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Showing posts with label World Muslim Congress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World Muslim Congress. Show all posts

Friday, January 11, 2019

Press Release: 14th Annual Holocaust and Genocides event

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Dr. Mike Ghouse
Washington, DC
Phone (214) 325-1916
email:
Mike@Centerforpluarlism.com

Muslims Commemorating Holocaust and Genocides Event

January 10, 2019, Washington, DC – The Center for Pluralism is deeply committed to education and regularly brings Americans together to learn about each other’s joys and suffering. It is an initiative to build responsible civic societies, where justice and co-existence are our values.

The Holocaust and the Genocides commemoration is an initiative of American Muslims, to stand with all the men, women and children who have endured the Holocaust, genocides, massacres, bombs, annihilation, land mines, hunger, rape, torture, occupation, and inhuman brutality and continue to be apprehensive about such happenings.

The “Story behind” the reason for Muslims to take this initiative is listed at
http://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/

We have to learn, acknowledge and reflect upon the terrible things we have inflicted upon each other and have to commit to ourselves to resist the temptations to be prejudiced towards others. We cannot expect others to be peaceful unless we are peaceful ourselves.

Imam Faizul Khan of the Islamic Society of Washington Area in Silver Spring, MD states, “Muslims, are guided to stand up for the rights of others, and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says, if you cannot stop the oppression, the least you can do is speak up, and we are pleased to support this initiative.” 

“For a long time, Jewish people commemorated the Holocaust event among themselves, and it is good to know that Muslims have taken the initiative to spread the knowledge among people of different faiths and worldviews.” Add Dan Spiro, President of Jewish Islamic Dialogue Society.

The least we can do in the process of healing is to acknowledge everyone's pain in one voice. We have begun the process of coming together as one people and stand with each other, we are indeed one world and one humanity, and caring for each other bring safety and peace to all of us. I cannot be safe if the people around me are not, and I will not have peace if people around me don't. It is in my interest to seek a peaceful world for one and all.

We are working on initiating a course on tolerance education, so one day; we all can learn to have a heart that opens to the pain of every human, yes, we can do that.


Program: 14th Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides

Holocaust
Syrian Refugee Crisis
Rohingya Ethnic Cleansing 
Uyghur Chinese Muslims 
Crimean Tartars 

Organized by the Center for Pluralism

Supporting Organizations:

  1. Jewish Islamic Dialogue Society- http://Jids.org
  2. Islamic Society of the Washington Area - http://iswamd.org/
  3. World Muslim Congress - http://worldmuslimcongress.org/
  4. JAMAAT - Jews Muslims and Allies acting together
  5. Foundation for Ethnic Understanding
  6. Muslim Institute - Interfaith Studies & Understanding
  7. Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) - UHRP.ORG
  8. Uyghur-American Association (UAA) - UAA.org
  9. World Uyghur Congress (WUC) - Uyghurcongress.org
  10. Great Truth 


The Center for Pluralism and the World Muslim Congress are deeply committed to education and relentlessly pursue building cohesive societies where no human has to live in apprehension and fear of the other.




The Center for Pluralism is deeply committed to education and relentlessly pursue cohesive building societies where no human has to live in apprehension and fear of the other. More about us at us http://centerforpluralism.com/mission-accomplished-at-the-center-for-pluralism/

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Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) practice must end now

Female Genital Mutilation |  www.WorldMuslimCongress.com
This is a brutal practice of cutting the genital part of women by insecure men of the past, but continued today by equally insecure men.  I have put together several articles here below.  It is cruel, inhuman and violates the inalienable rights of women to life, liberty and happiness, and secondly, the religious leader Syedna Burhanuddin of the Bohra Muslim Community has refused to stop the practice.  I have written a letter to him but he has since passed away and his successor is no different. 
Muslim and Christians should join hands to stop this, as it is practiced by a fraction of them in the name of their religion.
Many have taken up to stop this inhuman practice and we should all join this.
Warning: The pictures too graphic, especially the one with raw blade. Most of the pictures are from Africa to illustrate the point and perhaps due to the limited availability of such practices.
  1. Female Genital Mutilation among Bohra Muslims - A report - not for children, too graphic pictures to bear.
    http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2011/11/female-genital-mutilation-among-bohra.html
  2. Setting the record Straight, Female Genital Mutilation
    http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2012/04/mutilating-facts-setting-record.html
  3. Scientific knowledge at practice was banned in the USA in 1996
    http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/06/female-genital-mutilation-cutting-fgm.html
  4. Female genital cutting
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk1XpaXP3RU
  5. Bohra Women slam cruel tradition of female genital mutilation India Today – NDTV
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgwCt9N6OOA
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR7DkaXCBtM
  7. Female Genital Cutting: An Unknown Global Concern – by Mariya Taher
    http://www.fairobserver.com/culture/female-genital-cutting-an-unknown-global-concern-42053/
  8. FGC and the Law: Why Criminalization Isn’t Enough
    http://blogs.cfr.org/women-around-the-world/2016/02/09/female-genital-cutting-and-the-law-why-criminalization-isnt-enough/
  9. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/feb/08/victim-fgm-speaking-out-cut-genitals-culture-of-silence?CMP=oth_b-aplnews_d-1
  10. End Female Genital Mutilation in India
    https://www.change.org/p/end-female-genital-mutilation-in-india
  11. http://www.safehandsforgirls.org/
  12. Join the Global Conversation to #endFGM Imam Magid and Coptic Pastor
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmfflgHKCfU
  13. Last Generation of Bohra Women to go thru brutal FGM
    http://sahiyo.com/2016/02/17/mariya-ali-london-bohra-resident-last-generation-to-lose-a-pinch-of-our-skin/



Mike Ghouse
Text or Talk at (214) 325-1916

Dr. Mike Ghouse is a community consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer, news maker, and a speaker on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, politics, terrorism, human rights, India, Israel-Palestine and foreign policy. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. Visit him in 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net for his writings at TheGhousediary.com and several blogs listed there in. 

