Ahmadiyya Muslims translate Quran into Yiddish

Moderator Mike Ghouse's Note:  

I  admire the Ahmadiyya Muslim community for the peaceful work they have been doing, where  ever they go. They bring a good name to Islam and Muslims.

However, no Muslim, Christian, Jewish or Hindu community is free from arrogance and hints that they are better, peaceful, scientific, old...  to claim superiority over the others does not make religious sense. The very first principle of religion, any religion is humility, where every one feels there is a greater power, and that we all have equal opportunity to excel.  Muslims are no exception - its a shame that one tribe claims to be better, legitimate or otherwise, as if God has secretly signed a deal with them - that is non-sense.  I was happy to read the work of Ahmadiyya Muslims in spreading positive thoughts about Islam every place they do their work and I salute them for the same.  

One of the things Ahmadiyya community needs to resist is telling others that "we are the Muslims who advocate peace" not like the other ones. We condemn terrorism, etc etc."  It is not a good statement, you got that wrong, All Muslims advocate peace,  fewer than 1% of Muslims don't; same formula applies to all religions.  It is not just Ahmadiyya, every group has such men, who denigrate the other as if it is going to make them superior.  

Please note the following sentence in the article is not kosher, "You don't hear about us because we don't throw rocks at buses," Odeh said. Its like Romney saying they don't ask my birth certificate because they know I am from here"  By the way, with the limited time I have in a given day, I do note thoughtless comments like the one above. As a persecuted minority, I understand, but still cannot justify such comments. 

As a Muslim I am continually embarrassed by the Muslim behavior in Pakistan and elsewhere, whose Islam is not based on being a good Muslim, but denying others their Muslimness. Muslim are so eager to deny Ahmadiyya their Muslimness, as if they own Islam and God has made them his deputies to render judgments.  What a shirk! Things have to change. 

Mike Ghouse

Moderator.

Group's Israeli leader says aim was to show different face of Islam.

http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/muslim-sect-celebrates-25-years-since-koran-translated-into-yiddish.premium-1.461072#.UDzgL7zo210.facebook

Members of a Muslim sect that translated parts of the Koran into Yiddish are marking 25 years since that translation was published.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community leader Muhammad Sharif Odeh with the Yiddish text in Haifa in August 2012. 'We had to make sure our neighbors could read the Koran too.' Photo by Haggai Frid

The president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Israel, Muhammad Sharif Odeh, said the group translated select parts of the Koran into Yiddish in order to present a different face of Islam. In addition, said Odeh, "We decided we had to make sure that our neighbors could also read the Koran."

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the only Islamic community that believes the Messiah has come. Adherents believe that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, born in 1835, was the "metaphorical second coming of Jesus ... whose advent was foretold by the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad," according to the website. "God sent Ahmad, like Jesus, to end religious wars, condemn bloodshed and reinstitute morality, justice and peace," say believers.

There are some 2,000 Ahmadiyya Muslims in Israel; most of them reside in Haifa's Kababir neighborhood. The sect says it has tens of millions of followers in more than 200 countries.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community translated parts of the Koran into Yiddish in 1987. The sect chose Yiddish, one of 100 languages into which it has translated parts of the sacred book of Islam, so that "Yiddish speakers who wanted to know about us would be able to do so without language being an obstacle," Odeh explained.

The decision to translate the Koran into Yiddish was made by the community's religious leader at the time, the fourth Caliph, Mirza Tahir Ahmad, who was living then in Pakistan. The current Caliph, the fifth, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, resides in the United Kingdom.

Odeh said the particular selections that were translated show that Islam is "not the way it is presented in Afghanistan." He noted, for example, "Before the Koran, women did not have rights. The Koran gives women full protection on the spiritual level and gives her an independent status." Odeh has been head of the local Ahmadiyya community for 13 years.

Most Israelis know little about the sect, which is considered peaceful and non-proselytizing. Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav has gone so far as to call them "Reform Arabs." The community's motto is "Love for all, hatred for none."

"You don't hear about us because we don't throw rocks at buses," Odeh said. "We believe that nothing can be achieved through hatred and hostility." He said he is very worried about the talk of a possible war with Iran, and that the Caliph recently appealed to all world leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to avoid a war. "Netanyahu didn't respond, Queen Elizabeth actually did," Odeh reported.

