Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Defining a few words in Islam

Discussing and defining a few words in Islam

A conversation with a few Muslims on the net – it is about 12 pages long followed by some 40 comments as continuance of the debate.

Thanks for sharing your frustrations, as a moderate Muslim I seek divergent opinions on any given subject at hand. One of the reasons we muslims are divisive is our inability to accept another point of view, while the majority of Muslims like all other majorities go on enjoying the God given life getting along with every one - a tiny minority of about 1% want to stick their understanding and their version of the religion onto others, it is the same story with all religions, cultures and systems. The Neocons (i.e. the stick in the muds among Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Jews .....), in every faith are passionate in what they do, and are loud enough to fool others to beleive that the whole Muslim world (or Christian) thinks like them.

We at WMC discussion forum practice the god given freedom in publishing all opinions from extreme conservative to ultra liberal. Every idea of yours has been published and you will not find this on most discussion forums. No single opinion is above the other, we are equal in God's presence. We are Moderate Muslims and are learning to stand up against the radical views and hope most of us will start speaking up.

If we don't agree, we must present the reasons for such disagreement and not attack the person.
Mike Ghouse

To be a Muslim is to be a peacemaker, one who seeks to mitigate conflicts and nurtures goodwill for peaceful co-existence. God wants us to live in peace and harmony with his creation; that is indeed the purpose of religion, any religion. Mission statement

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From Iftekhar Hai

Dear All:

After studying closely arguments from all sides - I would like to add my observations:

In San Francisco and around its 50 miles radius - we have people from all over the world peacefully engaged in making a living.

The silicon valley of the world consist of people from every religion. They are exposed to each other intellectual and cultural differences. They range from religion to secularism.

Males and females of every religion are marrying each other in a civil union. Religious blessing is not coming to them from their respective families - BUT live goes on. Each person respecting the other's faith.

Muslim families are highly educated and do not view religion in a private setting - not to be enforced on the environment. American society is where you leave your religion at home. You have complete freedom to practise privately.

I am reminded of the ayat in the Quran that says: 109:6 "To you be your ways and to me mine."
Islam is din of Allah - Allah will resurrect it. Allah does not need anyone's help. Our family lives in the vicinity of San Francisco. We follow our religion to the utmost as we think fit and pray to the same God who has created people of other faiths and other cultures in millions. ALL SPIRITUAL PATHS ARE ENDING IN THE SAME DESTINATION.

ALLAH ALONE WITH TELL YOU THE TRUTH IN MATTERS IN WHICH WE DISPUTE. 5:48

ISLAM RECOGNISES DIVERSITY & PLURALISM

To you we have given the scriptures, just as we have given the scriptures to people before you (Jews, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, etc). We have protected your scriptures (Quran) in its entirety. So judge among people from what knowledge has come to you (from Quran) and do not be carried over by your vain desires (that Muslims are the only righteous and chosen people to lead). To each among you (referring to diverse groups – not excluding anybody) We have prescribed the Law (teachings of the indigenous, native people and Buddhist scholars, Gitas, Vedas, Torah, Gospels and The Quran) and an Open Way (given a conscience with reference to the spiritualists people). If God had willed, all humanity would have been of one single community (this means diversity is part of God’s creation). God’s plan is to test you in what each one has received (in form of Holy Scriptures or Conscience). So strive, as in a race in all virtues. The goal of all the people is to God. God (alone) will tell you the truth in matters of which you dispute.” 5:48

(This means do not fight over religious matters, establish peace and conduct dialogues with wisdom and beautiful conduct to understand each other so all can live in peace)

Iftekhar Hai
UMA Interfaith Alliance
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From: Iftekhar Hai
Subject: Reply to Zahid Jamil: What is Islam & Basic Fundamentals of Quran
Date: Saturday, August 1, 2009, 3:40 PM

Salams to All:

I would love to hear from any one of you on two points that Zahid Saheb has raised below:

1) What is the definition of the world Islam. Can Javid/Zahid Saheb or any one define Islam. This is what comes up in global interfaith discussions over and over again. Our answers are in attachment.

2) What are the fundamentals of Islamic ideology? This is what Br. Zahid Jamil has implied. Is pluralism and diversity not the fundamentals of Quranic teachings? Our answers are in attachment too.

Both the below attachments are shared all over USA, Europe and UK.

1) Islamic definitions and
2) Basic & Fundamentals of Quran

Iftekhar Hai
UMA Interfaith Alliance
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Dear Iftekhar,

ASAK

Your definition of Islam is nothing but an attempt to deislamise islam, to deprive it the supremacy it has, owing to its being the Destination of God’s Guidance, over all other ideologies, and to make it compatible with the Western ideologies of economic fundamentalism, supremacy of Western ideology over others, the dominance of West in the world and the commercialization of human susceptibilities, which is one of the major sources of its economic power.

A few years back I had given a detailed reply to all your questions. Interfaith has unfortunately been reduced to an attempt to deprive all religions of their established principles and to develop a conglomeration of ideas befitting the demands of Westernism from religion, which wants religion to be chained into the boundaries of places of worship and human brains. Interfaith has made it look to the world that the root cause of all evils is in religion, or at least in the ways they are interpreted.

The truth on the contrary is that the threat to religion in general and Islam in particular comes not from the other religions but from the modern ideology of Economic fundamentalism, Westernism being its most visible face. Interfaith must realize this and not play into the hands of the forces of globalization, and must instead concentrate on fighting the economic fundamentalism and its most dangerous component, the commercialization of human weaknesses that hassled to the death of hundreds of millions of people, disintegration of family system, huge increase in crime rates and social chaos. Islam of course has the capability t0o lead this fight, and Muslims must seek the support of all other faiths in this task.

The world must know the dangers posed by alcohol, smoking, gambling, prostitution, pornography, homosexuality, promiscuity, lame legal system that fails to control crimes and the exploitative economic system that has created huge disparities.

Dr Javed Jamil
Chief Editor
Islam, Muslims & the World

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In a message dated 8/2/2009 12:42:27 P.M. Central Daylight Time, iftekhar writes:

Dear Javed Saheb:

Let me ask you a few specific questions: We would appreciate if you could answer them objectively and not go off our focus of defining key words that are repeated over and over in the Quran. This can help all of us. If we agree to key definitions of these words then the interpretation of the Quran becomes more important in the light of these definitions. AGAIN - PLEASE DO NOT ATTACK OR MAKE "PERSONAL ATTACKS." This is only to explain our two sides in the best possible way so that global message of the Quran and its wisdom from the Hadith can be available for all to see.

1) Define Islam
2) Believer
3) Dhimmi
4) Kafir
5) Non-Believer

OUR DEFINITIONS HAVE RECEIVED APPROVAL FROM NUMEROUS SCHOLARS FROM INDIA AS WELL AS FROM USA.

Key Definitions: How do we define and explain key words is absolutely important to better understanding of The Quran in the light of Global Inter-religious peace movement that is going on. It creates a mind-set that can become very narrow and selective in creating antagonistic divisions or it can create a more accommodating and tolerant mind-set. Some of the key words which are essential to better understanding are the following:

Islam The Quran is very clear in explaining the definition of the word Islam. What does it mean and what does it stand for. The uniqueness of this word is - that it is not named after any person (in this case our Prophet). It means total surrender or submission to Allah (God). Islam was the religion even before our Prophet Mohammed was born (pbuh) as is evidenced in The Quran in reference to 42:13,

"The same religion (Islam or submission) has He established for you that which He enjoined on Noah. That which We have sends as inspiration to you (Mohammed pbuh) and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses and Jesus: That you should stay steadfast in religion (submission to our Lord -Islam) and make no divisions therein. (this means work for the unity of humankind) As for those who worship other than God they are on (hard) wrong way to call from. God chooses and guides those whom He wills towards Him.

Commentary: According to this if a Christian, a Jew or any believer in One Supreme Being says “we surrender or submit to God.” They are falling within the definition of the word Islam. The art of surrender or submission is called Islam. This art of submission/surrende r was shown to all the Prophets and their people as evidenced in The Quran 10:47, 14:4 & 16:36. Islam is very inclusive and broad in its definition. Muslims believe in Allah (God) and take Mohammed (pbuh) as their messenger, just as Christians and Jews believe in the same God and take Jesus and Moses as their respective messengers. However Muslims believe in all the prophets from Jewish and Christian scriptures. One must refrain from judging other believers the depth of surrendering or submission of other believers. God is THE ONLY JUDGE. Here Jesus advice is more relevant, “Do not Judge others lest you be judged.”

Surah 3:85, “If anyone desires a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted of him.” Here the definition of Islam must be taken in its global context of surrendering and submission to One and Only One God.

Believer: Anyone who says, “We believe in One God” is a Believer. Let God be the ultimate judge. Humans will never have perfect knowledge to judge others.

Muslim: A Muslim is a person who says, “There is no God but One God (Allah) and Mohammed (pbuh) is a messenger of God.

Dhimmi: People of the Book, Christians and Jews who lived in an Islamic state were called dhimmis. This term is very often mis-interpreted. The expressed mission of Islamic state was to establish Islamic rules and regulations and form Islamic society. To convert People of Book to Islam was not the policy.

