Yes to Discussions – No to disparagement.

The purpose of discussion is to learn, to exchange and to know, so we have fewer conflicts. 

 Quran emphasizes that the best one amongst you is the one who knows and learns about the other and puts myths aside and deals with facts for the purpose of living with the least amount of conflicts. Indeed, we have conflicts because we don’t know each other, and sadly if we did know, it is usually something to berate others.  We need to know the full version to deal with a full version with integrity and honesty.  Many verses from Quran point to these ideal guidelines in building cohesive societies.

The ground rule for understanding the other is to respect the otherness of others, as practiced by the Prophet and taught in Sura Kafirun. (http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2008/07/sura-kafirun-un-believers.html )

It’s not your fault or my fault that we have come to believe whatever we have learned to be the truth, and whatever we did not learn, appears not to be true to each one of us.

ACCIDENTAL SWAPS

What if we swap two babies on birth – Baby Ahmadi and Baby Sunni; The Sunni father will raise the Ahmadi baby and vice versa, both of them send their kids to the best religious schools possible – like Al-Azhar and Rabwa.

Twenty years down the road, when both have become masters in their tradition, we will invite them to the World Muslim Congress for discussion.

Who do you think each one will defend?

And after the discussion, they are told that Ahmadi was really a born Sunni and vice versa – do their beliefs disappear?  If they don’t, can you wrong either of the boys or girls for what they have learned?

Imagine the multiplicity of the issues if we pick on little things… between a variety of denominations and sub-denominations… like Ahle-Sunna, Jamaati, deobandi, barelvi, nadwatul...
   

A few among us will call you names for seeking help from Ghouse-al-Azam, Bulle Shah, Ajmeer walay Khaja,  Nizamuddin Aulia, Hazrat Ali  and even Prophet Muhammad!

I am a denomination-less Muslim, meaning I consider all of us are a part of one large universal, all embracing Ummah, as such I have malice towards none (Abraham Lincoln), and I thank God for that.

It is sickening to see Robert Spencer and Pamela Geller attack the Prophet with all the ugliness they are loaded with, let us not become Spencers and Gellers to other Muslims and people of other faiths.

If we address Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, let us address him respectfully.
If we address HH Aga Khan, let us address him respectfully.

If we address Syed Burhanuddin, let us address him respectfully.

If we address Warith Deen Muhammad, let us address him respectfully, and

If we address the spiritual leader of any religious group, let’s address him or her respectfully. (Except criminals like Ashin Wirathu -  the Buddhist Spiritual Master of Burma) 

Can we do that?

Yes to Discussions – No to disparagement.

Thank you.

Mike Ghouse

 A Note: Iqbal Kazmi responded beautifully, respectfully highlighting the differences between Shia, Sunni and Ahmadiyya at Dallas Pakistani’s group and I admire that.

. . . . .

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 has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a 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.

Shia Sunni difference over Prophet's last sermon, what do we do about it?

How do Shia, Sunni and other Muslims come together for common good?
URL -  http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/03/shia-sunni-difference-over-prophets.html
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Facts don't matter, it did not matter to President Bush and his followers, and they believed what they believed despite the information available to the contrary. We Muslims are no different, each one of our sect is entrenched with certain beliefs, and our fundamental beliefs will not change. Indeed, accepting change is like making the earth beneath us disappear. If Sunnis accept Shia version as fact or Shias see the Sunni version as the truth, their whole theology collapses, each one will cease to exist, and for that reason, no one will subscribe to each others' "facts". 

Sunnis believe that in his last sermon, Prophet said he was leaving the book (to learn and understand, as we are individually accountable for our actions) while the Shia Muslims believe that he also said he is leaving behind his progeny to offer guidance. Even if we were to recover the real voice and his speech, neither group will believe in it; it amounts to wiping out our beliefs. It is best to follow the guidance from Qur'aan; let you believe what works for you and I believe what works for me, as long as we do not mess with each other's space, sustenance and nurturence. Both will go to Janna if we care about God's creation.
 

Shia beliefs have worked for Shias, Just as Sunni, Wahhabi, Ahmadiyya, Bohra, Ismaili, Salafi, Deobandi and other beliefs have worked for them. Do we see the need for a change? 

Religion is not a football game where the touchdown will be decided if the guy’s foot or any part of his foot was inside the line while catching the ball. Religion is not that precise, a sinful woman can give water to a thirsty animal and earn God's grace, and drunk can share food with the neighbor and get preference over the Namazi (someone who prays all times). Islam is a big universal religion and not defined by petty lines.  All will go to paradise, if you take care of fellow beings, animals and environment - indeed serving and preserving God's creation means serving God.