Odeh said the concept of secularism is foreign to the Ahmadiyya community. "Everyone prays, some come to the mosque and others pray at home." Believers express their faith in concrete ways as well. Wealthier members tithe at least 10 percent of their monthly income to the community; everyone else gives six percent. The sect does not accept government funds, on principle. One quarter of the money collected from local members is passed on to fund the sect's international activities.

Kababir is considered a mixed neighborhood, with a significant minority of Jews in addition to the Ahmadiyya majority, and city officials view it as a model of coexistence.

"Haifa is an example par excellence of living together," Odeh said, adding, "It's not coexistence, it's monoexistence, as it were. What is coexistence? In my view it's when everyone keeps their distinctiveness and does not seek to assimilate. Residents of the neighborhood don't feel different, it's a matter of education, that's the idea of Ahmadiyya." According to Odeh, there is a growing trend of West Bank Palestinians joining the Ahmadiyya community.

"Ideology is not fought with weapons," he said. "Even if you're under occupation Islam does not allow you to hurt others. Nothing can be solved with hatred."

Best Sunnah for Sunni, Shia, Ahmadiyya and other Muslims to follow

URL: http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2012/07/best-sunnah-for-sunni-shia-ahmadiyya.html

May God power your thinking with peace;

This column is in response to correspondence about Muslims judging other Muslims about their faith, and yet invoking the same Islam.  

The word Kaffir simply means someone who hides or denies the truth. However, the usage of the word has been derogatory.  It’s like the “N” word.   You have your preference and mine is not to use the word at all in general conversation without this understanding. 

The Prophet did not use it as a derogatory word, but simply meant that those people who did not agree with his version of the truth as an identifier. (Refer to Sura Kafirun - Prophet’s language should be taught as course in civil dialogue)

The Ahmadiyya are Muslims, as they believe in the God, like every other Muslim believes; furthermore, their pledge of allegiance, the Shahadah is same as all other Muslims - La Ilaha Illal Lahu, Muhammadar Rasool Allah. We should be minding our own business rather than worrying about others.

No one is responsible for others burden, you stand alone on the day of accountability of your actions. No one will be there for you; you have to take the responsibility for your actions. Let each one of our tribes, and other faiths from the family of faiths do their best. The best ones among all of us would be the ones who care for neighbors, and respect God’s creation and those who work towards restoring harmony, just as God had created the world to be.

Division is natural among all people, there is a magical number beyond which all groups split, and Islam is no different. First it was Shia and Sunni, then among Shia there are many, and Sunni also got split into numerous groups beyond our imagination. Then Ahmadiyya has three or four divisions and as we grow in size, each one of our groups will further split… now we have progressive Muslim group in the last few years, there will be more.

Prophet Muhammad prophesized about the division, it is a natural phenomenon (fitra) and he used the number 72/73 tribe, this number is not a real number, and it’s a number to mean multiplicity.  Imagine the class room where the teacher urges every on to be the best, and there will be only one first rank and most others pass in varying degrees and one or two may fail. A few Ulema have interpreted this to mean only one tribe will go to Jannah and others to hell and shamefully this has been perpetuated without questioning it. How wrong can we be? We have to learn to respect the otherness of other without having to agree.

Let Sunnis, Shias, Ahmadi and their branches all practice Islam as they are taught, let’s not become God and judge others, instead we need to judge ourselves  and be the best human we can. But for God’s sake let’s not call each other with disrespect, would that be a Muslim thing to do?

What can we judge? We can judge the acts that affect our social life - like lying, stealing, robbing, hurting family members or breaking the contracts and messing with social cohesiveness (a dynamic value).

What can we not Judge? One’s faith, period! It is between God and the individual. Only God will judge how much of a Muslim you were in your heart. When God says he is closer to than our jugular vein, it means he knows everything we do, think and discard. No one bears others burden, Islam is about individual responsibility and free will. There is no compulsion in matters of faith.

The first word Prophet Muhammad received was Iqra, the broader meaning of which is read to understand, understand to think and think to create a better world for you and for others around you.

