PRESS RELEASE

January 17, 2014. Dallas, Texas. The World Muslim Congress shares the announcement of the sad demise of the Spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin Saheb in Mumbai, India on the Morning of Friday the 17^thof January 2014 after cardiac arrest. He was 102. Per the tradition, his eldest son Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin succeeds leading the community.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un (إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ) "Surely we belong to Allah and to Him shall we return". The phrase is recited by Muslims when a person passes away.

At World Muslim Congress, we extend our condolences to the family, friends and the Dawoodi Bohra community in particular and Muslim Ummah in General. Syedna provided progressive leadership to the community and he was here in Irving, Texas to for the Grand opening of their Masjid. Indeed, the community members are trained to be participants and contributors in each community they live. I was particularly proud of them for participating at the Unity Day events, and always have one of their girls ready to sing the national Anthem in full Hijab. They always participated in India based events and a lot of interfaith meetings. I hope and pray their contribution will continue to accelerate.

We thank Times of India for the full report and thank Taiyab Kundawala for sharing this sad news.

url- http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/01/dawoodi-bohra-spiritual-leader-dawoodi.html

Mike Ghouse
World Muslim Congress
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MUMBAI: The spiritual leader of Dawoodi Bohra community Dr SyednaMohammed Burhanuddin passed away today after a cardiac arrest here. He was 102.

His 70-year old son Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin has succeeded him, it was announced here.

Syedna Burhanuddin died this morning at his residence in South Mumbai, a spokesperson for the community said.

"The 52nd Dai al-Mutlaq of the worldwide Dawoodi Bohra community, His Holiness Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin expired today at the age of 102 at his Mumbai residence at Saifee Mahal," he said.

"Born in Surat, he was the leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community after succeeding his father Syedna Taher Saifuddin in 1965. Under his leadership, the community has achieved remarkable social, economic and educational success across the world.

"Known as ambassador of peace and goodwill, he was highly respected by world leaders and governments for his endeavours in promoting international brotherhood and harmony," the spokesperson said.

He was honoured with highest civilian titles like the Star of Jordan and Order of the Nile by the respective governments of Jordan and Egypt. Syedna was conferred Honourary Doctorates for his efforts in social and educational development by renowned institutes like Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Aligarh Muslim University and University of Karachi.

In Mumbai, the one of its kind Raudat Tahera mausoleum which has the entire Quran inscribed in letters of gold and bejewelled with precious stones; the world class Saifee Hospital; and the on-going ambitious Saifee Burhani Upliftment project of the redevelopment of Bhendi Bazaar are some of the major initiatives of Syedna in the city.

In 2011, Syedna had proclaimed Nass (investiture) upon his second son Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin in London. The 70-year-old successor is the rector of the community's 200-year-old institution Jamea-tus-Saifiah, which has campuses in Surat, Karachi, Mumbai and Nairobi.

"He was closely associated with the late Syedna and has received much of his spiritual guidance under the tutelage of his revered father.

Highly respected among the community members, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin travelled widely with his father and met heads of states and other distinguished personalities across the world, he said.

Among the many projects that Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin has worked under Syedna's directions in the restoration of famous Fatemi Masjids in Egypt and other edifices in the Arab world, he said.

Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin will lead the Namaz-e-Janaza of the late Syedna at Saifee Masjid at Bhendi Bazaar. The late Syedna will be laid to rest at Raudat Tahera mausoleum in Mumbai.

Thousands of Dawoodi Bohras from all over India and from around 40 nations are converging to Mumbai to pay their last respects and homage to their beloved leader Syedna Moahmmed Burhanuddin, he said.

Dawoodi Bohra is a sect of the Shia Muslims spread all over the world.

One of the key principles of the sect is "patriotism as part of the faith." It encourages followers to make a positive contribution to the country they live in.

The word Bohra means trader and traditionally, most members of the sect have been entrepreneurs.

Last year, thousands of Dawoodi Bohras from across the world flocked to the city to celebrate Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin's 102nd birthday.

Times of India - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Dawoodi-Bohra-community-spiritual-leader-Syedna-passes-away/articleshow/28959032.cms

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World Muslim Congress
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To be a Muslim is to be a peacemaker, one who mitigates conflicts and nurtures goodwill for peaceful co-existence of humanity. God wants us to live in peace and harmony with his creation; life and matter.

SPIRITUAL LEADER OF BOHRA MUSLIM COMMUNITY NO MORE
URL http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/01/appluading-bohra-muslim-community.html

I went to express my condolences to the Bohra Muslim Community for the loss of their spiritual leader. I had called in a group of Muslims from each denomination to join us; unfortunately the last minute call did not produce results. On this occasion, I must applaud the community for many things, but certainly the Amin aspect.

In the picture are Tayyab Kundawala, a prominent Indian community leader who walked toe to toe with me during the 9/11 crisis, he was the President of India Association at that time. He is currently involved with the Mahatma Gandhi statue placement in Dallas. The other person in picture is the imam (Aamil Saheb) in charge as the resident Aamil Saheb is in Mumbai to join in the funeral services of the Syedna Burhanuddin.

Bohra Muslims are one of the eight most known denominations of Islam; Sunni, Shia, Wahhabi, Ahmadiyya, Ismailia, WD Muhammad, Alawite and Bohra. Each group is headed by a spiritual leader except Sunni and Wahhabi (part of Sunni) denominations.

Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin was the spiritual leader of the Bohra Muslim community, and he passed away yesterday passing the responsibility to his son, a hereditary system of spiritual leadership.

THE AMIN

The Bohra Muslim community has done relatively well when it comes to being the Amins of the Society. It was the first model of Prophet Muhammad. Amin is being just, truthful and trust worthy.

Did Muslims call him the Amin? No, there were no Muslims at that time; it was the Pagans, Jews, Christians and others who called him Amin. We have to earn the trust among the people we live with, no matter who they are. Indeed that is the first and foundational Sunnah (practice) to build peaceful societies.

God informs in Quran (49:13) that he created humanity from a single couple into multitudes of tribes, communities, nations, and conflicts were bound to happen with the given differences. Then he advises, the conflicts persist because we don't know each other. He asserts that the best one among you is the one who takes the time to know the neighbor. When you know each other conflicts fade and solutions emerge.

A the foundation for pluralism have been conducting the Unity Day for the last ten years, and as a part of the program we start the program with American national Anthem, and we always wanted a Hijabi Muslim Girl to sing the Anthem - guess where she came from twice in ten years? The Bohra Muslim Community! Thanks to the education and teaching imparted in their system to have produced someone to participate.

I can appreciate this much more after finding out that the Orlando Muslims could not produce a Muslims girl to sing the National Anthem at our Unity Day program in Mulberry.

All I can say is keep this Amin component alive and active. This is how we build better societies, to be a part of it, rather than live within.

Dawoodi Bohra spiritual leader Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin passed away.
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PRESS RELEASE

January 17, 2014. Dallas, Texas. The World Muslim Congress shares the announcement of the sad demise of the Spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community Dr SyednaMohammed Burhanuddin Saheb in Mumbai, India on the Morning of Friday the 17^thof January 2014 after cardiac arrest. He was 102. Per the tradition, his eldest son Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin succeeds leading the community.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un (إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ) "Surely we belong to Allah and to Him shall we return". The phrase is recited by Muslims when a person passes away.

At World Muslim Congress, we extend our condolences to the family, friends and the Dawoodi Bohra community in particular and Muslim Ummah in General. Syedna provided progressive leadership to the community and he was here in Irving, Texas to for the Grand opening of their Masjid. Indeed, the community members are trained to be participants and contributors in each community they live. I was particularly proud of them for participating at the Unity Day events, and always have one of their girls ready to sing the national Anthem in full Hijab. They always participated in India based events and a lot of interfaith meetings. I hope and pray their contribution will continue to accelerate.

------ ---

URL-http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/01/allah-vs-atheism-leaving-islam-was.html

There is a lot we can learn from people who chose to become a Muslim or un-Muslim themselves.

In most of the cases, the person who chooses to walk out of Islam is harassed and threatened. However, it is not religion; it is the idea of betrayal to one's tradition. More than likely the issues are personal and cultural.

The most annoying part of this story is the gutlessness of Muslim clergy and the men who run the Mosques. Most of them do not have the courage to boldly say, "there is no punishment for an Apostate, one is free to believe what he or she chooses, " and yet they say it from the other mouth without meaning it. God willing, ordinary Muslims like you and I have to do this, we have to be decisive and put an end to this dilly dallying. Insha Allah, we will do that in steps. Check out this piece, Fixing Sharia.

I relate with the story of Maryam Namazie. When I left home, my mother did whisper verses in my ears for my safety. She also gave me a thumb size miniature Quran; she stuck it in my hand bag, which I reluctantly kept it. I did not want my mother to be hurt over this. Indeed, I kept that copy of Quran for years and I still have the punch-sura, a compilation of 5 chapters of Quran in one booklet. My father did not threaten me either, but had a heart to heart about life and responsibilities. Their behavior could have driven me to the opposite end, but their moderation kept me a moderate, and I remained a pluralist Atheist as opposed to a belligerent Atheist for about 30 years, until I consciously chose to become a Muslim in the late Nineties.

Mike Ghouse
World Muslim Congress
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Allah vs atheism: ‘Leaving Islam was the hardest thing I’ve done’.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/allah-vs-atheism-leaving-islam-was-the-hardest-thing-ive-done-9069598.html

A growing number of Muslims are speaking out about losing their faith, but it can mean being shunned by their families, or even threatened with death. Sarah Morrison meets the atheists

Amal Farah, a 32-year-old banking executive, is laughing about a contestant singing off-key in the last series of The X Factor. For a woman who was not allowed to listen to music when she was growing up, this is a delight. After years of turmoil, she is in control of her own life.

