Muslim group plants more than 1,000 trees (From Watford Observer)
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The Ahmadiyya Muslim Association plants more than 1,000 trees in Heartwood Forest
2:40pm Monday 18th March 2013 in News
By Adam Binnie, Senior Reporter
The Watford branch of a national Muslim association spent a day helping to plant more than eight thousand trees in a nearby forest.
More than 200 members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association took part in the event, at Heartwood Forest in St Albans on Saturday.
They braved the inclement weather to plant more than 1,000 trees at the new 345-hectare site.
Elders of the Muslim community, named Majlis Ansarullah (MAA), joined dozens of other volunteers in an effort to help create the largest new native forest in England.
Louise Neicho, woodland officer for Heartwood Forest, said: "On average it takes two volunteers six minutes to plant a tree. The members of MAA worked like a whirlwind.
"We were expecting a drop in productivity due the heavy rain but it seemed that the rain was spurring them on.
"We had anticipated a maximum of 4,000 trees to be planted today, however within three hours we had planted well over 8,000, mainly due to the effort and dedication of the Ahmadiyya Muslim volunteers."
The day ended with all volunteers being treated to a chicken biryani.
Comments(23)
Razor Sharp
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6:48pm Mon 18 Mar 13
Wacko Jacko
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9:56pm Mon 18 Mar 13
KAren Smythe
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10:29pm Mon 18 Mar 13
Razor Sharp wrote:Perhaps once its built you'll get over it?
And bridges over ponds!
LSC
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11:14pm Mon 18 Mar 13
Mohandas wrote:Only if you are a rich developer or a traveller. The majority of us couldn't and wouldn't.
Well done. We need more trees to provide a living breathing environment for all life. We are in danger of covering large swathes of the South East in tar and concrete.
MrBlackCab
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11:45am Tue 19 Mar 13
MarsLander
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5:19pm Tue 19 Mar 13
garston tony
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11:38am Wed 20 Mar 13
Seat belts on
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11:45am Thu 21 Mar 13
garston tony
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1:20pm Thu 21 Mar 13
Seat belts on wrote:A cult, what you mean a system of religious veneration and devotion directed towards a particular figure (oxford dictionary definition)?. Every religion is a cult by definition.
According to majority of Muslims this group ahmaddiya are a cult and not Muslims. Just my 50 cents
Don’t know this group, so cant comment on what they believe
Seat belts on
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5:37pm Thu 21 Mar 13
garston tony
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9:47am Fri 22 Mar 13
Seat belts on wrote:What does the place or way someone dies have to do with wether or not they are or are not what they or others claim they are?
They believe in incarnation and also believe mirza Ghulam qadian was a prophet. Mira Ghulam died in 1908 on the toilet
Last I heard prophets are human beings who receive divine wisdom and knowledge and inspiration but they have to die somewhere dont they?
Elvis is supposed to have died on the loo. Doesnt stop millions of people still loving his music today or lessen his legendary status amongst those that like him.
And believing in incarnation just highlights again that even the Muslim faith has divisions in beliefs.
Lutf
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8:26pm Fri 22 Mar 13
garston tony wrote:As an Ahmadi Muslim I can only say that 'Seat belts on' is either misinformed or trying to spread malicious lies about the community.
Seat belts on wrote: They believe in incarnation and also believe mirza Ghulam qadian was a prophet. Mira Ghulam died in 1908 on the toiletWhat does the place or way someone dies have to do with wether or not they are or are not what they or others claim they are? Last I heard prophets are human beings who receive divine wisdom and knowledge and inspiration but they have to die somewhere dont they? Elvis is supposed to have died on the loo. Doesnt stop millions of people still loving his music today or lessen his legendary status amongst those that like him. And believing in incarnation just highlights again that even the Muslim faith has divisions in beliefs.
Yes, we have some doctrinal differences with other Muslim sects. Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and some other countries are being persecuted for declaring that Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian was the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi for Muslims. 124 years ago, he preached that there was no place for violent Jihad and coersion in Islam. For this, he was maliciously targetted by the Mullahs of his time. Unsurprisingly that practice continues to this day.