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Saudi Arabian Monarchy violates two principles by executing Sheikh Nimr, a Shia leader


Tuesday, January 5, 2016, Dallas, Texas. -- The Monarchs of Saudi Arabia have executed Sheikh Nimr, a Shia Muslim religious leader for his expression of dissent. 

There are two issues here: violation of free speech and wrecking the delicate relationships between Shia and Sunni at this time.  This is not acceptable, we demand an apology as well as reparations to fix the relationships. 

As Americans counting on stable relationship with the people of different nations, we have to consider long term sustainability of the form of governance and if it serves justice to all her citizens, anything short is a powder keg waiting to explode. We have to advise the Monarchs to ease themselves into a monarchy in the likes of United Kingdom or risk in the likes of Shah, Saddam, Qaddafi, Mubarak and others.

On January 02, Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shiia cleric named Nimr al-Nimr, who led anti-government protests in 2011, along with 46 others (mostly Sunnis) labeled as “terrorists” within the kingdom. The move appears to be designed to stoke Sunni-Shiia tensions and shows that Sunni Saudi Arabia is taking a more provocative stance toward Shiia Iran than it has in the past.
Daily Muslims reports, "Al-Nimr was a fervent dissident against the Sunni Muslim Saudi royal family who called for their deposal during the Arab spring uprisings in 2011. Al-Nimr was a central figure in Arab Spring-inspired protests by Saudi Arabia's Shiite minority until his arrest in 2012. He was convicted of terrorism charges but he denied advocating violence. Meanwhile, al-Nimr's family prepared for three days of mourning at a mosque in al-Awamiya in the kingdom's al-Qatif region in predominantly Shiite eastern Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials informed his family that the cleric had been buried in an undisclosed cemetery, a development that could lead to further protests.
Al-Nimr's execution spurred sectarian protests and violence in the Middle East. Now, it has sparked a serious diplomatic rift. The two countries have long been at odds, but Saudi Arabia's execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr kicked off a new round of sparring between them that analysts say could mark a dangerous shift in an already volatile region."

A full press release will be out by Friday.

Dr. Mike Ghouse is a community consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer, news maker, and a speaker on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, politics, human rights, India, Israel-Palestine and foreign policy. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. More about him in 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net and bulk of his writings are at TheGhousediary.com  

Friday, July 31, 2015

Capital Punishment - Why Yakub Memon's hanging should have been telecast live

THE GHOUSE DIARY.COM 
I am pleased to share my thoughts about Capital punishment and the deliberate killing of the criminal Yakub Memon, as this has become the most talked about death penalty in the nation. 

I have been opposed to Capital punishment from the early 80’s, however, I have slipped twice since then; first when I heard about a guy who raped my friends’ daughter, and a Houston woman who killed 7 of her children for claiming insurance. All other times, I have stood firmly with the idea that the society cannot act like outrageous beasts and we cannot deliberately kill an individual no matter what caused him to be a killer.

In a democracy, civility goes hand in hand. If everything is just in a society all goes well, but when injustice occurs directly, indirectly or remotely, bad things multiply in the society, and it will take time to restore dharma – the righteousness. Justice and Fairness are the pillars of any society; a good system ensures trust, prosperity and peace for all.

Who do you blame when some punk shoots the cashier at a 7/11 for a few bucks? His parents, his community or his situation? What if that man or woman was raised where you and I were raised? Is society responsible for creating such a monster? Should we punish that monster? Will that end more monsters?

Of course the state shamelessly kills its criminals either through a lethal injection as in Texas or chopping the head off in public as in Saudi Arabia. Both acts are disgusting and barbaric. In the early 80’s I was appalled with an Indian judge who was visiting,  his unflinching take on death penalty was just plain shocking, I thought being a judge, he would have debated, hesitated or would have reservations… NONE Whatsoever!

I have written quite a lot on the topic, but the following paragraph expressed my sentiments very well. “Today, the Indian state has shown itself to be no better than Tiger Memon. Tiger planned the bombings in retaliation to the terrible violence against Muslims that followed in the wake of Babri Masjid demolition. We have terminated his brother's life to extract vengeance for the blasts.

Tiger's act was a reaction of a hotheaded criminal; we sent his brother to the gallows after keeping him in jail for 22 years - what could be more cynical and cold-hearted than that. What ends of justice does that serve now? Are we safer from his judicial elimination? How have we shown ourselves to be different from those we condemn? “

I am citing a beautiful example, which you will find them in all societies. This by no way exonerates any society; criminals are in every group of people.  Hazrat Umar once commuted an order to cut the hands of a thief as a punishment. He discovered that the man stole the food to feed his children. Umar took the blame on the society for creating such a desperate situation for individuals to resort to such a thing.  I hope we all start thinking what is just instead of blindly applying the laws. We the Americans are no exception to that.

The following column is a compelling article to read.

Mike is a speaker, thinker, writer, pluralist,  TV-Radio commentator and a human rights activist committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His info in 63 links at MikeGhouse.net and writings at TheGhouseDiary.com
# # #

Why Yakub Memon's hanging should have been telecast live
Courtesy of Catch News. com

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Ahmadiyya Muslims should be a part of our language.

Ahmadiyya Muslims should be a part of our language | World Muslim Congresshttp://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2015/07/ahmadiyya-muslims-should-be-part-of-our.html
......
I don't have a bone of prejudice in me, and I sincerely believe God is Rabbul Aalameen (Creator of the universe), and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is Rahmatul Aalameen (Mercy to every atom in the universe). We are all from the same couple Adam and Eve, and we are members of one large family, and each one of us is deliberately created to be unique with our own thumbprint, DNA and other uniqueness’s. With that uniqueness we are bound to have irreconcilable differences, and how do we get around that?  God says the best ones among you are those who take the time to learn about each other, and when we do that, conflicts fade and solutions emerge.

All of us have to live in the given space, we might as well learn about each other, to understand and accept the differences, and not force agreements against the will of the people, that would be against what God wants. You live your life and I will live mine, a corollary from Quran 109.6 says,  to you is your faith and to me is my faith.