On the face of it, she is a product of modern Britain. Born in Somalia to Muslim parents, she grew up in Yemen and came to the UK in her late teens. After questioning her faith, she became an atheist and married a Jewish lawyer. But this has come at a cost. When she turned her back on her religion, she was disowned by her family and received death threats. She has not seen her mother or her siblings for eight years. None of them have met her husband or daughter.

“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done – telling my observant family that I was having doubts. My mum was shocked; she began to cry. It was very painful for her. When she realised I actually meant it, she cut communication with me,” said Ms Farah. “She was suspicious of me being in contact with my brothers and sisters. She didn’t want me to poison their heads in any way. I felt like a leper and I lived in fear. As long as they knew where I was, I wasn’t safe.”

This is the first time Ms Farah has spoken publicly about her experience of leaving her faith, after realising that she did not want to keep a low profile for ever. She is an extreme case – her mother, now back in Somalia, has become increasingly radical in her religious views. But Ms Farah is not alone in wanting to speak out.

It can be difficult to leave any religion, and those that do can face stigma and even threats of violence. But there is a growing movement, led by former Muslims, to recognise their existence. Last week, an Afghan man is believed to have become the first atheist to have received asylum in Britain on religious grounds. He was brought up as a Muslim but became an atheist, according to his lawyers, who said he would face persecution and possibly death if he returned to Afghanistan.

In more than a dozen countries people who espouse atheism or reject the official state religion of Islam can be executed under the law, according to a recent report by the International Humanist and Ethical Union. But there is an ongoing debate about the “Islamic” way to deal with apostates. Broadcaster Mohammed Ansar says the idea that apostates should be put to death is “not applicable” in Islam today because the act was traditionally conflated with state treason.

Some scholars point out that it is against the teachings of Islam to force anyone to stay within the faith. “The position of many a scholar I have discussed the issue with is if people want to leave, they can leave,” said Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, the assistant secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain. “I don’t believe they should be discriminated against or harmed in any way whatsoever. There is no compulsion in religion.”

Baroness Warsi, the Minister of State for Faith and Communities, agreed. “One of the things I’ve done is put freedom of religion and belief as top priority at the Foreign Office,” she said. “I’ve been vocal that it’s about the freedom to manifest your faith, practise your faith and change your faith. We couldn’t be any clearer. Mutual respect and tolerance are what is required for people to live alongside each other.”

Yet, even in Britain, where the freedom to change faiths is recognised, there is a growing number of people who choose to define themselves by the religion they left behind. The Ex-Muslim Forum, a group of former Muslims, was set up seven years ago. Then, about 15 people were involved; now they have more than 3,000 members around the world. Membership has reportedly doubled in the past two years. Another affiliated group, the Ex-Muslims of North America, was launched last year.

Their increasing visibility is controversial. There are those who question why anyone needs to define themselves as an “ex-Muslim”; others accuse the group of having an anti-Muslim agenda (a claim that the group denies).

Maryam Namazie, a spokeswoman for the forum – which is affiliated with the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) – said: “The idea behind coming out in public is to show we exist and that we’re not going anywhere. A lot of people feel crazy [when they leave their faith]; they think they’re not normal. The forum is a place to meet like-minded people; to feel safe and secure.”

Sulaiman (who does not want to reveal his surname), a Kenyan-born 32-year-old software engineer living in East Northamptonshire, lost his faith six years ago. His family disowned him. “I knew they would have to shun me,” he said. “They are a religious family from a [close] community in Leicester. If anyone [finds out] their son is not a Muslim, it looks bad for them.” He added that people “find it strange” that he meets up with ex-Muslims, but he said it is important to know “there is a community out there who care about you and understand your issues”.

Another former Muslim in her late twenties, who does not want to be named, said the “ex-Muslim” identity was particularly important to her. “Within Islam, leaving [the religion] is inconceivable. [The term] atheist doesn’t capture my struggle,” she said, adding that her family does not know the truth about how she feels.

Pakistani-born Sayed (not his real name), 51, who lives in Leeds, lost his faith decades ago. He left home at 23 and moved between bedsits to avoid family members who were looking for him. He told his family about his atheism only two years ago. “I was brought up a strict Muslim, but one day, I realised there was no God,” he said. He told his mother and sister by letter that he was an atheist but they found it difficult to comprehend.

“Whenever I tell my sister or my mum that I am depressed, stressed or paranoid, they say it’s because I don’t pray or read the Koran enough,” he said, adding that he will not go to his mother’s funeral when she dies. “I won’t be able to cope with the stress or the religious prayers. There’s quite a lot of stigma around.”

Iranian-born Maryam Namazie, 47, said that it does not have to be this way. Her religious parents supported her decision to leave their faith in her late teens. “After I left, they still used to whisper verses in my ear for safety, but then I asked them not to. There was no pressure involved and they never threatened me,” she said. “If we want to belong to a political party, or religious group, we should be able to make such choices.”

Zaheer Rayasat, 26, from London, has not yet told his parents that he is an atheist. Born into a traditional Pakistani family, he said he knew he didn’t believe in God from the age of 15.

“Most people transition out of faith, but I would say I crashed out. It was sudden and it left a big black hole. I found it hard to reconcile hell with the idea that God was beneficent and merciful.

“I’m sort of worried what will happen when [my parents] find out. For a lot of older Muslims, to be a Muslim is an identity, whereas, for me, it’s a theological, philosophical position. They might feel they have failed as parents; some malicious people might call them up, gloating about it. Some would see it as an act of betrayal. My hope is that they will eventually forgive me for it.”

Surface definition of a Muslim:

Some one who wears a beard,
wears Arabic looking clothes,
Observes fasting in Ramadan
Prays five times a day
Does not eat Pork
Does not drink Alcohol
Eats Halal Meat
Pays Zakat
Goes to Hajj,not once, but many times, and sends a lot of picture with Kaaba
in the background to make sure others know about it.

Real Definition of a Muslim:

Some one who is Amin; trust worthy, just, and truthful
Some one who respects the otherness of others
Some one who does not judge others' faith
Some one who is a peace makerSome one around whom people feel safe
Some one who minds his own business (it happens on Qayamat)
Some one who contributes for the well being of humanity
Some one who respects all of God's creation regardless of faith
Some one who mitigates conflicts and nurtures good will
Some one who brings goodness to one and all

Thank you
mike
World Muslim Congress
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To be a Muslim is to be a peacemaker, one who mitigates conflicts and nurtures goodwill for peaceful co-existence of humanity. God wants us to live in peace and harmony with his creation; life and matter. Mike Ghouse is a Muslim speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, Islam, interfaith and other topics. He is committed to nurturing pluralistic values embedded in Islam and building cohesive Socieities and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day, all his writings are at www.TheGhouseDiary.com

Jackie, good job!

Your report is the case of doing things whole heartedly or not doing at all. I am glad you concluded with, ““Imam Zia and the members of the Islamic Center of Irving are some of the best neighbors and citizens any community in America would be proud to have. They are devoted to God and they show divine compassion for people in need,” adds Anthony Bonds, Irving community activist. “

Indeed, a majority of Muslims anywhere are good neighbors. Imam Zia is a rare breed of Imams, who understands the concept of being a good neighbor very well and inculcates those values among his congregation. There are at least 20 verses in Quran that emphasize one’s responsibility to his neighbor.

To give you an idea of the value placed on responsibility to neighbor – once Prophet’s associates ask him who would earn the grace of God more – they gave an example of a man who was drunk, did not pray to God, but when the evening comes around, he would knock on his neighbors doors and share his food with those who were hungry against a pious man who prays all the times. The answer is obvious, such is the emphasis placed on obligation to neighbor.

The ICI is also a center for interfaith dialogue. Just FYI, Prophet Muhammad was the first religious man to hold interfaith conferences in his mosque with Jews, Christians and others. He would even offer them to pray in his mosque knowing very well that they pray differently, such was his faith in God and respect for the otherness of others – aka Pluralism.

Mike Ghouse
World Muslim Congress

The Islamic Center of Irving is making a difference in the community

By: Jackie Hardy, NDG Contributing Writer
http://northdallasgazette.com/2013/12/04/the-islamic-center-of-irving-is-making-a-difference-in-texas/comment-page-1/#comment-31413

With a total population of over 200,000 who call Irving home, Muslim residents make up approximately 30,000 to 40,000 of that population according to Imam Zia Sheikh of the Islamic Center of Irving (ICI).

In a post 9/11 world, Imam (pronounced ih-mahm – meaning spiritual leader in Arabic) has had to address the challenges many within the Muslim community have faced. This is a result of the negative public perception of Muslims following the tragic Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

In a 2011 Pew Research Center survey, 28 percent of Muslim Americans reported being looked at with suspicion; 22 percent said they were called offensive names; and 21 percent indicated they were singled out by airport security.

Public Religion Research Institute reported the number of Americans who believe Muslims are working to subvert the Constitution rose from 23 percent in February 2012 to 30 percent in September 2012 according to an article entitled The Reality of Islamophobia in America published on the Council on American Islamic-Relations (CAIR) website.

“There is a fear that all Muslims are terrorists and we are here to change the law of the country,” explains Imam.

Imam Sheikh migrated to the United States in 1995 and began serving as a spiritual leader in 1996, then moved to Irving in 2005; where he presently serves as the spiritual leader with responsibilities of leading the prayers (five times daily), counseling, teaching and leading the services at the Mosque.

