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FAQ

Why should we participate in the Muslims for Life blood drive?

Whether you are an individual, community organization or faith-based group, participating in Muslims for Life has numerous benefits. You will be able to supply your community with blood for times when it needs it most. Second, when organizations work together toward a common goal—regardless of religious beliefs—it sends a powerful message of tolerance, harmony and citizenship. Most importantly, the terrorists who thrive on violence, fear and ignorance are defeated every time there is an effort to protect and sanctify human life.

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What will be the role of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the campaign?

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community will work to secure partners for the blood drive, inviting organizations and businesses to hold drives at their locations. To ensure smooth and successful events, our representatives will be the main liaisons with local blood centers. Once blood drive dates have been scheduled with a blood center, we will continue to offer assistance to our partners in promoting their blood drives among their employees/volunteers/congregations. In mid-August we will begin our media relations effort, using press releases, advertisements and other means to alert the media to the campaign. After the campaign has ended results will be collected throughout the country and disseminated to partners, supporters and the media.

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What will be expected from a partner?

In order to participate in the Muslims for Life campaign, an organization must be able to host a blood drive during the month of September 2011. The preference is to schedule a blood drive on 9/11/2011, but if no blood center is available, partners may choose a date as close as possible to Sept. 11. They should make every effort to involve as many members as possible to participate in the blood drive. They will be expected to maintain contact with our representative and inform us in a timely manner about any changes or challenges. Partners who have media relations or community relations offices will be asked to cooperate with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and utilize any media contacts they may have to make the campaign a success.

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We have never held a blood drive before. What equipment or expertise will we need?

Organizations that want to participate in the Muslims for Life campaign will receive both equipment and staff from local blood centers free of charge. Individuals wishing to donate may visit a neighborhood donor center to donate blood under the Muslims for Life account.

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We have never heard of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Why should we trust you?

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a widely respected, moderate, Muslim organization worldwide, and the oldest Muslim group in the United States. It is the only Muslim organization to categorically reject jihad by the sword and to endorse the separation of mosque and state. We regularly hold interfaith conferences to promote the true teachings of Islam as a peaceful religion. For more information about the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, please visit muslimsforpeace.org and alislam.org (click on “Ahmadiyyat”).

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What is the background of this campaign?

Terrorists caused death and destruction on Sept. 11, 2001. But they also hijacked the faith of Islam. By painting a violent, militant picture of the religion, terrorist extremists have created suspicion of all Muslims. But the truth is that terrorists do not represent Islam or Muslims.

 

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has, since its founding, upheld the sanctity of all life as emphasized by Islam. The Holy Quran teaches that life is sacred and reaffirms Talmudic teachings that whoever unjustly kills a single person is as if he had killed all of mankind; and whoever saves the life of one person is as if he has saved the life of all of humanity (5:33). In his Farewell Pilgrimage address, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Even as this month, land and day of Pilgrimage are holy, so has God made the blood, property and honor of every human being sacred.”

 

In 2010, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community launched its “Muslims for Peace” campaign in the United States and the United Kingdom, with the goal of demonstrating that Muslims do stand for peace. The campaign included bus and billboard advertisements, interfaith dialogue events and distribution of flyers by our members door-to-door and in public areas.

 

The “Muslims for Life” campaign, whose goal is to collect enough blood to save 30,000 lives in honor of those who lost theirs on 9/11, is a natural continuation of the theme that Islam teaches peace and sanctity of all life.

 

We invite all Americans to join us as we collect 10,000 units of blood in the month of September, to demonstrate the true spirit of peace and collaboration—values that we hold dear in this country. Donate blood through one of our drives or help your organization work with us to coordinate a drive of your own.

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