We have conflicts among us, not real ones, but the ones that do not affect our space, sustenance and nurturance. God has intentionally created us to be different, he created us from a single couple in to many tribes, communities and nations, and he expects us to be different, but he also expects us to know each other, and figure out how to preserve his creation and not mess with it. The best among us are the ones who are righteous, those who care about God's creation, each one of us.


We need to learn about our difference, that is human curiosity, however we need to do our Jihad, our struggle in fighting the temptation to denigrate the other in any fashion. Here again God loves us, and guides us how to dialogue without ever putting each other down.


The Sunnis include all of Prophet's wives as his family, where as Shias limit it to Fatima and her descendents. There are Sunnis who claim that they are descendents of the Prophet, as if to claim special privileges. Islam is about equality and humility and not privileges. No one in Islam is special unless it is for his actions and deeds. The prophet even told Fatima that there is no free ticket to her to paradise, just because she is the daughter of the prophet, so what makes any one think that he or she has privileges? Prophet wiped the privileges completely, as it is arrogant to claim such status, and God does not like it because arrogance messes with his peaceful creation.

Prophet appointed Bilal to the highest position to call Muslims to prayers to shut the arrogant ones that he was a slave; he knocked out the vanity from the wealthy and asked them all to stand in the same line no matter who it was, he liberated women from a chattel (Woman was still a Chattel even in the US until 150 years ago)  to a free individual who is free to marry, divorce, own the property and business; and he said all will do the fasting to imbue a sense of humility. And remember he made Zakat proportionate so all can contribute proportionately. Did he make the Hajj a requirement for all? Heavens no, and this is the only thing that is not mandatory, because of the affordability factor. Islam is never against making money and getting rich as long as you are fair and just to the resources that make you rich.

As a Sunni, I implore fellow Muslims to learn to respect each other's traditions and belief. There is no point in proving each other wrong. Just follow the guidance of Allah and the Prophet - be good to fellow beings. Start going to each other's place of worship and see the devotion each group has in the way they pray. I am blessed to have been in every Masjid including Kaaba, Masjid Nabwi, Masjid Aqsa and Bait-al-Muqaddas, I have prayed and iftaared regularly in Bohra, WD Muhammad, Ahmadiyya, Shia, Sunni, and just about every traditions with the exception of Ismaili Jamat Khana. Insha Allah, God may fulfill me with that wish. I have been there, but never been a part of their prayers, however and whatever it may be. Knocking prejudice out towards fellow Muslims is peaceful, try it, you may cherish it. Alhamdu Lillah, I walk my talk. 

Insha Allah, we will do more intra-faith dialogue and learn to respect each other for what we believe,  and not get hell bent on proving and denying each other's faith.  I will do my personal share of work in bringing unity for common goodness. All it takes is more of us to take the stand and hold such meetings and learn about each other for creating a better world. (Q49:13). Check this out. http://www.worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/03/sunni-muslims-at-shia-and-ahmadiyya.html


Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work and social settings. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. 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 everything you want to know about him. 

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  FORWARDED BY  ANSAR RAZA 

It is forwarded by Ansar Raza and we need to know the author. I implore Muslims to always quote the source or put their name to it. Never give the impression that it is your writing.

SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT SHIA BELIEFS

 Is Imamat an Article of Faith?
 
The Holy Qur`ān requires Muslims to believe in Allah, Day of Judgment, angels, Divine Books, and Messengers. It declares those who deny any of these articles of faith as extremely misled people.

“It is not righteousness that you turn your faces to the East or the West, but truly righteous is he who believes in Allāh and the Last Day and the angels and the Book and the Prophets…” (2:178)

 “And whoso disbelieves in Allāh and His angels and His Books and His Messengers and the Last Day, has surely strayed far away.” (4:137)

Nowhere in the Holy Qur`an we are required to believe in any human being other than a Prophet/Messenger. However, according to Shia beliefs, Imamat is also an article of Islamic faith. However, the Holy Qur`ān does not consider it as one of the articles of Islamic faith. Hadhrat Alī, while discussing articles of faith in Nahjul Balagha, that is a collection of his sermons, never mentions Imamat as one of them.

 Does an Imam have to be a Prophet First?

Shia interpretation of the verse (2:125) of the Holy Qur`ān is that the Prophet Ibrahīm ^as was first made Prophet, and then he was tried with certain commandments that he fulfilled. Then he was promoted to the status of Imam.  If this is how the Imams are appointed, then our Shia brothers must believe that all of their Imams were Prophets first, then tried by certain commandments and after fulfilling those commandments, they were promoted as Imams. Obviously, this belief completely negates their concept of the finality of the Prophethood of Prophet Muhammad ^sa and implies that they believe in 12 Prophets after Prophet Muhammad ^sa. Another problem they face is that, according to their belief, their Imams are borne as infallible beings. Does it not mean that their Imams first became Prophets, put to trial, succeeded and then promoted to the status of Imam, before their birth?

