump and other presidential candidates who have called for restrictions on Muslims in the United States.

“We would welcome them to come in, sit down with us and have a conversation,” he said. “I would send them the same message I gave tonight, which is that it is one thing to feel you want to be a patriot, love your nation and protect its interests. At the same time, patriotism includes unity. It includes bringing people together. This has been the strength of our nation, and the Muslims have been around in this nation from Day One. Up to now, we have not been a threat to this nation for decades, centuries, and so it would be an error on the part of anyone to think that excluding this vital part of our community would not cause some repercussion as well. To get elected, you can say or do what you want. But at the same time, you should think about what you’re saying, and what you’re doing, and what it really means to be part of the American family and community.”

Haneef also was upbeat about the large turnout.

“I think each time we have the event, more people are becoming aware of what we stand for, getting involved and and creating a network of friends and supporters who then invite their own colleagues and contacts to come and join us,” he said. “So this is the way I think we can build community.”

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-917-9242; wwesthoven@GannettNJ.com.

For more information about the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community True Islam campaign, visit www.trueislam.com.