The over 40,000 square foot facility located at 2555 Esters Road is comprised with a Mosque, community center and K-12 private school equipped with a library, computer lab, cafeteria and 16 classrooms in addition to 14 portable classrooms.

ICI is a place many Muslim residents of Irving can come and feel safe from some of outside prejudices they may encounter within their respective non-Muslim communities as well as a place non-Muslims can come to learn the truths about the Islamic faith; ultimately helping them dispel some of the myths and untruths about their religion and culture.

According to Imam, statistics show non-Muslim Americans will have a favorable and/or better perception of Muslims once they have been educated about their beliefs.

The Center provides a broad range of services that range in counseling, tutoring and facilitating religious lectures about their faith; in addition to being a place of worship and a facility that houses the school which has received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

“We are planning to expand the facility to an additional 96,000 square feet to house a floor with a multi-purpose room and 16 additional classrooms,” adds Imam.

Imam advised that all monies raised to support the construction efforts have strictly come from donations as they are in Phase II of the construction development project.

The continued growth in enrollment has warranted the need for expanding as the school currently serves 400 plus full-time students and an additional 150 part-time students.

ICI extends its services outside of the Center through its various community outreach initiatives. A few of their previous outreach programs have included opening their Center for the displaced residents affected by Hurricane Katrina; sponsoring health fairs with the American Muslim Women’s Physician Association; and collaborating with Northwood Baptist Church of Keller to help rebuild homes of tornado victims. They also have partnered locally with Greater Days of Service, an interdenominational organization that renews neighborhoods and provides home restoration of properties for homeowners.

“….the community Ramadan dinner they host every year has been attended by community leaders… overall I think they are a contribution to the City especially in the area of humanitarian contributions, so from my perspective they really have tried to make a difference…,” remarks Irving City Councilman Dennis Webb of Place 3.

ICI recently partnered with Texas Organizing Project to host a health care workshop in the effort to educate the public on the Affordable Care Act that became effective in early October. According to Brianna Brown, Lead Health Care Organizer of Texas Organizing Project, there were over 150 attendees at the event which was their largest health care workshop in Dallas County. Brown accredits ICI for the successful turnout due in large part to their strong promotional efforts within the community.

“Their reputation throughout the community especially in the non-profit world of services is really stellar,” adds Brown.

“Imam Zia and the members of the Islamic Center of Irving are some of the best neighbors and citizens any community in America would be proud to have. They are devoted to God and they show divine compassion for people in need,” adds Anthony Bonds, Irving community activist.

For more information about current and future events, contact ICI via email at outreach@irvingmasjid.org or via phone at 972-812-2230, extension 1005.

Holocaust and the Muslim Guy

Frequently, I am introduced in the following manner, "He is the first Muslim guy to commemorate Holocaust, and perhaps the first non-Jewish person to commemorate the Holocaust as well." Of all the people on the earth, my mother would be pleased to know that I am doing what it takes to be a "good Muslim," to respect, honor and protect the sanctity of life.

As a Muslim committed to building cohesive societies, it was an honor to step up to the plate. Quran 3:133, "And vie with one another to attain to your Sustainer's forgiveness and to a paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, which has been readied for the God-conscious." I am not driven by paradise, nor do I seek rewards. But it does mean building a cohesive world where no one has to live in apprehension or fear of the other. God-conscious simply means being caring and sensitive to all of God's creation; life and matter.

Of all the people on the earth, my mother would be pleased to know I am doing what it takes to be a "good Muslim," to respect, honor and protect the sanctity of life.

I have always believed, and I read the assessments of some of the best brains that if we can resolve the Jewish-Palestinian conflict, i.e., security to Jews and justice to the Palestinians, most of the world issues will collapse and a period of peace on earth will begin.

Commemorating Holocaust and Genocides for seven years is a fulfillment of a lifelong desire.

Continued at Huffington post - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/holocaust-and-the-muslim-_b_4629509.html#es_share_ended

# # #

URL- http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/01/anti-ahmedi-laws-and-pakistan.html

Shall we say:
1. The Muslim hatred for Ahmadiyya Muslims,
2. Pakistani Muslim hatred for Ahmadiyya Muslims
3. Just a few Pakistani brainwashed Muslim hatred for Ahmadiyya Muslims

First one is not true, Muslims around the world do not hate fellow Muslims with difference, indeed, they do not hate any one, and they are not taught to hate any one.

Second one is not true either, most Muslims have the guts to do the Muslim thing; to speak out against oppression of fellow beings.

Does the third one make sense? Because the majority does not speak up their position, it appears that "all Pakistanis" are prejudiced and biased. To paraphrase Edmund Burke, evil exists in the world because of good people not stopping the bad people from doing bad things. Do those Pakistanis who consider themselves to be Muslim speak out against injustices towards fellow Pakistanis?

Now the bigger question comes up: Do the Pakistani Americans living in America resent the bias expressed by a "few" really few right wing Christians against Muslims in general and Pakistanis in particular? If they do, would they have learned to at least speak out against the treatment of minorities by the constitution of Pakistan? People do bad things, but should the constitution be bad? How would we feel, if the right wingers in America want to pass a law that would ban Muslim or others to call God, "God" in English? Or call for a ban on the Chapter about Mary in Quran? Or call "Quran a false book" because it contradicts their book, so Quran should be banned. We are indeed fighting this here in the United States, but thank God our constitution is at least Paak and Just, and no idiot can mess with it. Is Pakistani Constitution Just?

Can at least the Pakistani Americans speak up for the rights of fellow Pakistanis in Pakistan? The last thing we Muslims are required to do is to speak up against injustice towards any human, should we not?

It is good to see, finally some Pakistani papers are "speaking up". It is encouraging. What you can do? Write similar articles, or at least write your comments at the end of this article.

Mike Ghouse

Anti-Ahmedi laws and the constitution
Courtesy of Daily Times Pakistan - http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/opinion/27-Jan-2014/anti-ahmedi-laws-and-the-constitution

Under the 1973 constitution, the offices of president and prime minister were reserved for Muslim citizens of Pakistan. Therefore, the attempt was to exclude Ahmedis from the highest offices in the state

The elderly Dr Masood, who is an Ahmedi, has now been in jail in Lahore for over 60 days for the ‘crime’ of reading the holy Quran. Meanwhile, in Rawalpindi, a young Ahmedi was shot dead by terrorists when he tried to stop them from planting a bomb on Eid-e-Miladun Nabi. What we have done to this patriotic law abiding community is going to haunt us for a long time to come.

The legal persecution of Ahmedis in Pakistan started when Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto caved in to the pressure by a certain section of religious orthodoxy and threw the Ahmedi question to parliament. Here, some points must be restated. The section that wanted Ahmedis declared non-Muslims was without exception the same section — Jamaat-e-Islami, Majlis-e-Ahrar, etc — that opposed the creation of Pakistan. Having lost on their anti-Pakistan platform in the 1945-1946 elections, these groups initiated the anti-Ahmedi movement in Pakistan to exact revenge on Muslim League stalwarts like Zafrullah Khan as well as the Ahmedi leadership, which had set up camp in Rabwah. In 1953, the same groups banded together and demanded the ex-communication of Ahmedis but the then Prime Minister, Khawaja Nazimuddin, a far more religious man than Bhutto sahib, refused to give in to their demands.

The second amendment (1974) to the constitution of Pakistan, 1973, violated the basic spirit of the constitution, which did not vest parliamentarians with ecclesiastical authority. The Pakistani legislators assumed instead that they were like the British parliament, whose acts cannot be ultra vires (beyond powers), and not bound by the spirit of the constitution that they themselves had passed a year earlier. The second amendment stated: “Amendment of Article 106 of the Constitution: In the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, hereinafter referred to as the Constitution in Article 106, in clause (3) after the words “communities” the words and brackets “and persons of Quadiani group or the Lahori group (who call themselves ‘Ahmedis’) shall be inserted. Amendment of Article 260 of the Constitution: In the Constitution, in Article 260, after clause (2) the following new clause shall be added, namely — (3) A person who does not believe in the absolute and unqualified finality of The Prophethood of Muhammad (Peace be upon him), the last of the Prophets or claims to be a Prophet, in any sense of the word or of any description whatsoever, after Muhammad (Peace be upon him), or recognises such a claimant as a Prophet or religious reformer, is not a Muslim for the purposes of the Constitution or law.”

Note the phrase “purposes of the constitution or law”. What might be the purposes that the constitution or law may have? Well, under the 1973 constitution, the offices of president and prime minister were reserved for Muslim citizens of Pakistan. Therefore, the attempt was to exclude Ahmedis from the highest offices in the state. The purpose in the law may be to exempt them from application of Muslim personal law. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, speaking to the Assembly, declared that as a non-Muslim minority, Ahmedis’ fundamental rights including the right to freedom of religion would be protected.

In 1984, General Ziaul Haq changed that too. By promulgating Ordinance XX of 1984, he criminalised certain key parts of Ahmedi religious tenets like the azaan (call for prayer), the use of the kalma, minarets on mosques, etc. Simultaneously, he made the Objectives Resolution a substantive part of the constitution but omitted the word “freely”, which had qualified minorities’ rights to develop their cultures and religion, from it. Consequently, the constitutional challenge to Ordinance XX of 1984 failed in the Supreme Court (SC) when the SC declared in Zaheeruddin versus the State 1993, SCMR 1718, that essentially criminalising everything central to the Ahmedi faith was in no way a violation of Article 20 of the constitution (freedom to profess and propagate religion). Slowly but steadily, rabid mullahs have managed to use this judgment to bulldoze minarets, whitewash kalmas and attack Ahmedis for having Muslim names. The height of this absurdity was seen in Sargodha where an Ahmedi man was imprisoned for having his own name on his house. The constitutional situation however has shifted with the 18th amendment. The word “freely” was restored to the Objectives Resolution in an annexure to Article 2-A of the constitution. Yet there is no end in sight for the rabid and blatant persecution Ahmedis have to face.