 Are Wives not Members of the Family?

Shia Muslims do not consider the wives of the Holy Prophet ^sa as his family members sayng that the family members mentioned in the verse (33:34) only include Lady Fatima ^ra, Imam Ali ^ra, Imam Hassan ^ra, and Imam Hussain ^ra. However, in the following verses the Holy Qur`ān mentions the wife of Prophet Ibrahīm ^as and the parents and siblings of Prophet Moses ^as as the members of their families. Angels said to the wife of Prophet Ibrahīm ^as:
“Do you marvel at Allāh’s decree? The mercy of Allāh and His blessings are upon you, O people of the house.” (11:74)
When Prophet Moses ^as, as a child, refused to be fed by any of the women of Pharaoh’s house, his sister said to them: “Shall I direct you to the people of a household who will bring him up for you and will be his sincere well-wishers?” (28:13)

How can Shia Muslims reconcile these verses with their beliefs?

 Qur`ān and Imam Separated?

According to Shia traditions, the Holy Prophet ^sa said in his last Hajj Sermon that he is leaving two heavy things among the Muslims, namely, the Qur`ān and his progeny. He said that as long as the Muslims hold fast to them, they would not be misled. Now the situation is that we have the Holy Qur`ān in our hands but the Imam has disappeared. According to another Shia belief, the real Qur`ān is with the 12<sup>th</sup> Imam. In that case, we have lost access to both the Qur`ān and the Imam. Now, who do we blame if we are misled?

Intra-faith Panel on Islam

This is the first of its kind, if not the first intra-faith dialouge in Texas within the fold of Islam.  It is not going to be easy, but God willing, we will do our best to tread on the path laid out by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), to be respectful of the otherness of others without having to agree.The program will be videotaped and will set a new benchmark for the future conferences. Please register with the listed registrar and attend. Media will be invited as well.

Mike Ghouse

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Boniuk Center for Religious Tolerance
      An Intrafaith Panel Dialogue on Islam
Thursday, February 21, 2013
6:30 PM  to 9:00 PM

Asia Society Texas Center
1370 Southmore Blvd.
Houston, Texas, USA

An Intrafaith Panel Dialogue on Islam. A Boniuk Center's Bridge-Builder Series Event to be held at the Asia Society Texas Center,1370 Southmore Blvd.,Houston,TX 77004 on Thursday, Feb. 21st. There will be a reception @ 6:30 P.M. and the event starts at 7:00 P.M. Registration required due to limited seating @ InfoDeskASTC@AsiaSociety.org.

Moderated by Mike Ghouse, Religious and Cultural Pluralism Commentator,President of the Foundation for Pluralism & America Together Foundation.

Panel Participants: Imam Azhar Haneef, Vice President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of the US, Silver Spring, Maryland.

Imam Wazir Ali, Masjid Warithud-Deen Mohammed and Masjid Al-Qur'an,Houston, Texas

Imam Moustafa al-Qazwini,Founding Director of the Islamic Education Center of Orange County, California

Imam Zia Shaikh, Islamic Center of Irving, Texas.

Open to the Public    /    Registration Required

• http://events.rice.edu/index.cfm?EventRecord=19615
• http://asiasociety.org/texas/events/intrafaith-perspectives-islam

 

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Mike
(214) 325-1916 Text/Talk
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 Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place and standing up for others as an activist. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. 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 everything you want to know about him.

Ramadan day 5 Masjid Al Islam

Ramadan day 5 - Masjid Al Islam, Dallas For the first four days visit: http://ramadanexclusive.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, July 24, 2012 | Ramadan 5, 1433
Masjid Al Islam, 2604 S. Harwood, Dallas, TX
(214) 421-3839 Website: www.MasjidAlIslam.org

• Link for this article: http://ramadanexclusive.blogspot.com/2012/07/ramadan-day-5-masjid-al-islam_25.html
• Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157630754297342/show/
• Iftaar Time: 8:36 PM CST

A few pictures are in the link above

Masjid Al-Islam follows the Warith Deen Muhammad tradition of Islam which is identical to the Sunni tradition.

This is one of the two oldest Mosques in Dallas established in 1968, the other one was on Baghdad street in Grand Prairie, [a predecessor of the Richardson Mosque (Day 2)] another suburb of Dallas/ Fort Worth.

Did you know that the first Muslim in the United States to start the interfaith dialogue was Imam WD Muhammad? Did you know the first man on the earth to start the interfaith dialogue was Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)? Wherever I speak on Islam, I draw blanks on this question from Muslims for God’s sake!

