tagged w/ Muslim World
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Haroon Kash from Islamic Relief tells how his faith has influenced the development and relief work he has done in some of the worlds poorest countries.
It is difficult to say why I first became involved in aid work. It is something that I rarely think about unless someone asks me about it. I think that part of the reason may be because my origins are in the ‘less developed’ world. I have seen the other side of life, the life without glamour or any of the things we take for granted here in the UK. As a Muslim I also bring a faith perspective to my work, and I continually reflect on the privileges that this life has given me.
Most people are never exposed to the sufferings of the rest of the world. But I believe that once people experience it and relate to it, they always want to do more. This is what happened to me.
My first overseas assignment with Islamic Relief was in Kosovo, six months after the end of the conflict. It was in the middle of an extremely harsh winter and my role was to assess the needs of the community. This meant I had the opportunity to speak with all sections of the local population – victims, fighters, leaders and children. Each person had experienced suffering in a different way, and each was touched by the destruction that had torn whole communities apart.
This was also the first time that I had seen how religion can be used as a tool to divide people, turning people who had once been friends into enemies of each other. But despite this, on the ground various aid agencies of different faiths were working together. They were demonstrating the positive side of all faiths – the humanitarian side.
While religion may not consciously drive my every day work, after nine years with Islamic Relief it would be foolish to say it has no influence over why I continue to do what I do. For me the bottom line is that Islamic principles and humanitarian principles are one and the same. The added value is that Islamic Relief adopts Islamic values in its approach to delivering humanitarian principles. But the most important thing is that the beneficiaries receive the assistance that they need and that we make an impact, however small, on their lives.
I worked in Banda Aceh after the tsunami and was in Pakistan after the earthquake. These emergency situations are the times when my faith becomes really important. The total devastation and the mass loss of life is always going to affect even the most seasoned aid worker, and can strain your ability to do your job to the best of your ability. I find that in these situations being strong in my faith allows me to overcome these emotions and to focus on my work. I have never questioned why this is so, but take comfort and strength from it nonetheless.
Haroon Kash from Islamic Relief tells how his faith has influenced the development and... more
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Catholics and Muslims united to help Buddhists on Wednesday, as South Florida religious leaders announced a joint collection to benefit cyclone victims in Myanmar which is a mainly Bhuddhist nation.
The collection was set to start last weekend beggining at 18 mosques in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties, plus the 120 parishes and missions in the Archdiocese of Miami.
"This is not a Muslim or Catholic or Buddhist disaster; it's a human disaster," said Khalid M. Mirza, president of the Miami Gardens Mosque, site of a news conference announcing the campaign Wednesday. "Humans helping humans is a teaching of all religions."
The plan calls for the donations to be sent to the archdiocesan Catholic Charities, which will forward them to Caritas Internationalis, a Catholic relief agency. The Rev. Roger Holoubek, representing Archbishop John Favalora at the news conference, agreed with Mirza on the need for the faiths to cooperate on disaster relief.
"In Christianity, we are told to remove our shoes on holy ground, and I feel this is holy ground," said Holoubek, pastor of St. Maurice Catholic Church in Dania Beach. "It's holy ground when we work with Muslim sisters and brothers in helping victims of catastrophe."
Giving to Charity is a important part of both faiths, charity is also one of the 5 pillars of Islam.
Catholics and Muslims united to help Buddhists on Wednesday, as South Florida... more
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The sixth Doha Conference of Interfaith Dialogue opened on 13th may with Muslim leaders, Rabbis (incl. 2 from Israel) and Christian leaders coming together from across the globe in Qatar.
The conference was titled "Religious values: Perspective on peace and respect for life," and was organised jointly by the Qatar University, the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Opening the conference at the Doha Sheraton, H E Faisal bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, said, "We all see from the theme of this conference and its discussions a clear evidence of the success it achieved in terms of interfaith dialogue as well as the goals we wanted to achieve through the previous conferences. In addition to this, there is the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue, which is a real achievement of the previous recommendations."
Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter religious Dialogue (Vatican City) said:
"I noted with satisfaction that the Qatari people are courageous and maintain their promises. For example, they promised to widen the conference to include Jews and to create an international structure for dialogue- both promises have been maintained."