Dhimmis were exempted from military service and Islamic teachings. The Quran honored Christians and Jews as People with Revelations, the Bible and the Torah. Their property, life and places of worship were protected. For this service and protection a prorated tax “Jaziya” was collected by the Islamic state. Jaziya was not meant to be economically oppressive, on the contrary it was a compensation paid to the state for maintenance of law, order and due process in the Islamic state that guaranteed their constitutional rights. Dhimmis were exempted from paying the Zakat that was obligatory on every Muslim citizen. The rate of Jaziya was smaller than the Zakat rate. Presently, no Muslim country imposes “Jaziya” on People of other faiths. Jaziya is now history.

Kafir or Infidels:

The word Kafir is derived from the Arabic root word KFR, (Kaf, Fay and Ray) which means to cover, conceal or hide. Hiding with the intention of misleading, deceiving or suppressing the truth. Meddling with the Holy Scriptures where intentionally truth is either, concealed, changed, omitted, misinterpreted so that people either begin to doubt or lose complete faith in God, His Signs and His Revelations – this can come in the area of infidelity (being unfaithful to your Creator) or Kufr.

Character assassinations of Biblical and Quranic Prophets, done intentionally to undermine the faith or trust/believe in God, His Signs and Revelations can also be classified, as Kufr and people committing such acts are called Kafirs or infidels.

One cannot call a believer in God from Christianity or Judaism as Kafir if they do not believe in Mohammed (pbuh) as Messenger of God.

In modern language, you can say, it has to be intentional dishonesty, deception and misinformation. Just like a more sophisticated, premeditated perjury is deep rooted in misleading or deceiving people which can lead to criminal actions so also we have to consider the extent of intentional deception or perjury in explaining Kafir or Kufr.

Infidel does not really represent the true meaning of the word Kafir. The dictionary merely says an infidel is one who does not belief in any religion, especially Christianity and Islam.

Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs who comprise 2.5 billion of the world’s population cannot all be classified as non-believers or as KAFIRS. There are billions of them who belief in God, the Last Day and Life after Death and in doing righteous deeds. They have also been shown the art of surrender, submission or devotion (which in Arabic is called Islam). The Quran says, “To every people we send an Apostle in their own language and in their own country to clarify God’s message in Quran 14:4, 10:47 &16:36. Muslims are commanded to believe in the revelations that have come to them (The Quran) and the revelations that came before their times (Torah, Psalms and Gospels) in Quran 2:4.

Hence believers in One God from other faiths cannot be lumped or stereotyped as non-believers. No one has the authority to judge others. Hence they cannot be called KAFIRS because they also have been shown the art of surrender, submission or devotion which is the true meaning of the word Islam.

The Quran uses Kafirs in reference to the pagan Arabs who had unleashed war on Prophet Mohammed and early Muslims. All the verses on war must be taken in reference to pagan, idolatrous Arabs. Muslims look towards war in the Quran to stop tyranny, oppression of the pagan Quresh tribe. The other side of war was to establish freedom, liberty, women rights and a better law abiding society.

Christians and Jews who lived during the times of Prophet Mohammed were never defined as Kafirs or infidels. They are called as, “People of the Book” throughout the Quran. Prophet Mohammed included them as part of Medina Constitution This is a very important observation that we all should know.

Hence believers in One God from other faiths cannot be lumped or stereotyped as non-believers. No one has the authority to judge others. Hence they cannot be called KAFIRS because they also have been shown the art of surrender, submission or devotion which is the true meaning of the word Islam.

Non-Believer: Non-believers are those who do not believe in God. There could be numerous reasons, conditions, situations or factors for their lack of faith in God. There are Americans who are not taught religion at home or public schools hence they become secular in their outlook. They also grow with no negative baggage. Their conscience is clear. They have a sense of equality and justice which is God-given quality of being just and fair.

Sometimes a believer passes from being in a believing state to a non-believing state and there could be many reasons for that too.

A non-believer is not a hypocrite or infidel (kafir). It is important to know the difference.
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From: Mike Ghouse
Subject: MuslimAgenda :: Defining Islam, people of the book, Kafir etc.
To: worldmuslimcongress@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, August 3, 2009, 5:59 PM

AA,
Iftekhar,

I appreciate your comments on the words Islam, Kafir, People of the book etc, indeed a majority of Muslims subscribe to that thought process. The word Kafir and People of the book are misused to claim superiority over the others, to create a class, that which Islam stands againts. Arrogance is the root cause of all conflict and that is not what God's wishes, he wishes his creation to get along and live in harmony without any distinction of religion, race or culture. (idea of Quraan 49:13)

I know a few will jump at me without even thinking, as if they are parrots and have shut out all thinking faculties. The fact is an overwhelming majority of Muslims are open to learning, as Quran started with that word, and most Muslims subscribe to the idea that God is not owned by Muslims or any exclusive group, Praise the lord, lord of the universe, (rabbul aalameen) as Muslims we recite that at least 50 times a day.

I am writing a piece on Muslim women seeking to marry men outside their faith, in the article, I have touched up on the idea of " Kafir and the people of the book". For nearly a thousand years men who wanted to "control" women wrote most of the ideas... at times what it seems like going against the equality God has blessed to men and women. On the day of judgment no woman will have her husband stand by her, nor a man has a woman standing by him, each one is an equal individual responsible for his or her actions. Nothing but your responsibility is accounted for... of course, God is merciful and beneficent and he would always has his last word.

2:221 “AND DO NOT marry women who ascribe divinity to aught beside God ere they attain to [true] belief: for any believing bondwoman [of God]* is certainly better than a woman who ascribes divinity to aught beside God, even though she pleases you greatly. And do not give your women in marriage to men who ascribe divinity to aught beside God ere they attain to [true] belief: for- any believing bondman [of God] is certainly better than a man who ascribes divinity to aught beside God, even though he pleases you greatly. [Such as] these invite unto the fire, whereas God invites unto paradise, and unto [the achievement of] forgiveness by His leave; and He makes clear His messages unto mankind, so that they might bear them in mind."

God is for all times and so is his wisdom. Thank God we have the freedom to learn and understand concepts that were limited in scope but are actually universal.

In the above verse, a distinction was made between those who believe in a creator and those who reject the creator (or associate the creator with others). Do Jews, Christians, Hindus or people of other faith not believe in God? Don't the Atheist, Buddhists, Jains, Wicca and others believe in accountability? They all do, they also believe that some thing caused the world to come into being, whom we call God.

Perhaps the wisdom behind the distinction was to understand those who rejected God in medieval times, and it meant that they did not care for the moral values of the humanity and became a source of immorality. That stereo typing does not apply today as it did some ten centuries ago. Atheist and those who do not believe in a formal God are as moral as the ones who show off their belief every which possible. In all sincerity the word “Polytheist” exists without a corpus. Typically Hindus are ascribed as Polytheists without verifying that Hindus believe in one supreme God as well, and accept God in different manifestations, as Muslims also see God in 99 different attributes.

The other aspect that a few Muslims are hung up with is the phrase “People of the book” as though we belong to an “exclusive men’s club” and others don’t. That is sheer arrogance and a major source of conflict in community relations. Islam’s message was to find means to dissolve the arrogance and not manufacture it.

The Prophet, peace be upon him, indeed had wished that his people also had a book like the Jews and Christians. At that time having a book meant civility, discipline and a system and not necessarily divinity. No doubt the Christians and Jews were included in the exclusive club, but we have missed out the Hindus, Buddhist, Jains and others who all have a book of guidance. The Qur’aan uses 124,000 Prophets to mean that the cherisher of the universe (Rabbul Aalameen) has reached out to every nation and tribe although only 25 names were listed; similarly only two inclusions were listed as people of the book where as there were many others who followed the books.

God is wise, all embracing and cannot be narrow in his appeal. We the humans tend to want to own God and box up his wisdom. Let's give God all the freedom he has. After all we have created God in our own image.

Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na'im, an Islamic family law expert at Emory University , argues that gender dynamics have changed in a way that makes interfaith marriage more reasonable under Islamic tradition. "In social reality today, men are not dominant in the marriage relationship. The rationale of historic rule is no longer valid," he said. "But people are not willing to accept this. This is a major source of tensions."

There is a value we all have to realize today or tomorrow and that is peaceful co-existence is God’s will. We should be open to people who value the morals of the society to work for peaceful co-existence with or without the books.