If you would like me to speak about the Prophet and his role in creating a better world, I will be happy to do that.  It is nothing new; it is from the existing 15 stories that we talk about in every Mosque and probably every Muslim will tell those little and big stories. What we need to do is Iqra it, think about his examples from a pluralistic perspective. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and every prophet were committed to create cohesive societies where people got along with each other and lived without the apprehension or fear of the other.

What is our role in the world? Isn’t it to mitigate conflicts and nurture goodwill and give back to God, what he created; a perfect world in harmony? Isn’t that what serving God means?

Remember the first model of the prophet? He was called Amin, the trustworthy, the truth seeker and the honest. Guess who honored him that title? It was not Muslims.  It’s a model for us to follow. Let you and I become like him, earn the respect of every human on the earth, with malice towards none, and with love for all of God’s creation.

Would you want to be the Amin? To be Amin, we have to use the civil language and earn the trust of all Muslims, and all other people on the earth.  When people see a Muslim, their first response ought to be - here comes a Muslim, I can trust this man or woman, he/she will tell the truth, is trust worth and everything he or she will do is for every one’s good.

Isn’t that the best Sunnah to follow?

Jazak Allah Khair

Mike Ghouse

Muslims Together building a cohesive world

www.IslamTogetherfoundation.com

NOTE: Following is the conversation on the net between several people. It is posted at www.WorldMuslimCongress.org and atWorldMuslimCongress@yahoogroups.com 

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Mike Thanks for your efforts in bringing community together, but the problem is that people misunderstood the word "Kafir"

The word "Kafir" is an Arabic word and derived from "Kufer" which has to fold meaning:

1- To "Disbelieve"

2- To call "Lair" to some one saying a Truth which you do not believe.

The Holy Book Quran repeatedly used the word Kafir for all those who deny the Prophet-hood of all Prophet sent by Allah The Almighty.

The debate will never finish, as it was there at the time of Adam, Nova, Abraham, Moses & Essa, and also at the time of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (swa) and still exist in our time

I think we should agree with and follow the foot steps of Prophet Muhammad (swa) when he recited the verses of Surat Al-Kafiroon (chapter 109) before the leaders of "Kuffar-e-Makkah"

As Mike Ghouse has said earlier 'We have to learn to believe in Rabbul Aalameen' and follow the teachings of Rahmatul Aalameen(swa).

Please spread the message of Allah the Almighty on your own way as mentioned in Holy Quran. "You are responsible for your own DEED" in front of Allah The Almighty, and you will not be asked for what others do.

May Allah Bless you all.

Abdul Latif

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 ( PLEASE NOTE - I HAVE BLIND COPIED THIS NOTE TO MY AHMADIYYA MUSLIM FRIENDS - AND NORMALLY I DON'T POST THESE, SINCE MUSHTAQ WAS NOT JUDGEMENTAL, I HAVE POSTED THIS AT WORLD MUSLIM CONGRESS DISCUSSION FORUM AND INSHA ALLAH, WILL ALSO POST AT WWW.WORLDMUSLIMCONGRESS.ORG - AS A RECORD)

AA

Inam Bhai,

You have a very legitimate argument.

However, you may consider not using the derogatory language towards someone, who is admired by millions around the world. Isn't it Islamic to talk with respect? Take a look at one of the most beautiful Suras in conducting a civil dialogue in Quraan- http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2008/07/sura-kafirun-un-believers.html

Why are we so bent on proving "qadianis / ahmadi / mirzai / lahoris" wrong? On the Day of Judgment are you and I responsible for anyone other than you and me respectively? Doesn't Allah say no one will bear the burden of others?

If you are concerned about protecting the Deen - hasn't Allah taken that responsibility? Do we want to become partners with him in that business?

Do we want to go against the prophecy of the Prophet that eventually his Ummah will be split in too many tribes, and that many was a metaphoric number of 72 or 73. No one will go to hell, until the Day of Judgment, and none of the tribes will be thrown in to hell as long as they recite the Shahadah, do their prayers and Zakat, Hajj is an option.