"As religious leaders let us promote a sound pedagogy of peace, which is taught in the family, in the mosques, in the synagogues, in the churches, in our schools, in our universities. Religions do not make war, unfortunately- as history teaches us-their followers sometimes make war," said Tauran. The sixth Doha Conference of Interfaith Dialogue opened on 13th may with Muslim... more
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It is often assumed that 'Honour' killings are sanctioned by Islam since they occur most commonly in the Middle East and as the perpetrators cite religious justification for their acts. But nowhere in the Holy Quran or Hadiths does it legitimise 'honour' killing, and Muslim leaders say it is forbidden.The image above shows Pakistani supporters of the Citizen's Action Group are campaigning against honour killings.
There have been many high-profile 'honour killings' in the UK such as Surjit Athwal (from a Sikh background) and Banaz Mahmod (from a Muslim background) which were condemned by both communities. Other recent honour killing which were not so high-profile include Vandana Bhadodiya (from a Hindu background).
The practice is said to pre-date Islam and Christianity and was born out of tribal culture. 'Honour' killings are carried out by members of the victim's immediate family to cleanse the family 'honour' after a female member brings 'shame' to it.
Critics say there is insufficient legislation in Iraq to punish perpetrators of 'honour' crimes eventhough a law was amended in 2002 to allow 'honour' killings to be treated in the same way as murder as some critics say some cases are often not investigated. 'Honour' crimes have risen in Iraq since the invasion as the Iraqi state disintegrated so people turned to tribal authorities.It is often assumed that 'Honour' killings are sanctioned by Islam since... more
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The Islamic prayer is now going digital, with a prototype of a new prayer mat with built-in sensors, lights, and a display screen to show scripture, alert the user to the next prayer time and find the direction of Mecca. "It will increase their understanding of the scriptures and the quality of the prayer," says the Muslim inventor Wael Aboulsaadat.
How it works...
The sensors embedded in the rug can detect the user's posture and if the worshipper makes an error (such as missing or adding a step in the prayer sequence) the sensors will vibrate. It's a subtle way to help correct the error without breaking the user's concentration, Aboulsaadat says. "It's important not to interrupt flow, because that interrupts the focus of prayer." As well, the user can recite and follow along with the scripture on the screen. "You can customize and choose which prayers to read."
Three modes...
In addition to the eRug's prayer mode, the device also has a notification mode that alerts the user to upcoming prayer times (devout Muslims are expected to pray five times a day facing the direction of the holy city of Mecca) and important religious holidays. The eRug's third mode acts like a compass – complete with a 3D model of the mosque in Mecca – so the user can find its direction wherever he or she may be.
Aboulsaadat will be planning to do simular things for people of other faiths, but since he's a Muslim he started with the e-rug first.The Islamic prayer is now going digital, with a prototype of a new prayer mat with... more
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In a world where Muslim's are stereotyped to be "Holocaust deniers" a Muslim Arab created the first Holocaust Museum in Arabic in what is said to be Jesus's (pbuh) hometown of Nazerath in 2005.
''Jewish people everywhere, not just in Israel, have a feeling of persecution" because of centuries of anti-Semitism that culminated in the Holocaust, said the museum's founder, Khaled Kasab Mahameed. ''This feeling of persecution shapes their consciousness. . . . Every aspect of life is affected by this feeling of persecution, which is very deep in the Jewish soul."
''If Arabs really understand this, they should understand that they must act with all their force to protect Israel and defend Jews against Nazis and other killers," he said. ''And when the Jewish people see that the Arabs understand, they will be able to give the Arabs their rights."
Majali a resident of Nazerath said:
''We were not part of this Holocaust as Arabs, but as Arabs now involved in conflict with Jews, we have some kind of responsibility to say 'Jews, we are with you.' " ''They want security. . . . We want an independent Palestinian state, but aside from this, we have to do something so that Jews feel security."
However the Musuem also has its critics both Arabs and Israeli's, but this Musuem is a step in the right direction towards building understanding.In a world where Muslim's are stereotyped to be "Holocaust deniers" a... more
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Some Muslim scholars have launched a fund to save the minority Boni community in Lamu from starvation. And the scholars have set off the Save the Boni Community Initiative by donating food worth more than Sh2.5 million.