When we started the discussion group “World Muslim Congress.” I went about learning different denominations as this group and site belongs to "all Muslims" and came across the unbelievable prejudice towards the Ahmadiyya Muslims.  Indeed, they are chased, harassed and persecuted in Pakistan, and the extremity of the hate is even ‘enshrined’ in their constitution, and that beats anyone with any common sense.  The hate virus has expanded to Indonesia, Bangladesh and it has even reached India dividing us all up. There is no justification whatsoever to hate any one.

Why am I writing this? 


As Muslims, we call out on the bigotry of a few evangelicals, before we do that, we need to be clean, so we can cast the first stone.  Let’s not be hateful towards any one and clearly reject the extremist’s ideology of Wajib Qatl (killing is a must) towards Ahmadiyya Muslims. Let’s share God and the Prophet with the entire world as they are not exclusively ours to deny them to others.

Of course the bias is a two way street, I have written extensively about it.  I have done my Iftaar and Friday prayers in the mosques of every (yes every) denomination to understand the differences, so we can learn about each other. We don't need to be friends, but at least we don't have to seethe and brood and be miserable because others believe differently.  It’s all documented at www.Ramadanexclusive.com and www.WorldMulsimCongress.com.

However, the responsibility for caring for oppressed falls squarely on the majority.  It is the white majority that stood up for civil rights to pass as a law; it is the Hindu majority that stood up for Muslim minorities  in India to have their own laws; and it should be the Sunni Majority in Pakistan that needs to speak up and care for its minorities, all minorities.  As a minority ourselves (Sunnis in the United States) don’t we wish the majority understands us and respect us, thank God, at least we are no Wajib Qatl to them, can we be that civil to our own minorities back home?

None of us have to agree, but all of us must choose to mind our own faith, we cannot compel any one to drop their belief and accept ours that would go against the essence of Islam. Allah will not ask you about what others did, he asks you, were you good to his creation?  How would we feel if the Christian majority tells to either believe their way to take the highway?

At World Muslim Congress and Dallas Pakistanis groups, we have carried civil conversations for over 13 years, it was not easy at the beginning, and for many years, I was alone, but now we have many Sunni Muslims who see the point of view in both the groups and I appreciate their being good Muslims. Now comes the editorial in Gulf News that includes Ahmadiyya Muslims in its list of Muslims. 

Today it was a delight to read Tariq Al-Maeena writes an editorial in Gulf news and this is a sea change, and I hope more and more “Muslim writers” start the inclusion process.  Theologically let’s accept us all to be different – each one of the 73 tribes will have its own uniqueness that God has said and prophet has predicted that.

I wrote to him, Tariq, I'm surprised and pleased that you added Ahmadiyya Muslims in your last paragraph, and I applaud you for this.“I am not a Sunni or a Shiite or an Ahmadi or a Khawani. I am a Muslim! I am not a Salafist or a Sufi, a Ja’afari or a Batini. I am a Muslim! I was raised by the Islamic tenets of peace and kindness ... And by God, I am angry that people in the name of Islam defile my religion.”

Thank you Tariq Al-Maeena

My Islam teaches me to be Rahmat (mercy) to the Aalameen, if I am a zahmat (tyrant) towards fellow beings, then should I call myself a Muslim?

Mike Ghouse
# # #

I am a Muslim and I am angry
It angers me to see how a peaceful religion has been manipulated by some to be a tool of terror against their perceived adversaries. 
By Tariq Al-Maeena

PUBLISHED: 17:03 JULY 4, 2015

Ramadan is a spiritually significant month for Muslims the world over. It is a time for inner reflection, devotion to God and self-control. It is a time when Muslims repent, ask for forgiveness for sins and spend their time in intense worship. Muslims think of it as a kind of tune-up for their spiritual lives. We are to make peace with those who have wronged us, strengthen ties with family and friends and do away with bad habits and bad feelings. Fasting, reading the Quran, increasing charitable deeds, cleansing one’s behaviour and doing good are some of the ways Muslims use to draw themselves closer to God. This is what true Muslims believe in and do.
On June 26, an explosion rocked a mosque in Kuwait that killed 27 and wounded 227 worshippers. Worshippers had gathered for Friday prayers at the Al Imam Al Sadeq mosque in Kuwait City when a powerful bomb ripped through the courtyard of the heavily-congested mosque, causing much death and damage. The timing of the blast was significant as Friday noon prayers are generally the most crowded of the week and attendance increases multifold during Ramadan.
Investigations later revealed that the perpetrator was a Saudi male who, along with some Kuwaiti sympathisers, intended to stir up Sunni-Shiite divisions with his murderous act. This bearded individual from a village in Saudi Arabia had actually flown into Kuwait from Riyadh on the day of the bombings and left a trail of death and destruction among the faithful. He had stayed at a house owned by an extremist who subscribed to “extremist and deviant ideology” and was then driven to the mosque by an illegal resident to carry out this macabre plan.
Immediate credit
On the same day, there were terror attacks in two different continents conducted by supposed sympathisers of the extreme doctrine followed by the Saudi suicide bomber. In Tunisia, a gunman wandered on to a popular beach at a seaside resort and gunned down guests with an automatic rifle. The death count was 38, while 36 people were wounded, according to Tunisian authorities. In France, a man with suspicious ties to violent groups blew up a factory, injuring two people. A decapitated body and the severed head was found nearby. Daesh (the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) took immediate credit for these gruesome acts.
As a consolation, it was somewhat refreshing to note that leading Islamic institutions immediately denounced such dastardly acts. The leading Sunni institution based in Egypt, Al Azhar, released a statement saying that “the heinous shooting at a Tunisian coastal resort that killed 38 people, mostly Europeans, was a violation of all religious and humanitarian norms”. It also condemned the suicide bombing at the Kuwaiti Shiite mosque and the suspected militant attack in France. In a publicised statement, in reference to Daesh, Al Azhar called on “the international community to defeat this terrorist group through all available means”.
Delivering a message
In Kuwait, the ruling Emir, the government, parliamentary and political groups and clerics all said last Friday’s attack on the Shiite mosque was meant to stir up sectarian strife in the emirate. Terming the attack bluntly as one of “black terror” a statement said that “the objectives of the criminal act have failed. We want to deliver a message to Daesh that we are united brothers, the Sunnis and Shiites, and they cannot divide us”.
I am angry. As a Muslim, it maddens me when criminals use my religion to screen their immoral and murderous intentions.
“I am angry that people in the name of Islam defile my religion.”