A corollary of this persecution is the passport declaration. It would be one thing if Muslims were called to reaffirm their faith in the unqualified finality of the holy Prophet (PBUH) as per the second amendment but Muslims are asked above and beyond to also call the founder of the Ahmedi religion a “liar” and “impostor”.

Perhaps those who devised this form should have read section 295-A of the Pakistan Penal Code, which prohibits scurrilous abuse against any founder of a religion. The second amendment to the constitution of Pakistan recognises Ahmediyyat as a separate religion. Therefore, all the protections and safeguards guaranteed to Pakistanis of other faiths must surely be extended to Ahmedis. The irony is that when ‘ulema’ like Tahir Ashrafi and his brother Hassan Muawiya go around declaring that Ahmedis are acting unconstitutionally by just existing, they betray their own ignorance of the constitution as well as the inherent unfairness and dishonesty that is part and parcel of their own personal constitutions.

Stop persecuting the Ahmedis now for God’s sake. Must we always sully the name of this country and Islam because of our own petty little insecurities?

By Saeed Qureshi

Upright Opinion

Let me first of all warmly compliment Mike Ghouse and his companions for holding the Seventh Exhibition cum Symposium on a crucial phenomenon that we all know as holocaust. This august event took place on January 26 in the spacious hall of the Unity Church of Dallas.

Holocaust is a dreadful and ghastly dimension of human civilization that has been happening since the dawn of civilization and perhaps even earlier than that. Let me quote one important episode from the known history preserved in Bible and also in the holy Quran. When Prophet Moses liberated the Jewish nation from centuries old stranglehold of the Pharaohs who were the mighty emperors of their own time, they marched into the Sinai desert and settled there for 40 years. Thereafter they perpetrated the first distinctly documented genocide of the peaceful population in the land of Canaan. They killed the inhabitants including the infants indiscriminately and with savagery that is beyond description.

The Jewish nation itself suffered terrible genocides at least four times in history: one at the hands of Babylon Empire, second under the Roman Empire, third in Spain and fourth in Nazi Germany. The Muslims too faced the similar appalling genocides. Apart from other cities of Muslim rule, the Mongols, laid waste the capital of the Islamic caliphate Baghdad in 1258 and killed 1.6 million Muslims. This mass annihilation of Baghdad is recorded as the most heinous genocide carried out during the Middle Ages.

Besides the Muslims suffered terrible genocides in Jerusalem, Alexandria and Spain at the hands of the victor Christian crusaders. In Spain where they ruled for seven centuries, they were entirely massacred and expelled along with the Jews. Those left somehow were finally deported in 1609. In history the Muslims, the Christians and Jews have been alternating in killing each other adopting a parched earth drive and ethnic cleansing policies. England passed through a spell of genocides at the hands of Romans and Vikings in early times.

Holocaust and genocide can be treated as synonyms carrying the diabolic connotation that implies the wholesale massacres and extermination of a race of segment of human beings. During the last two centuries several grisly genocides have taken place.

The British colonial armies in their frantic onslaught to expand the abominable colonialism marched on the vast continent of America. Those who arrived first were called pilgrimages. Their beastly annihilations of the local population have no parallel in history. They kept on wiping off the local population called native Indians with such a diabolic obsession that continued till it culminated into a civil war between the federalists and the co federalist.

The native inhabitants called red or native Indians and now American Indians were easy prey to their superior weaponry and fighting tactics. The natives fought back with primitive arrows, batons and swords against the merciless pogroms of the invaders who were more like bounty hunters. The natives’ mainstay of living, cattle and buffaloes were totally wiped off. They were infested with deadly epidemics of diseases like small pox to die if left alive from the pointblank shooting of the well armed and disciplined killers. Even children sucking their mothers’ breasts were not spared. The slogan of the British generals was that “only good Indian is dead Indian”. Approximately 100 million native Indians perished in this the most macabre genocides in the human history after Mongols’ curse.

The exhibition of the Indian genocide displayed extremely heart wrenching and harrowing scenes making the onlookers wonder how human beings could be as callous and barbaric as to slaughter a helpless, primitive and defense segment of human race.

The exhibits and graphics showed huge piles of dead bodies with killer soldiers standing aside with devilish smiles on their faces after performing this hideous job. The copies of the scrolls, orders and parchments issued by the British commanders were also displayed. In those documents reflects the hate and obsession to kill the local population without any compunction. The exhibition continued from 3p.m.to 7 p.m. when the whole program came to close.

I was thrilled and rather entranced by the presentations and speeches’ during the two hours session conducted in the main hall of the church. The speakers’ spoke about the Native Americans holocaust, the 2002 Gujarat massacre and the 1984 massacre of Sikhs in India. The Jewish holocaust at the hands of the Nazis in Germany was portrayed in video clips, prepared by Christiana Amanpour, the celebrated CNN anchor. Mike Ghouse, the principal organizer of this phenomenal yearly event told his side of the story about the genocide.

The keynote speaker and host of this memorable evening Mary Ann Thompson-Frank expressed her empirical impressions about the Rwandan genocide in which 800,000 humans were killed. Mary is immensely knowledgeable, highly articulate with flair of oration. She was eloquent, vocal and gave an excellent account and grasp of the subject and kept the audience riveted to her discourse. I was personally greatly impressed by fluency and candor in dishing out her thoughts and observations. This highly fruitful and greatly enlightening session included a peace pledge by Mike Ghouse followed by a poignantly sad and moving Native American Mourning Song.

This distinctive and remarkable seminar would add another feather in the cap of Mike Ghouse and his associates in highlighting and rekindling an issue for the civilized nations to reflect and ponder how to foster love and harmony among the people of this planet mother earth. It should serve as a grim reminder and resounding lesson for the human race that never again any genocide or holocaust be allowed to happen.

Such seminars and symposiums emit the divine and cardinal message that the age of barbarians and beast is over and we should all live in harmony and peace and work in unison for the collective good of the entire human race. Those who voluminously collaborated and sponsored in this effort among others were ‘Muslims Together’, ‘American Indian Genocide Museum’, Mnemosyne institute and Foundation for Pluralism. A sumptuous dinner was served at the end to all, the speakers and the spectators alike.
# # #

URL - http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/01/prophet-muhammad-and-george-washington.html
By Craig Considine for the Huffington Post (1/10/2013)

In seventh century Arabia, a middle-aged man had a vision to create a new religious and social order for a largely pagan and tribal society. The man, Muhammad, told his band of followers to behave wisely and civilly. “The best among you,” he said, “are those who have the best manners and character.” More than 1,000 years later, Muhammad’s wisdom would be echoed again, this time in the British colony of Virginia, by a 13-year-old schoolboy jotting down a lengthy set of behavioral rules that would later be published as “Rules of Civility.” The schoolboy was none other than George Washington, who would one day become the first president of the United States of America.

Muhammad and Washington may seem like an unlikely connection, but in fact, they share strikingly similar biographies. Muhammad and Washington were students of history, restorers of justice and fierce warriors who led their respective nations through successful revolutions. Both men united a large swath of political territory and served as the founding father for two unprecedented social movements — Islam and the United States of America — whose universal ideals would both spread throughout the world respectively.

Washington’s contemporary, Richard Henry Lee, once said that he was “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” Washington’s nemesis, Britain’s King George III, said that Washington was “placed in a light the most distinguished of any man living” and had “the greatest character of the age.” Similarly, Muslims worldwide see Muhammad as the perfect human being. In “The Prophet of Islam,” Professor K.S. Rao said we witnessed “the union of the theorist, the organizer and the leader” in him. Even a non-Muslim, such as Mohatma Gandhi, called Muhammad “a treasure of wisdom not only for Muslims but for all mankind.”

The connection between Muhammad and Washington can be explored further in the Holy Quran, the Islamic Scripture which documents God’s revelations to Muhammad, and “Rules of Civility,” a book which outlines Washington’s advice for the proper conduct of young American gentlemen. For Muslims, the Holy Quran is the literal word of God, while “Rules of Civility” is less concerned with religious affairs and more focused on social rules and behavior. The Holy Quran and “Rules of Civility” have different frames, but both texts — in a wider sense — offer guidance toward achieving a more peaceful and noble life.

Muhammad and Washington advised their peers to keep their mouths free of foul language. In the Holy Quran, offensive name-calling is forbidden: “Let not some men among you laugh at others … Nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames: Ill-seeming is a name connecting wickedness” (49:11). In “Rules of Civility,” Washington said “[u]se no reproachful language against anyone, neither curse nor revile” (Rule 49). He added: “[s]peak not injurious words, neither in jest nor earnest” and “[s]coff at no one, although they give occasion” (Rule 65). Muhammad and Washington taught their peers to improve relations with others by using kindness and positive words. Both men hoped that using civil language would help groups avoid misunderstandings and create a more harmonious society.

Along with his affinity for modest language, Washington also wrote about the importance of a modest appearance. “In your apparel, be modest and endeavor to accommodate nature rather than to procure admiration” (Rule 52), he wrote. “Keep to the fashion of your equals, such as are civil and orderly, with respect to times and places” (Rule 52). Modesty is also a theme in the Holy Quran: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and to be mindful of their chastity; in this they will be more considerate for their own well-being and purity…” (24:30-31). The Holy Quran requests that women “not display the charms of their bodies beyond what may be apparent thereof; hence, let them draw their head-coverings over their bosoms” (24:31). Muhammad and Washington wanted their peers to dress appropriately because a modest and clean appearance is an indication of healthy inner feelings and humble attitudes.

