If you are homophobic, more than likely your Islamophobic, anti-Semitic

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 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. 

If you are anti-Semitic, more than likely your Islamophobic, homophobic

 

Thank you

mike
Mike Ghouse, President
America Together Foundation 
(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. 

Is Sean Hannity a rapist and a Murderer?

If you have a right wing mindset, you will not read beyond this headline and jump to the conclusions and get angry.  The purpose of choosing this title is twofold; to make a point against stereo typing and president’s wise choice to not use the phrase Radical Islam.

If I say “New Yorkers are rapists and murderers” and by living in New York Sean Hannity and Mayor Bill de Blasio automatically earn the title of rapists and murderers.

This is how it works:

According to FBI - New York City’s (just the city) Crime Statistics reveal forcible rapes at the rates of 14/ 100,000 and murder rate of 4/100,000. That translates into 419 Murders and 1162 Murders in 2014. Using these rates, it makes a stronger case to call New Yorkers rapists and murders. What would you say to your niece if she asks your recommendation to live in New York or Dallas? 

I was on Hannity show last night, and did not get to say this; by using the blanket phrase radical Muslims or radical Islam, he is calling me one. I am his friend, and I am no different than the 1.7 billion minus .001% of us who are radicals. By the way, for every Muslim ass, there is a Christian, Jewish, Hindu and a Buddhist ass and that .001% applies to all groups.

I hope you got angry at me for the statistics, and you should, and you should expect me to react to “Radical Islam and Radical Muslims” in the same way. Both are dumb and stupid statements. Neither New Yorkers are murders and nor Muslims are radicals, the correct statement would have been; Murderers in New York and Terrorists among Muslims, which would have excluded Hannity and me from the blanket statement.

Sean Hannity is a great American patriot and his consistent attacks on the government keep them on their toes and I admire him for that. Two years ago in February 2013, Sean Hannity said in a retreat at the Fox Studios, that I am the only Muslim he knows that he can dialogue with, and he called me a friend and I call him a friend, in return he offered the best gift of my life – he said, he will not use the phrases Radical Islam and Radical Muslims, instead he will use the words Radicals among Muslims and in Islam. I saluted him, and his influence did not end there.

Congressman Peter King on April 15, 2013, said this to CNN camera right after the Boston bombing, “ I have no problem with 96% of the Muslims and it is the 4% I worry” – if you recall, it was the same congressman who wanted to investigate every mosque and tap out every Muslim. Hannity does not have a choice either when the terrorists call themselves Islamic State, which they are not. 

Listen to Hannity carefully, he is not against Islam or Muslims, but against the radicals among us, which all of us Muslims (minus radicals) are against but don’t speak up in strong terms on a national or international microphone. 

President Obama is absolutely right by not using the phrase Radical Islam or Radical Muslims that would be the stupidest thing to say.

Hannity broke his promise with me last night and I understand his outrage. It took me several minutes and several laps of pacing the lobby of my office to calm down after seeing that disgusting video.  Every second counts on his top rated show, and by nature I am slow in responding and did not complete the sentence and it was a packed show with so many guests, and the time allotted to me and Allen West was drastically cut. The sentence was,  “Sean, if you call them Radical Muslims, you are including me in that group, and that is not kosher, because I am your friend, please  call them Radicals among Muslims” and I am fine with that, because I and the 99.99% of Muslims are against them. It is our responsibility to stop them. The Quran recommends severe punishment to the oppressors and suggests hunting them down where ever they can be found and punishing them accordingly, unless they sincerely repent and back off, and if they do back off and surrender, they go to Guantanamo for a full orderly trial that US law permits. If those specific individuals don't surrender, drone them! Go ahead, degrade and destroy them.

I urge President Obama to take the action; the world will never be more with him than now, in one sweep, go clean those radicals. We need to rid of them, in the most civil way we can. We should never lose our civility in dealings with these men, and should not produce excuses in making innocent civilians a collateral damage, a shameful word in history of civilizations. Just go get them, as you did Osama Bin Laden. 