Allah's wisdom is rich - when he says, the noblest among you are the ones who know each other, meaning conflict and diversity is given, but when you know each other, and accept them as God's creation, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge. He is the only one to recompense for the good we do. The "qadianis / ahmadi / mirzai / lahoris" are doing good in the communities they live, and serving God's creation, and Allah will not be happy with them or anyone who does care for the neighbor.

Let's accept each other. You fight back when someone throws you out of your house, messes with your family or steals your food, breaks the contracts with you; otherwise, let others do what they do. You and I don't own Islam, it is not our property to begin with, and we follow one version of it, because it works for us.

The above words are not mine, its all in Quraan.

Jazak Allah Khair

Mike Ghouse

 

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zahid.inam@yahoo.com writes:

Mike & etc etc,

Just wait any one to claim to be a mahdi, or prophet or bla bla and believe that same is already provisioned in this pity religion. Islam's lap is open to any view you add. Let any one allow to do the modification work to islam.

Whoever sees light of guidance in Quran and Sunnah, must raise his voice for sake of truth. If 73 liars claiming prophethood could not secure this holy place in islam, how do we accept it for one-eyed liar of qadiyan, who didn't posses ANY of the qualities that Allah's messangers should possess, although with any qualities, he couldn't be accepted as prophet.

Just close your eyes and this afternoon, instead of getting your sick kids to an established doctor, get them checked from a plain hakim who would lack any desired knowledge and who would apply contradicting medicine. Am sure you will not do it as that is matter of life of your kids not of religion.

Pluralism should be sought but going that much behind so as to negate what is right and what is wrong is petty *sense.

If you are not convinced of that, just go through whole literature of one-eyed liar Mirza Ghulam Qadiani and his followers, and decide yourselves if a limit has been left untouched by qadiani devils.

The holy things you see in qadianis / ahmadi / mirzai / lahoris is the part of islam they follow, and what you ignore is the damage they impart to foundations of islam.

Pray for divine guidance of all (which for sake of clarification shall not be given through a one- eyed liar or mahdi, but from quran and sunnah).

Inam

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Subject: Re: H. MIRZA GHULAM AHMAD DID NOT CALL ANYONE KAFIR.Re: CAN MIKE GHOUSE CONDE...

AA

Brother Rashid Jahangiri Sahib;

I am glad to see your note, and I have seen a similar note from the other Ahmadiyya Muslims as well. If you read my note, I said, " If Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad calls you or me a Kafir, we don't become one, do we? However, as I understand, he meant those who disagreed with him"

It appears that some one has cooked it up to malign one or the other. We need to resist the temptations to put down any one without knowing it first hand, or an announcement from their religious leader, all other notes stand the chance of not being the truth.

Alhamdu Lillah, I have attended the conferences of both AM and LAM groups, one in Pennsylvania last year, and the other in Columbus Ohio a few weeks ago and I admire both the groups for the good work they are doing towards making the world a better place.

Three Questions:

1. Can you pray behind any Muslim Imam?
2. Will you consider all others, equally valid, divine traditions?

3. Will you withdraw calling others Kafir?

We have to learn to believe in Rabbul Aalameen, Rahmatul Aalameen and us to be Mukhlookhul aalameen and make our religion to accommodate and absorb all the differences. don't worry about what others do or don't, be the leader take the step and declare - we are all Muslims and we have the responsibility to create a better world for every one of God's creation and see how close you get to God. Amen

Mike Ghouse

World Muslim Congress

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rashidanywhere@yahoo.com writes:

Dear Mike Ghouse sahib, It is ALLEGATION on H. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad sahib that he called ANYONE kafir (nauzubilah). It is base less allegation by Qadianis and by opponents of H. Mirza ghulam Ahmad sahib. This allegation is relatively new by qadianis. This is their effort to cover their beliefs and teachings of their qadiani Khalifa 2 Mirza mahmud Ahmad. Please see following link to see yourself what HMGA actually said

http://www.ahmadiyya.org/takfir/index.htm

take care

Rashid jahangiri

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( PLEASE NOTE - I HAVE BLIND COPIES THIS NOTE TO MY AHMADIYYA MUSLIM FRIENDS - AND NORMALLY I DON'T POST THESE, SINCE MUSHTAQ WAS NOT JUDGEMENTAL, I HAVE POSTED THIS AT WORLD MUSLIM CONGRESS DISCUSSION FORUM )

As-Salaam Alaikum,

Brother Mushtaq,

May you be drenched in peace and think and act peace.