Mike Ghouse
To be a Muslim is to be a peacemaker, one who seeks to mitigate conflicts and nurtures goodwill for peaceful co-existence. God wants us to live in peace and harmony with his creation; that is indeed the purpose of religion, any religion. Mission statement

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From: javed jamil
Subject: Re: MuslimAgenda :: Defining Islam, people of the book, Kafir etc.
To: worldmuslimcongress@yahoogroups.com, WorldMuslimCongress@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2009, 2:55 AM

Brother Mike

AA

I am writing this letter to you in dismay and disappointment. I have been part of the forum you moderate for several years, and have been a part of most of the debates that occurred there. I have respected you as a moderator because I felt that despite your own specific inclinations, you are giving everybody an opportunity to speak. But lately I have started feeling that you are continuously pushing your own agenda, which is something not acceptable to majority of Muslims, and least to Islamic scholars. I felt it bad that slowly but steadily most of the members who had been actively participating in the debate have now stopped taking any interest in the forum debates. Many of them have left the forum; some4 forums have even put your views on “Ban”. I wrote a harsh letter to you in the hope that you will realize this, and will not allow the forum to become dead. But I feel you are now only interested in the views of people like Tarek Fateh, Farzana Hasan, both notoriously known for their campaigns against whatever the common Muslims and Islamic scholars stand for, Zeba, Aziz, Iftakhar and few others. I have no complaints if you can continue with them and run the forum as you like, as you are the owner of this forum.

I have never written or spoken anything against any other religion or community – Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism or anyone else. I have always advocated a unity of all religions against the evils of the world. I have also never spoken against the people of any country. I have only spoken against the systems and the government policies of different countries. Yes I have been fighting against Westernism, because I feel this is the most dominant ideology of the current world, and it has caused much greater harm than it has benefited. I have never disrespected any religion, but I know I am a Muslim because I feel Islam is the best and final version of God’s Guidance to mankind. If I didn’t believe it, I won’t be a Muslim. (I give this right to the followers of all other ideologies as well.) I believe that Allah sent Islam for the whole mankind; and it is the duty of Muslims to demonstrate to the mankind that it is indeed for them. Every human being has the right to benefit from Islam’s System in this world if he does not believe it as a religion, and in the Hereafter as well if he believes in God, Hereafter, and the finality and supremacy of Muhammad and Qur’an after they were sent to the world.

I have held you in great respect, as an elder brother. I will continue to have that respect. I can sometimes be very hard-hitting in debates but I never allow the debate to make me feel bad about the person with whom I am debating. You must have noticed that I have had debates even with my real brother, Mr Zahid Jamil.

With these words, I thank you for giving me the space in your forums for all these years and request you to kindly unsubscribe me for the future. I will no longer “jump” at you or Iftakhar and you can continue with your giving new meanings to Islam. All the best! May this world become healthier, cleaner and more peaceful in accordance with the desire of God expressed in His Final Book!

Dr Javed Jamil
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On Aug 4, 2009, at 7:16 AM, TSidd wrote:

Mohtram Jamil Bhai. ASA

I do appreciate your frustration as a Muslim. You have been hitting your benevolent friendly head, unfortunately, against a stubborn stony wall. But you should not stop your words of Nasiha. Please go on trying your efforts that will put some kind of restrain on his free-reigns. Some day you may be able to change his "misguided" path of self-deception which is fast tilting towards "arrogance".

Our thoughtful words of Nasiha can change his behavior and approach through our peaceful non-violent friendly "rebukes". At least we can say to Allah on the Day of Judgement to his and our Lord: "O Allah! We did our best but your salve [ABD} was full of arrogance, intoxicated with the lust of Modernism, enjoying your bounties on earth but obeying to the dictates of his whims and caprices while living under the false notion that he can deliver a new Deen. a "Cosmopolitan" life pattern to American society after your perfect Deen Al-Islam. What a self deception arrogance it is!

Mohtram Ghouse Bhai is living in the USA, a society free-for-all. He is down to earth liberal and pursuing a secular political agenda that suits all the deformed and decomposed religions of time. He is surrounded by them. He is their "Guru." Let him carry out his agenda. One day I am sure he will repent and that day is not far off. We all can encounter it any moment. The most uncertain thing that we all posses is a span of life but when it terminates we don't know at all.

Just wish him the best of luck and keep ourselves fully updated with his "achievements"

Shamim

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In a message dated 8/4/2009 10:46:00 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, MikeGhouse writes:

AA,

Brothers Jameel and Shamim;

Thanks for sharing your frustrations, as a moderate Muslim I seek divergent opinions on any given subject at hand. One of the reasons we muslims are divisive is our inability to accept another point of view. We at WMC forum practice the god given freedom in publishing all opinions from extreme conservative to ultra liberal. Every idea of yours has been published and you will not find this on most discussion forums. No single opinion is above the other, we are equal in God's presence.

Brother shamim please don't lose your integrity by labeling me with liberal and other labels. Furthermore pl do not spread the word that I am creating another religion, it does not suit your caliber and buzurgi. Islam is my faith and it is universal enough to accomodate the essence of all goodness out there.

Javed, you can choose to remain within your circle or be open to different points of view. That is what perhaps IQRA also means. Insha Allah we will continue to bring all points of view on the subject including yours.

Jazak Allah Khair
Mike Ghouse

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From: TSidd
To: MikeGhouse
Sent: 8/4/2009 4:36:30 P.M. Central Daylight Time
Subj: Re: MuslimAgenda :: Defining Islam, people of the book, Kafir etc.

Mohtram Ghouse Bhai, ASA

I don't want to argue with you and create bitterness for nothing. Just tell me if you are not "liberal"as you say what for then "liberalism" stands?

If you prefer, love the dogmas of other faiths and promote them, is it not the creation of an ultra faith equal to Akbar's Deen-e Ilahi?

I told you that if all these "Summalons" [gatherings of faiths} are for inviting them ultimately to Allah's Deen, then go ahead with my "Asherbad". If not, please don't feel ill of my comments. All are for the sake of Allah and for His pleasure.

I an not losing my "integrity" rather helping my big brother to maintain his integrity that is very much at stake and he is unmindful of what he is fast losing in the Muslim community.

Mine and Br Javed's concern about you are the same.

Shamim

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From Mike Ghouse
Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Brothers Shamim and Javed:

I cannot call you an extremist, because you are not.

Tarek Fatah, Irshad Manji, Farzana Hasan and Asra Nomani are liberals and they are fine with that title. They reject a lot of conservative ideas. On the other hand Javed Jamil, Shamim Siddiqi and a few others are conservatives and reject every thing that is liberal.

Hasni Essa, Iftekhar Hai, Zahid Jamil, Irfan Faiz, a few others and myself are moderates because we dialogue with the conservatives, we are not 100% in tune with them, but can find sense with them.

Conservatives stick with what they are familiar with and that is the end of discussion for them.

Liberals on the other hand feel full freedom and any rejection of that ends their discussion.

Moderates on the other hand can reach out to both ends of the spectrum and are open to discussions.

Let me summarize this;

1) Liberals - reject Sharia out rightly, Hadith is not their basis and see Qur'aan as the book of guidance. Islam does not negate other faiths for them.

2) Conservatives - Stick to the Sharia dearly, Hadith is divine and Qur'aan negates all other books for them. Islam negates other faiths for them.

3) Moderates - see value in Sharia and adopt personal Sharia and adopt the civil laws of the country for justice instead of the Public version of Sharia, If Hadith is in tune with Qur’an’s universality, they will quote it; Islam does not negate other faiths for them.

I will share the difference in a more formal format in a few weeks.

Jazak Allah Khair
Mike Ghouse

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46 comments:

  1. Religion is basically a subjective issue. The controversies between various religions and within sects of particular religions( Catholics and protestants in Christianity and Shia and Sunni in Islam) have been raging ever-since religions were adopted by the humans. The only flaw in religions is that you have to believe them without any testimony or proof. There is no way that one can verify what founders of regions said or propounded was from God.

    Religions urge peace but practically more people have been killed in the name of religions than for other reasons. Religious pluralism and cohabitation can be possible. But for a religion to decimate others and rule by itself as the only legitimate religion is impossible. The respective religions would never relinquish their legitimacy over others. Hence the incessant bad blood and religious wars and mayhem.

    In Islam one sect kills others.So to say that Islam means submission and peace has never happened in history. Tell me an example of an ideal and real Islamic polity where there was total peace.Don't quote Khilafat-e-Rashida because three Caliphs were killed by the opponents. Caliph Ali insisted on right of caliphate to the blood relations of the prophet.That rivalry and conflict continues to this day. Where does poor Islam's meaning of submission and tolerance stand.

    To recite Quranic injunctions is not going to make any difference because these are variously interpreted and they never cut any ice with Muslims to bring about peace and unity. Arabs hate non Arab Muslims. Omayyad's killed Banu Hashim and Banu Abbas killing Omayyad's.Were they Muslims or not?

    Modern society is away from the period of the proliferation of religions by several centuries. Read the Bible and you will be convinced it is written by a fiction writer, far from rationality and reality and even morality. Every age has its own ethics and that is sufficient for the current age. If all the religions claim to be from God then why they have divisions and why God sent separate messages through different prophets?

    The religions should be confined to personal level and to the observance of rituals which is what has been happening all along since the birth of this most potent divisive force.

    Saeed Qureshi

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  2. Honestly the views of people who see things in black and white is unsettling I
    would have rather prefered terms like it is "preferable" or the "consensus" is
    but the radical mind of orthodoxy does not allow for flexibility in the
    fundamentalism of Islam.

