By the Grace of Allah the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community presented the Third Annual Muhammad Messenger of Peace event at the University of Dayton, in Dayton Ohio. The purpose of the program was to explain the true teachings of Islam and the Holy Prophet Muhammad’s peaceful preaching of Islam in contrast to the harsh ideology presented by Islamic Extremists. Thus the event was subtitled as part of the nation-wide True Islam campaign: True Islam and the Extremists
Guests begin at arriving 7:00pm and were warmly greeted has they entered the lobby by members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Light refreshments, drinks and tea was served. Several banners were displayed; such as Muhammad Messenger of Peace, the Covenant, Interfaith and the Last Pilgrimage. A banner covering the history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Dayton was also displayed. These banners attracted passers by as they ate and engaged in conversation.
A table also was designated to display the Holy Qur'an, in English and several world languages.
The formal program opened with recitation/translation of the Holy Qur’an by Br. Mohammad Fytahi. The Program Moderator Imam Yahya Luqman Sahib provided a welcome and an impressive video introduction of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The audience witnessed and acknowledged compliments supporting the peaceful initiatives of the Community by distinguished V.I.P's and Government Officials from several Countries around the world.
The first speaker was Sis. Khadija Ali, the Program Director, of the Circle of Visionkeepers. Sis. Khadija's topic was the “Equality of Women In Islam”. Citing Chapter 33 vv. 36 of the Holy Qur'an beginning with the statement “Surely, men who submit themselves to God and women who submit themselves to Him” and ending with the statement “Allah has prepared for all of them forgiveness and a great reward” effectively repudiated the notion that Islam accords a lower status women as to men.
The next speaker was the Honorable Judge Walter H. Rice, Federal Judge of the US District Court. He related being of Jewish decent, recalling his childhood remarked that he and his family had been comforted by Muslims and he has always believed Islam to be a peaceful religion. Judge Rice spoke admirably about his respect and support of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
This was followed by a video presenting about the Holy Quran and its revelation to the Holy Prophet Muhammad. The details and images of the presentation was impressive and greatly appreciated by the audience.
The last speaker of the evening was respected Imam Azhar Haneef, the National Vice President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Respected Imam Sahib spoke ramatically and expressively on the peaceful nature and existence of the religion of Islam. He unprovocatively but definitively established the high status of the Holy Prophet's loving and peaceful nature while preaching and defending the religion of Islam, captivating the audience with both humor and fact differentiating the beliefs of true Islam and the extremist version of the religion.
This was followed by half an hour of questions and answers from the floor. Written inquiries collected from the audience were read by Imam Yahya Luqman Sahib, to a panel consisting of Imam Azhar Haneef Sahib, Judge Walter Rice and Sis. Khadija Ali pertaining to statements made during their speech.
The program closed with a message of gratitude and farewell from the President of the Dayton Chapter, Chaudhry Muhammad Arshad Sb. Imam Azhar Haneef led the concluding silent prayer.