You are not a Kafir, no matter who says it, only Allah decides that, not now, but on the Day of Judgment, giving time and room for people. What we as a society decide is if you steal, rob, loot, rape and break contracts with people.

If Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad calls you or me a Kafir, we don't become one, do we? However, as I understand, he meant those who disagreed with him. I have asked the Ahmadiyya Jamaat (http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2012/03/draft-proposal-to-ahmadiyya-muslims-on.html) to clarify it, and I have asked them to join me for Iftaar in every Mosque of every Muslim denomination and do the Namaaz (salat) behind the respective Imam, when they do that, we can put the matter to the rest.

However, a few groups are out there like some in Ahle-sunnat, some among Shias, and some among Sunnis who will not pray in other mosques.. shame on all those who refuse to pray in a mosque, Allah's house. It is my Niyya(t) and not the Niyya of the Imam that matters to me and Alhamdu Lillah, I have prayed in every Mosque (http://Ramadanexclusive.blogspot.com )

Would you rather listen to Allah?

This is what Allah says, " Do not curse others, lest, they turn around and curse you" There is a magical wisdom in it - when Prophet Muhammad was pelted with stones on his way to Taif - did he curse them back? When Jesus says turn the other cheek, he means, do not aggravate the conflict, indeed, all the prophets, messengers and peace makers have said the same thing and have practiced it.

The role of a Muslim is to mitigate the conflicts and nurture goodwill to create peace for all of God's creation.http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2012/01/mission-of-world-muslim-congress.html

I listen to Allah and Muhammad and I will not condemn any one, I will pray for them, would you do the same? You have to rise above the common fallacies, would you do that? Let's get the hell out of mediocrity and do positive things... when some one meets you or me, they should think, he is a Muslim, a man I can trust, a man who tells the truth, a man who is not petty, a man who is good to all of God's creation.

Would you be that Muslim?

Mike Ghouse

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rashidanywhere@yahoo.com writes:

Brother Mike Ghouse said very rightly to condemn everyone who issues Fatwa of Kufar against others. Qadiani Khalifa 2 Mirza Mahmud Ahmad and his brother Mirza Bashir Ahmad and their followers declare EVERYOTHER MUSLIMS INCLUDING LAHORI-AHMADIS AS KAFIR. Now question is if Mike Ghouse impresses us by condemning all such bigots. Thanks

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My Dear Brother Mike Ghouse

Assalamo Alaikum WW

Yes you are very right. No one no matter what his position is, be he an Imam of Kaaba, Imams of Khatme-Nabuwwat, Khalifas of Qadiani Ahmadies, especially their Musleh Maud ( Khalifa Sani ) or their Qamrul Anbiyya ( Brother of Khalifa Sani of Ahmadies ) ,Lahori Ahmadies Amirs of Mufties of various Muslim denominations or sects have no GODDAMNED right to take the place of Allah SWT, kick Him from His Throne and started issuing Fatwas of Kufar against fellow Muslims and kick them out of pale of Islam by declaring them or labelling them as KAFIR, be they Sunnis, Wahabies, Shias, Barelvies, Deobandies, Ahmadies ( Qadianies or Lahories ) Let us all condemn all those Ulemas who gave such Fatwa-e-Kufar against fellow Muslims. All those issuers of Fatwas of Kufar are Cursed by Allah SWT and promised by Him Everlasting Hell.

We are all Muslims by the Grace of Allah SWT.

MUSHTAQ MALIK

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So ahmed Ismail, when did you kick Allah out of his throne and took over from him? Are you Allah, the master of the day of judgement?

No one has goddamned right to judge another persons faith, it's between Allah and the individual.

You are not God and you should not be judging who is Muslim or not.

Mike

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ahmed ismail <aismaail@hotmail.com> wrote:

" Qadiyanis are non muslims.mirza qadiani was a british agent,who planted him to harm muslims of india.shame on mirza lanti qadiyani

shame on his lanti followers."