    I am concerned that some how the message being conveyed by the conservatives is
    Muslim women are the property of Muslim men only and therefore it is better for
    them to marry Muslim Men only and Al Mushrikoon (Non Believers), Jewish or
    Christians men are measured with the same Yard stick and some how believing
    Slaves by default are Muslims so exceptions can be made by those fiqah who
    translate and interpret the Quran this seems outright sanctimonious and flawed
    in Islamic prejudice with nom regard for Islamic Ethics, on one hand Islam
    justify s most heinous immorality of Slavery but can not see love as a
    transcendental value what kind of Islam or peace does this foster amongst human
    beings, Sorry I find this very troubling what happened to those who say Marriage
    is a social contract in Islam or Marraiges are made in Haven, I suppose Allah
    has to supervise all marriages personally to make sure no one converted to Islam
    under the false pretense to marry a Muslim women---amazing how human spirit can
    be cornered into dogma of Sharia where Gods mercy is defined by scholars of
    questionable credentials.

    Regards Aziz

    ReplyDelete
  3. Br Mike,
    AA

    I am surprised how you and some of the members here call me a "conservative". I am one who believes in changing the world in accordance with the principlesof islam, and my way of challenging the world is radically different from that of the Ulama and majority of Islamic scholars. But yes, if to be conservative means following the word of God and Prophet in both letter and spirit, I have no objection to be regarded a conservative.

    Your calculations are wrong, brother Mike. Your ideasof pluralism are acceptable to just 1 pc of Muslims, not to 98%. Still I respect you because you moderate well and listen with patience. Unfortunately though, this patience of yours has become a part of your straegy to continue pushing with your ideas. But you certainly have right to your ideas like I have to mine. I have no intentions to malign you, as I have never made any remark against you, beside what you expressed in your writings. I have not een called you an ultra liberal, not even liberal, the way you called me "conservative"
    My respect for you or for any other person is beyond my confrontation with you or him on specific issues.

    Javed

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  4. Dear Javed,

    Islam is indeed about co-existence, every ritual is inculcated with those values - what do you think is happening with the daily prayers? forging co-existence between rich and poor, literate and il-literate and, what about Haj? Coexistence among different cultures, races, ethnicities and to that we have added different denominations (as Sunni, Shia and their derivatives did not exist at the beginning), what about fasting, zakat and other practices. Islam is indeed co-existence, which is another word for pluralism.

    Pluralism is yet to be understood, it is not a religion, it is not diluting a religion, it is simply developing an attitude to co-exist in harmony with God's creation; life and matter.

    Yes sir, 98% of Muslims believe in getting along with every one and pushing any one to be other than who they are - a strong Islamic value. Only 1% of Muslims are liberals and the other 1% is conservatives.

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  5. Mike,

    Salam,

    Please keep up the good work. It's very easy to lopside and tilt but it is hard to stay balanced and even; we are told by our Creator to do justice under all circumstances without regard to kinship and enmity, race, creed, language and culture. I think we don't seem to study the Glorious Qur'an carefully when we limit the Qur'anic definition of the word "believers" to an extreme specific and narrow class of people on this vast globe.

    You are so right when you say in your email:

    "We are an open forum and believe in Allah's word that he could have chosen to makes us all Muslims and he intentionally created diverse people, nations and tribes so we can know each other and live in harmony."

    It immediately brought the wisdom of the Qur'an to my mind. Let's see how the Qur'an agrees with you:

    5:48:........To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah. it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute;.

    God the al-Mighty is Rabbul Aalameen---He takes care of everyone and there is comfort for each of those who believe in Allah, the Day of Judgment, and do good deeds (2:62, 5:69, 2:111-112 and many other verses). The Qur'an is vastly accepting of the very basic creed of ONENESS of Godhead; it encourages harmonious relationships between all human beings without unnecessary violence and injustice to anyone. God knows humans really well because He is the one Who created them. He is the one Who told us that we, the humans, will act weak and ignorant and that we will always be prone to error. He told us that if he looked at our blunders and sins, no one will make it to the Garden.

    Only humans have narrow mindsets, God doesn't.

    Irfan

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  6. Dear Mike,

    I have strong reservations about your assessment of how Muslims perceive Islam in today's world. I have lived in many regions of the world and have extensively met Muslims from many countries. You are wrong in counting yourself among moderates and among the majority of Muslims. You should count yourself, as we have known you through your opinions expressed on this platform, as liberal. As a majority of Muslims are Sunnis and I can say with much confidence that an average sunni Muslim would not ascribe to the opinions expressed by you on many issues. Shias are generally no less conservative. If you would describe yourself as moderate, then let me tell you that at least 70% of Muslims in today's world should be described as conservative. Even the very first sentence of your following response is surely misleading. The world 'Islam' means 'surrender to the will of Allah', then how can it be about free will. The free will of human beings often tends it to the temptation of many immoral worldy attractions, which in religious language are described as satanic. The quran lays down strict guidelines in absolutely clear terms for many living aspects of human life and thus a Muslim is obliged to follow those guidelines, it is an other matter how comfortable one feels about it or follows it.

    And to Iftekhar Sb, when Islam recognises diversity and pluralism, it does not ask you to dilute your own religion and compromise on very fundamentals of an ideology. It means that you love all human beings and cooperate with others in day to day living irrespective of their religion or belief.

    As far as this case of interfaith marriage is concerned, it is only Islam which allows its man to marry a woman of another religion. Judaism does not even allow anyone to enter its faith. All countries of the world have their own constituion and follow different sets of rules. Let them do so but respect each other and have peaceful co-existence. The same applies to different religions and that is what the Quran advocates.

    A sincere Muslim will try to invite others to the teachings of Quran in an affectionate manner so that they do not miss out on a treasure what we believe is the final word from the creator. Muslims must not seek confrontation but are allowed to respond if they are being attacked.

    Another thing which puzzles me is that none of us seem to be learning anything. Such platforms are for learning, however, we do not seem to have changed our opinion on any issue despite a few years of lecturing to each other. Just imagine how great the noble prophets were and how strong their message was that they had changed the entire living of humanity.


    Regards

    Zahid Jamil
    Sydney

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  7. Reasons for negative argument can vary sometimes it is masked in illogical sarcasam and sometime hate for the Jews and some are honest opinions limited by true scholarship, that is the amazon Parrot, It is negativity we must be most concerned about, those Muslims waging a war on behalf of Allah, for hearts and minds through extreme interpretations they not only question his ability and his power but show our own inability and ignorance and expose what is common prejudice in form of answers and the argument it is not if we can justify our logic right or wrong on the subject, The question is what are our values because ultimately we will be defined by those values, If they are not universal and discriminatory than the God of Jews and Muslims represented in the form of its followers will always be in conflict and is not the same God that is not pluralism Muslim woman can not marry a Jew because, he belongs to immoral practices of Zionism is ridicules, or Quran forbids no explaination neccessary response in arrogance,, Islam is the final religion therefore superior, Allah wishes it so just accept this, because the punishment for apostasy is death, Men are permitted but not women because women are inferior to a degree etc and children born into intermarriages follow the traditions of a stronger male gender, Even though it is women who raise them, Or The God of the Jews is not the same as Allah, because Jews say they are the chosen people they should not marry someone outside their faith, and the list goes onto the point of ignorance is bliss. Nothing like a well articulated ressearched argument in the context of cause, history, intera relations in Medina, time of revealation intent and provide the details of seminary on the revealations that the prophet use to discuss.

    Friends there is always question that is If Quran and the Prophet SAS has placed such a great importance on intelligence, It is to apply the positive and the logical I am afraid the critical thinking escapes me in some very unIslamic and hostile responses. no room for ethical humanism.

    I think it is unfortunate that none of the School of Jurisprudence was represented by the women, certainly from womens POV I suppose mentally they may have been considered inferior or restricted by culture

    Hume, like DesCartes and Spinoza, was part of the tradition attempting to resolve moral problems by an appeal to epistemological foundations. It is well known that he had high hopes of resolution of such traditional disputes by an appeal to a more critical or rigorous elucidation of the nature of reason

    The conflict between morality and ethics become difficult to reconcile where the question of Sharia exists, There is an interesting view does religion promote love and positive thoughts or is the role of religion is to change the very nature of its own creation. or do we seek salvation through the innerself not bound by Human Dogma

    http://innerself.com/Creating_Realities/forces_11072.htm

    Aziz

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  8. Salam,

    First thing First Mike, consistently you have not been approving my responses.Nevertheless, let me have my say.-

    When Mike and Iftekhar insert bracketted interpretation of an Ayah no body should object. However, if those who don't conform to Mike and Iftekhar's agenda do just that all hell breaks loose. So much like a Western World. Lot of hue and cry for Iran, but no statement on Germany and Kyrghistan!

    Trust me Mike, there are people in US who declare that Quran permits homosexuality. I guess the name of the group is AlFateh. Then there is whole bunch of people who believe that Angel Jibreel erred in contacting Mohammad, he
    was actually sent to Ali. Still others believe that Allah and Ganesh are same.

    And whole Christain world, barring few, believe that Jesus is Allah's biological son. And all of them add brackets to actual command of Allah.

