Monday, January 1, 2007

Things to do in 2007

Please consider making the following 3 resolutions for this
year. Hopefully, it may free** you spiritually.You may think
about committing to do the following:

1. Volunteer 1 hour a week. Half of your time must go to non-Muslims
(To be Amin). Please note doing this is neither charity, nor a noble
work. It is simply working for our happiness.

2. Make an effort to respond to any negative news in your local paper
with a positive note to the editor. Please keep it less than 100 words
so that you can actually do it in less than 15 minutes.
Goodwill always wins at the end with Sabr.

3. Once a month, budget permitting whatever dinner gatherings you
hold, whatever party you go to - invite your non-Muslim friends to join
you and please do not run them off with Dawah. Once we know***
each other, a lot of things get repaired over a period of time. Please
make sure you fight your bias and invite every one from every faith.

** What does Freedom mean?

It simply means that we have freed ourselves from
Hate, Prejudice, Anger, Jealousy and ill-will.

Holding on to the above elements is binding, letting them go from
our hearts is freedom. Freedom is the ultimate achievement in
one's life, once you are free, you are home comfortable and
blessed with serene happiness.

Being home is being with God, being with God is obedience to God
and obedience is absence of conflict. Conflict is binding and takes
joy out of us. When we are in tune with God - we create a balance
within us and around us.

The word for that effort is "Jihad" in Islam. As Muslims, let's do our
Jihad - to be free. Free from hate, anger, jealousy, envy and ill-will
which will allow us to be productive humans in God's kingdom.
Every time you feel bias towards any one, please fight it within
to win and Insha Allah, you will win.

Let's become the source of peace for ourselves and to every one
around us. Let people trust us, believe in us and accept that
whatever we do is for the good of mankind, and we as individuals
are the first beneficiary and recipient of Joy as others
benefit from it as well. That is indeed the Good deed. The name
for this act of being a reason, being a source of happiness is
also known as Islam. Earning the trust is being Amin.

For this to happen we need to be a part of the society and be
with other people to create that peace. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
has set that model for us to earn to be Amin of the society.
God will change things for us once we become the Amin's.

*** to know each other is the basis for creating a peaceful world
and that there is endless wisdom in this Ayat of Qur'aan, Al-Hujurat,
Surah 49:13: O mankind! We have created you male and female, and have
made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the
noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct.
Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware.

Let's become the source of goodwill and cause of peace.
Jazak Allah Khair,

You are invited to visit: http://www.worldmuslimcongress.com/

Mike Ghouse
World Muslim Congress
Foundation For Pluralism

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quraan burning

Planned Muslim Response to Qur'an Burning by Pastor Jones on September 11 in Mulberry, Florida

PRESS RELEASE
August 19, 2013| Dallas, Texas

Mike Ghouse
Text/Talk: (214) 325-1916
MikeGhouse@aol.com

Mirza A Beg
(205) 454-8797
mirza.a.beg@gmail.com

www.WorldMuslimCongress.com


PLANNED MUSLIMS RESPONSE TO QUR'AN BURNING BY PASTOR JONES ON 9/11/13 IN MULBERRY, FLORIDA

We as Muslims plan to respond to pastor Terry Jones' planned burning of 3000 copies of Quran on September 11, 2013 in positive terms.

Our response - we will reclaim the standard of behavior practiced by the Prophet concerning “scurrilous and hostile criticism of the Qur’an” (Muhammad Asad Translation Note 31, verse 41:34). It was "To overcome evil with good is good, and to resist evil by evil is evil." It is also strongly enjoined in the Qur’an in the same verse 41:34, “Good and evil deeds are not equal. Repel evil with what is better; then you will see that one who was once your enemy has become your dearest friend.”

God willing Muslims will follow the divine guidance and pray for the restoration of Goodwill, and on that day many Muslim organizations will go on a “blood drive” to save lives and serve humanity with kindness.

We invite fellow Americans of all faiths, races, and ethnicities to join us to rededicate the pledge, “One nation under God”, and to build a cohesive America where no American has to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of fellow Americans. This event is a substitute for our 10th Annual Unity Day Celebration (www.UnitydayUSA.com) held in Dallas, but now it will be at Mulberry, Florida.

Unwittingly Pastor Jones has done us a favor by invigorating us by his decision to burn nearly 3000 copies Quran on September 11, 2013. Obviously he is not satisfied by the notoriety he garnered by burning one Qur'an last year.

As Muslims and citizens we honor the free speech guaranteed in our constitution. We have no intentions to criticize, condemn or oppose Pastor Terry Jones' freedom of expression. Instead, we will be donating blood and praying for goodness to permeate in our society.

We plan to follow Jesus Christ (pbuh), a revered prophet in Islam as well as Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) – that of mitigating the conflicts and nurturing good will for the common good of the society.

We hope, this event and the message will remind Muslims elsewhere in the world as well, that violence is not the way. Muslims, who react violently to senseless provocation, should realize that, violence causes more violence, and besmirches the name of the religion that we hold so dear. We believe that Prophet Muhammad was a mercy to the mankind, and we ought to practice what we believe and preach. We must not insult Islam by the negative reactions of a few.

We can only hope it will bring about a change in the attitude of the followers of Pastor Jones, and in the behavior of those Muslims who reacted violently the last time Pastor sought notoriety – We hope this small step towards a bridge to peaceful coexistence would propel us towards building a cohesive society.

Like most Americans a majority of Muslims quietly go about their own business, but it is time to speak up and take positive action instead of negative reaction. May this message of peace and goodwill reverberate and reach many shores.

Lastly, we appreciate the Citizens of Mulberry, Florida, Honorable Mayor George Hatch, City Commissioners, police and Fire Chiefs for handing this situation very well. This will add a ‘feather of peace’ in the City’s reputation. We hope Mulberry will be a catalyst in showing the way in handling conflict with dignity and peace.

We thank the Media for giving value to the work towards peace rather than conflict.






URL- http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/08/planned-muslim-response-to-quran_18.html



Thank you.

CIVIL DIALOGUE

The people in Dallas are making an effort to understand and clean their own hearts first, when we are free from bias, it would be easy to share that with others. Islam teaches us in so many ways to "respect the otherness of others" and it is time we find simple practical ways of doing it.