If the show had more time, I wanted to say the harshest of the truths we keep denying.  We are guilty of causing nearly half a million deaths, it was indeed terrorizing the innocent people of Iraq and Afghanistan, and the facts did not matter to our President in 2003.  We owe an apology to the people of Iraq and Afghanistan, none of this would have happened, had we not gone into Iraq based on falsities.

President Obama has this last chance to save humanity by eliminating the barbarians.  They are beyond dialogue, but we should still give them a warning to back off, repent and surrender or face the drones, we need to wipe them out with all the might we have. 

Mike Ghouse is speaker and the President of America Together Foundation, a think tank committed to building a cohesive America, and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

# # #
 

FBI -2012http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2012/crime-in-the-u.s.-2012/tables/8tabledatadecpdf/table-8-state-cuts/table_8_offenses_known_to_law_enforcement_by_new_york_by_city_2012.xls

Blame the Sin and not the Sinner, what's the point

What is the point?

Why shouldn’t we take this as common sense teaching as opposed to religious teachings?

The wisdom is to hold prejudices against individuals.
Fix the hole in the bucket, and not throw the bucket.
Take the cancer tumor out, not the individual.
Think about it… and share your thoughts.

The other critical point to be made is – the teachings of Jesus, Moses, Muhammad, Krishna, Buddha, Nanak and the wisdom of innumerable native traditions belongs to all of us, the whole humanity. We should not reduce their teachings to Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Native Americans respectively.


In the last 30 days, I wrote about 10 articles, and each one of them had some reference to it. Jesus is one of my mentors and indeed the statement was made by Jesus.

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Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator on Pluralism at work place, politics, religion, society, gender, race, culture, ethnicity, food and foreign policy. He is 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 several links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at www.TheGhousediary.com and 10 other blogs. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. 

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)'s advice

He was once asked, what is the best deed in God's view?

He said - taking care of your neighbor, immediate one first, and if you have more, then take care of your larger neighborhood, then town, country and the world. One thing I have always admired in him and the Quran is - they never said, take care of your Muslim neighbors, they were always inclusive. A good deed is a good deed when it is good for all.

Some smart alec from the back row piped in,' Dear Prophet, I am a poor guy, and don't have anything to give, so what can I give' - Prophet smiled, and said, give a smile. Let other's souls, hearts and minds be uplifted with your smile and hope.

So today my friends, just give a pleasant smile, make the effort and see how many you can uplift today, but please don't smile at some one who his hurt in an accident and bleeding.

Jesus Christ, Buddha, Prophet Muhammad, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa, and Pope Francis are my mentors, and there are a few more. I love their inclusive teachings and love their kindness towards fellow beings.

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, foreign policy and building cohesive societies and work places. Details in 62 links at www.MikeGhouse.net

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Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator on Pluralism at work place, politics, religion, society, gender, race, culture, ethnicity, food and foreign policy. He is 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 several links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at www.TheGhousediary.com and 10 other blogs. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. 

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?

Pluralism and Quraan verse 5:8

Most Muslims are blessed with an inquisitive mind, and I am so glad we are doing the right thing by clarifying and questioning what is said and written. Indeed, Islam started with the premise that we read, write and learn. That’s how Quraan began; Iqra, the first word.     

Pluralism and Quran, verse 5:8

5:8 (Asad),  " O you who have attained to faith! Be ever steadfast in your devotion to God, bearing witness to the truth in all equity; and never let hatred of any-one lead you into the sin of deviating from justice. Be just: this is closest to being God-conscious. And remain conscious of God: verily, God is aware of all that you do."

Pluralism in the broadest sense is respecting the otherness of others, and accepting God’s will in creating each one of us as a unique being.  It implies fair treatment and justice to fellow beings.

