An exhibition in Wairarapa this weekend hopes to shed light on one of the world’s most revered religious texts.
The Muslim community of Wairarapa and wider New Zealand will host an exhibition on the Holy Quran in Masterton on Saturday, which will be one of the first exhibitions of its kind.
Masterton was home to several families of Ahmadiyya Muslim refugees from Pakistan who valued the opportunity to share their religious beliefs in ways they could not in their homeland.
Co-chairperson of the Masterton resettlement group Imam Mustenser Qamar said it was special because it was the first such exhibition in Masterton and it also showed religious tolerance which was not the case everywhere.
“In their home country of Pakistan, our former refugees the Amadis cannot identify as a Muslim because of the religious persecution.
“You could never think of holding such an exhibition in Pakistan, unfortunately.”
The event would provide a first-hand opportunity for residents to find out more about Islam’s holy book through exhibits and seminars.
The Te Reo Māori translation of the Quran would also be on display, as well as translations of the scripture in a number of other languages.
President of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at New Zealand, Bashir Khan, said the Holy Quran was the most revered book for Muslims, laying out the rules according to which Muslims should live.
Khan said though the Quranic injunctions dealt with many issues, from inheritance to family relations, some were “cherry-picked and exploited by both the Islamic extremists and some Western sources” and created a negative image of Islam.
“It doesn’t take much for an impartial student of religion to realize that such verses are taken grossly out of context by certain elements for their own goals.
“We, as a community, are keen to dispel the myths about both Islam and the Holy Quran, and holding the exhibitions about the Holy Quran is one such way to do so.”
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was known for its efforts to reach out to believers of all other faiths. Its True Islam campaign aims to dispel misconceptions about Islam. The community’s local imams also spearheaded initiatives such as Coffee, Cake, and True Islam, and the Peace on Wheels campaign, driving to villages and cities across New Zealand, and holding roadside stalls to answer any questions about the Islamic faith.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was an international revival movement within Islam. Founded in 1889 by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in Punjab, India, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community spanned over 210 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions.
The Wairarapa exhibition was being held at Radio House at 11 Church Street, Masterton. The program would start at 10.30 am, and feature a walk-in exhibition, as well as three seminars throughout the day on the topic of the Quran and Terrorism followed by open Q&A sessions.
