Showing posts with label PluralismSpeaker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PluralismSpeaker. Show all posts

Saturday, July 16, 2011

SHARIA ISSUES IN 2012 AND SOLUTIONS.

www.ShariaLaws.com

Sharia will become a dominant theme in the 2012 Presidential Elections; the one who speaks the loudest earns the tea party support. I am not sure if we the Americans would gulp down their rhetoric or would have the time to question the veracity of the comments made by the candidates.



The responsibility falls squarely on us, the American Muslims to become contributors and participants in the well being, peace and prosperity of America. Muslims together, we can do it.
We are considering a Sharia conference in every major city in the US, it will be professionally developed with the help of our Imams and Scholars and those who have problems with it. We have to answer every possible question answered in the power point presentation each time a question gets asked.

If you have the will, it’s easy to do it.

Muslims together can work and build a safer and secure America for every one of the 301 Million Americans. This is your conference in your town, organized and managed by you. I hope all of us can call ISNA, CAIR, ICNA and other national organizations to take this project up.

We can do this for under $ 5000.00 per city. I have done over 40 events including the ones over 600 attendees within that budget. We should not expect the national organizations to put this event out, we have to do it on our own with their supervision to standardize the event. You’ll have to raise the funds locally- 100 Muslims $50/each or other combinations will do it. The question we have to ask is, are we willing to do it or find it comfortable to talk about our love of Islam without doing a thing.
I am a volunteer and will be happy to assist anyone anywhere.
Together we can come up with great plans and just do it.
For the starters, I have pulled a few key articles together; there are much better articles out there, Insha Allah, we will gather them all and urge Muslims to post on their sites, the more places it is published, the better off we are.

10 ARTICLES

The articles range from simplicity for a lay person to understand ( Sumbul, Nezar , Nasim, Amjad and Mike’s articles) to Mainstream press writing ( Amy Sullivan and Justin Elliott), to Scholarly presentations ( Dr. Yusuf Zia Kavakci and Dr. Mohammad Omar Farooq) . I hope to gather articles that are critical (Plenty) of Sharia as well. If you know a great article, please share, together we can complete the spectrum and add value to its understanding. I further request that you post this on your site or ask those who have a site to post. The more it shows up in search engines, the better off we are collectively.

As American Muslims we are committed to the safey, security and prosperity of every American. That's a pledge we take and act upon it.
------ ------
Sharia in one Gulp by Mike Ghouse
Sharia in its simplest form is a how-to manual based on the Qur'an and the Hadith (Prophet Muhammad's sayings). It is a human effort to understand the concept of justice enshrined in the Qur'an for day-to-day living.

-
http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/2011/07/sharia-in-one-gulp.html
-
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/sharia-law-not-in-america_b_653250.html

------ ------

What Sharia law actually means – Justin Elliott

Sharia is more than simply "law" in the prescriptive sense. It is also a methodology through which a jurist engages the religious texts to ascertain divine will. As a jurist-made law, the outcome of this process of ascertaining divine will is called fiqh (positive law), which is the moral and legal anchor of a Muslim's total existence.
http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-sharia-law-actually-means.html

------ ------

Who's Afraid of Sharia? – Sumbul Ali Karamali

Hasn't the whole notion of shariah in America gotten a bit out of control? No, it hasn't -- it's gotten hugely, obscenely, ignorantly out of control. Aha! The six principles must be about killing infidels, veiling women, stoning people for adultery, honor killings and female genital cutting, right? Nope.


------ ------

Sharia the law system inspired by the Quraan - Wikipedia

Sharia is often referred to as Islamic law, but this is wrong, as only a small part is irrefutably based upon the core Islamic text, the Koran. Correct designations would be "Muslim Law", "Islam-inspired", "Islam-derived," or even "the law system of Muslims."This is well known to most Muslims, yet Sharia is always referred to as "based upon the Koran", hence it is the "will of God."http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/2011/03/sharia-law-system-inspired-by-quraan.html

------ ------

Sharia is Not what you think it is – Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid

When some American pundits call sharia, "a growing threat to the United States," Muslim Americans wonder what in the world are they talking about. Sharia is overwhelmingly concerned with personal religious observance, not with constitutions and laws.