Justice is the foremost value of Islam as it is with all religions and traditions. When law and order is the way of life in a given society, people live in peace, and prosperity is the natural outcome.

When there is justice, fears dissipate knowing that no one can take advantage of you, and if they do, society will fix them, and if the society fails, God will.  Nothing in the world goes unaccounted; everything has to achieve its own balance at the end, and every re-action is a product of an action.

Historically prophets have made their presence felt when things were chaotic. Whether it was Moses or Krishna, Jesus or Muhammad, they fixed the problems and restored trust in the society.

The message in Verse 5:8 is to be just, no matter what happens, but be just.   Prophet Muhammad further urges mankind to tell the truth even if it incriminates you. He said it liberates you from endless anxiety and paves the way for a regret-free life.

Justice is respecting and accepting others rights and pluralism is respect the otherness of others and accepting the God given uniqueness of each one of his creation.

God’s will as I understand is taking responsibility to maintain “BALANCE AND HARMONY BETWEEN ALL ELEMENTS OF HIS CREATION.” Because he created everything with balance, and has sent a peacemaker to every tribe, community and the nation, the message is same. A majority of people in each group get the message, some don’t.

وَالسَّمَاء رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ الْمِيزَانَ (55:7) 

Waalssamaa rafaAAaha wawadaAAa almeezana

55:7 (Asad) And the skies has He raised high, and has devised [for all things] a

measure [The noun meezan, usually denoting a "balance", has here the more general connotation of "measure" or "measuring" by any means whatsoever (Zamakhshari ), in both the concrete and abstract senses of the word. (Cf. also the parabolic use of the term meezan in 42:17 and 57:25.)]

وَأَقِيمُوا الْوَزْنَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا تُخْسِرُوا الْمِيزَانَ (55:9) 

Waaqeemoo alwazna bialqisti wala tukhsiroo almeezana

55:9 (Asad) weigh, therefore, [your deeds] with equity, and cut not the measure short! 

Quraan does not address Muslims exclusively; it is a book of guidance for humanity. As Muslims we tend to see the general meaning of “righteous path” as Islamic path (3:85), the path we have pounded with our culture and rituals, rather than the spirit of Islam.

Each society has strayed away from the meaning of justice. For example, until now, Muslims were misled by the men scholars of the past that the husband can beat the wife (4:34), how wrong the entire Ummah has been on the topic. You may not agree with it, but that is your choice.

It is a haunting question for women of conscience, and of course men of conscience. It is a shame that we took advantage of women, belittling them when they questioned the meaning of it, leaving an imbalance, thus injustice. It has bothered most Muslims, including me, that how can God say such a thing? But most did not dare asking the imams who misinterpreted it.

 Thank God for the hidaya Allah gave to Dr. Lelah Bakhtiar, who has finally corrected the gross error.  Now that she has fixed the problem, it gives more meaning to the phrase; Islam is the Deen of Fitra, of human nature.  

I am thankful to Allah for blessing America with freedom, this freedom will pave the way for understanding the egalitarian and pluralistic nature of Islam that Prophet Muhammad practiced, but we dusted it up.

This was just one example, Insha Allah, in my next article, “What Sunnah?”  we will explore Hadiths, that Prophet (pbuh) could not have said it all.  He was a mercy to mankind, and we simply cannot ascribe  those Hadiths to him, that are contrary to his personality.

The second most critical value of Islam is to be non-judgmental and non-prejudiced; a derivative of the first value.  A Muslim, who observes the ritual part of Islam, utters the verse, “Maliki yawmi alddeeni” from 17 to 51 times a day. Stephen Covey says, if you utter something 7 times, it becomes a part of you. God is generous, he gives us the opportunity to utter more number of times, so it becomes a part of our psyche, that we do not judge others in the matters of faith, only Allah knows and only Allah will judge.
 

مَـالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ (1:4) 

Maliki yawmi alddeeni
 1:4 (Asad) Lord of the Day of Judgment! 