-Tariq A. Al Maeena
Tweet this

It infuriates me that I have to justify my religion and myself to the non-Muslim world in the wake of such barbarity by individuals with no obvious morals. It angers me that a terrorist like the Saudi who flew into Kuwait tarnishes my religion and my nationality with his vicious actions.
It angers me to see how a peaceful religion has been manipulated by some to be a tool of terror against their perceived adversaries. It angers me that such people follow “extreme and deviant ideology” and yet call themselves Muslims.
It angers me to know that some clerics with their hardline views continue to promote sectarian divisions from both sides. It angers me to know that they are still being heard.
I am not a Sunni or a Shiite or an Ahmadi or a Khawani. I am a Muslim! I am not a Salafist or a Sufi, a Ja’afari or a Batini. I am a Muslim! I was raised by the Islamic tenets of peace and kindness ... And by God, I am angry that people in the name of Islam defile my religion.
Tariq A. Al Maeena is a Saudi socio-political commentator. He lives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Allah or God, Muslims, Music in Islam, jokes and hereafter

to make us beings that can think, think for themselves. Prophet would not have gone to Hira to meditate there for years, at the age of 40, after pondering about life, religion, God, human suffering and the poverty, just as the Buddha did, Muhammad (pbuh) received revelations about oneness of God, and how to bring about harmony among the living, and commonness of humanity despite the differences.

Now coming to your points:
1.       "Do any of you know that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) taught any one though his words, actions and deeds about either poetry or music?" 

Response: Prophet did not teach to be musicians; his role was guide humanity towards living in peace and harmony and to be a good human being. Did he teach Medicine to cure ailments? Did he teach how to build things that will make one’s life easy – like cars and plane? Should we indulge in finding cures and innovate transportation methods? 

2.      "Did Prophet Muhammad (SAW) encourage any of the sahabahs to be jokers!" 
Response: Prophet had a good sense of humor, and humor is a part of life. Indeed he said Islam is a religion of fitra. I don’t know if you know that or not. However, he did not open a comedy club, his mission was to teach how to be a better humans and how to build cohesive societies.  Humor is part of life and we should joke and enjoy the life.
3.      Our short stay in this life is extremely serious

Response: This is the problem – a serious problem among Muslims. It is a major flaw in your understanding of Islam.  God has given this wonderful life to enjoy and not to ignore it, thinking about Akhira without living the God given Hazira is cheating ourselves.     Our inabilities and in-capabilities should not cause us to escape into the Akhira. By God he has given this life to live it to the full, its Amana, we cannot cheat the present for the future. Live a full life my friend.

4.      No where in the Qur'an did Allah (SWT) call Himself ilah or God!
Response: So, you are limiting God, that he does not know any language besides Arabic?  My friends, God is all knowing and all present.  He is closer to us than our jugular veins – meaning he knows us before we can even think about it.  Did you forget that God in 49:13 had said he has created many tribes, nations and communities? Had he wanted he would have made us all factory specified, exactly alike?  He made us different with different thumb prints, DNA, race, religions, nations…  The best ones are not those who call him Allah, but those who respect his creation by any name. 

Let’s not commit the shirk of creating God and Allah; it is one and the same.

Here is my information, in response to yours:

Mike Ghouse
www.WorldMuslimCongress.com
www.ShariaLaws.com
 
A few profiles: 

1. Google Profile - over 9 Million visits -
https://plus.google.com/108969690090944956820/about
4.  Muslim Speaker (4 years old) -http://mikeghouse.net/MuslimSpeaker.MikeGhouse.asp
5.  Pluralism Speaker – (4 years old)http://www.mikeghouse.net/InterfaithSpeaker_MikeGhouse.asp
6.  Statistics – A year old http://mikeghouse.net/Discolosure.asp
Thank you

mike
Mike Ghouse, Speaker
Motivation | Pluralism | Human Rights | Religion.
(214) 325-1916 text/talk
...............................................................................................................................
Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator on 
Pluralism, Islam, India, Israel-Palestine,Politics and other issues of the day. He is a human rights activist, and his book standing up for others will be out soon | He is producing a full feature film " Sacred" to be released on 9/11 and a documentary "Americans together" for a July 4 release.  He is a frequent guest commentator on Fox News and syndicated Talk Radio shows and a writer at major news papers including Dallas Morning News and Huffington Post. All about him is listed in 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at www.TheGhousediary.com - Mike is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.


Dear Imam,

Thanks for the response, I appreciate your integrity.

On my part – I am going to enjoy the Music, tell jokes and listen to them, call God or Allah to mean the same, and focus on my life on earth. I don’t need to rob my time from the present to give it to the Akhira, Akhira is automatically sequences, if I am good to my present, it translates into Good for the Akhira.

Jazak Allah Khair
Mike

Dear  Mike Ghouse:

Wa salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu wa maghfiratuh! I made a mistake with reference to poetry and music! Prophet Muhammad (SAW) did listen to both! As far as my other comments we will have to agree to disagree!
Yours in Al-Islam, 
Akmal M. Muhammad
Imam Akmal M. Muhammad 
Co-founder/Chairman/CEO 
The Islamic Freedom Foundation, Inc. (TIFF) 
2301 Glenallan Ave. STE 105 
Silver Spring, MD 20906  



In a message dated 5/26/2015 4:32:13 A.M. Central Daylight Time,

Dear Believers:
As salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu wa maghfiratuh! No one knows the intent that is in another's hearth as to why they do or don't do or say or don't say about something. Only Allah (SWT) knows the true intent of one words, actions and deeds, besides the individual himself. However, we can call a spade a spade if we see a spade! To call a person a murderer if we saw them commit murder is our responsibility! So, if a person wants to act like a fool then that is his right and we truly don't know his true intent; but one can say he acts like a fool! 

