"...None". That word completes the message of the banner stretching beyond the width of the picture. True to the poor crop, it also captures the difficulties faced by the religious group who displayed it, and who want to live in that spirit.

The Nut Graph reports:

IN April 2009, the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (MAIS) officially forbade the Ahmadiyah community in the state from performing their own Friday prayers. This news, however, did not make headlines — after all, there are at most only 2,000 Ahmadiyah in all of Malaysia, and at most only 600 in the Klang Valley. But from the panic-inducing headlines in the Malay-language press, one would think that the Ahmadiyah were an insidious fanatical sect bent on destroying the faith of Sunni Muslims in Malaysia.

In February this year, The People's Parliament published an open invitation by the Jemaat Ahmadiyah Malaysia to a simple Majlis Mesra Rakyat at their Baitussalam in Kampung Nakhoda, Batu Caves. They wanted to share their story with anyone willing to listen and, in turn, listen to anyone else's views.

In modern-day society, this is known as dialogue. Most civilised societies practise this; it has been known to move mountains.

(Above) Ainul Yakin, spokesman for the group introducing the various speakers to the audience.

The fellowship was well attended by people from the different strata of society. It was as multi-ethnic and as multi-faith as you could get. Much was shared that afternoon, which fostered a better understanding of the Ahmadiyah faith.

We could ramble on about what we learned that day, but somebody has done a better job.

For the real deal, you really ought to go over to Shannon Shah's photo-essay in The Nut Graph. It is the first of a three-part installment examining the Ahmadiyah and its people.