------ ------

The Myths of Sharia Law in America – Amy Sullivan

If you are not vitally concerned about the possibility of radical Muslims infiltrating the U.S. gove
rnment and establishing a Taliban-style theocracy, then you are not a candidate for the GOP presidential nomination. In addition to talking about tax policy and Afghanistan, Republican candidates have also felt the need to speak out against the menace of "sharia."
http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/2011/07/myths-of-sharia-law-in-america-httpwww.html

------ ------

Sharia Value – Dr. Mohamed Omar Farooq

"While Islam under the leadership of Prophet Muhammad brought liberation and freedom from human bondage and ushered in scientific, technological, economic and cultural progress as part of a dynamic civilization, the Shariah as it is being presented today seems to do (and probably promise more of) just the opposite. Why? In this essay, it is argued that one pivotal problem has to do with some fundamental misunderstanding about Islam and Shariah.


------ ------

Sharia, Fiqh and Islamic Law – Imam Dr. Yusuf Ziya Kavakci Dr. Kavakci is one of the 500 most influential Imams in the world
Sharia recently became a hotly debated subject. Archbishop of England made a statement at the middle of many statements, that has given the opportunity of Islamic law and Shari to be discussed and debated by westerners and some times the discussion apparently was taken out context. It is, as I believe, a fact that Sharia, Fiqh in its early stages got established and developed in the wide area of the world, mainly where Roman law was dominant.
http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/2011/07/sharia-fiqh-and-islamic-law_15.html

------ ------

Demystifying Sharia - Nasim Rehmatullah and Amjad Mahmood Khan

Shariah is a misunderstood and misused concept. Critics of Islam frequently employ terms like "creeping shariah" to stoke fear amongst the masses. The Park 51 controversy and the increasing media focus on Islam provide an opportunity to educate Americans about the true teachings and practices of Islam concerning shariah.http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/2011/07/demystifying-shariah.html

------ ------

Sharia law is not a threat – Nezar Hamze, Cair


You can’t turn on the news these days or pick up a newspaper without seeing or reading about Islam, Muslims or Sharia law. Unfortunately, most of what you hear is from politicians with a religious viewpoint or media outlets creating an illusion of an enemy.

------ ------
LINK TO THIS ARTICLE: http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/
------ ------

Mike Ghouse committed to nurturing the pluralistic values embedded in Islam. More about him at www.MikeGhouse.net

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Blaming the west, no one can cast the first stone.

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/06/blaming-west-no-one-can-cast-first.html

The below referenced items was published in one of my groups. It is an open forum and we have members of several different religious tradition in it including Jews, Hindus, Christians and others from across the world. Anyone can become a member by sending an email to WorldMusilmCongress-subscribe@yahoogroups.com All are welcome. My policy is to publish all opinions relating to the topics from extreme right to left, so we can understand all points of view. When I don’t agree with an opinion here and there, I do express my disagreement on an equal basis with the others.

A few individuals blame the west for the ills of the society, as one puts it “the westernism ideology or “economic imperialism”. I have time and again expressed that “evil” does not have a monopoly of any one, east or west, Muslims, Christians or any one. His opinion is his own as mine is my own.  Evil is an inherent part of every society and has always existed and will continue to be a part of every group, be it religions, nationalistic, ethnic or any other formation.  If evil was not crated none of the religions were needed. The religions have come into being to minimize the evil, a majority of people get the message a few don’t;  The piece “
World's Most Dangerous Place for Women Published by Aljazeera English 6/15/11”  throws the “holier than thou” attitudes under the bus. Jesus was absolutely right; no one can cast the first stone.

The individual mirrors Pat Robertson, John Hagee, late Jerry Falwell and several others who have blamed Katrina and 9/11 on America for allowing Gays and Lesbian unions, pornography, abortion and other “evils” per them. They even said Arial Sharon’s illness was God’s punishment to him for agreeing to give Gaza back to Palestinians. If these guys have the freedom they will act God and repeat Sodom and Gomorrah to our population that supports GLBT and Abortions.

Even though Pat Robertson has a huge audience, not all of his membership agrees with him, so was with Falwell, although many a presidents listened to these men. Heck, a majority of Christians do not subscribe to their view and hence their views are not Christian views. The individual on our forum no different. He has his own following but that is not the opinion of all Muslims – I for one differ on his take on this issue, however, our group is democratic, we allow all opinions and that is the right thing to do.
Men have stood up against oppression of women in a variety of forms; female feticides, female genital mutilation, trafficking, prostitution, job discrimination and gender biases. I am not only condemning it, but speaking up as well. I am a member of many a women groups as a support and to stand with them.  
It is a shame what is happening with women all around the world, and particularly in Iran, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Congo, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. As man I condemn it and share that condemnation with my groups. Many a members of the group, both male and female are actively working to mitigate this menace. Blessed are the peace makers and I urge for us to realize that we cannot single out any group for the bad acts, all of us are responsible to uplift the society, let’s do our share.
Mike Ghouse, speaker, thinker and a writer on Pluralism, Islam, India and social cohesiveness. All his work is indexed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/
This letter will also be published at www.TheGhousediary.com and www.worldMuslimCongress.org

Hello everyone!  I've sent this to every man listed in our email address book..  All men, Baha'i men in particular, must step up to the plate - LOUDLY - about this issue.  We know from the Writings that God has always recognized and wanted equality, and when considered for a moment, recognize that men cannot, repeat CANNOT raise to the peak of their spiritual best until this issue is resolved. 