We do not believe in re-incarnation and consider Quran to be the final and complete message for all generations to come.
Also, the rumors and lies about his death are false and are used to create hatred and animosity among Muslims so that they desist from reading his books or listening to his message of True Islam.
For us, his teachings compel us to engage in serving humanity by all means possible and to show everyone how Islam is destined to create peace and harmony in the world.
raffi
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12:02pm Sat 23 Mar 13
I know for a fact that the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Watford has undertaken many initiatives to help the local community including feeding the homeless, visiting the elderly, giving Christmas presents to children in hospital as well as raising thousands of pounds for charity. The Ahmadiyya Muslim community is one of the few local Muslim groups that doesn’t take a single penny in grants and hand outs but rather spends money from voluntary donations to help the needy in the community.
Keep up the great work!
Zafaress
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3:23pm Sun 24 Mar 13
Religion has nothing to do with doing positive and worthwhile things for the community, needy or deserving. Woodland Trust had many volunteers and they were not all Muslims, who help plant the trees on that particular day or on other similar events, they were just "Helping Hands". Without their seatbelts on!
Hellomynameis
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12:34am Wed 27 Mar 13
Firstly every member of the Ahmadiyya community is "required" to donate to it, these are not voluntary donations even the unemployed have to donate - (see android Ahmadiyya chanda application). This could be percieved as lining the pockets of the directors of the Ahmadiyya community (hence the reason people call it a cult. The evidence of "lining their pockets" is clearly detailed in their easily accessible financial reports. Comparing the reports at companies house and the charity commission you will note the companies house mentions £2.6 Million paid to the 7 Directors in 2011 whereas the the Charity Commission mentions no more than £60k was paid to any trustee which the directors are. Please do the math. The Ahmadiyya faith preaches that the educated religious scholars of mainstream muslims are liars, which makes it easy for the ahmadiyya community to control the understanding this particular heterodox group follow. Nonetheless great work with the trees...
Hellomynameis
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12:54am Wed 27 Mar 13
Hellomynameis
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12:55am Wed 27 Mar 13
Lutf
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4:49pm Wed 27 Mar 13
st-US funding pouring into the Ahmadiyya accounts as well. (this is also a favourite of the persecutors of the Ahmadiyya Community).
It is true that the community solely runs on donations by its members worldwide. It should be no surprise that part of that income is spent on administrative costs, which is only a small amount if compared to the money spent on humanitarian and educational projects.
You appear to belong to the class of 'Muslims' who are more eager to accept or in your case, fabricate conspiracy theories to feel better about themselves.
The truth is that extremist organizations, funded by certain middle-eastern governments are also active in the UK. Despite their best efforts they have not been successful in harming the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community because the government and society here believes in justice. If there was any truth in your conspiracy theories, I am sure it was much easier to report these matters to the relevant government authorities than to post anonymous slanders on the internet.
p.s., you are welcome.
raffi
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5:26pm Wed 27 Mar 13
The Ahmadiyya Muslim community is making a real positive impact not just in words but in action.
Here’s what the Prime Minister, David Cameron had to say at our Peace Symposium last weekend
"…Your achievements are many, from building London's first mosque in Southfields in 1924, to the phenomenal work you have done in promoting peace right across the country.
"Your tremendous charitable services that you have delivered to old and young alike, your care for the environment by planting thousands of trees each year, your feed the homeless project and blood donation drives are just a few of the many reasons that Britain can be proud of you. This is true faith in action
"I hope that your good works, your message of peace and your philosophy of Love For All Hatred For None continue to flourish in Britain and throughout the world."
Lutf
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6:13pm Wed 27 Mar 13
For example
1)an FOI request by Mr. Ben Whittingham reveals that Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in fact does not recieve any money from the government. A number of other Muslim organizations recieve substantial amount of cash every year.
2) a number of FOI requests are made based on the obivious paranoia of certain extremist Muslims that Ahmadis are being treated favourably by the government. i.e., assylum claims, funding requests, Charity commission audit requests etc. none of which confirm the conspiracy theories.