We have seen Mullahs hiding under the burqa in the past and now we see some one among us also doing the same shameless trick.
Let us be really ashamed for this Hijdas act.

Any way, as regards to the allegation of Ahmadies being British agent, replies in very much indetail were given so many times before and it need not be repeated again.

But, I want to ask a simple question.
Who could be a British agent?. The peple like you who holds the same belief of these Britishers ( Christians ) whose belief is that, Jesus ( Isa -as ) is above Muhammad Rasululla (sa) due to his superior qualities or Ahmadies, who sitting right in their middle and claim that their God-Jesus is dead and buried in Kashmir in India.?

Further, by boldly preaching the truth of Islam to every individual there and slowly converting their churches and Synagogues in to Mosques where Allah Towhid is broad casted continuously. Is this the way to become agent for Britishers? Shame on you,

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From: rubina_naz24@yahoo.com Subject: Re: An Article in Times of India about Dr. Abdul Salam Qadiyanis are non muslims.mirza qadiani was a british agent,who planted him to harm muslims of india.shame on mirza lanti qadiyani shame on his lanti followers.

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Is it not a shame for a country which gave such an unforgivable treatment to one of its noble citizens who brought nothing but glory and fame to his country?

And this, for what fault?. Because, he believed in Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as)

He was not spared even in his 'Maqbarah'. What sort of people are these? May Allah forgive them.

Wasalam, Ahmed Ismail

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Role of Dr. Abdul Salam sb for the discovery of Higgs boson. Today's news in Times of India.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Pakistan-shuns-its-only-Nobel-laureate--physicist-linked-to-discovery-of-God-particle/articleshow/14768961.cms

Pakistan's Prime Minster takes the right step

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

This is really a good start and good step forward, resting the legalities and politics aside.New Prime Minister of Pakistan says his Motto is "Love for All Hatred for None" !!- Isn't that what Muslims living in America, UK or elsewhere crave for? That they be treated like every American? Well I do believe it will happen, if we mean it and work for it. 

"Love for All Hatred for None" is a beautiful slogan mascot of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. I hope the Prime Minister means it. When Obama became the President, the whole world cried with joy - for the first time in human history a man from the minority was freely elected to be their president. Indeed, Prophet Muhammad said that in his last sermon... I hope Pakistan can move into this direction where no Pakistani - be it Sunni, Shia, Ahmadi, Bohra, Ismaili, Sikh, Hindu, Christian, Parsee and others need not live in fear. That would be an Islamic government, wouldn't it? If your head bobble from left to right with a no, look up the Madinah Charter.

Alhumdullilah our Motto 'Love for All Hatred for None' has reached some people's tongues, lets Pray that it reaches their Hearts.

http://www.arynews.tv/english/Newsdetail.asp?nid=60755

Monday June 25, 2012

Peace in Karachi is my priority, says Ashraf

Prime Minister, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has said the maintenance of peace in Karachi is one of the foremost priorities of his government. "We want to take along all to serve the people."

The prime minister was talking to media after meeting Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) chief and spiritual leader of Hurr community, Pir Pagara Sibghatullah Rashdi at Kingri House in Karachi.

He asked Pir Pagara to pray for him that he could achieves big goals in his short tenure, he said. Ashraf said, “I hope to do something that solves the problems of the people of Pakistan.”

Ashraf also thanked Pir Pagara for the “delicious food” he offered him at the meeting.

“PML-F, as our coalition partner, played a very positive and strong role in my election as the prime minister, for which I have come to thank Pir Pagara on behalf of my party’s co-chairman President Asif Ali Zardari.”

The prime minister said that Pir Pagara prayed for us and was very hospitable towards him and his party.

“Our motive is – love for all hatred for none,” said Ashraf. “With the help of our coalition partners and with the vision of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and President Zardari, we would like to take Pakistan towards progression.”

He said that the two big challenges faced by his government were energy crisis and security situation, particularly in Karachi. “We are striving to bring peace to Karachi which is the economic hub of Pakistan.”

Responding to a question regarding the Opposition’s resistance in his election, he said, “I am here till the party and coalition partners have confidence in me and till God wills so. Nobody elects themselves as a PM. This is all God-willing. He can provide to anyone, anytime.”