Most Muslims get it, some don’t. It is easy to become a Mushrik by declaring others to be not a Muslim , or even declare that they will go to hell. Have you ever thought about that as a Shirk? That is the goddamned greatest form of Shirk, a major sin in Islam to judge others Imaan, the belief.

So my friends, verse 5:8 fulfills the values of God’s critical values to create pluralistic societies, and Islam is guidance to all humanity, even though we attempt to monopolize it as our property.  Islam is about acknowledging the otherness of other, and Islam is about keeping the Meezan within his creation. We are the Ashraful-Makhlooqat, the superior (independent and intelligent) species, endowed with the responsibility to maintain the balance. 

As we seek the truth, we will find that Islam is about Pluralism, about building cohesive societies where no human has to live in fear of the other. Look at all the examples of the Prophet; he created Models for us to follow. Insha Allah, we will catch up with it, at least within a generation or two.

Mike Ghouse is committed to nurturing the pluralistic values embedded in Islam and invites discussions with an open mind. Together, we can learn to be a productive citizen to our family, community, nation and the world - thus serving God’s purpose of peace; Islam the verb.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .Dear Mike Sahab

Please explain how you link Qur'an 5:8 with your pluralism. Below is the what this Ayaat says

8. O You who believe! stand out firmly for Allâh and be just witnesses and let not the enmity and Hatred of others make You avoid justice. be just: that is nearer to piety, and fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Well-acquainted with what You do.

Mujtuba
. . . . . . . . . . . . .

This was in reference to article: TEXAS FAITH: How can the media better cover religion?

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/06/texas-faith-how-can-media-better-cover.html

Anti-Islam emails and my response

This is in response to one of the fellow Indians who keeps attacking Islam and demands that I answer his questions, and when I do that, he does not read a word, but continues to attack.

The role of a religious person is to mitigate conflicts and nurture good will, and as a Pluralist and a Muslim, I will continue to do that. Here is my response in the most simplistic terms:

FOOD

We don't eat cholesterol loaded stuff or the food that is harmful to our blood pressure, intestines or the health. We don't drink the stuff that is injurious to our health.

However, not all people eat healthy food and drink healthy drinks.

SPRITUALITY

If we nurture hate, malice, arrogance, anger and ill-will in our hearts and minds, we are contaminating the purity of our spirit, which is meant to be kept good, with that stuff in us, we don't feel good about ourselves and some times act weird. Whether I am a Hindu, Muslim, Christian or whatever, I will bear the burden of what I allow in my heart to grow, and as a consequence,  anxiety becomes the way of life for me, do I have a choice?

However, not all people follow their religion and do the right thing. 

ISLAM

You have a choice to find the truth about Islam, or you can live with seething anger and hate and live in tension every moment of your day.  You will not find the truth in the Front page Magazine and their likes, whose sole businesses is to sell hate and fear and make money. This scheme has generated them $42 Million dollars, at least they make the money, and what do you make with your hate for Muslims? A few claps from your friends?  

If you want to learn Islam, do it yourselves, it is your responsibility for your spiritual health and living a tension free life, but don't judge Islam by meeting a handful of bad guys. If you personally meet 100 Muslims, you are sure to find three or four  bad ones, that is the case with any group, isn't it? Let your sample be statistically significant to prevent you from falling in to the trap of stereotyping.  Don't do it for Islam, do it  for you own spiritual health.

You don’t have to live in anxieties my friend, find the truth on your own. Islam is as good a religion as any religion out there, if you have the will to see it.

MY LIST

I have a list of 36,000 people from Atheist to Zoroastrians and every one in between including the Native Americans. My work (rather service, as I have not received a pay check thus far) is pluralism and part of the work is removing the myths and falsities slapped on every religion including Islam and Hinduism. I am not teaching to Hindus as you claim, I am sharing with the humanity, and Hindus are part of that humanity and hope you are a part of the whole.