3). A quich serach of the FOI requests (Key words Ahmadiyya) will show that a hate campaign was run by certain Saudi funded Mullahs in south London recently and some free to air TV channels were reprimanded for hate speech against the Ahmadis.
so 'Hellomynameis' or anyone is interested, please find the footage of Lahore 2010 incidence where almost 100 Ahmadis were butchered in cold blood. Or 2011 Indonesia incidence where 3 unarmed Ahmadi men were beaten to death with sticks. Or only a month ago in Bangladesh where a mob attacked the venue for our annual convention and destroyed it. Or even yesterday when a mob, protected by police and lead by the local mullahs in Kasur, Pakistan attacked and tortured the local Ahmadi family for the crime of being Ahmadis.
But I do appreciate your gratitude for us planting 1000 trees. Maybe the above list of events will give it some more context.
Hellomynameis
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6:36pm Wed 27 Mar 13
If you look at my statements they are actually evidenced and checkable. I'm not sure why you have classed the "Ahmadiyya Chanda Application on android","The Charity Commission" and "Companies House" as conspiracy theories. I actually had to pay to download the accounts for the "Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat International" from companies house.
I've uploaded it to SCRIBD or pay the fee and download yourself, so you can verify it.
When an organisations turnover is £22 Million and it pays £2.6 Million in payments to it's Directors (Directors emoluments) who are also trustees it is a little strange. This is especially strange in that the charity commission accounts state no trustee was paid more than £60,000. Call them conspiracy theories but they are evidenced facts.
Regarding your comments about reporting these facts to the relevant authorities, I certainly have.
I am not discrediting the nobility of your act, I am simply highlighting the corruption within the organisation that you belong too.
It's interesting that you quote a hadith that is mentioned in Sahih Muslim relating to planting trees but ignore many others including those that relate to the finality of Prophethood..
Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 56, Number 735: - Book of Merits - Chapter on Khatam an Nabiyeen) –
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "My similitude in comparison with the other prophets before me, is that of a man who has built a house nicely and beautifully, except for a place of "ONE" brick in a corner. The people go about it and wonder at its beauty, but say: 'Would that this brick be put in its place!' So I am that brick, and I am the last of the Prophets."
This Hadith is also narrated in Sahih Muslim Hadith # 5675 under the chapter of “THE FINALITY OF ALLAH'S APOSTLE (MAY PEACE BE UPON HIM)” It is also narrated in Musnad Ahmed bin Hanbal Hadith # 7479, Also narrated in Sunnan al-Bayhaqi al-Kubra, Hadith # 11422]
As for David Cameron it's fair to say that any politician invited and attending an event is hardly going to say anything negative.
It's a little sad that you cite conspiracy theories for my comments and then fail to provide evidence for your own silly ideas. These shady middle eastern countries funding anti-ahmadiyya groups sounds like an un-evidenced conspiracy theory to me.
I've presented my evidence your very welcome to check it. If you have any independent evidence please provide it.
You sought fit to slander me anonymously yet call the same card. Sounds like hypocrisy to me.
I'm happy to reveal who I am, I having nothing to hide.
As for your claims that the administrative costs are a fraction of the spending. Actually look at the finances and you will see that the few thousands spent on charitable acts are nothing in comparison to this amount and even less in comparison with the spending on the community itself.
The freedom of information request if you visit "whatdotheyknow", is an independent source which if you search for Ahmadiyya will show you an interesting FOI request to the police related to a false allegation which was spread in the media about persecution of the Ahmadiyya and an imaginary leaflet
Hellomynameis
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6:47pm Wed 27 Mar 13
Your quotations pale in significance with the numbers of Muslims killed across the world. It is also very revealing, if you really considered yourself to be Muslim and not a separate religion and group why have you not quoted the countless Muslims killed in conflicts across the globe - Pakistan, Burma, Palestine, Afghanistan etc...?
The Rohingya Muslims killed recently surely these are valid examples as many more people were killed?
Your claims that the FOI requests were extremist Muslims seems spurious at the least. It's easy to make claims without any evidence. Slander is easy but presenting proof is more difficult. You should be more careful what you say, ultimately we must face Allah for our slander of unknown people.
Mohandas says...
6:06pm Mon 18 Mar 13