IS THIS THE PAKISTAN YOU WANT?

A few Pakistanis have asked me to work on making a movie

about building a cohesive Pakistan. Insha Allah, if they

gather the funds, we will take that step... a small step.

Here is the Original in making, an American Version

No American has to live in apprehension or fear of the other.
There are solutions, here is a trailer of the movie in making:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMXsTo4VYh8&feature=youtu.be

Please let me know if you wish to you have more information.
Thank youMike Ghouse
America Together Foundation
www.AmericaTogetherFoundation.com
Dallas, Texas  

Who is a progressive Muslim?

Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer, I thank you for writing this piece. Your writings have been an inspiration to me since I have known and met you in Dallas some 17 years ago. Several of us have attempted to define the word progressive in so many ways including my friend Mirza Beg and me, who have written similar pieces, but this is a master piece and I am pleased to share this treasure with the Muslims who carry the banner Progressive Muslims.
 

A few, just a few traditional Muslim scholars hate the word progressive, they are stuck, kind of stick in the muds (Urdu: lakeer kay faqeers). Progressive means stepping out of the religion to them. Religion to them is their own private club, where they determine who qualifies to be a member and who is not, they are too eager to opine and too quick to deny the Mussalmanity (Muslimness) of others, if the others do not comply with the prescribed length of their pants or the inches of hair covering for women.

The title Progressive could also mean conservatives sticking to the Quraan, a paradoxical way of defining it. Indeed, Prophet Muhammad was also a progressive reformer who changed the world, who changed the ways people lived their lives and who helped them step out of the little fiefdoms in conflicts with each other into a large Aalameen where they all can co-exist with their own cultural uniquenesses.

Each one of us is indeed a part of the big pie, just like the other parts with all the imaginable labels from Wahabbi, Sunni, Sufi, Shia, Ismaili, Bohra, WD Muhammad, Ahmadiyya, WAhle-Hadith, Ahle-Sunnat, Deobandi, Salafi and every possible label.   You will find a similar distribution amongst Jews, Christians, Hindus, Buddhist and even among religions with a fewer numbers like Sikhs, Jains, and others as well. A majority of Muslims are moderates and shy away from titles like progressive. We need to understand the word progressive and you have done a fabulous job, it is not a separator! Thank you.

When I chose to label myself as Muslim, I chose the label “Muslim” and nothing but Muslim.  After 9/11, we fought hard about the prefixes like Terrorist and other uncouth and reckless words.

I had resisted all temptations to be labeled with a pre-fix. However, when I was attacked by a few among us while defending another label, I yielded to add Sunni to my label to let them know that I am not an Ahmadiyya-Muslim, but I am right in defending their right to believe and practice their tradition.

All of us are one of the 73 tribes that Prophet Muhammad had rightfully predicted based on human fitra (nature). We need to respect that and honor the Prophet, he could not be wrong.  The arrogant ones among us believe that they are the righteous ones and the other 72 are not. What was said was that all the 73 have to compete in doing good, only one will be the first rank and the other 72 will pass the exam in the school at varying grades. How many times you have been surprised that in your school,   the one you thought will not make it did make it with “flying colors”. Let Allah be the judge and remember we have to be free from Prejudice that is what makes us Muslims and this was one of the many driving reasons for me to be a Muslim.

As an activist, I humbly request fellow Muslims to resist the temptation to label yourselves or label other Muslims when you talk about them. Can you do that? Don’t worry what others do, do your duty and let God be the judge. We need to come together to create a better world for the entire humanity, lets us become Mukhlookhul Aalameen. Amen!

Jazak Allah Khair
Mike Ghouse
Muslims together committed to building cohesive societies.
www.Islamtogetherfoundation.com  