To say what Allah (SWT) will or will not do is a grave error! "So God will not take him to task if he says something 'thoughtlessly"  None of mankind has that knowledge! According to the comments of the Joker he has given a great deal of thought in what he says and do!

My questions to all: "Is this the example set by Prophet Muhammad (SAW)?" "Do any of you know that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) taught any one though his words, actions and deeds about either poetry or music?"   "Did Prophet Muhammad (SAW) encourage any of the sahabahs to be jokers!" 

If you study history this foolish behavior was the way of the Romans, "Court Jesters or Jokers!" So, Joker are you striving to be pleasing to the West or to Allah (SWT)?

Our short stay in this life is extremely serious and we so-called leaders need to behave in a way consistent with the behavior of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to the best of our ability! Question: "So-call leaders, where are you leading the the believers? If this is the behavior of the leaders no wonder the Muslim Ummah is in such a sad state! 

No where in the Qur'an did Allah (SWT) call Himself ilah or God!  I pray you all stop calling Allah (SWT), God! Ameen!  Allah (SWT) is Most Merciful and Most Forgiving, therefore,correct the error of your ways and seek Allah's (SWT) Mercy and Forgiveness!

Yours in Al-Islam, 
Akmal M. Muhammad
Imam Akmal M. Muhammad 
Co-founder/Chairman/CEO 
The Islamic Freedom Foundation, Inc. (TIFF) 
2301 Glenallan Ave. STE 105 
Silver Spring, MD 20906


From: yunus mohammed 
Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2015 12:24 AM
To: Rafiq Lodhia
Subject: Re: FW: "MERA-NAAM-JOKER"
Rafiq Sahab,
My reply command couldn't address all the recipients. Can you circulate this sigh from my heart to all. 
To all, "I think Rafiq Sahab is not astray or disobedient as a Muslim as some may think of him. I think when he sees his serious calls falling on deaf ear, he follows up with something humorous. Those who do not wish to hear from him can simply ask him not to send him any mails or simply delete his incoming mails. But if we start passing judgement on people we speak like God and I understand all the recipients of the chain mail are community leaders, I wonder if it is right for any of you to say about the other:  This is your way of life but perhaps you don't like to trod on it.
Let me quote from the Qur'an lest somebody may put a label on me:

God will not take you to account for any frivolity in your oaths, but He will take you to account for the intention* in your hearts. (Indeed) He is Most Forgiving and Gracious” (2:225).
I do not believe that Rafiq Lodhia Sahab has any bad intentions. So God will not take him to task if he says something 'thoughtlessly"; why should one be so harsh to him. May be I am myself disoriented.
Yunus, 

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Saudi and Pakistani bigotry - anti-prophet practices

I have learned to live with bigotry but will not stop fighting it.  No nation, no community and no group of people are free from such evil forces from within.

Let me be clear, the majority of people are not bigots, only a tiny percent in any given majority and power hungry rulers are downright shameless bigots.

Are Americans free from it? Indians free from it? Are Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Bahá’ís or Sikhs free from it? None whatsoever! 

The Saudi are definitely not, here is a video made by Pakistanis making fun of the bigotry of Saudis, without realizing that they are equally bigoted.

The video is in Urdu/Hindi language where a Saudi employer interviews a Pakistani for a job in a restaurant. He asks questions to make sure that the guy is not Shia…. and when he affirms it that he is not, but adds that he is an Ahmadiyya Muslim, the employer loses his mind! What a bigot!





Now the irony is that Pakistani passport and visa asks stupid dumb questions – to show their bigotry towards Ahmadiyya Muslims. It is downright disgusting.

What is sad is that Saudis claim to follow the Prophet, who taught that all men are created equal, and even in his last sermon he made that clear that no one is superior to the other and that obedience to God means respecting all his creation.  Islam and the prophet's teachings go against prejudices and discrimination of any kind.  Indeed, to knock out racial bias (or superiority) from the hearts and minds of people, he made Hazrat Bilal (An African) the chief Muezzin (prayer caller), the light skinned Arabs swallowed that and started respecting others without bias (The racist among Republicans are still sunk low to respect Obama)  Now, are they rejecting the prophet? Are they telling Prophet was wrong? 

Humor can communicate difficult issues - shame on Saudi's and Shame on Pakistanis for letting their governments practice prejudices against fellow Muslims, let alone fellow humans. And shame on me for not screaming enough about India and the US for the blatant discriminatory practices, the only solace is, it is not the law of the land in either India or America, but shamefully practiced by a few in the majority. 

Religions don’t mean a thing to the people, even though they wear that cloak. I wish, people follow their own religion and be good humans. Are Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jews… following their religion?  Is the civil society following their rules? If they do, the world would be a better place.

All you and I can do is to speak out against whenever and wherever we see prejudice and discrimination.

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Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator onPluralism, Islam, India, Israel-Palestine, Politics and other issues of the day. He is a human rights activist, and his book standing up for others will be out soon | He is producing a full feature film ” Sacred” to be released on 9/11 and a documentary “Americans together” for a July 4 release.  He is a frequent guest commentator on Fox News and syndicated Talk Radio shows and a writer at major news papers including Dallas Morning News and Huffington Post. All about him is listed in 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at www.TheGhousediary.com – Mike is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

Sunday, March 22, 2015

13 Doctrines of Radical Islam ISIS.

13 Doctrines of Radical Islam and ISIS |
Published at  www.QuraanToday.com - www.WorldMuslimCongress.com
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I am responding to the following surreal claims by an unknown, but well circulated piece called “13 Doctrines of Radical Islam ISIS “ with a singular purpose; To provide the moderate majority (of all faiths) with facts, and to help them  not entertain any doubts about the word of God. God loves us all and has given us the free will to manage peace and harmony in the world, so all of us can live without fear of the other. 