    To understand Quran, one has to take its own help and not parrot (isn't that the word you used recently?, how intolerant of you) his own Agenda even if it is a Muslim Agenda.

    Then Mike, pickup the Quran, collect all its Ayah on a particular subject and then find out what it means. Until then, enjoy interfaith marriages and as Javed Jamil says, enjoy Westernism.

    Quran has condemned 'elhaad'. Extremism in in any of Allah's Sifaat (Character), even if that Sifaat is MERCIFUL!

    He wouldn't ask one set of people to believe in Him Alone and then reward all opposite ones with Paradise. Only a fools logic. And Allah is beyond what you suggest Him to be.

    Wassalaam
    Khalid Faridi

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  9. Khalid,

    We welcome your opinions, they add to the process of thinking and making valued judgments about our own understanding.

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  10. The Secularism carries overtones of atheism and was born out
    of the struggles in the West against theocracy and monarchy
    for adopting democracy under the influence of Darwinism.

    Pluralism, by contrast, involves no break with religion and, democracy
    what is more important, with tradition and allows individuals to conform
    to their religious ideals and values. It requires acceptance of, and mutual
    respect between, the many religions in a country.

    A pluralist State could also be secular, but in a different
    way. For its legal and civil codes seek to accommodate
    and incorporate particular religious customs and
    beliefs and not banish them from the public domain.

    During British Raj in India they had Personal Laws
    separately for Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims etc. and the
    practice continues in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh
    and Sri Lanka. The Constitution safeguarded pluralism by creating
    an ethnic federation on the one hand, and by
    protecting the marriage, inheritance, educational and
    cultural practices of the minorities, on the other. Minorities
    are given equal rights.

    During the lifetime of Prophet Mohammad the Jews were
    free to follow their faith and the punishments for crimes to
    Jews were accorded according their scriptures in consultation
    with rabbis. The punishment of stoning to death for adultery
    was adopted according Jewish practice.

    As regards marriage of a Muslim with Non-Muslim, it is predominantly
    agreed that it must be according to Islamic values and conversion to
    Islam is necessary before marriage.


    Shah N. Khan
    Editor Fraternity Brief

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  11. Dear Shah Khan

    You are one of the few Muslims who has understood pluralism as co-existence, most people don't even read this and keep parroting that Pluralism is another religion. I hope more and more people think and understand it.

    Allah is the biggest promoter of Pluralism - aka co-existence of his creation be it in the jungle, universe or humankind. I have given the details in my earlier comment about it.

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  12. Another person who wants to remain anonymous has send me an email expressing his views. Just want to share with all of you.

    Dear Iftekhar Saheb,

    Thank you very much for this ongoing debate on the basic precepts and teaching of Quran. If what you say is agreed to by all religious people in the world including Muslims, there won't be any need to fight with one another over matters of religion. But alas ! it is not happening. The most tragic thing is : even great Islamic scholars like Dr. Javed Jamil, whom I admire very much, are unwilling to accept this all-encompassing, all-inclusive view. They feel that their way of worshipping God is the only way to do so. I have repeatedly heard the saying in Sanskrit - "Ekam sat, vipra bahudha vadanti !" which means to say - Truth is one but different scholars and people of great wisdom may explain that truth in different ways.

    There is one more concept "religious tolerance". Its intent appears to be: "Although we are supreme and only we know what is right and what is wrong. Still, we are generous, we let you practise your faith. We won't initiate a war against you and definitely, we are not going to kill you. Neverthless, we are on the right path and you are on the wrong one."

    So, I feel that there are four types of people in the society -

    1) People who respect others' faith as they would respect their own. They say that all faiths / ways of worship lead to the same God who is only ONE.
    2) People who respect only their own faith but they let others practise their faith also.
    3) People who consider their own faith as Supreme and consider it their sacred duty to convert others to their own faith. If people of other faith do not comply with their dictats, they don't have a right to live.
    4) There are people, who, apalled by the mindset of 3rd type of people, lose faith in all religions. They believe that their conscience is the alone guiding light which tells them what is right/wrong. They are, so as to say 'color-blind' as far as ability to differentiate among different religions is concerned.

    It would be nice if people would introspect deeply and discover for their own good and for the good of the entire humanity, which of these four category do they belong to. As far as I am concerned, I consider people of 3rd category as ENEMY OF PEACE - whichever religion they may be practising.

    Yours truly,

    Anonymous


    Iftekhar Hai
    UMA Interfaith Alliance
    Tel: 650-872-2578 www.umaia.net

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  13. Dear Mike, Iftekhar Assalamalaikum

    Thank you very much for a well thought submission. All those who have contributed to it need to be congratulated, including both of you. All such discussion should form part of the learning curve rather than targeting each other at personal level. Let us all be objective and carefully consider other's opinions as well. At times some scholarly people on this platform tend to be upset with many of your observations as such remarks would not qualify under any religion, let alone Islam.

    Your documents are a fine attempt in unifying the people of different faiths. However, you need to be mindful that you do not try to justify all the actions of human beings in the framework of Quranic Islam. Good and bad has always existed and will do so for ever. There have always been and there will always be people on this earth engaging in right and wrong. If you are doing one right thing and one wrong thing, both need to assessed before a conclusion is drawn. The Christians and Jews beleived and practiced the same religion 14 hundred years back as they do today. Yet there was a need for God to send a prophet so that he can amend on the wrongs they were committing. If they were not doing any wrong, there would not have been a need of another prophet. Our holy Prophet (pbuh) invited not only pagans to Islam but also the Christians and the Jews. You have very well elaborated all the things which Christians, Jews, Hindus etc are doing right. However, you did not touch on anything which they do wrong and which are repeatedly mentioned in the Quran. Shirk (associating partners with Allah) is one such act which is hated most by Allah Swt and which is mentioned in verse after verse in our holy book. Let us first speak about Hindus, some of whom as per your submission may be included amongst the people of book, which I do not deny. However, if the majority of Hindus believe and worship Devis and Maatas, Hanumans and Ganeshes, are they not Mushrikin (??), even if they believe in Brahma as being the supreme Lord. When Christians declare Christ to be the son of God and believe in the trinity, is it not shirk?? The same may be said about most other religions. What Islam does is purify spiritaulity and cleanse it all. Even some sects amongst Muslims tend to fall into diluted shirk and they should also be warned.

    Most atheist do not believe in any form of God but only in the Big Bang, which means we all just happened to come into existence. They do advocate for social equity and many of them are great reformers on that front, but that does not justify their arrogance in discounting the great GOD whom most religions tend to believe in.

    If you keep reinforcing to a child all what he does right, then there will be no improvement in him. You need to tell him that while you are right here, you are wrong some where else and if that wrong is not corrected even the good of your right will be negated.

    Telling half a truth does not lead you anywhere. Enemies of Islam repeatedly quote those verses of the Quran which signify the acts of shirk and kufr. We need not shy away from it but tell them in clear terms that Mushrik and Kaafir existed as much in medieveal ages as they do today and our role is not to hate them but to tell them that there is a finer truth which they should consider. Enemies of Islam as well as Islamic extremists also highlight the Quranic verses which warn kaafirs and Mushrikeen of the dire consequences of their actions. Those who wish to promote peace at any cost tend to highlight commonalities only as you did in your submission. Neither of the two speak the whole truth and unless it is spoken, a just peace cannot be established.

    There are serious issues in the interpretation of many Islamic beliefs and practices as followed by conventional Islamic institutions but that is a seperate issue and needs to be addressed sepeartely.

    Continued......

    kind regards
    Zahid Jamil
    Sydney

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  14. Continued:

    The Quran promotes peace as you have quoted in your submission. However it does not promote peace at the expense of shirk, immorality and falsehood. We should not judge others individually but assessing a belief system and life practices of its followers is no sin. Rather it is important so as to distinugish between right and wrong.

    Let us seek unity in diversity, not unity in uniformity as two of you try to do so often. The communities (followers of different religions, nations, tribes etc) will always be diverse and let them be so but they should learn to live with each other in peace and harmony. However the whole truth should be strengthened and not just part of truth.

    May I also request Dr Javed Jamil to reconsider his position and continue contributing to this platform. He brings life to many debates. His writings are generally well researched and many of his ideas are very inspiring to Muslims of the world.

    I will wait for your specific response to this submission of mine.

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  15. Dear Zahid;

    From your commetn "Most atheist do not believe in any form of God but only in the Big Bang, which means we all just happened to come into existence. They do advocate for social equity and many of them are great reformers on that front, but that does not justify their arrogance in discounting the great GOD whom most religions tend to believe in."

    Let me add for the purpose of thinking; God cannot be defined in words nor can he be contained in a picture. We simply cannot limit the unlimitedness of God into any definable form.

    THIS MAY COME AS A SURPRISE TO A FEW THAT the atheist do not subscribe to the idea of God presented by different religions, however they belive that there is a cause to have caused the creation and sustenance of life and matter. That is defining God in its most abstract form.

    Deep down that is the way Islam, Judaism and Hinduism defines God and am posistive that is the way with other faiths.