Muhammad and Washington also believed in the virtue of humility. The Holy Qur’an states that “(t)he servants of the Merciful are those who walk on the earth in humility” (25:63) and that the “(s)uccessful indeed are the believers who humble themselves in their prayers” (23:02). In Islam, there is even the term ujb, which warns mankind of arrogance and the danger of exaggerating one’s accomplishments.

Comparatively, Washington believed that “a man ought not to value himself of his achievements or rare qualities, his riches, his titles, his virtue or his kindred” (Rule 63). The humility of Muhammad and Washington was crucial to the early success of their fledgling nations. The direction of the Arab and American society could have had a much different history if Muhammad and Washington were egotistical and presumptuous leaders.

Respect, especially for one’s parents, is also mentioned in the Holy Quran and “Rules of Civility.” Washington wrote that people should “[h]onor and obey” our natural parents, “although they may be poor” (Rule 108). Similarly, the Holy Quran calls for “good treatment” of parents: “Whether one of both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as] ‘oof’ [i.e., an expression of irritation] and do not repel them but speak to them a nobel word” (17:23-24). Muhammad and Washington understood the correlation between high character and respect. Both men realized that the key to a strong society is for people, especially families, to treat each other how they wished to be treated.

While it may appear as an obscure similarity, Muhammad and Washington also cared a great deal about good hygiene. The Holy Quran, for example, states that, “Allah … loves those who keep themselves pure and clean” (2:22). Similarly, in “Rules of Civility,” Washington wrote that people should keep their “nails clean and short, and your hands and teeth clean, yet without showing any concern for them” (Rule 15). Washington added that people should wear clean clothing: “Wear not your clothes foul, ripped or dusty … and take heed that you approach not to any uncleaness” (Rule 51). Both Muhammad and Washington stressed the importance of maintaining a clean, well-presented physical appearance. They believed that good hygiene was a projection of a positive body image, which, in turn, reflected a healthy mind.

Ultimately, Muhammad and Washington were gentlemen of the highest degree. This is no more evident than in the connection between them in the Holy Quran and “Rules of Civility.” Perhaps Muslims worldwide and American could forge better relations if each group adhered to the advice Muhammad and Washington provided.

Sources:
Dr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali and Dr. Muhammad Mushin Khan, Translation of the meanings of the Nobel Qur’an in the English Language (Madinah: King Fahd Complex).
John T. Phillips, II, George Washington’s Rules of Civility (Leesburg: Goose Creek Productions, 2003).
http://craigconsidinetcd.com/2013/06/03/an-unlikely-connection-between-the-prophet-muhammad-and-george-washington/

The following link has a few videos worth watching
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/29/pakistan-blasphemy-laws_n_4687466.html?utm_hp_ref=religion

Pakistan's Blasphemy Laws Are A Death Sentence For Religious Minorities

By KATHY GANNON 01/29/14 02:15 AM ET EST

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/29/pakistan-blasphemy-laws_n_4687466.html?utm_hp_ref=religion

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — The elderly man's troubles started when two young men milling inside his homeopathic clinic casually asked him about his religion. He thought they were merely curious. In fact, they belonged to an outlawed militant group and were carrying hidden tape recorders.

Within hours, police officers showed up at Masood Ahmad's clinic and played back the tape in which he explained the tenets of the minority Ahmadiyya sect, rejected by mainstream Muslims because it disputes the basic tenet of their faith that Muhammad is Islam's last prophet.

Ahmad, who returned from Britain to his Pakistani homeland decades ago to open the clinic, was charged with blasphemy — which can carry the death penalty. The 72 year old has been jailed since his arrest this month, awaiting a trial that could take months or even years to begin.

He is not alone. Just last week, a Pakistani court sentenced a mentally ill British man, Mohammad Asghar, to death on blasphemy charges after he allegedly claimed to be Islam's prophet.

Pakistan's blasphemy law is increasingly becoming a potent weapon in the arsenal of Muslim extremists. Although Pakistan has never executed anybody under the law, vigilantes frequently entrap and sometimes kill adherents of minority religions accused of blasphemy. They have created a climate of fear, forcing frightened judges into holding court sessions inside jails and keeping witnesses from coming to the defense of those on trial.

"At the moment, there are more and more pending blasphemy cases," said I.A. Rahman, one of Pakistan's leading human rights activists. "Extremist organizations demonstrate and raise slogans, and judges are afraid. They agitate all the time, creating hatred, and the government is not doing anything. Successive governments have failed."

The U.S.-based Human Rights Watch chastised Pakistan's record of protecting its religious minorities, saying in its 2014 world report that "abuses are rife under the country's abusive blasphemy law, which is used against religious minorities, often to settle personal disputes."

The federal religious affairs ministry refused to comment. Government officials did not return calls for comment.

Maulana Abdul Rauf Farooqi, secretary-general of Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam, an organization with close ties to many members of the Afghan Taliban's leadership, rejected allegations that the law is widely misused to settle personal disputes, though he said he supports a rigorous police investigation before charges are filed. He said those who were physically attacked had brought the violence upon themselves by enraging Muslims' sentiments.

According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, 34 people were charged with blasphemy last year. A government statistic says 27 were charged in 2012. At least 16 people are currently on death row for blasphemy, while another 20 are serving life sentences, according to Human Rights Watch.

"In the last three years we have seen a large increase in the number of cases of blasphemy," said Keith Davies, head of RescueChristians, a U.S.-based charity that started operations in Pakistan four years ago.
Pakistan's blasphemy law predates the founding of the country in 1947, but during the 1980s the U.S.-backed military dictator, Gen. Mohammed Zia-ul-Haq, amended it to add the death penalty and single out Islam as the religion that may not be insulted, among other changes.

Pakistan is not the only nation with such laws on the books. Blasphemy offenses are punishable in more than 30 countries, including some with predominantly Christian populations, such as Poland and Greece, as well as Muslim countries like Indonesia and Pakistan, according to a 2012 report by Rev. Chloe Breyer, executive director of the Interfaith Center of New York.

Most of Pakistan's 180 million people are Sunni Muslims who do not support the militants' violence or their abhorrence for religious minorities. Nevertheless, the minorities, including Muslims who belong to the Shiite sect of Islam, say even the smallest quarrel can land them in jail on trumped-up blasphemy charges.
Abbas Kamaili, a leading Shiite cleric, told The Associated Press that he supported the idea of a blasphemy law but criticized the Pakistani version as "ambiguous" and easily distorted by militant Sunnis who want to rid the country of Shiites.

The violence associated with Pakistan's blasphemy law has been brutal. Three years ago, liberal Gov. Salman Taseer was assassinated by his own guard after defending a Christian woman charged with blasphemy. In a separate attack, militants gunned down Minority Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti after he campaigned for changes in the law. Last July, two brothers charged with defaming Islam's prophet were shot and killed as they stepped out of a courtroom.

Tariq, a Christian, is currently in hiding after authorities charged him with blasphemy. He said the charges came over a quarrel he had with two customers who bought faulty firecrackers from him. When he refused to apologize, he said the customers went to the police in Lahore and told them a lie that he had stuffed the firecrackers with pages torn from the Quran. Fearing capture by Pakistani authorities while he seeks asylum outside of the country, he spoke on condition that he be identified by his first name only.

The Pakistani representative of RescueChristians, speaking on condition of anonymity for his personal safety, said several Christians are waiting for travel documents to secretly leave Pakistan, while others are in jail awaiting trial and targeted for death by militant groups.

The two young men who entrapped Ahmad at his homeopathic clinic in the eastern Punjab provincial capital of Lahore belong to a banned militant group, Lashkar-e-Taiba, according to local police. Lashkar-e-Taiba and other Muslim extremist groups consider adherents of the Ahmadiyya sect to be heretics.

The Ahmadiyya sect contends that the Mehdi or savior, who is prophesized in Islam, came about 100 years ago. This belief challenges Prophet Muhammad's position as Islam's last prophet, a basic tenet of the faith. Pakistan amended its constitution in 1974 to make it a crime for Ahmadis, as they are called, to identify themselves as Muslims.

But businessmen nearby Ahmad's clinic said he never preached his religion. They said the police, who are required by a government order issued last year to rigorously investigate allegations of blasphemy before filing charges, never spoke with them or took their statements.

His neighbors said they were saddened by his arrest but would not dare testify on his behalf.
Mohammad Ershad, a barber, called Ahmad a "thorough gentleman," but added: "People don't want to say anything. Everyone feels it is better to save oneself."

Habib, who runs a nearby photocopying business, said he has known Ahmad for 30 years. Too afraid to be identified by his full name, he said: "No one wants to be on the target hit list of the mullahs. No one stops them. No one is safe."
___
Associated Press writer Babar Dogar contributed to this report. Follow Kathy Gannon, AP's special regional correspondent for Pakistan and Afghanistan, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kathygannon.

NAATIA MUSHAERA – REQUEST TO POETS

Friday 8-12 PM on 2/21/14 at Richardson Civic Center

Naats** will be recited (poetry) to highlight Prophet Muhammad's work of building cohesive societies where people of different faiths and races lived their own lives. The program will start on time and end on time. If you are going to be late, please do not RSVP, let others enjoy. Seating is limited to 150.

The event is for people of all faiths. Prophet Muhammad's message like all the great prophets of the world is for the whole humanity and not just Muslims.

Muslims of all hues are requested to participate in the event and each community representative (s) to recite a Naat. Seating is limited to 150, so we request a firm RSVP.

At this time, the program will be in Urdu/Hindi language, we hope to make it in English in the coming years.