There are spiritual solutions to all of this world's problems - find them, grab them, act on them, teach them, and do not let go.

Lovingly, Mindy & Charles

P.S. Please research the ad, don't ignore it.  "If you're not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem".

----- Forwarded Message ----

Subject: Re: MuslimsTogether :: Muslims are happy in the West

The below is an email I sent to an international Muslim Group (meant to send you a BC- but failed to do so).  We are continually bombared with negative images of the West for its morals -- some of these men are completely oblivious (or don't give a damn) about the women.  Please pray, and take whatever action you can to help women worldwide.  Blessings, Marylou

In a message dated 6/18/11 10:12:09 AM, Unity writes:
Has anyone polled women for happiness?  I have yet to see even one male address this abuse of women.  See below  -- I have cut for brevity --  research the entire article on line if you have the stomach for it.    The statistics on India are interesting - 40% of prostitutes are children.  Attacking the West does not solve the problem.  If anyone thinks it diverts our attention, you are mistaken.  Marylou

Source:  World's Most Dangerous Place for Women
Published by Aljazeera English 6/15/11


Afghanistan has been ranked as the world's most dangerous country for women, with Congo taking a close second position, a Thomson Reuters Foundation expert poll has said.

Violence, dismal healthcare and brutal poverty afflicts women in Afghanistan, while in Congo there are horrific levels of rape, the survey conducted by Trust Law, an arm of Thomson Reuters, said on Wednesday.

Pakistan, India and Somalia ranked third, fourth and fifth respectively in the global survey of perceptions of threats ranging from domestic abuse and economic discrimination to female foeticide, genital mutilation and acid attacks.

"Ongoing conflict, NATO airstrikes and cultural practices combined make Afghanistan a very dangerous place for women," Antonella Notari, head of women change makers, a group that supports women social entrepreneurs around the world, said.

The survey asked 213 gender experts from five continents to rank countries by overall perceptions of danger as well as by six risks. The risks were health threats, sexual violence, non-sexual violence, cultural or religious factors, lack of access to resources and trafficking.

Some experts said the poll showed that subtle dangers such as discrimination that don't grab headlines are sometimes just as significant risks for women as bombs, bullets, stonings and systematic rape in conflict zones.

"I think you have to look at all the dangers to women, all the risks women and girls face," Elisabeth Roesch, who works on gender-based violence for the International Rescue Committee in Washington, said.

"If a woman can't access healthcare because her healthcare isn't prioritized, that can be a very dangerous situation as well."

Afghan women have a one in 11 chance of dying in childbirth, according to UNICEF.

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), still reeling from a 1998-2003 war and accompanying humanitarian disaster that killed 5.4m people, came second mainly due to staggering levels of sexual violence in the lawless east.

More than 400,000 women are raped in the country each year, according to a recent study by US researchers. The United Nations has called Congo the rape capital of the world.

"The fact that the government is corrupt and that female rights are very low on the agenda means that there is little or no recourse to justice."

Pakistan ranked third largely on the basis of cultural, tribal and religious practices harmful to women. These include acid attacks, child and forced marriage and punishment or retribution by stoning or other physical abuse.

"Pakistan has some of the highest rates of dowry murder, so-called honour killings and early marriage," Divya Bajpai, reproductive health advisor at the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, said.

Some 1,000 women and girls die in honour killings annually, according to Pakistan's Human Rights Commission.

Trafficking of women

India ranked fourth primarily due to female foeticide, infanticide and human trafficking.
In 2009, India's then-Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta estimated that 100m people, mostly women and girls, were involved in trafficking in India that year.

"The practice is common but lucrative so it goes untouched by government and police," Cristi Hegranes, founder of the Global Press institute, which trains women in developing countries to be journalists, said.

India's Central Bureau of Investigation estimated that in 2009 about 90 per cent of trafficking took place within the country and that there were some 3m prostitutes, of which about 40 per cent were children.
In addition to sex slavery, other forms of trafficking include forced labour and forced marriage, according to a US state department report on trafficking in 2010. The report also found slow progress in criminal prosecutions of traffickers.

Up to 50m girls are thought to be "missing" over the past century due to female infanticide and foeticide, the UN Population Fund said.