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  16. Dear Mike, Salaams
    I ONLY KNOW THAT ISLAM IS NOT A RELIGION-MAZHAB, AND HAS NO PRIESTHOOD, 10 - 35.
    Rashid

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  17. No Mike, I am not among those few who would jump on you.And I agree, word Kafir which simply means non-believer, is misued by Muslims in derogatory term as they use word 'nigger' to downgrade blacks.Also, to claim Islam as totally superior to other is sheer arrogance, which indeed becomes barrier when you try to interact with people of the Book.

    In recent times, the term Kafir is seen as derogatory, which is why some Muslim scholars discourage its use and suggest the term "non-Muslim" instead.Some Muslims believe that making friends with the Kafir is prohibited in Islam. Others consider the directive in Qur'an only for those Christians and Jews who were direct addressees of Qur'an or in war when there is a danger of transmission of secrets.

    The word kaffir, sometimes spelt kaffer or kafir, is an offensive term for a black person, most common in South Africa and other African countries. Generally considered a racial orethnic slure in modern usage, it was previously a neutral term for black southern African people.

    The original meaning of the word is 'heathen', 'unbeliever' or 'infidel', from the Arabic 'kafir' and is still being used with this meaning by Muslims.Portuguese explorers used the term generally to describe tribes they encountered in southern Africa, probably having misunderstood its etymology from Muslim traders along the coast. European colonists subsequently continued its use. Although it was in wide use between the 16th and 19th centuries, and not generally seen as an offensive term, as racial tensions increased in 20th century South Africa and the surrounding countries, it became a term of abuse.

    In South Africa today, the term is used both as an insult, and by some, as a common word for a black person. In any case, the term is regarded by most as highly offensive (in a similar way to "nigger" in other countries). Use of the word has been actionable in South African courts since at least 1976 under the offence of crimen injuria: "the unlawful, intentional and serious violation of the dignity of another".

    There's no doubt, Islam is a great religion in many respects.But, other religions not totally inferior either.Let me ask.How people of the Book would define their religion.Of course, every religion has its own definition.And believers of every religion would define their religion to be better than others.

    Therefore, I agree with brother Mike totally.There's no room for arrogance in any religion, if you want to have peaceful interaction and free exchange of ideas and ideology, or one's religious belief.

    Hasni Essa
    Islam for Pluralism

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  18. Assalam-o-alaykum Br. Sher Suleman,

    Very well articulated response to the zeal of pluralism. Pleuralism cannot survive unless we understand and stand for Justice.

    Justice cannot be served by evicting people from their centuries old homes and villages and installing people from all over the world in their place under the pretence of "Holy Scripture" the true meaning of which is yet to be discussed and is extremely controversial

    Justice cannot be served by demolishing centuries old Masjid on the pretence of being the birth place of some gods, the very existance of whom is questionable

    Everyone does have the right to choose for them a religion, a political affiliation and whether they will support Justice or Injustice, but no one can be allowed to take the name of certain religion and plant thier own wishes in them.

    Very clearly, Prophet (pbuh) the ultimate criterion, did not allow the Muslim women to remain married to non-Muslim husband, let alone to marry a non-Muslim man. Clearly enough if some one disagrees with the decision of Prophet (pbuh) has the right to do so but at the expense of revocation of his/her affiliation to Islam

    Those who praise, or support such activity are essentially doing the same and stand at odds with Prophet (pbuh)

    We should think very carefully that in the zeal of so called "Pleuralism" what we stand to loose and what we stand to gain.

    Time is running out. Every moment we are closing the distance between us and the grave.

    Like the muffled drum that beats,
    FUNERAL marches to the grave

    May Allah bless you for such an articulated write up.

    Thanks,
    Dr. Warsi

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  19. Dr. Warsi, please do check out the definition of the word Pluralism in my comments above and comments from Dr. Shah Khan above.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Dear Br Ghouse, ASA

    I am glad to see that you are not liberal. That is fine. But how you call us an "conservatives".

    We are just Muslim, obedient to Allah alone. A Muslim is the most moderate person on earth. He understands the Qur'an in the context it was revealed and tries to implement it in the context of modern world and the knowledge that humanity so far acquired in the realm of art, science and technology, keeping the human needs and urgencies uppermost in mind.

    If you say you are moderate like BR Javed and my humble self, where lies the difference? Perhaps it lies in approach and methodology that can always differ from person to person and from situation to situation. Please keep my humble advice to you in this perspective and we will never be at "daggers drawn" Insha Allah

    If my understanding is correct, I am sure, it will resolve our situation and will make you happy. Our goal will and should be common to deliver good to humanity that Allah ordains but how that is an open topics. Rasulullah (S) used many methods to deliver his message and all were correct and not Haram.

    Please be clear that none of us is "conservative" . We as Muslims are to march ahead together with the march of time as every day in the domain of Allah is a new and most modern as He proclaims in verse # 29 of Surah Al-Rahman: "Kulla Yuwmin Huwa fi-Al-Shan".

    Shamim

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  21. In Arabic, the word islam means “to turn oneself over to, to resign oneself, to submit.” In religious terms, it means submission to God (swt). The term islam or a derivative is mentioned in about 70 verses of the Qur’an. Of those, only a few verses refer to Islam specifically as the religion* established by the Qur’an and explained by its Messenger, the Prophet Muhammad (saas).

    The word muslim also has a general and specific meaning. In the general sense, muslims are “those who have submitted to God.” In the Qur’an, the word muslim can refer to followers of any of God’s prophets. Most commonly, however, a Muslim is understood to mean someone who follows the Qur’an as explained by the Prophet Muhammad (saas)

    Quran is a message to all of the humanity

    He [God] has ordained for you that which He had enjoined upon Noah—and into which We gave thee [O Muhammad] insight through revelation—as well as that which We had enjoined upon Abraham, and Moses, and Jesus: Steadfastly uphold the [true] faith, and do no break up your unity therein. (Al-Qur'an, 42:13)


    God sent down the Qur’an to remind humanity of His Oneness, a truth God conveyed to all of His prophets, and to provide guidance.




    For example, God tells Moses (pbuh):




    Verily, I – I alone – am God; there is no deity save Me. Hence, worship Me alone, and be constant in prayer, so as to remember Me!.” (Al-Qur'an, 20:14)




    Noah (pbuh) (as well as other prophets) conveyed the Oneness of God to his people:




    Indeed, We sent forth Noah unto his people, and he said: “O my people! Worship God alone: you have no deity other than Him. Verily, I fear lest suffering befall you on an awesome Day! (Al-Qur'an, 7:59)



    http://www.zaytuna.org/forms/Tahawi_sample_pages.pdf

    http://www.zaytuna.org/images/submissionpages.pdf

    http://www.examiner.com/x-9968-Baltimore-Muslim-Examiner~y2009m7d23-Introduction-to-Quran-and-Sunna-for-interfaith-dialogue

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  22. Respected Brothers, ASA

    The problem with Br Mike and others like him is of a very fundamental difference in understanding Islam. They think that Islam is a "religion" as Judaism, Christianity and other are or have become. They are keeping all at par with Islam.

    Whereas, in fact, Islam is a Deen, a system of life and a natural Movement to call the humanity to wards the fold of its Creator and Sustainer. All the Messengers of Allah were sent ONLY with His Deen Al-Islam but the followers subsequently lost it due to human innovations and degraded themselves into Judaism, Christianity and what not. If anyone of you wants to degrade Islam to that level he must be fooling himself or herself. There is no "KHAIR" in it and the saner elements of Ummah will reject it outright. It will never get "currency" in Ummah as happened to many sects and racialists in the past. The on-going efforts will die too its own death.

    Whereas the humanity stands today at the verge of virtual collapse. It has no sense of direction as: "what to do and how to do". It has pilled up huge problems and all want immediate solution. Unfortunately, the people who could give solution are themselves divided, misguided and lost in confusion of liberalism and modernism. In fact, they are hiding and committing the "crime" of "KITMAN-E HAQ".

    Whereas the Muslims who could present Islam as the basic need of humanity in the context of modern age, are feeling shy of telling and advocating the same to suffering humanity.

    Whereas the Muslim leadership and the intellectual giants neither could present a model of Islamic life of their own on the pattern the Surah Al-ASR advocates and propounds nor could they produce a model Islamic society anywhere in this world though there are so-called 57 Muslim countries.

    This huge backlash has forced you brothers and sisters to harp on the tunes of secular world, forgetting your own WAY of Life that is full of love, sympathy and concern for others.

    It is my humble request to you all to do your home work and don't waste your time, energies and talents in playing the game that only devil loves.

    Hope you will share it with others

    Shukrun wa Jazakallah
    Shamim Siddiqi

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  23. Brother Shamim,

    We the moderate Muslims, about 98% of the followers of Islam are very secure in our faith and are not afraid of giving credit to other faiths for the their contribution in creating a world of harmony and co-existence that God wills. Every religion is beautiful to the believer in it.