False propaganda

Finding the truth is your own responsibility, if you are curios about these propaganda verses,  please buy at least three different translations of Quran and figure it out yourselves for your peace of mind is your business.

However, if you want to counter any one of those guys who either innocently or deliberatly circulate false material, here is a ready made response for you to forward. Always go towww.WorldMuslimCongress.com or www.Quraantoday.com and search up for Maligned verses.

I will tear this propaganda apart, and present the right quotes to  each one of these 13 misquotes. These guys write whatever they want and pass it out as the verses from Quran. I have responded to many of these men and women including Noni Derwish and others. The one that made  the biggest mess was Geert Widlers, the hate filled man from Sweden who duped the US Congress and Senate members with his falsities and sold them the 14 minute film called Fitna.
 
In the Middle Ages, European leaders commissioned a hostile Quran translation to foster warfare against Muslim invaders. Later, Muslim leaders produced another translation to inflame Muslims against Christians and Jews. The European Kings commissioned the monastery of Abbey to deliberately mistranslate Quran to paint as a cult that wil threaten their lives – and coined the word “Muhammadan” for the first time in 1142 AD.  It was all for politics, and we need to reject these false translation, the other one was by an Muslim man “Hilali Khan”  who has deliberately mistranslated nearly 60 verses to cause ill-will towards Jews, Chrsitians and others. Please reject those.

The most popular and authenitc translations are by Muhammad Asad, Yusuf Ali and Picktal, however there are a few verses not dealt well in their translations and Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar has righted the wrong understanding in verse 4:34 for example.

http://mikeghouse.net/MuslimSpeaker.MikeGhouse.asp#sthash.5esiRB9S.dpuf


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Many of the following verses are not in Quran, and where additional explanation is needed, I have added two or three translations to give little more clarity. To get the full understanding, the simple formula is read three verses before and after the give verses, and you simply cannot go wrong.

Mike Ghouse , 
Muslim Speaker, thinker and a writer. World Muslim Congress, Dallas, Texas  Link


American way and Quran Formula

When it comes to law and order, Quran formula is similar to American laws, here is how it works.
1. If bad guys stop in front of your property and march in to throw you out

2. You tell them to back off
3. If they still come towards you, you warn them to back off

4. If they make an attempt to attack you
5. You attack and chase them

6. If they run and hide behind the bushes 

7. You  hunt them down wherever you can find them and kill them on your property   
Click on the image to get the larger readable version


Every one of those verses that advocate, “ Hunt them down where ever you can find and  kill them” verse,  the same formula is adopted and in addition Quran advocates the following – Stop the pursuit, if they repent, surrender and retreat from attacking you”
I am sick of these guys who present only half truth.  Finding the truth is your own responsibility, go buy three different translations and figure it out yourselves.  Your peace of mind is your business.


Now, here are those 13 propaganda verses and my response directly from Quran.I hope no one is gullible enough to buy this propaganda. In the future if you see these, please visit the Quran, read three verse before and three verses after the verse,  and you will appreciate the wisdom of all loving merciful and just God.     

     1. You can rape, marry and divorce pre-Pubescent girls; Qur’an 65:4

Real Verse: 65:4 (Asad) Now as for such of your women as are beyond, the age of monthly courses, as well as for such as do not have any courses, [10]their waiting-period - if you have any doubt [about it] - shall be three [calendar] months; and as for those who are with child, the end of their waiting-term shall come when they deliver their burden. And for everyone who is conscious of God, He makes it easy to obey His commandment:

This is goofy and there is nothing to discuss, next?

2.  You can enslave for Sex and work; Qur’an 4:3, 4:24, 5:89, 33:50, 58:3, 70:30

I will pick first and the last of the 6 verses.

4:3 (Asad) And if you have reason to fear that you might not act equitably towards orphans, then marry from among [other] women such as are lawful to you 
[3] - [even] two, or three, or four: but if you have reason to fear that you might not be able to treat them with equal fairness, then [only] one - or [from among] those whom you rightfully possess. [4] This will make it more likely that you will not deviate from the right course.

70:30 (Asad) [not giving way to their desires] with any but their spouses - that is, those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock] - : 
[13] for then, behold, they are free of all blame,

Self-Explanatory and the verse quote in the propaganda is completely false

3. You can beat sex slaves, work slaves, and wives  Qur’an 4:34 

4:34 (L.Bakhtiar) Men are supporters of wives because God gave some of them an advantage over others and because they spent of their wealth. So the females, ones in accord with morality are the females, ones who are morally obligated and the females, ones who guard the unseen of what God kept safe. And those females whose resistance you fear, then admonish them (f) and abandon them (f) in their sleeping places and go away from them (f). Then if they (f) obeyed you, then look not for any way against them (f). Truly, God had been Lofty, Great.

Comment:  “beat them” was the interpretation that was produced for its full history, however, a scholar by the name Laleh Bakhtiar, had done thorough research in 2012 and has rectified the error. The Arabic word for beat is Daraba, which was used 21 other times in Quran to mean “separation” and sorry to say, men have always interpreted what suits them, and this is one of the few instances. Quite a lot is written about it including my own presentation at World Muslim Congress:http://www.worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/05/wife-beating-is-culture-of-men-and-not.html
4:34 (Asad) MEN SHALL take full care of women with the bounties which God has bestowed more abundantly on the former than on the latter, [42] and with what they may spend out of their possessions. And the right­eous women are the truly devout ones, who guard the intimacy which God has [ordained to be] guar­ded. [43] And as for those women whose ill-will [44] you have reason to fear, admonish them [first]; then leave them alone in bed; then beat them; [45] and if thereupon they pay you heed, do not seek to harm them. Behold, God is indeed most high, great!