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Who is a Progressive Muslim

By Asghar Ali Engineer AT the Asian Muslim Action Network (Aman) assembly which took place in Pattani, Thailand in February this year, a discussion took place as to the prerequisites of being a progressive Muslim. I was asked to speak on the subject, and the following is what I had to say. A progressive Muslim is one whose actions are firmly grounded in the Quranic values of truth (haq), justice (adl), compassion (rahmah), wisdom (hikmah), and he or she does service to others rather than being served by others. A progressive Muslim does not believe in sectarian Islam (Sunni, Shia or Ismaili, Deobandi or Barelvi, Ahl-i-Hadith or Salafi streak), but rises above all these sects and gives importance to the Quran above everything else. Adhering to progressive Islam one does not adopt a sectarian approach, but is respectful of entire humanity, and of human dignity as per the Quran: “We have honoured the sons of Adam; provided them with transport on land and sea; given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special favours, above a great part of our creation” (17:70). Thus, one leaves ideological and theological differences to Allah alone and does not condemn anyone who differs with oneself as kafir, as often many sectarian-minded Muslims do. Such an approach widens the differences and intensifies conflict. A progressive Muslim uses, as per the Quran, wisdom (hikmah) and goodly words (mawizat al-hasanah) in discussions. He does not try to be judgmental. A progressive Muslim is least influenced by personal prejudices and always gives more importance to knowledge than his own opinion. The Quran condemns prejudiced opinion (zan) and promotes knowledge (ilm). Also, openness of mind is a seminal quality which helps avoid arrogance born more out of ignorance than knowledge. Those who have little knowledge are more arrogant and those who have a greater degree of knowledge know the limitations of their own knowledge and hence tend to be humble. A progressive Muslim first of all studies his/her own religion in depth and tries to understand as objectively as possible the causes of differences between different religions while showing full respect to the beliefs of others. It is those who do not know their own religion, much less that of others, who condemn the religion of others. The Quran says, “And abuse not those whom they call upon besides Allah, lest, exceeding the limits they abuse Allah through ignorance” (6:109). Further in the same verse, Allah says, “Thus to everyone people have We made their deeds fair-seeming; then to their Lord is their return so He will inform them of what they did.” Thus ultimately it is Allah who will judge. We human beings, when we judge, we judge more out of ignorance and arrogance of our own ego than based on knowledge and selflessness. The key words in this verse are that for ‘every people’ ‘We made their deeds fair-seeming’ to ‘them’. Then who are we human beings to condemn the beliefs and deeds of others? Let Allah alone be the judge of who is right and who is wrong in their beliefs. A progressive Muslim celebrates pluralism, as diversity is the creation of Allah. If Allah had desired He could have made entire humanity one community. (5:48). The Quran also says, “And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your tongues and colours. Surely there are signs in this for the learned.” Thus, a progressive Muslim will never have any prejudice against the speakers of any language or the people of any colour or creed, for they are all creations of Allah. Likewise, both men and women are the creation of Allah and both need to be treated with the same degree of dignity. Allah has created all species in couples and it is necessary for survival of all species. No species will survive unless it is created in couples. Thus the feminine of the couple is as important as the masculine, and in human beings both genders must be treated equally. Gender relations reflect social and cultural constructs while equality and fair play are Islamic values. A progressive Muslim knows this and treats both men and women with equal dignity, ensuring equal rights to both. In today’s context, gender equality becomes a crucial test for a progressive Muslim. Female servitude was purely a feudal cultural creation; Islam opposes it and pronounces the doctrine of gender equality in clear terms (2:228). A progressive Muslim knows that certain Sharia provisions establishing male superiority were in response to the cultural needs of a patriarchal society rather than based on the Quran and Sunnah. Thus, a progressive Muslim will give importance to Quranic pronouncements in gender-related matters and not condone the feudal female servitude, considering such provisions of existing Sharia laws as eternal and unalterable. A progressive Muslim, therefore, would strive to reconstruct Sharia laws today in order to accord rights to women which the Quran gives them. One believer cannot be superior to another believer. Male superiority is a human construct and human construct cannot override divine injunctions. Also, physical differences, i.e. bearing children, etc. should not result in determining who is superior or inferior. A progressive Muslim would also accord seeking knowledge priority, as knowledge has been equated with light, and ignorance with darkness (zulmat). Allah brings out believers from darkness to light. The Prophet (PBUH) has said that a moment’s reflection is more important than a whole night’s worship (ibadat). Thus knowledge has priority even over worship. These are some of the characteristics of being a progressive Muslim. Those who imbibe these characteristics will survive the challenges of time and not face difficulty in keeping pace with changing reality. Source: The Dawn

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