Throughout the program, we will be highlighting the inclusive teachings of the Prophet. Wisdom from the Madinah constitution will be shared, where the prophet signed a declaration with Jews, Christians and others, each one with freedom to practice his or her faith freely. In his last sermon, he declared that all men are created equal, and respecting each human is the right thing to do. Like the people of all faiths, we need revival to go back to the inclusive values taught by the prophet.

We are requesting our poets to make their poetry purposeful and meaningful and reflect those inclusive values in their poetry.

** Naat is poetry in praise of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the likes of Christmas Carols, Shabad in Sikhism or Chalisa in Hindu tradition.

Refreshments include tea, paani, chaat and Laddu!

Master of Ceremonies: Shazia Khan
Host: Mike Ghouse

Richardson Civic Center

Friday, February 21, 2014 | 8-12 PM

Mike Ghouse
(214) 325-1916

In a tradition Aisha reports about the general policy of the Prophet of Islam: “Whenever the Prophet had to choose between the two, he always opted for the easier course of action rather than the harder course of action.” (Bukhari). It is very clear that the option of peace is the easier option, so the Prophet always tried to take the peaceful option. He never opted for war by choice.

When I reflect on the Prophet’s life, I find that for the Prophet offensive war was out of the question. In my detailed study of the life of the Prophet, I never found any single event wherein the Prophet opted for aggressive war. According to Islamic teachings, there is no such thing called justified violence. The Prophet never engaged in war except under compulsion. Also, this involvement was very limited. According to my conception, there is a difference between defensive war and compulsory war. For the Prophet, defence was not an excuse to engage in war. The Prophet always tried to avoid violence. In my book The Prophet of Peace I have given examples of occasions where the Prophet tried to avoid war. There are some occasions where he was compelled to opt for a limited war. One such example is Ghazwa Hunayn.

The wars that the Prophet engaged in lasted only for a day. It is true that Ghazwa Khaybar lasted up to twenty-five days. But it was not a ghazwa (war)—it was a siege. It is true that some verses of the Quran seem to be legitimise defensive war. But it was totally in the temporary sense of the word. At that time, tribal culture was prevalent in Arabia. God Almighty wanted to bring an end to the tribal culture. Therefore, for a temporary period, the Quran allowed some limited kind of defensive war. But in true sense, it wasn’t defensive war. Rather, it was compulsory war. Then, God tried to bring about a revolution that may end the tribal age and all other kinds of cultures that allowed violence. Today, we are living in that age of peace which was envisaged by the Quran. In the present age, Muslims don’t need to take part in any war or engage in violence. They enjoy complete freedom and all kinds of opportunities. Their human rights are secure, and even as far as politics is concerned they are living in the age of democracy. All these factors have made war and violence outdated. The so-called jihads we see in Muslim countries are not jihad, but what can be called anti-jihad. There is no true justification for these violent activities.

At the time of the Prophet there was compulsory defence. The Prophet engaged in war sometimes, but not by choice. In every such occasion his policy was first to avoid war by negotiation or some other strategy. Then, he tried to limit the war. Due to this policy there was no full-fledged war during Prophet’s time. All the wars in his time were skirmishes, and not wars in the true sense of the word. Now, in the present age we have a reliable option for peace, that is, to refer the conflict to the United Nations. In Prophet’s time there was no such body as the United Nations, so one had no option other than to take decisions on one’s own.

There is a verse in the Quran: As-sulh khair (4:128). It means that peace is the best option. According to this verse, self-defence is not an option. Only compulsory involvement in war is permissible, provided all efforts to establish peace and make compromise have failed.

According to my experience, there is no such thing as unilateral attack. All attacks occur after some provocation. If you save yourself from provoking others, then there will be no attack. But, if, in a rare case, there is an unprovoked attack, then you have two options, the first of greater evil and the second of lesser evil. I think going for defence is opting for the greater evil, while opting for compromise is choosing the lesser evil. In such situations, the question is not why you shouldn’t opt for defence. The problem is that in the name of defence, you are opting for a greater evil. And if the choice is between greater evil and lesser evil, then it is better to opt for the lesser evil.

At the time of attack, people generally know of one option, that is, of defence. But in fact, in every such situation, there is one more option—that is, of compromise. In such situations, compromise means opting for the policy of buying time. After making a compromise, you get the opportunity to re-plan your strategy. The example of the Prophet of Islam shows that this kind of policy always leads to new success. The Hudaybiyah Agreement at the time of the Prophet was based on this wisdom. The Prophet opted for compromise by accepting all the conditions of the other party. Apparently, it was a case of surrender, but it was actually opting for a policy of buying time. Thus, after finalizing this agreement, the Prophet availed the situation to reorganize his energies and re-plan peaceful dawah work, with the result being great success.

There is, as I mentioned earlier, a guiding principle in the Quran in these words: As-sulh khair (4:128). It means that, in terms of result, peace is the best. According to my study, the Islamic strategy is always based on the result. If experience shows that war, even defensive war, leads to more losses than gain, then it is better to opt for compromise rather than for defence, except in extremely compelling situations. During the Prophet’s time, the Battle of Hunayn was an example of this. It was an entirely compulsory option for the Companions of the Prophet. If there is no such compulsion, one should opt for compromise rather than taking the option of defence.

There is a hadith report in Sahih al-Bukhari which says: “Don’t wish for confrontation with the enemy. Always ask for peace from God.” It means that violence and war are not options. You must try to establish peace at any cost. The only exception is when you are pushed to war compulsorily and out of compulsion, for a temporary period.

We at the World Muslim Congress welcome this statement from Gen. Sisi of Egypt, "Religious discourse is the greatest battle and challenge facing the Egyptian people, pointing to the need for a new vision and a modern, comprehensive understanding of the religion of Islam-rather than relying on a discourse that has not changed for 800 years."

I would not call it reformations, I would call it reverting back to the original thinking Islam for the common good of humanity.

Mike Ghouse

Open the Gates of Ijtihad, Closed Since 1258: Egyptian Leader Calls For Reformation in Islam

By Claude Salhani

6 February 2014

The head of the military government that ousted the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohammad Morsi from power in Cairo has taken the highly unusual step of calling for the reformation of Islam.

Such actions have in the past brought down the wrath of Islamists who typically label anyone calling for reform an apostate.

First, a quick look back: On September 11, 2001, the world awoke to two terrible tragedies; the one that was seen by millions of people on live television as Muslim extremists crashed passenger planes into the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan, the Pentagon, just outside Washington, D.C. and in a field in rural Pennsylvania.

The other reality was far more complex than and not as visible as jetliners slamming into sky scrapers. That was the fact that there was something terribly wrong within the House of Islam.

If the first issue, that of terrorism, was addressed by military force, as was the U.S. reply to 9/11, the invasion of Afghanistan and ultimately, of Iraq, the second issue, that afflicting the followers of one of the great religions, Islam, had to be addressed from within.

This is an extremely sensitive topic. Due to the very nature of militant Muslims who have quite literally hijacked the religion to suit their political objectives, projecting an image of violence and non-tolerance of anyone not accepting their medieval views of the world. All experts who followed the debate were quite adamant in their prognostics of what was the solution to the crisis tearing Islam apart: that a solution had to come from within Islam.

In no manner could it be imported from the West. The problem was that no one leader in the Arab and/or Muslim world dared speak up, lest they be accused of apostasy. That is until now.

In an extremely rare display of courage and bravery by a leader in the Arab world General Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the commander of the Egyptian Armed Forces and current head of state, spoke out for the need of reformation in Islam. During a speech, which went unreported by the Western media, General El-Sisi delivered at the Armed Forces' Department of Moral Affairs in Cairo, the general stated: "Religious discourse is the greatest battle and challenge facing the Egyptian people, pointing to the need for a new vision and a modern, comprehensive understanding of the religion of Islam-rather than relying on a discourse that has not changed for 800 years."

Coming from the current ruler and very possibly the next president of Egypt, this statement carries great importance and must not be underestimated by any means.

"Notice what El-Sisi did not say. He did not say Zionism or Western oppression is the greatest threat to Egypt, nor did he point to a specific group like Al-Qaeda or the Muslim Brotherhood. He accurately framed the struggle as an ideological one within Islam," said Ryan Mauro, a national security analyst with the Clarion Project, who was the first to notice the speech by the Egyptian leader.

What is important in this speech is the general reference to the lack of change in Islam in 800 years; the Egyptian leader is making reference to what is known as Ijtihad, an independent interpretation of Islam, ended by the year 1258. This is usually referred to as closing the gates of Ijtihad, it was then that all changes in the religion had been stopped in the Sunni branch of Islam. The Egyptian leader now is asking for the gates to be reopened, the only way that reform can come to Islam.

While having the president (or ruler) of Egypt call for reformation within Islam is no minor feat, Sisi on his own stands little or no chance of making it happen. Where he does have a chance is if he succeeds in winning the support and public backing of other Muslim leaders, and particularly if he manages to win the support of the head of al-Azhar, the highest center of (Sunni) Muslim learning in the world.

Al-Azhar is often compared to being the equivalent to Sunni Muslims what the Vatican is to Catholics while the sheikh of al-Azhar is often compared to the pope. As Mauro points out, "when the military toppled President Morsi and el-Sisi announced the suspension of the Islamist-written constitution, he was joined by the Grand Sheikh of al-Azhar University...."

"To date, al-Azhar has not broken with el-Sisi or condemned his remarks." Sisi "called on all who follow the true Islam to improve the image of this religion in front of the world, after Islam has been for decades convicted of violence and destruction around the world, due to the crimes falsely committed in the name of Islam."