Venkat, you don't have to read my material, as simple as that.
Delete it, I will be happy, you and I both will save our time.

Take a look at my work:

STANDING UP FOR HINDUS  

In the following compilation, I will highlight some of the work I have done with and for Hindus and Hinduism. It is not just Hinduism, it is all people. If we are not willing to stand up for others, why should others stand up for us?

http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/2012/04/standing-with-hindus.html

Go to Dallas Morning News - Texas Faith - I have written over 80 articles, 70 of them mention about Hinduism among other religions, and you can read some comments how people appreciate learning about Hinduism, go to my daily site www.TheGhousediary.com and just plug in Hindu in the search box. Go to Huffington post, there are another 40 pieces there...you see the pattern of inclusiveness, and its been there since 1993 when I entered public life. 

I was in a party last night, thanks to Satyan, who came up and shared the good things he is doing. When people talk ill about Muslims, he said, he will tell his personal stories and experiences and tell them that stereotyping is not good for anyone in the long run. Can you do that? Not as a favor to Muslims, but as the right thing to do. He always asks, until 9/11- everything was fine, wasn't it?

Its shame that it happened, and it is one of the reasons including praischit (repentance), that I have dedicated my life to Unite people. Take a look at www.Unitydayusa.com . I was on the radio that shameful day for 8 hours getting the entire DFW community on the air with me and making an effort to make sense out of the senselessness,  and at the end of the day we did; restored faith in our system and removed the fears. The Unity day continues.

I hope you can be a teacher of Hinduism, where people see you as a Model Hindu who is about the goodness. Hinduism is all about goodness and not the hate, anger and ill will that you exhibit in your emails. Seriously think about it, you can be a good ally to me in our efforts in removing myths about others. 

If you care, take a look at these two videos, I have credited Bhagvad Gita for my being a Muslim as I have learned from it, that finding the truth is my own responsibility - it’s in the video and in my writings.

Mike Ghouse Challenges Quraan Translation with Pastor Robert Jeffress - 1 of 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMN8Zy1kc64&feature=relmfu

Mike Ghouse Challenges Quraan Translation with Pastor Robert Jeffress - 2 of 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZOFLQSAOhA

It is your responsibility to promote what is good, or believe in whatever is dished out to you. Choose mukti or bondage. 

Satyameva Jayate.

Mike Ghouse

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Mike Ghouse is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a professional speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, civic affairs, Islam, India, Israel, peace and justice. Mike is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he writes weekly at Dallas Morning News and regularly at Huffington post,and several other periodicals. www.TheGhousediary.com is Mike's daily blog.

Blasphemy Laws go against the spirit of Quran

Secure men believe in God and the Day of Judgment and have full faith that God alone decides what is in one’s heart. Insecure men's way to find solutions is to eliminate the other with power, screams, deaths and threats. 

Unless a few of us start speaking against Blasphemy, the evil vigilantist anti-Islamic practice of insecure men will continue.

Except the first four caliphs, who were chosen to govern rather than forcefully taking over,  we have a bad history of oppression.  Have we ever been ruled by sane men? It is not just us, until 100 years ago with the exception of the United States; the whole world was run by dictators and kings. Most nations are moving towards civil societies run by the consensus of the people and sadly our freedom is not proportional.

Look at our history, we have been prevented from independent inquiry, we were imposed by the damned dictators and kings. Thank God we have Turkey, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia, and Pakistan (occasionally), where the civil society rules. Islam will do well in democracies and freedom.

Unfortunately Muslims do not have the breathing room to be themselves, they are continuously bonded by one tyrant or the other… We certainly can pray asking God to help Muslims to be free to govern themselves and not throw them in the mouths of Mullahs from the dictators. One bad Mubarak goes and the brotherhood is out there to force their laws on the unwilling people…  

We the Muslims have been reduced to Pavlovian Muslims - we are too damned conditioned with the laws of men like Zia, Wahhab, Maududi, Banna and others,   rather than guidance of God. We need to be free, and do our Iqra.

