MUSLIMS FOR LOYALTY AT ANNAPOLIS FOURTH OF JULY PARADE

The Baltimore Jamaat made its second annual march on the capital of Annapolis. Alhamdullilah, this year showed market improvement in every respect over last year. Despite a weather forecast which suggested rain, over 4,000 people lined the streets of Annapolis. With a determination, as if we were marching into victory to take the capital city, the Baltimore Jamaat mobilized a peaceful platoon of some 28 men, women and children. Everyone had a role in this “ghazwa” too. The Women operated the supply lines, passing reinforcements out of the window, from the mobile tabligh unit to the infantrymen on the front lines. The children dealt balloons to their mini-citizen counterparts. In all, we unleashed 2,000 flags, 300 balloons, 250 visors, 1,000 bracelets, and 1,500 flyers on the public. We literally emptied our arsenal of all our ammunition. The crowd was very appreciative of our efforts. They even welcomed us with applause as we passed the bandstand. Our secondary mission going into the campaign, was simply to get the announcer to pronounce our name correctly. Alhamdullilah, the announcer beautifully pronounced and welcomed us. He sounded experienced and familiar with us. By Allah’s Grace, and a little help from the phonetic parenthetical, that we put on the application, the Ahmadiyya (Ah-ma-dee’-ya) Muslim Community made a small, and hopefully memorable impression.