4. You will need 4 Muslim male witnesses to prove a rape; Qur’an 24-4

24:4 (Asad) And as for those who accuse chaste women [of adultery],
[6] and then are unable to produce four witnesses [in support of their accusation], flog them with eighty stripes [7] and ever after refuse to accept from them any testimony - since it is they, they that are truly depraved!
[6]  The term rnuhsanat denotes literally ‘‘women who are fortified [against unchastity]", i.e., by marriage and/or faith and self-respect, implying that, from a legal point of view, every woman must he considered chaste unless a conclusive proof to the contrary is produced. (The passage relates to women other than the accusers own wife, for in the latter case - as shown in verses 6-9 - the law of evidence and the consequences are different.(Quran Ref: 24:4 )

[7] By obvious implication, this injunction applies also to cases where a woman accuses a man of illicit sexual intercourse, and is subsequently unable to prove her accusation legally. The severity of the punishment to be meted out in such cases, as well as the requirement of four witnesses - instead of the two that Islamic Law regards as sufficient in all other criminal and civil suits - is based on the imperative necessity of preventing slander and off-hand accusations. As laid down in several authentic sayings of the Prophet, the evidence of the four witnesses must be direct, and not merely circumstantial: in other words, it is not sufficient for them to have witnessed a situation which made it evident that sexual intercourse was taking or had taken place: they must have witnessed the sexual act as such, and must be able to prove this to the entire satisfaction of the judicial authority (Razi, summing up the views of the greatest exponents of Islamic Law). Since such a complete evidence is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to obtain, it is obvious that the purpose of the above Quranic injunction is to preclude, in practice, all third-party accusations relating to illicit sexual intercourse - for, "man has been created weak’’ (4:28) - and to make a proof of adultery dependent on a voluntary, faith-inspired confession of the guilty parties themselves.(Quran Ref: 24:4 )

Self-explanatory – everything in Quran is a two way street, if a woman is suggested to wear modest clothing, invariably, men are told to lower their gaze.

5. Kill Jews and Christians if they do not convert or pay Jiziya Tax; Qur’an 9:29

9:29 (Asad) [And] fight against those who - despite having been vouchsafed revelation [aforetime] [40] -do not [truly] believe either in God or the Last Day, and do not consider forbidden that which God and His Apostle have forbidden, [41] and do not follow the religion of truth [which God has enjoined upon them] [42] till they [agree to] pay the exemption tax with a willing hand, after having been humbled [in war]. [43]

There is no mention of Jews and Christians, the propaganda masters have made it up.

“pay the exemption tax with a willing hand, after having been humbled” . Humbled- meaning acceptance of their wrong, not necessarily subduing. It is a common practice in the US if the suing party is silly and outrageous, the attorney fee incurred is granted to the wrong doer. It is a penalty for the unwanted aggression.

Full discourse is at: 
http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2010/03/quraan-2256-free-will-v-929-compulsion.html

6. Crucify and amputate Non-Muslims; Qur’an 8:12 and 47:4

8:12 (Asad) Lo! Thy Sustainer inspired the angels [to convey this His message to the believers]: "I am with you !" 
[13] [And He commanded the angels:] "And, give firmness unto those who have attained to faith [with these words from Me]: [14] `I shall cast terror into the hearts of those who are bent on denying the truth; strike, then, their necks, [O believers,] and strike off every one of their finger-tips!" [15]
8:13 (Asad) This, because they have cut themselves off from [16] God and His Apostle: and as for him who cuts himself off from God and His Apostle - verily, God is severe in retribution

47:4 (Asad) NOW WHEN you meet [in war] those who are bent on denying the truth, 
[4] smite their necks until you overcome them fully, and then tighten their bonds; [5] but thereafter [set them free,] either by an act of grace or against ransom, so that the burden of war may be lifted: [6] thus [shall it be]. And [know that] had God so willed, He could indeed punish them [Himself]; but [He wills you to struggle] so as to test you [all] by means of one another. [7] And as for those who are slain in God’s cause, never will He let their deeds go to waste



7. You will kill non-Muslims to receive 72 Virgins in heaven: Qur’an 9:111

9:111 (Asad) BEHOLD, God has bought of the believers their lives and their possessions, promising them paradise in return, ,[and so] they fight in God's cause, and slay, and are slain: a promise which in truth He has willed upon Himself in [the words of] the Torah, and the Gospel, and the Qur'an. And who could be more faithful to his covenant than God? Rejoice, then, in the bargain which you have made with Him: for this, this is the triumph supreme!

9:111 (Y. Ali) Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Law, the Gospel, and the Qur'an: and who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah. Then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded: that is the achievement supreme.

Two translations have been checked, and there is no mention about Virgins. Some men have interpreted Supreme Achievement to getting girls, but that is not in Quran. Wrong people always resort to propaganda to malign religion,  or recruit guys with girl greed. 

8. You will kill anyone who leaves Islam; Qur’an 2:217, 4:89

I will be presenting three translations for you to see the difference in expression.

2:217 ( L. Bakhtiar) They ask thee about the Sacred Month and fighting in it. Say: Fighting in it is deplorable and barring from the way of God and ingratitude to Him. And to bar from the Masjid al-Haram, and expelling people from it are more deplorable with God. And persecution is more deplorable than killing. And they cease not to fight you until they repel you from your way of life, if they are able. And whoever of you goes back on his way of life, then, dies while he is one who is ungrateful, those, their actions were fruitless in the present and in the world to come. And those will be the Companions of the Fire. They are ones who will dwell in it forever.

2:217 (Y. Ali) They ask thee concerning fighting in the Prohibited Month. Say: "Fighting therein is a grave (offence); but graver is it in the sight of Allah to prevent access to the path of Allah, to deny Him, to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque, and drive out its members." Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter. Nor will they cease fighting you until they turn you back from your faith if they can. And if any of you Turn back from their faith and die in unbelief, their works will bear no fruit in this life and in the Hereafter; they will be companions of the Fire and will abide therein.