    Your opinion will be certainly published, as moderates we have no problem if one is conservative, liberal, moderate or of other faith. We just hope and pray that they all believe there is a singular cause (creator) for us to have come into existence, knowing the right from the wrong, treating others as you want to be treated and believing that there is accountability for our actions. Isn't that the essence of Islam? This is what 98% of Muslims believe or 98% of any group believes; theist or atheists.

    The way you believe in Islam works for you, it is your own benchmark as every one has his own benchmark. Our Unity will come when we learn to respect other point of view without having to subscribe to it. If we Muslims can agree with a belief in one creator, treating others as you want to be treated and believing in accountability of actions, then we can come together to create Goodness and peace on earth - and certainly not to create imaginary enemies to fight with. The conservative men have a passion and aggression that is much needed to create a better world.

    Jazak Allah Khair.

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  24. Dear Mike

    AA

    I object to your trying to judge others on the basis of self created definitions. First of all, your definitions are mostly erroneous and then your judgment using those very definitions is wrong. For you, a conservative is one who negates other scriptures. I have always had great esteem for all the scriptures. So does Shamim Sahib. Qur’an does not negate but confirm those scriptures but with the law revised in the Qur’an the application of the law in those scriptures is no longer valid. I have studied in details Old and New Testaments, Veda, Purana, Ramayana, Gita, etc. I quote here from a recent paper on homosexuality presented at India International Centre, New Delhi, which shows my regard for the scriptures and other faiths, and my continuous endeavors to unite all faiths against the forces of evils. Here it is:

    We Muslims believe that God sent successive messengers to all the parts of the world to fulfill his plan of the establishment of a Comprehensive System of Peace in the world. While other books and founders of religions were important milestones in that journey, Muhammad and Qur’an were the Final Destination. Bible and Qur’an are complimentary to each other. There are several parts of the stories of the greats like those of Abraham, Mary and Jesus, which are there in Qur’an and not in Bible. Similarly, there are several verses in the Qur’an that only indicate a part of the story, the complete version of which can be seen in the Bible. A verse of the Qur’an tells that Abraham (Ibrahim AS) argued with God regarding the fate of Lot’s People. Bible tells us what this argument was. And the interesting part of this story about the Natural Stoning of the Homosexual Community of Sodom and Gomorrah to Death is that it also appears, albeit a little differently, in Valmiki’s Ramayan under the story of Shukra Acharya. The stage is all set for the grand alliance of religions against immoralities and their commercialization.”

    I am known more for my new approach of application of Islam, which is now labelled Applied Islamics, and my shift of focus from studying Islam in isolation to studying it in the present context and presenting it as a System for the whole mankind. Alhamdulillah. I am now credited with giving a new shape to Applied Islamics, for my theories of Economic Fundamentalism and Peace Economics, Dynamic Theory of Health and other concepts like Universal relativity, “Fundamental Prohibitions”, etc. I have presented all these Islamic paradigms for the whole world and not just for Muslims. I have continuously bee arguing that our actions must be guided by Islam and not Muslimism, which is as good or bad as any other communalism. I have been advocating for a long time that the energies of Islamic scholars must be directed not against proving other faiths wrong but against the currently dominant ideologies, and Islamic scholars must take the scholars of other religions with them to fight against the evils that have become the order of the day today. But this approach does not mean that we must believe in the equality of all religions in our eyes or in the sight of God or promoting inter religion marriages.

    CONTINUED ON NEXT COMMENT
    Dr Javed Jamil

    ReplyDelete
  25. Similarly your definition of liberal is faulty as you try to define liberal as one who believes in Qurâan but not hadith. The definition in fact applies to a well known sect of Islam called Ahl-e Quran and they are not liberals.

    I must add here that Interfaith promoting Pluralism is loosing popularity among the scholars of different religions because it wants them to believe that their religion is not better than others and it wants them to dilute many other principles. The real Interfaith work must be based on giving everyone a choice to believe in his religion as best, and while holding his established beliefs, how the religious communities can work together for the betterment of mankind. If a Muslim does not believe in his religion to be best, he should better search and find a religion better than Islam. It will be nonsense of him to remain in a second or third best religion. The same applies to Christians, Jews, Hindus and other communities. How can you involve the clerics in this work if they are told not to believe in the supremacy of their ideologies? I have discussed in some detail in the past that while Islam accepts plural societies, Islam (or any religion) can not promote Pluralism, which is an ideology based on attempts to make people believe that all religions are equally good. While Islam accepts the right of everyone to believe in any other faith, the desire of God is to see all accept Qur’an as the Final Code.

    The truth unfortunately is that Interfaith has lost its direction and is playing in the hands of those very forces that want all religions to be weakened. It is these forces that are ruling the world today. They do not want their own system and its hugely negative effects on society to come into focus; and they achieve their aims by keeping the people engaged in discussing and debating religions and faiths. Tell me where on the earth a war is going on between religious communities except for sporadic clashes in certain countries. Almost all the wars in the last century have been fought by those states that rejected religion, and more than 160 million people lost their lives in the last century in civil wars and wars. Even 5 pc of these deaths cannot be attributed directly to the religions. The current wars are by Western powers mainly against Islamic countries, and these Secular powers have killed several million people in the last decade. 9/11 was allegedly caused by Muslims. Those that hijacked the planes and hit the Twin Towers died with the hits. Those that allegedly masterminded the plan are still alive. And the Great Superpower has killed 2 million innocent people in order to punishing the culprits. What a justice!

    Mike, even your definition of Muslim as Peacemaker is faulty. Peace in Islam is a comprehensive state including mental peace, physical health, family peace, social order and peace in the Hereafter. A Muslim is one who is in Peace bowing himself to ALL the commands of God that He sent through Quran and Prophet Muhammad (SAW). By reducing “Muslim” to the role of a peacemaker, mitigating conflicts, you have narrowed the definition of peace.

    Dr. Javed Jamil

    ReplyDelete
  26. Dr. Jamil,

    I am sure a few scholars will have no taste for Pluralism, however to be called a scholar one has to be a critical thinker.

    Pluralism is about developing an attitude for co-existence and peace; it is not negating other faiths, but accepting the otherness of other faiths. It would be arrogant of us to believe that God has signed a deal with us behind other people’s back. It is your word against others. Qur’aan has made it easy for Muslims to believe that God has sent a messenger of peace to every tribe and nation and people, that one need not fear if they are Christians, Jew or otherwise as long as they are good to his creation; life and matter.

    Dr. Javed, please read the comments on pluralism in the comments and main section of the article at: http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2009/08/defining-few-words-in-islam.html

    Sura Kafirun is epitome of civil conduct. http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2008/07/sura-kafirun-un-believers.html

    At World Muslim Congress, we will publish all opinoins on the subject, giving respect to every opinion from extreme to liberal and mostly moderates ones.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Mike,

    you have a most interesting dialogue going. I have seen, and heard, the term "final word" several times. Could you define what that means? Does it mean there was nothing new to be revealed? No new insights? Does it mean that something was missing from prior religions that was finalized in Islam? Thank you. Blessings, Marylou

    ReplyDelete
  28. Marylou,
    Yes to all your notes, except for insights.

    We Muslims believe that God summed up his wisdom in Quraan, and Muhammad (pbuh) being the last messenger,relayed the final words of God to complete the religion.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Mike, you have a most interesting dialogue going. I have seen, and heard, the term "final word" quite a few times (see below). Could you define what that means? Does it mean there was nothing new to be revealed after Muhammad? I ask because of modern medicine. For example, 30 years ago a doctor from South Africa (I believe) began experimenting with transplanting hearts from apes into humans. There was an ethical question that arose among Christians not only for the misuse of animals but also for humans receiving animal organs. Now we are transplanting human organs routinely. Again, for many people, this raises an ethical issue of "defiling the body" of the deceased. We also have invitro fertilization -- a woman could (with her husband agreeing) conceive and give birth to a child who is not, biologically, her husband's. Medical advances open the door to many ethical questions. So, I ask: What does the "final word" mean in Islam as it relates to ethical issues for today? Thank you. Blessings,

    Marylou

    ReplyDelete
  30. Marylou,

    Great point, indeed the wisdom of Quraan coupled with the sayings of prophet accomodates such new occurances and ideas.

    The prophet had said, if you have to learn something good and had to travel to China, go for it.

    Ijtehad, that is discussion leading to a consensual opinion is highly reccomended on issues that are new. The prophet said, first look into Qur'aan for answers, if you find it difficult to decipher, look at my example and if you are still not going anywhere, consult with your peers.

    Prophet encouraged his associates to opine on issues, even though he knew the answers, he wanted people to make an effort to understand and express it.

    Mike Ghouse

    ReplyDelete
  31. I hundred % agree with your eloquent response. However, I am sure all your arguments will fall on deaf ears and definitely his response will be "Main Na manu". Please leave him alone. Only the vagaries of time may teach him a lesson and that will be too late.

    I myself have studied almost all the religions of the world in detail when I was a non-religionist in forties. I then studied Islam in depth and got the vision to lead the destiny of man accordingly.

    If he studies even my book about AL-FATEHA that I have already sent him, he will be able to correct his "blurred" vision. May Allah give him Tawfeeq to understand Islam correctly as a Deen and a Movement.

