The Ahmadiyya Muslim Association’s regular community works are much a part of their faith as their commitment to improving life around them.

The association, which more than 2000 members at its Baitul Huda mosque at Marsden Park, is also very vocal in breaking down negative stereotypes about the Islam faith.

They pride themselves in doing good in the community and their efforts in the recent Clean Up Australia Day underlines this facet of their faith: they held the top four spots Australia-wide for the highest numbers of volunteers for event and also topped NSW for donations.

media_camera The Ahmadiyya Muslims Association of Australia ranked number 1 on Clean Up Australia Day.

More than 200 men, women and children cleaned up Richmond Rd from the Ahmadiyya mosque to Blacktown on Sunday, March 2, filling 150 bags of rubbish.

The association’s external secretary Mirza Ramzan Sharif said they loved being involved in local and national events while also being prolific fundraisers for diverse causes.

“Among other events, Australia Day and Peace Symposium have become our international and national events,” he said.

media_camera Ahmadiyya Muslim Association secretary Mirza Sharif during this year’s Australia Day celebrations.

“We collaborate and raise funds for many other charitable organisations, including Royal Institute of Deaf and Blind Children, Guide Dog Australia, Salvation Army and Red Cross Door Knock Appeal.

“For us, peaceful existence of humanity is the utmost priority and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the leading Islamic organisation to categorically reject terrorism in any form.

“For us, an aggressive ‘jihad by the sword’ has no place in Islam. In its place, one may wage a bloodless, intellectual ‘jihad of the pen’ to defend Islam. It is the only Islamic organisation to endorse a separation of mosque and state.”

media_camera His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, caliph of the world-wide Ahmadiyya Muslim community, leads prayers at the Baitul Huda Mosque during his recent visit.

The association said it also champions the empowerment and education of women. ”We work tirelessly in the 204 countries we are present to bring communities on the same platform,” Mr Mirza said.

He said the Ahmadiyya Muslim community have built more than 15,000 mosques, 500 schools, and 30 hospitals around the world.

■ Details: ahmadiyya .org.au/