A local Muslim faith chapter hosted its annual blood drive Wednesday near the state Capitol to honor victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The state chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community set up booths inviting community members to donate blood on the 18th anniversary of 9/11. It’s part of a national campaign to collect 10,000 pints of blood across the country.

Organizers say the effort will go towards saving 30,000 lives.

Luqman Ahmad, imam of the Nusrat Mosque in Coon Rapids, said the blood drive is one way for his mosque to show what the faith is truly about — peace.

“Those terrorists actually hijack the name of Islam,” Ahmad said. “Islam teaches us that if you kill one person, you basically kill the whole humanity.”

Ahmad's congregation identifies as Ahmadiyya Muslims, a sect of Islam emphasizing nonviolence.