    Shamim

    ReplyDelete
  32. Shamim Bhai,

    If I were to write the following, what would be your response?

    I am sure all our arguments will fall on deaf ears and definitely your response will be "Main Na manu". let me leave you alone. Only the vagaries of time may teach you a lesson and that will be too late.

    I myself have studied almost all the religions of the world in detail when I was a non-religionist in forties. I then studied Islam in depth and got the vision to lead the destiny of man accordingly.

    If you study my writings on the websites www.WorldMuslimcongress.com and www.Foundationforpluralism.com, you will be able to correct your "blurred" vision of Islam. May Allah give you Tawfeeq to understand Islam correctly as a Deen and a Movement.

    All it takes for us to humble down is look ourselves in the mirror.

    Mike Ghouse

    ReplyDelete
  33. Dear Mike, Iftekhar Assalamalaikum

    Thank you very much for a well thought submission. All those who have contributed to it need to be congratulated, including both of you. All such discussion should form part of the learning curve rather than targeting each other at personal level. Let us all be objective and carefully consider other's opinions as well. At times some scholarly people on this platform tend to be upset with many of your observations as such remarks would not qualify under any religion, let alone Islam.

    Your documents are a fine attempt in unifying the people of different faiths. However, you need to be mindful that you do not try to justify all the actions of human beings in the framework of Quranic Islam. Good and bad has always existed and will do so for ever. There have always been and there will always be people on this earth engaging in right and wrong. If you are doing one right thing and one wrong thing, both need to assessed before a conclusion is drawn. The Christians and Jews believed and practiced the same religion 14 hundred years back as they do today. Yet there was a need for God to send a prophet so that he can amend on the wrongs they were committing. If they were not doing any wrong, there would not have been a need of another prophet. Our holy Prophet (pbuh) invited not only pagans to Islam but also the Christians and the Jews.

    Mike: God loves all of his creation and did not want to leave any of his creation un-attended. So he sends a messenger to every nation and every tribe, to bring peace through justice. Prophet Muhammad was to deliver his message to the tribes in Hejaz at that time, but to the universe in the essence. Prophet did not come to negate other faiths but to enhance upon others, this is clear from his acknowledgment of the otherness of other faiths by including them as partners in the Madinah constitution.

    You have very well elaborated all the things which Christians, Jews, Hindus etc are doing right. However, you did not touch on anything which they do wrong and which are repeatedly mentioned in the Quran.(Your answer ) Shirk (associating partners with Allah) is one such act which is hated most by Allah Swt and which is mentioned in verse after verse in our holy book. Let us first speak about Hindus, some of whom as per your submission may be included amongst the people of book, which I do not deny. However, if the majority of Hindus believe and worship Devis and Maatas, Hanumans and Ganeshes, are they not Mushrikin (??), even if they believe in Brahma as being the supreme Lord. When Christians declare Christ to be the son of God and believe in the trinity, is it not shirk?? The same may be said about most other religions.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Response to above:

    Mike: As the saying goes God has created humans in his image, I would like to re-state that " Humans have created God in their image". Answering the above is tough, I am sure a majority of Moderate Muslims will subscribe to what I am about to say, but a few will not. When Hindus worship an Icon like Hanuman, Ganesha or Krishna, they are not worshipping another God, they are invoking an aspect of God that represents God. Muslims subscribe to 99 Names or characteristics of God, Hindus see the same in the form of Icons. Not all Muslims have absorbed the essence of Islam, so are Hindus. A Hindu per book and a Muslim per the book believes in a single God ( I do not want to use the word Supreme, which is connotative of others who less than supreme). In the broadest of definitions, Hindus may not be Mushrikeen as they believe in the ultimate one God.

    One God is not necessarily a function of a number like 1, but the oneness. Look at the diversity of nature, yet all of them live in harmony.

    ReplyDelete
  35. You have very well elaborated all the things which Christians, Jews, Hindus etc are doing right. However, you did not touch on anything which they do wrong and which are repeatedly mentioned in the Quran.(Your answer ) Shirk (associating partners with Allah) is one such act which is hated most by Allah Swt and which is mentioned in verse after verse in our holy book. Let us first speak about Hindus, some of whom as per your submission may be included amongst the people of book, which I do not deny. However, if the majority of Hindus believe and worship Devis and Maatas, Hanumans and Ganeshes, are they not Mushrikin (??), even if they believe in Brahma as being the supreme Lord. When Christians declare Christ to be the son of God and believe in the trinity, is it not shirk?? The same may be said about most other religions.

    ReplyDelete
  36. As the saying goes God has created humans in his image, I would like to re-state that " Humans have created God in their image". Answering the above is tough, I am sure a majority of Moderate Muslims will subscribe to what I am about to say, but a few will not. When Hindus worship an Icon like Hanuman, Ganesha or Krishna, they are not worshipping another God, they are invoking an aspect of God that represents God. Muslims subscribe to 99 Names or characteristics of God, Hindus see the same in the form of Icons. Not all Muslims have absorbed the essence of Islam, so are Hindus. A Hindu per book and a Muslim per the book believes in a single God ( I do not want to use the word Supreme, which is connotative of others who less than supreme). In the broadest of definitions, Hindus may not be Mushrikeen as they believe in the ultimate one God.

    One God is not necessarily a function of a number like 1, but the oneness. Look at the diversity of nature, yet all of them live in harmony.

    ReplyDelete
  37. What Islam does is purify spiritaulity and cleanse it all. Even some sects amongst Muslims tend to fall into diluted shirk and they should also be warned.

    Most atheist do not believe in any form of God but only in the Big Bang, which means we all just happened to come into existence. They do advocate for social equity and many of them are great reformers on that front, but that does not justify their arrogance in discounting the great GOD whom most religions tend to believe in.

    If you keep reinforcing to a child all what he does right, then there will be no improvement in him. You need to tell him that while you are right here, you are wrong some where else and if that wrong is not corrected even the good of your right will be negated.

    Telling half a truth does not lead you anywhere. Enemies of Islam repeatedly quote those verses of the Quran which signify the acts of shirk and kufr. We need not shy away from it but tell them in clear terms that Mushrik and Kaafir existed as much in medieveal ages as they do today and our role is not to hate them but to tell them that there is a finer truth which they should consider. Enemies of Islam as well as Islamic extremists also highlight the Quranic verses which warn kaafirs and Mushrikeen of the dire consequences of their actions.

    ReplyDelete
  38. First of all, we the Muslims ( or Christians, Jews or whoever is looking at it) make an assumption that Hindu’s believe in more than one God and that they reject the oneness of God. The knowledgeable ones believe in one singular entity that causes the existence of life and matter.

    The idea of One God was to establish responsibility to one single entity and NOT dilute it with multiple ones. It brings cohesiveness and clarity to one’s mind.

    The dire consequences were for those who worshipped a King besides God, it was the internal torture one endures when there is divided loyalty or unfocussed activity. The Quranic verses refer to specific people who were a pain and reminding of consequences was necessary to calm them down.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Those who wish to promote peace at any cost tend to highlight commonalities only as you did in your submission. Neither of the two speak the whole truth and unless it is spoken, a just peace cannot be established.

    ReplyDelete
  40. This is a wrong assumption often made. Pluralism is about accepting the otherness of other and being respectful of others, as highlighted in Sura Kafirun – the epitome of civil dialogue –

    http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2008/07/sura-kafirun-un-believers.html

    Indeed, speaking truth is the first and foremost requirement, the basis for everything we do. Why is an assumption made that interfaith and pluralism is about lying? Peace can be established when we learn to accept the God given uniqueness of each one of us, in matters of faith, God is the only judge and not us.

    ReplyDelete
  41. There are serious issues in the interpretation of many Islamic beliefs and practices as followed by conventional Islamic institutions but that is a separate issue and needs to be addressed sepeartely.

    The Quran promotes peace as you have quoted in your submission. However it does not promote peace at the expense of shirk, immorality and falsehood.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Agree. Peace can come with singular responsibility, morality is the basis for social balance of any society and falsehood is shunned by every society; civil, religious, secular or any other uniqueness.

    ReplyDelete
  43. We should not judge others individually but assessing a belief system and life practices of its followers is no sin. Rather it is important so as to distinugish between right and wrong.

    Let us seek unity in diversity, not unity in uniformity as two of you try to do so often.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Precisely. You have made an assumption that Iftekhar and I seek unity in uniformity, no sir, that never was our take. God and his creation is all about diversity and co-existence and living in harmony becomes so much more important. You have read me repeat several times the mission statement of Pluralism “ If we can learn to accept the otherness of other and respect the God given uniqueness of each one of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge.

    ReplyDelete
  45. The communities (followers of different religions, nations, tribes etc) will always be diverse and let them be so but they should learn to live with each other in peace and harmony. However the whole truth should be strengthened and not just part of truth.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Nothing should be worked up without being truthful. That is number one requirement of any dialogue. Please refer to the Pluralism definition above.

    ReplyDelete

MUSLIM SPEAKER

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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.