Muslims for Life seeks 10,000 blood donors

On the eve of the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks that killed so many, a national Muslim organization is launching a campaign to save even more lives.

A local branch of that organization, Baet-ul-Jaamay Mosque, 2S510 Route 53 in Glen Ellyn, will be sponsoring a blood drive Sept. 11 as part of Muslims for Life, which aims to gather 10,000 units of donated blood to save up to 30,000 lives.

“We thought the best thing we could do is focus on the key messages of Islam — on sanctity of life — and instead of the blood that has been shed, that we would collect blood,” said Haris Ahmed, a member of the mosque, which is part of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

At least 130 Muslims for Life blood drives are planned nationwide throughout September.

Baet-ul-Jaamay’s drive is scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 11. An interfaith dialogue from 2 to 4 p.m. with prayers by Islamic, Christian and Jewish leaders will accompany the blood drive, said I.H. Kauser, an imam, or minister, at the mosque.

The dialogue will promote the broader goal of the Ahmadiyya community’s Muslims for Life campaign — sparking conversations that allow people of other faiths to learn about true Muslim beliefs.

“Terrorists have painted an untrue and violent picture of Muslims causing death and destruction, whereas Islam in its teachings is very pure and teaches the sanctity of human life,” Ahmed said.

The Sept. 11 attackers hijacked more than airplanes, said Dr. Masood Qazi, a cardiologist and president of the mosque’s board. They also hijacked the religion of Islam and its peaceful message, he said.

“The terrorists made our job difficult. We are presenting the true faith of Islam, which is of mercy, compassion, kindness, upholding life, service to humanity,” Qazi said.

Roughly 100 volunteers associated with three Ahmadiyya Muslim Community mosques in the Chicago area will hand out Muslims for Life fliers among the crowds at the Chicago Air & Water Show this weekend, Kauser said.

And an airplane toting a banner will cruise above the Lake Michigan shore, also encouraging people to join the campaign by donating blood.

“On 9-11 airplanes were used to destroy lives, destroy the buildings and of course take the lives of the people,” Kauser said. “Now the airplane will be used in the message of life.”

The banner will direct viewers to muslimsforlife.org for details or to find a participating blood drive location. Kauser said St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Glen Ellyn will be among local religious organizations hosting a blood drive, and other churches in Lombard and Wheaton also have been asked to participate.