Prophet Muhammad said, I am leaving this book to you - he did not say, well, I have assigned the interpretation of the book to the Imams, Kings and the dictators... you don't need to read the Quran any more, just follow the rules made by the dominant partners of God, you will get a free pass on the Day of Judgement. They will take care of you.

Time to start from Zero and listen to the Prophet and not the Great Imams of the past, following them has made us cowards and insecure with Blasphemy and Apostasy laws that go against God's will.  

Here are the verses from Quraan, compiled by Irtaza.

 [5:57] O you who believe, do not befriend those among the recipients of previous scripture who mock and ridicule your religion, nor shall you befriend the disbelievers. You shall reverence GOD, if you are really believers.

[6:68] If you see those who mock our revelations, you shall avoid them until they delve into another subject. If the devil causes you to forget, then, as soon as you remember, do not sit with such evil people.

[18:106] Their just requital is Hell, in return for their disbelief, and for mocking My revelations and My messengers.

[39:48] The sinful works they had earned will be shown to them, and the very things they used to mock will come back to haunt them.

[45:33] The evils of their works will become evident to them, and the very things they mocked will come back and haunt them.

Why the Muslim masses ignore the Messenger Muhammad?  Who they want to please?

The punishment is delivered by God, not by you or me.

The killing is justified only if  people wage  war against you. You may kill them, in that case:

[5:33] The just retribution for those who fight GOD and His messenger, and commit horrendous crimes, is to be killed, or crucified, or to have their hands and feet cut off on alternate sides, or to be banished from the land. This is to humiliate them in this life, then they suffer a far worse retribution in the Hereafter.

The killing is not justified if people evict you. You may only evict them:

[2:191] You may kill those who wage war against you, and you may evict them whence they evicted you. Oppression is worse than murder. Do not fight them at the Sacred Masjid, unless they attack you therein. If they attack you, you may kill them. This is the just retribution for those disbelievers.

The killing is not justified if people insult the Prophet. God will take care of it.

[18:106] Their just requital is Hell, in return for their disbelief, and for mocking My revelations and My messengers

And, these are some of the Quranic wisdoms:

[42:37] They avoid gross sins and vice, and when angered they forgive

[42:40] Although the just requital for an injustice is an equivalent retribution, those who pardon and maintain righteousness are rewarded by GOD. He does not love the unjust.

The Muslim masses need to learn a lot from the Quran.  They are shackled by their Ulams and Allamas!

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Mike Ghouse is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a professional speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, civic affairs, Islam, India, Israel, peace and justice. Mike is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he writes weekly at Dallas Morning News and regularly at Huffington post, The Smirking Chimp and several other periodicals. www.TheGhousediary.com is Mike's daily blog.


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 Irfan sahib,

It is illogical that in a Muslim state Prophet will be insulted and the offender will not be punished. Dr  Hashim Kamali has concluded in chapter on Blasphemy in his book  the Freedom Of Expression in Islam that blasphemy is punishable under Taziir and the punishment will depend on the level of offence. I feel he is right.

Shah Abdul Hannan

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 Dear Mr. Hannan,

Please do not insult the Qur'anic teachings.  The Qur'an does not require us to punish blasphemy in THIS world.  It's solely Allah's territory and He will deal with the blasphemers as He sees fit.  Why do you want to kill the blasphemer when Allah has declared ALL murders unlawful (except when the  are legally justified-and blasphemy is NOT one of them)?  Do you blood on your hands?

 Even the prophets were badly insulted during their lifetimes and Allah threatened the blasphemers to punish them Himself---Here and in the Hereafter.  Only He has this prerogative, no one else.  This is because the blasphemer must be allowed to have their natural life to repent  at any time, and this opportunity must not be taken away from them.  I hope you understand the difference between insulting and spreading widespread corruption on the Earth. 

Irfan