Claude Salhani is a journalist and political analyst specializing in the Middle East, Central Asia and terrorism. He is senior editor of the English service of the Trend Agency in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Source: http://en.trend.az/news/politics/2238752.html

URL: http://www.newageislam.com/ijtihad,-rethinking-islam/claude-salhani/open-the-gates-of-ijtihad,-closed-since-1258--egyptian-leader-calls-for-reformation-in-islam/d/35632

URL- http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/02/prophet-muhammads-pbuh-intrafaith.html

February 8, 2014 - Dallas, Texas: The World Muslim Congress, a think tank of Muslims in Dallas announces a poetry session honoring Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), known as Naatia Mushaera.

"This is a purposeful event with three clear goals; to share Prophet’s work with fellow Americans, to focus on how Muslims can adopt his teachings to benefit the society at large, and to bring Muslims of different denominations together for the common purpose– celebrate Prophet Muhammad’s birthday”- said Mike Ghouse, president of the organization.

The program is set to start at 8:00 PM and end at mid night on Friday, February 21, 2014 at Richardson Civic Center in Richardson, Texas. (Link).

The evening is divided into two sessions. The first segment will highlight the Intrafaith and interfaith aspects of the program. Muslims of different denominations including Ahmadiyya, Bohra, Ismaili, Shia, Sunni, WD Muhammad others will share a Naat (poetry singing) each from their community. Then our friends from other faiths will also share their Poetry about the Prophet.

Women and Men will be reciting the Naats together for the first time.

The second segment after the tea break is assigned to our poets and they will recite the purposeful poetry to reflect on Prophet’s work and how we can make that meaningful in our day to day life.

“Throughout the program, we will be highlighting the inclusive teachings of the Prophet’s wisdom. The values embedded in the Madinah constitution will be shared, where the prophet signed a declaration with Jews, Christians, Pagans and others. Each member of community was guaranteed the freedom to practice his or her faith freely. Furthermore, In his last sermon, the Prophet declared that all men are created equal, and respecting each human is the right thing to do. Like the people of all faiths, Muslims need to go back to the inclusive values taught by the prophet.” added Mike Ghouse.

Refreshments, tea, and snacks will be served in addition to the special treat – the king of desserts; Laddu.

Shazia Khan will be the master of the ceremonies, and the event will be chaired by a mystery guest of honor, and special guest OS Modgil with host Mike Ghouse. You are invited to, the event, it is free but an RSVP is required at the facebook events “Naatia Mushaera” on February 21, 2014 or email to: rsvpforsure@gmail.com

Coming up next

Thank you

Mike Ghouse
(214) 325-1916

World Muslim Congress To be a Muslim is to be a peacemaker committed to mitigating conflicts and nurturing goodwill, and to build cohesive societies where all of God's creation can live in harmony with each other.

Coming up next:

...............................................................................................................................
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and a book with the same title is coming up. Mike has a strong presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work through many links.

URL- http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/02/momentum-for-islamic-intrafaith-and.html

We thank Raja Zahid Khanzada for publishing the press release in Geo News and the News International, Shah Alam Siddiqui in Urdu Times, and Danish Khan in Indian Muslim Observer.

God willing a full report about Muslim efforts to nurture goodwill through planned interfaith activities, and bringing Muslims of different denominations together through the Intrafaith programs. Hope to have these reports Published in Huffington Post, Daily Times of Pakistan, New Age Islam, The US Muslim Observer, and other News Magazines this week.

Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) Intrafaith-Interfaith Naatia Mushaera - Poetry Session in Richardson is set for Friday evening at 8 PM on February 21, 2014.

I encourage Muslim Organizations to focus on both Interfaith and Intrafaith activities and build the momentum. These continued efforts should bring us results in terms of nurturing goodwill now and over a period of 20 years.

Published:

The News International: http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrint.aspx?ID=9

Geo News: http://www.geo.tv/article-137621-World-Muslim-Congress-hosts-Naatia-Mushaera-in-Richardson-Friday

Indian Muslim Observer : http://www.indianmuslimobserver.com/2014/02/11/u-s-based-world-muslim-congress-to-organize-intrafaith-interfaith-poetry-session-naatia-mushaera-in-richardson-feb-21/#

Urdu Times : http://www.urdutimesusa.com/chicago/index.php?f=p24&slpage=p24

Original Press Release at World Muslim Congress http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/02/prophet-muhammads-pbuh-intrafaith_9.html

Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) Intrafaith-Interfaith Naatia Mushaera – Poetry Session in Richardson on Friday, February 21, 2014.

Coming up next:

Sharia-interview in International Business Times UK-
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/hasan-mahmud-sharia-law-betrays-modern-state-koran-1436855

Hasan Mahmud.

MUSLIMS TOGETHER REPORT

A successful Intrafaith-Interfaith Naatia Mushaera Pictorial Report in Dallas February 21, 2014

URL -http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-successful-intrafaith-interfaith.html

45 PICTURES AT: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157641382648224/

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is referred to as Rahmatul Aalameen, i.e., mercy to mankind. HIS message is for the whole humanity and not just for Muslims. Tonight’s program is a reflection of that ideal; his message belongs to all of us regardless of our faith.

It was a purposeful event with three clear goals; to share Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh)teachings with fellow Americans; Muslims and non-Muslims alike, to focus on how Muslims can adopt his teachings to benefit the society at large, and to bring Muslims of different denominations together in understanding his message of peace.

Alhamdu Lillah, Praise the Lord, we achieved that goal
Muslims from Ahmaddiya, Bohra, Ismaili, Shia, Sunni and WD Muhammad communities attended the event, and each community was represented in reciting the Naat. Thanks to our Hindu, Sikh and Christian friends for joining and participating in the program. I believe, this is the first time in Muslim history, that all the Muslim denominations have come together. However, we missed the Sufi Muslim Community - InshaAllah, we will have them all next one.

If God is Rabbul Aalameen (Creator of Universe) , and Prophet is Rahmatul Aalameen (Mercy to mankind), then it makes sense for us to become Maqhlooqul Aalameen (Universal beings) – simply meaning belonging to all of creation—matter and life and vice-versa. It also means we are one large family created out of a single couple and it makes sense to know and live with each other in harmony.

Notes continued after the report below

Host: Mike Ghouse

MC: Shazia Khan

Honored Guests: Rizwan Sheikh ANDO S Modgil

Organized by: World Muslim Congress

FIRST SEGMENT

1. Opening - Mike Ghouse

2. Introduction of Muntazim Shazia Khan

3. Tilawat-e-Quran; Sura Fateha – Imam Muhammad Zafarullah Hanjra

4. Hamd – Amna Khatoon

5- Naat by different Muslim communities in Alphabetical order

6- Ahmadiyya Muslim Community - Muzaffar Janjua

7. Bohra Muslim Community – Dr. Yusuf Kundawala

8. Shia Ismaili Muslim Community – Imran Boodhwani & Khairunissa Meghani

9. Shia Muslim Community – Rizwan Zaidi

10. Sunni Muslim Community– Saba Jasim

11. WD Muhammad Muslim Community – Iman Rashida

12. Naat by Hindu Community - DD Maini

13. Introduction of Honored Guests (5 Minutes)

14. Dr. Basheer Ahmed (5 Minutes)

15. Acknowledgement of Sponsors

16. Purpose of the program – Mike Ghouse (5 Minutes)

17. Naat by Suhel Najmi – Shazia Khan

SECOND SEGMENT

18. Mike Ghouse |Os Modgil

19. Dr. Shamsa Qureshi

20. Ahmed Ali
21. Shah Alam Asar

22. Abdus Samad

23. Naheed Shad

24. Zohra Chisti

25. Masood Quazi

26. Noor Amrohvi

27. Dr. Qaisar Abbas

28. Omar Abidi

29. Saeed Qureshi

30. Tariq Hashmi

31. Yunus Ijaz

32. Iqbal Haider

33. Led by Amna Khatoon and Saba Jasim, and joined by all

34. Team Members

Notes continued:

By the end of 2020, there will not be a major city in the world, where you will not find people of different faiths, sects, cultures, ethnicities, races, nationalities and social backgrounds working, eating, playing, marrying, and doing things together.

We need to prepare ourselves for those eventualities to prevent possible conflicts, and lay a good foundation for nurturing goodwill and effective functioning of the societies. Exclusive communities will become a thing of the past. If you live amidst others, you must also respect the otherness of others, as you expect them to do the same for you.

At the Foundation for Pluralism, and World Muslim Congress, a think tank, we have defined Pluralism as a behavior of “respecting the otherness of others and accepting the God-given uniqueness of each other.” Pluralism is not a religion, it is simply an attitude of live and let live. Indeed it is Quran based and the bottom line of all faiths as well, i.e., to create harmonious societies where no human has to live in fear of the other.

Just about every Muslim you talk to expresses the same desire, “I hope we can work together for the common good.” This desire has remained a pipe dream for the last fifty years since the turmoil among Muslim communities started taking root.

The good news is a new determination among Muslims to become participants and contributors in creating a better world for all of God’s creation is spreading inch by inch.

The World Muslim Congress has announced a series of programs to bring Muslims of different denominations together for the purpose of creating cohesive societies, where Muslims and non-Muslims can live without fear of the other.

Singularly, I cannot have peace for myself, if people around me are not, if I dislike others, I cannot demand others to love me. If I threaten others, I am as afraid of them as they are of me.

We have to come together to bring goodness to all of us, if people around us are at peace; we are bound to have peace, and when we are at peace, we will focus on prosperity and living a better life free from in-fighting and a fully grown Ashraful Mukhlooqat (honored species). Uniting does not mean joining hands and marching against someone to be destructive.

