Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Dallas Muslim Leadership

Dallas Muslim Leadership
Mike Ghouse, October 10, 2007


There are about 80 active Muslims in Dallas/Forth Worth ** Metroplex of the 80,000 some Muslim in the area. If each one of you can accompany or ask your non-Muslim friend to attend this workshop on Understanding Islam, it will help towards nurturing goodwill and strengthening inter-community relations.

“We believe knowledge leads to understanding and understanding to acceptance and appreciation of another point of view”. The goal is to bring people of different faiths together and provide a platform for them to share about their beliefs, their systems and rituals, while expanding the knowledge zone of each group.

We hope at least a few of the attendees will walk out with an open mind and an open heart towards fellow beings. It is rather difficult to shed the prejudices, but once we do, there is genuine freedom in it. We have to change the perception about us, so we can be fully contributing and participating partners in the nation building and building our own lives in peace and security.

** We encourage Muslims in every city to take this up, and make sure it is a two way street, meaning you have to attend events of other faiths as well.

Islam:

Everything you wanted to know about Islam, you can learn about it in this short 90 Minutes workshop.

Essence is the crystallization of what each idea, philosophy, faith or practice is about. Islam can be summed up as Justice. When justice is the norm of a society, people live a secure life knowing that no one will take advantage of them, when justice becomes the soul of the society, fear dissipates and peace prevails paving way for prosperity to one and all. Justice is the single most human craving that needs to be met for societies to live and let live.

Justice is a floating equilibrium that maintains the balance in one’s life and what is around him or her. Islam stands squarely on the principles of justice, equality, peace and respect to God’s creation; life and matter.

Ritual is a necessary step towards achieving the serene, blissful state of mind. Where one follows the instructions laid down in a manual, to Muslims that manual is called Qur’aan, each faith has its own manual that works for followers. Whether you want to have a good physique or keep good health, you have to follow the routines in the gym and in your diet to get there. Just as you have to drive the vehicle through the road hazards and follwing traffic rules to reach the destination. Islam has 5 such rituals, traditionally called Pillars of Islam, they are: i) Pledge, ii) Prayer, iii) Fasting, iv) Charity and v) Pilgrimage.

Finding the truth is one’s own responsibility, as truth frees one from the bondage of hate, malice and ill-will.

Program:

5:30 - 6:30 Understanding Pluralism
6:30 – 7:30 Understanding Islam
7:30 – 8:00 Q&A

Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 14315 Midway Road, Addison, TX 75001
Directions: Click Map : From LBJ, north on Midway, after Spring Valley.
Confirmation: ConfirmAttendance@gmail.com
Schedule: http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/Calendar.asp

In affairs of the world, religion appears to be a source of the problem; it certainly is not. You can always trace the wars, genocides, oppression and other atrocities to evil insecure men. Please remember, the purpose of religion was to fix the evils of humankind and it continues to do so while some men still don’t get it. Thanks God, the world is a better place today because of the Religion and spirituality, without which there would be chaos. Every Religion is on the same side, that of goodness for humankind. Finding the truth is one’s own responsibility as the truth brings salvation.

If beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, then faith is in the heart of the believer. Let every one find peace his/her own way

Mike Ghouse
** I would suggest that each Muslim bring a non-Muslim friend to the events, as this is the most certain way to reach out. Imagine what we can do with it, if we can make that small commitment.


Pluralism Workshop:

What is Pluralism? What is a pluralistic attitude? Learn its application at work place, home, social situations and other circumstance. It is about co-existence ** (Questions to ponder - listed below)

POINTS TO PONDER

1. Is attempting to undermine divinity of other faiths amount to arrogance?
2. Is blaming a religion, race, or ethnicity for the acts of individuals’ amount to deception?
3. Is holding greed, anger, hate, or malice in our hearts depleting our freedom?
4. Is ridiculing a person amount to ridiculing the creator?
5. Is judging others without knowing them personally amount to prejudice?
6. Is God free or some group owns him/her? Are we not limiting its limitlessness?
7. Does God make deals behind our back and favor some? Could God do such a thing?

In affairs of the world, religion appears to be a source of the problem; it certainly is not. You can always trace the wars, genocides, oppression and other atrocities to evil insecure stupid men. Please remember, the purpose of religion was to fix the evils of humankind and it continues to do so while some men still don’t get it. Thanks God, the world is a better place today because of the Religion and spirituality, without which there would be chaos. Every Religion is on the same side, that of goodness for humankind. Finding the truth is one’s own responsibility. Truth brings salvation.

If beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, then faith is in the heart of the believer. Let every one find peace his/her own way.


Mike Ghouse is a Speaker, Thinker, Writer and a Moderator. He is president of the www.FoundationforPluralism.com and is a frequent guest on talk radio and local television network discussing interfaith, political and civic issues. He is the founding president of the www.WorldMuslimCongress.com with a simple theme: "Good for Muslims and good for the world." His personal Website is www.MikeGhouse.net and his articles can be found on the Websites mentioned above and in his Blogs: http://MikeGhouseforAmerica.Blogspot.com and http://MikeGhouse.Sulekha.com Mike is a Dallasite for nearly three decades and Carrollton is his home town. He can be reached at MikeGhouse@gmail.com

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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.