Somalia ranked fifth due to a catalogue of dangers including high maternal mortality, rape and female genital mutilation, along with limited access to education, healthcare and economic resources ...

"The most dangerous thing a woman in Somalia can do is to become pregnant. When a woman becomes pregnant her life is 50-50 because there is no antenatal care at all. There are no hospitals, no healthcare, no nothing.

"Add to that the rape cases that happen on a daily basis, the female genital mutilation that is being done to every single girl in Somalia. Add to that the famine and the drought. Add to that the fighting (which means) you can die any minute, any day."

Poll respondents included aid professionals, academics, health workers, policymakers, journalists and development specialists"   (read the rest on line at site above listed)  END.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Prayers at Carrollton City Council

Invocation prayers at Carrollton City Council
7:00 PM, Tuesday, April 05, 2011
A Carrollton tradition
By Mike Ghouse, Pluralist
# # #

Dear Friends,
The following is an inclusive prayer called the prayer of Pluralism, indeed, Carrollton is only City in the United States where inclusiveness is appreciated and this is the 9th time in the last four years. We are committed to building a cohesive Carrollton.

Let’s reflect, wish and pray:

Creator of the universe
Please accept our gratitude in every name we call upon you; Manito,  Yahweh, Elahi, Ishwar, Allah, Mahavira, Buddha, Wahe Guru, Ahura Mazda, mother earth and Jesus Christ.  

In your name we want to create a cohesive Carrollton, with care kindness and dignity to every one of the 122,000 residents of this beautiful City.  

Dear God,
Guide our Mayor and the council to serve us with integrity and honesty;
Guide us to serve our communities with the spirit of volunteerism;
Guide us to do the right thing every moment of our life;
Guide us to open our hearts and minds toward our fellow beings;
Guide us to shed the arrogance in us, and enrich us with humility
Guide us to become conflict mitigaters and goodwill nurturers.

Dear God,
Protect our men and women in uniforms committed to our safety and well being.
Help us learn to respect the uniqueness you have blessed to each one of the 122,000 of us in Carrollton,
And help us learn to respect everywhich way one worships you.
In your name, we bow to you.
Amen.
Pictures:
Video:
 # # #

 Mike Ghouse, President of America Together foundation is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day, and is available to speak at your place of worship, work or in seminars and conferences. He is a speaker thinker and a writer on the topics of pluralism, cohesive societies, Islam, interfaith, India and Peace.

The Foundation for Pluralism champions the idea of co-existence by respecting and accepting the otherness of other; and World Muslim Congress is committed to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam. His work is reflected in 4 website's and 27 Blogs at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

First Amendment, the secular and religious organizations

Religious Organizations must be held to the same standards as the secular organizations in terms of employment and accountability to the public. They must be subjected to audit of the policies as well, then the questions of exceptions will dwindle and a sense of clarity will emerge. We have to rise above our own petty agendas for the overall good of America and formulate policies that treat every one justly.  Full story at - http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/04/first-amendment-secular-and-religious.html

# # #
Mike Ghouse, President of America Together foundation is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day, and is available to speak at your place of worship, work or in seminars and conferences. He is a speaker thinker and a writer on the topics of pluralism, cohesive societies, Islam, interfaith, India and Peace.

The Foundation for Pluralism champions the idea of co-existence by respecting and accepting the otherness of other, and World Muslim Congress is committed to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam. His work is reflected in 4 website's and 27 Blogs at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

Monday, November 29, 2010

Define Islam, did it start from Adam or Muhammad?

2 of 8 - http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2010/11/define-islam-did-it-start-from-adam-or.html

How do you define Islam? Did it start from Adam and Eve or did it start from our Prophet?
A Series of 8 questions - Do Muslims resist the following questions?
A few among us pander to the donors and funders and are afraid of answering what they believe.  By the way that is the case with people of pulpits in all religions, however the majority of Muslims, like any other majority believe and practice live and let live. I have received a few affirmations from different faith leaders about the commonality of the issue.

The questions were presented to me and I have responded to them and inviting others to express their opinion. You are welcome to refute, reject, differ or add to it, but know that there are different takes to the issue and different expression. Quraan 49:13 says he has created us to be unique, so that we can make an effort to know each other.

