October 30, 2013
Media release
For Immediate release

Muslim supreme head arrives in New Zealand

The international spiritual leader of more than 100 million Ahmadi Muslims has arrived in New Zealand.

The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and Fifth Khalifa, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad was welcomed by King Tuheitia to Tūrangawaewae marae in Ngaruawahia today along with 100 Ahmadi Muslims from the Auckland community, which presented the completed Maori translation of the Holy Qur'an to the Maori people.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community has been working on the translation project for more than 20 years. The first 16 parts were released to New Zealanders in 2010  in the form of a book comprising of both the original Arabic text with Maori translation.

As part of his NZ tour His Holiness will also be officially opening one of the largest mosques in New Zealand. The mosque in Manukau, Auckland  will officially open on Friday, November 1 at 1pm and will also mark the beginning of the community's annual spiritual convention expected to attract more than 300 international guests. By mid November the mosque will also be open to the public.

The mosque is set on a 2.1 ha site and is able to house 600 worshippers at one time.

Mohammad Iqbal, National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community New Zealand says it is a privilege and honour to be able to host His Holiness.

"His Holiness has been hugely influential overseas and recently addressed the European Parliament, Capitol Hill and the Canadian Government, " says Mr Iqbal.  "His Holiness is also incredibly fascinating in his own right with strong and vocal opinions on the Syrian conflict."

Upon completing his Masters Degree in Agricultural Economics in Pakistan, His Holiness dedicated his life to Islam and served in Ghana from 1977 to 1985 before returning to Pakistan. During this time His Holiness was engaged in social, educational and agricultural development projects. He is accredited with successfully growing wheat on Ghanaian soil for the first time in the nation's history.

About terrorism His Holiness believes that peace should always be encouraged. Ahmadi Muslims are highly persecuted internationally in countries like Pakistan and Indonesia, where basic freedoms have been stripped. His Holiness continues to encourage peace in the face of continued targeted killings and unlawful arrests.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a dynamic, fast-growing international revival movement within Islam. Founded in 1889 by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) in Punjab, India, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community spans 200 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions.

ENDS

© Scoop Media