SHAME ON US

Most of us cringe and shudder at the thought of men and women pulled out of the busses, and single them out for Shia and murder them in broad day light. Torching Christian Churches and homes, harassing Ahmadies, abducting Hindu women and forcing them to convert and of course Sikhs and Ismailis were not spared either. This is not Islam, and we know it, but what are going to do about it?
Prophet Muhammad had said, if you cannot stop bad things from happening, the least you can do is to speak out against it.

There is a fallacy out there, “what will my single voice do?” – in reality, each voice adds up to the momentum. Majrooh Sultanpuri’s couplet expresses it the best;

I started walking alone towards the destination

People started joining me and the carvaan was building

MaiN akela hi chala tha jaanab-e-manzil magar
log saath aate gaye aur kaaravaaN banta gaya

Do your dharma (duty) and if all of us do ours, it adds up and builds a momentum, and your singular voice becomes a voice of the majority.

Thank God, the news papers in India, Pakistan, Iran and Arabia have carried this good news and God willing the report of this event will also be shared by others.

We hope over a period of next ten years our Naats can become transformative sessions for Muslims to follow the Prophet – and become the Amins of the society and Rahmat (mercy) to fellow beings.

I sincerely hope, Muslims invest their money and time in building bridges within Muslims and with fellow humanity.

If you wish to support these efforts —zero overhead costs, let us know. All funds will be accounted in public

References: Press Release and published material about this event.
http://www.worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/02/prophet-muhammads-pbuh-intrafaith_9.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/202914583249943/

Thank you.

Mike Ghouse
World Muslim Congress
Dallas, Texas
(214) 325-1916/text.talk

To be a Muslim is to be a peace maker, one who seeks to mitigate conflicts and nurtures goodwill for peaceful co-existence of humanity. Our work is geared towards building a cohesive society where no human has to live in apprehension or fear of the other. If we can learn to respect the otherness of others and accept each other's uniqueness, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge.

URL:- http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-successful-interfaith-natia-mushaera.html

By Shah A Siddiqui

It was very nice breezing evening when World Muslim Congress organized a very purposeful Interfaith Mushaera in Richardson Convention Center. From the perspective of the organizer, Mike Ghouse, who is a great leader of our community, declares this event a purposeful for three clear goals; (a) To share Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) teachings with fellow Americans; (b) Muslim and non-Muslims alike; (c) To focus on how Muslims can bring his teachings to benefit the society at large, and to bring Muslims of different denominations together in considering his message of peace.

Mike Ghouse is a thinker, speaker, writer on pluralism. Founder of World Muslim Congress and many other blogs. He is a valuable asset for all the communities living in Dallas whether Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Bahai, Ismaili, Bohra, Ahmadiya, Sikh, everyone is under his umbrella.

It was the first time in my life that I attended such an amazing Intrafaith-Interfaith Naatia Mushaera comprising on the poets of the different faith / denomination who recited their poetry and praised our beloved prophet Muhammad(pbuh). There were two sessions of this program . The first segment was comprising on Naat recitation by different Muslim communities like Ahmadiya Muslim, Bohra Muslim, Shia Ismaili Muslim, Shia Muslim, Sunni Muslim and the followers of Waris Din Mohammad.

Moreover, a very well know member of the Hindu community D.D. Maini, who is 86 also participated by reciting a beautiful poetry praising the value of prophet hood . His narration about the saint Hazrat Khawaja Nizamuddin Aulia and Hazrat Ameer Khusro was very touching and inspirational. Similarly, the chief guest of this event O S Modgil who belongs to a Sikh religion has vast knowledge about Islam and Quran. He revealed in his closing speech that he read Quran 4 times in his life and still he wants to learn in details and also he desires to read in Arabic. I met him often in different events in town, but it was only revealed in this event that he has so much quality and knowledge about other religions.

The program started 40 minutes late, which was very surprising for me because Mike Ghouse is setting a trend in the desi community to start the program on time and finish on time. Whenever I get a chance in any get together, I talk about punctuality of his events. I attended his previous events and all were started on time and ended on time, except this program which ended on time but started late. I am sure next program will be on time.

Shazia Khan a prominent RJ of Radio Fun Asia conducted the whole program as the Master of the Ceremony and she performed it really well. Her presentation and reciting Darood Shareef during the program was very heart warming. The first segment of the event was very significant because the Muslims from different denominations presented Naat in honor of our Prophet (pbuh).

Every one presented marvelously, but especially sister Iman Rashida from Waris Din Mohammad Muslim community and Imran Boodhwani & Khairunnisa Meghani from Shia Ismaili Muslim community’s performance were much acclaimed by the audience. At the end of the first segment a Pakistani Ghazal singer Suhail Najmi and his team presented a beautiful Naat for the audience. Dr. Bashir Ahmad, the Founder of Iqra in Dallas presented his short speech on the sufferings of the Muslim Ummah around the globe and emphasized the audience to get unite to face the challenges and help the community as much as we can.

The second segment started with tense among the poets and organizer due to time constrained situation.This second session was set for the local poets to recite their Naat and there were 15 poets in the row. Some of them were irritated watching the tight timing control. One senior poet Masood Qazi, was stepping out after less than a couple of minutes on the podium after delivering few words without his ‘Kalam’. Even though the best part is that everyone was getting time to recite their Naat. Every poet and artist wants his detailed profile before coming to the stage and everyone loves it, but unfortunately it could not be materializing. I saw most of the time the host was full of tense after 11:30 pm that is half an hour before the end f the event. He had written a beautiful Naat for this event but due to shortage of time he sacrificed that time for others,which is an exemplary gesture for others.

The goal of this interfaith Mushaera, as mentioned by Mike Ghouse, was to bring closer to each other of different faith and denominations according to the teaching of our prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Our beloved prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is called as “Rahmat UL-Lil Alaamin” and he is not only for Muslims but he was a mercy for all mankind of the universe. Some fanatic religious Mullahs in Islam has made the existence of Rahmatul Lil-Alaamin a symbol and trademarked for their personal benefits and using the name of our prophet for their business. Even some group of Muslim does not allow non-Muslims to bring his name out of his tongue and if he does this then he got killed. Here I remember the Naat of very famous poet and laureate of India Kunwar Mohinder Singh Bedi Sehar:

ISHQ HO JAYE KISI SE KOI CHARA TO NAHI

SIRF MUSLIM KA MUHAMMED PE IJARA TO NAHI

Our prophet never discriminated any man on the basis of race, creed and religion and he showered his mercy even if someone was disrespectful to him. A man was born very clean without any mark of religion, creed and cast by our creator ‘Allah’ it is we the man who made us Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Jewish, Buddhist, Shia, Sunni and many more uncounted factions. This is my opinion and anyone can disagree.

Mike Ghouse has a vision, passion and ambition for all the communities regardless of their religious affiliation, he wants to promote love, brotherhood and want to eradicate the hatred among different denominations. A peaceful world with love among different sects, creed and religion would be an ideal for human being to live in and this is what Mike Ghouse is working hard for. His aim is that 10 to 15 years from now at least our city if not the whole America should be ‘hate free’.

We should encourage any event organized by any one for promoting love, brotherhood,harmony and ‘pluralism’among different communities. This is the beginning measure to make a cohesive society and I am certain, one day our children will enjoy the society as Mike Ghouse is dreaming.

I would wish to thank the organizers of the event specially three main figures Mike Ghouse, Dr. Shamsa Qureshi and Shazia Khan without their heavy work this program could not be a successful. Every one participated with a keen enthusiasm. A booklet which was compiled by Mike entitled “ Intrafaith & Interfaith Natia Mushaera” speaks itself the knowledge and hard work put in this booklet. It is worth to read. The performance of two very famous ladies ‘Naat Khawan’ Amna Khatoon and Saba Jasim was mind blowing and at the end of Milad Saba Jasim’s duo was very heart touching.

The event hall was moderately decorated and the snacks were delicious. I saw a couple of guests they were busy eating ‘laddu’ like this evening is their last evening with food. We need to be more civilized and disciplined in the events and parties where foods being served.

World Muslim Congress and their members deserve a big salute for a successful Natia Mushaera.

Note: This article by Shah Alam Siddiqui forms a part of the report at http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-successful-intrafaith-interfaith.html

Shah A Siddiqui" A Former diplomat and a media person since 1994.Started TV show for Thai Community and later owned his own private channels SANA TV and PakWatan TV in Chicago from 1994-2003 for the Indian and Pakistani communities. He contributed in various weekly Urdu newspapers being published in the United States. He was the Bureau Chief for different newspapers in Chicago and Dallas. Now he is Bureau Chief for Pakistan Abroad and Weekly Urdu Times. He is an acknowledged freelance Columnist/Critique Writer. He is a poet and based in DFW area.

********

Muhammad (pbuh) Messenger of Peace
Learn about the Holy Prophet ^(pbuh)of Islam.

Thursday March 6th, 2014

Time 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Clark Center Conference hall

University of Texas at Dallas

Q/A session

Refreshments

Free parking pass available

Presented by AMSA

Register at: muslimsforpeace.org/events/utdallas

Twitter: #MyMuhammad

Sohaib Shaikh srs098020@utdallas.edu 469-579-6700

Naseer Tahir naseertx@yahoo.com 469-693-2803

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Prophet Muhammad and George Washington

Pakistan's Blasphemy Laws Are A Death Sentence For Religious Minorities

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Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) Intrafaith-Interfaith Naatia Mushaera – Poetry Session in Richardson on Friday, February 21, 2014.

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A successful Intrafaith-Interfaith Naatia Mushaera in Dallas February 21, 2014

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