2:217 (Asad) They will ask thee about fighting in the sacred month.
[202] Say: "Fighting in it is an awesome thing (grave transgression); but turning men away from the path of God and denying Him, and [turning them away from] the Inviolable House of Worship and expelling its people there from - [all this] is yet more awesome (greater transgression) in the sight of God, since oppression is more awesome (greater transgression) than killing." [Your enemies] will not cease to fight against you till they have turned you away from your faith, if they can. But if any of you should turn away from his faith and die as a denier of the truth - these it is whose works will go for nought in this world and in the life to come; and these it is who are destined for the fire, therein to abide.  (please note I have used the world Awful in place of Awesome)

Please read the Quran formula above.  

9.  You will behead non-Muslims,  Quran 8:12 and 47:4 ( 8:12 was covered earlier)

47:4 (Y. Ali) Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; At length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens. Thus (are ye commanded): but if it had been Allah's Will, He could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He lets you fight) in order to test you, some with others. But those who are slain in the Way of Allah,- He will never let their deeds be lost.

47:4 (Asad) NOW WHEN you meet [in war] those who are bent on denying the truth, 
[4] smite their necks until you overcome them fully, and then tighten their bonds; [5] but thereafter [set them free,] either by an act of grace or against ransom, so that the burden of war may be lifted: [6] thus [shall it be]. And [know that] had God so willed, He could indeed punish them [Himself]; but [He wills you to struggle] so as to test you [all] by means of one another. [7] And as for those who are slain in God’s cause, never will He let their deeds go to waste:

47:4 (L.Bakhtiar) So when you met those who were ungrateful, then, strike their thick necks until you gave them a sound thrashing. Then, tie them fast with restraints. And afterwards either have good will towards them or take ransom for them until the war ends, laying down its heavy load. Thus, it is so! But if God willed, He Himself would have, certainly, avenged you. But it is to try some of you with some others. As for those who were slain in the way of God, He will never cause their actions to go astray.

Please read the Quran formula above.  

10. You will kill and be killed for Allah; Quran 9:5 

M.Asad, “And so, when the sacred months are over, slay those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God wherever you may come upon them, and take them captive, and besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every conceivable place! Yet if they repent, and take to prayer, and render the purifying dues, let them go their way: for, behold, God is much forgiving, a dispenser of grace.”

Y.Ali “But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. “

Personally, as a pluralist, I have a problem with the translations. Glad to see Asad explain “ascribe divinity to aught beside God” versus the world “Pagan” used by Yusuf Ali, and “Polytheists by many others”. I would not use the word Pagan, as God does not mean all Pagans, but those who are in war with you , forcing you to disbelieve. Asad is much closer to the meaning of Quran. Someday, I will write, to make it communicate the meaning to a Hindu, Jews, Christian or a Pagan.
 

Please read the Quran formula above. 

11.  You will terrorize non-Muslims, Quran 8:12 , 8:60

8:60 (Asad) Hence, make ready against them whatever force and war mounts [64] you are able to muster, so that you might deter thereby the enemies of God, who are your enemies as well, [65] and others besides them of whom you may be unaware, [but] of whom God is aware; and whatever you may expend [66] in God's cause shall be repaid to you in full, and you shall not be wronged.

[64] Lit., "tethering of horses" (ribat al-khavl): an expression which signifies "holding in readiness mounted troupes at all points open to enemy invasion (thughur)"; hence, tropically, the over-all maintenance of military preparedness.(Quran Ref: 8:60 )

[65] Lit., "God's enemy and your enemy" - implying that every "enemy of God" (i.e., everyone who deliberately opposes and seeks to undermine the moral laws laid down by God) is, eo ipso, an enemy of those who believe in Him.(Quran Ref: 8:60 )
Please read the Quran formula above.  

12. Steal from Non-Muslims; Quran Chapter 8The chapter has 75 verses… unless one is pointed out 

13.  Lie to Strengthen Islam: Quran 3:26, 3:54, 9:3, 16:106, 40:28

3:26 (Asad) SAY: "O God, Lord of all dominion! Thou grantest dominion unto whom Thou willest, and takest away dominion from whom Thou willest; and Thou exaltest whom Thou willest, and abasest whom Thou willest. In Thy hand is all good. Verily, Thou hast the power to will anything. 

3:54 (Asad) And the unbelievers schemed [against Jesus]; [44] but God brought their scheming to nought: for God is above all schemers.


16:106 (Asad) As for anyone who denies God after having once attained to faith-and this, to be sure, does not apply to [133] one who does it under duress, the while his heart remains true to his faith, [134] but [only, to] him who willingly opens up his heart to a denial of the truth-: upon all such [falls] God's condemnation, and tremendous suffering awaits them:
[134] Lit., "one who is coerced, the while his heart is at rest in [his] faith". This relates to believers who, under torture or threat of death, ostensibly "recant" in order to save themselves. Although the Qur'an makes it clear in several places that martyrdom in the cause of faith is highly meritorious, "God does not burden any human being with more than he is well able to bear" (cf. 2:233 and 286, 6:152, 7:42, 23:62, and many other Qur'anic statements to the same effect).(Quran Ref: 16:106 )

40:28 (Asad) At that, a believing man of Pharaoh’s family, who [until then] had concealed his faith, exclaimed: 
[19] “Would you slay a man because he says, ‘God is my Sustainer’ - seeing, withal, that he has brought you all evidence of this truth from your Sustainer? Now if he be a liar, his lie will fall back on him; but if he is a man of truth, something [of the punishment] whereof he warns you is bound to befall you: for, verily, God would not grace with His guidance one who has wasted his own self by lying [about Him]. [20] 


If you cannot put your name to what you believe,
then it is not worth sharing it.
 Thank you

mike

Mike Ghouse, President
America Together Foundation
(214) 325-1916 text/talk

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Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator onPluralism, Islam, India, Israel-Palestine, Politics and other issues of the day. He is a human rights activist, and his book standing up for others will be out soon | He is producing a full feature film " Sacred" to be released on 9/11 and a documentary "Americans together" for a July 4 release.  He is a frequent guest commentator on Fox News and syndicated Talk Radio shows and a writer at major news papers including Dallas Morning News and Huffington Post. All about him is listed in 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at www.TheGhousediary.com - Mike is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.