Imam Warith Deen is known as the America’s Imam for his interfaith work. Thanks to him for the work, it is actively carried out with the greatest enthusiasm. One of them was a series called what do the Prophets Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad mean to Jews, Christians and Muslims. It was an enlightening program. I had asked Rabbi Stern to switch the name from Moses to Muhammad, the anchors to the story are same, they way he described them. We recognized Alexis and Marzuk Jaami for their interfaith work at the Unity Day USA in 2009.

I speak at a few South Dallas Churches on Pluralism and Islam, mainly African American ethnicity, one of them was the Church of Living God and the other is Lifeway Church. The WD Muhammad Imams have a strong fellowship and relationship with the Churches surrounding the Mosques. I am perhaps the only non-African American Muslim that participates in their programs. We talk about unity but need to practice and be a part of each other. It is time to bring the change.

Two of the greatest contributions of Imam Warith Deen Muhammad were the outreach/interfaith work and transitioning nearly 1.5 Million Muslims from Nation of Islam to the mainstream Sunni Islamic tradition some four decades ago, that is one massive conversion. The African American Muslim constitute nearly 1/3 of Muslim in America, the other 3^rd is Subcontinentians and the rest re from different nations. Currently 6 Million Americans are claimed to be Muslim, but really don’t know how many, but that is the number quoted by everyone including President Obama, and he is not a Muslim, but his father was. An idea that is difficult to comprehend elsewhere in the world, but it happens in America.

Nation of Islam is another Muslim group of which Minister Louis Farrakhan is the Imam, he is known as Minister Louis Farrakhan.

The Dallas Masjid started out as Mosque on Forest Avenue around 1968. The current location at 2604 S. Harwood in Dallas was purchased in April 1980 by Imam W. D. Muhammad. The dedication ceremony was held in May, 1980 with Imam W. D. Muhammad present.

The following brothers have served as Imams at the Dallas Masjid of Al-Islam at the Harwood location: Imam Qasim Ahmed (1979-1982), Imam Yahya Abdullah (1982-2001), Imam Muhammad Shakoor (2001-2003) and the current Imam now serving is Imam Khalid Shaheed (June 27, 2004).

By the way, one of the first Islamic schools was established in this building, the big house in the picture next to Masjid is called Sister Clara Muhammad School, a fine institution of learning.

I am blessed to have known all the four Imams at this Majid, with fairly regular interactions. Two of them, Imam Yahya and Imam Shakoor are pictured at this link - http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2012/07/dallas-interfaith-imams-and-ramadan.html

I met Imam Qasim Ahmed a month ago at the Week end conference celebrating the life of Imam Warith Deen Muhammad - Khalid Shaheed and Qasim Ahmed are in the picture at, along with Imam Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, Dr. Yusuf Zia Kavakci and Mike Ghouse . Imam Larry Shariff is also the Imam at this Masjid. http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/06/wd-muhammad-appreciation-week-in-dallas.html

They follow the same tradition as the Sunni and Ahmadiyya in terms of Salat and breaking fast rituals.

I have been to this Masjid for Juma Prayers (different Mosque), this was my first time to visit this Mosque for Iftaar, I called and left a message for Imam Yahya and Imam Larry Shariff…

The Masjid is closed; the Iftaar is usually on the weekends. It was amazing to see the deserted streets from 8 PM on wards. The Iftaar was at 8:36 PM.

I have to share this story. The female dog in the picture was my only company for a while, I got out of the car to take a picture of the Masjid, as the name board was hidden in the trees, and she ran towards me, I jumped back into my van. She seemed harmless, but I did not want to take the risk of getting bit and the hassle of the Rabies shot. She followed me where ever I went… she must have a lot of puppies, as the milk feeders were full.

Please mark your calendar for the Unity Day USA, a positive event that brings all Americans Together to rededicate our pledge for a peaceful, prosperous and secure America. We are a part of America and we need to feel and live it. If you liked some of the article, you will like the description of Unity Day USA at www.UnityDayUSA.com

A few other Articles to read if you have the time:

HAPPY RAMADAN - What does God really want?

http://ramadanexclusive.blogspot.com/2012/07/happy-ramadan-what-does-god-really-want.html

Are Muslims a part of the American society?http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/10/are-muslims-part-of-american-story.html

A call from God to know each other http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2012/01/mission-of-world-muslim-congress.html

Please visit http://ramadanexclusive.blogspot.com/ for a record since 2010.

Mike Ghouse is committed to doing his individual share of building cohesive societies and invites you to the 8th Annual Unity Day USA on Tuesday, September 11, 2012. Details at www.UnitydayUSA.com, it’s an event that builds bridges and uplifts every American.