Mike Ghouse
World Muslim Congress
A few responses:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-
Mike Ghouse


The need for peace was born with the very first humanoids, when competition for available resources was pitching them against each other causing them to live in fear of the other, thus co-existence was a natural outcome. The idea of accountability and responsibility for one’s action became necessary for peaceful co-existence followed by surrenderance of “my ego” and “your ego” to a higher ego that both can subscribe to and abide by.  Islam broadly means peaceful co-existence and submission to a judge and it did start from Adam and Eve.
If Islam means a privately owned club by Muslims and claiming God and his bounties to be exclusively on their side, then it started long after the Prophet. This idea of private club goes against the very essence of ‘rabbul Aalameen (Lord of the universe)’ in the very first sentence of the Quraan and ‘Rahmutul Aalameen (Blessing of the universe)’ describing Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).  The prophet said, he is not bringing a new religion, but simply updating the existing ones.

Your way of life is dear to you as mine is to me was a new paradigm in the milestones of history expressly written in Sura Kafirun heralding a new era in accepting the otherness of others without denigrating the other.

It is human to make Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism or other religions one’s personal property, it is human to own the prophets and chain the holy books to their private club. By claiming ownership rights to a religion, we are stripping the universality of that religion and creating boundaries around it and excluding others. The very boundaries religions formed to remove.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-
Iftekhar Hai

 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/surrender 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 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. 

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.

ISLAM STARTED FROM ADAM AND EVE.  OUR PROPHET MERELY REPEATED THE MESSAGE OF ISLAM FOR THE PAGAN ARABS.  HERE THE MEANING OF THE WORD ISLAM IS SURRENDER, SUBMISSION WHICH IS SHOWN TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-

Dr. Iffat Khan

 The word Islam is an Arabic word and is a generic word, which means submit to, acknowledge and affirm the will of God. It is not racially or ethnically derived, and is non-sectarian. It is unlike all other religions, which go by the name of their prophet/messenger. It is derived from the root s-l-m meaning Peace. Marshall Hodgson states that it is the inner spirituality of a person of conscience. (Venture into Islam Vol.1) Islam has been the divine religious system of humankind from the beginning of time; the prevalent concept claiming it to be a new religion preached by Prophet Muhammad being a complete fallacy. The Quran states that Islam is the religion of God, and no other religion will be accepted from mankind. i.e. acknowledging and living by the will of the one God.

After the first human beings disobeyed God, and ‘ate of the forbidden tree’ they realized their folly, became aware of their nakedness/sexuality, and repented. God accepted the repentance of both the man and woman 2: 37-38, and they were assigned a temporal life on earth forfeiting the life of bliss in the Garden of Bliss/Eden, with the assurance that ‘there will come to you guidance from Me, and whosoever follows My guidance shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve 2: 38.  God taught the human beings ‘the nature of things’ and made them ‘vicegerents on earth’. ‘God has made subject to you all that is on the earth’ 22: 65, as a sacred trust, – to enjoy and use wisely.

In addition, the Quran states that over the ages, messengers/teachers were sent to every community in the world, and that there are righteous people among those who follow the earlier revelations. 3:199. All messengers, throughout the world, preached the same message which the essence of the Quran.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Should Christians (and other non-Hindus) beware of yoga?


Courtesy: Dallas Morning News, Texas faith Panel. The president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Albert Mohler, caused a stir with a recent column decrying the practice of yoga by Christians.

Mohler seems to be threatened with the popularity of Yoga, a beautiful practice to bring composure to oneself. He is obsessed with the idea that Yoga is a bait to lure his congregation away into “a spiritual practice that threatens to transform their own spiritual lives into a `post-Christian, spiritually polyglot’ reality”, and then he asks, “Should any Christian willingly risk that?” How mistaken can one be? Yoga is not a mutually exclusive practice, nor is it a religion; it is indeed a catalyst in achieving the union of mind and body that is central to all spirituality.

Yoga is neither Christian nor Hindu; it is a beautiful gift that originated in India for the benefit of mankind to function cohesively.  All individuals and nations should give and receive the good without labeling it.

Mike Ghouse is a speaker on Pluralism and Islam offering pluralistic solutions to the media and public on issues of the day. His blogs and sites are listed at www.MikeGhouse.net  


Sunday, July 25, 2010

Unity Day USA - 6th Annual Event


We are pleased to invite you to Unity Day USA; a purposeful event to bring Americans together. The idea for Unity Day USA was first conceived on Tuesday, September 11, 2001 and took its current form on Sunday, September 11, 2005. We cannot let things happen and drift into the abyss of incoherence. It is an initiative to come together to stand up for the safety, security and cohesiveness of America.

MUSLIM SPEAKER

MUSLIM SPEAKER
Email to: SpeakerMikeGhouse@gmail.com

Voice of Moderate Muslims

Voice of Moderate Muslims
Voice of Moderate Muslims

Moderate Islam Speaker

Moderate Islam Speaker
Moderate Islam Speaker

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.