National Muslim Council of Scholars executive director, Dr Mohammed Osman, said they were touched by an exclusive story in The Saturday Standard last month, that 350 members of the Boni had suffered food poisoning after feeding on sorghum seeds meant for planting.
The scholars yesterday flagged off three truckloads of food to Kiunga division where the Boni live. The consignment included maize meal flour, beans, powder milk, sugar, cooking oil and salt. He said the more than 40 tonnes of food was a small contribution to a community facing extinction due to serious historical injustices.
Osman appealed to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to donate some of the money raised for displaced persons to the Boni. He said the Boni have been IDPs since independence and their plight has never been addressed.
"The Boni have been living in Kenya as permanent IDPs, and it is sad that no one talks about them. Today they face extinction," said Athman.
Local District Commissioner, Mr Mumo Muathe, said more than half of 80,000 residents in the area face starvation.
Some Muslim scholars have launched a fund to save the minority Boni community in Lamu... more
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JAIPUR: On Friday, the first jume ki namaz after Tuesday’s blasts tore the city apart, Johari Bazaar’s Jama Masjid echoed with the chants.
Along with Imam Syed Mufti Amjad Ali, worshippers prayed for peace to the departed souls, solace and strength to the injured and the affected families and reason in the minds of the terrorists.
“Let us pray to Allah to guide to perverted souls so that they start loving the human race and stop killing them without reason. Let us pray for those who were killed in the blasts and for those who sustained injuries. God may give strength to the families to bear the shock,” said the Imam. The devotees bowed in response.
“Jihad means saving people and guarding one’s religion. In India people from all religions live together peacefully and there is no threat to anyone so who is fighting with whom and for what? It cannot be termed ‘jehad’ in any sense,” the Imam later told DNA.
“Tamaam Muslim jammat ayesi vardaaton ki mukhalfat karti hai” (The whole Muslim community condemns such a ghastly act), he reiterated, adding people from all religions were affected by the blasts.
Tuesday’s blasts included 12 Muslims among the dead and 30 in the list of injured, a spokesperson of the Rajasthan Muslim Forum said. He said businesses of several traders from the community were also hit. “Terrorists don’t have any religion and they just want to disturb communal harmony in otherwise peaceful nations like India. At least 20% of the Muslim community suffered due to the blasts. Where is the jehad?” he wondered.
JAIPUR: On Friday, the first jume ki namaz after Tuesday’s blasts tore the city... more
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JAIPUR: It was a prayer with a difference. On 16th May on Friday, thousands of Muslims, who congregated at the Jama Masjid at Johri Bazar, offered "special namaz" in memory of serial blast victims.
The chief Imam (Syed Amzad Ali) led the devotees in grieving over the tragedy and in condemning the terror attack. He said "Killing an innocent person is like killing the entire humanity and saving an innocent is considered saving the entire humanity," while reciting the holy Quran sermons. He strongly condemned the blasts that claimed 63 lives and left over 250 injured.
Imams at other mosques in the city also talked peace. Soon after the prayers, a meeting was called by Muslim clerics to discuss the situation arising out of the blasts. At the meeting also, special prayers were held.
There were condemnations all around. Sahnawaz Khan of Lohari mosque ghat gate said the perpetrators of terror have nothing to do with any religion. "There motive was to drive a wedge between Hindus and Muslims," he said and added their purpose won't be served.
This Friday's prayers were held amid high security. Police teams were seen frisking devotees before they entered the mosque. Volunteers also kept a strict vigil on the prayer venue. JAIPUR: It was a prayer with a difference. On 16th May on Friday, thousands of... more
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The largest Mosque in NY, the ICC, is getting applause from the city's influential Jewish community. Mohammad Shamsi Ali is the Mosque's Indonesian born-imam.
Rabbis who've spoken there call it an open and welcoming community. The Jewish Theological Seminary and the ICC are planning a joint soup kitchen for the homeless. The mosque is organizing an inter-religious studies program for teenagers.
"What I heard Shamsi Ali preach was as fine a sermon on brotherhood as has ever been preached," said Visotzky, professor of midrash (scriptural interpretation) and inter-faith studies across town at the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Rabbi Marc Schneier spoke at the ICC last year and invited the imam to speak in his Synagogue last month:
"It was impressive when he spoke to the congregation about Israel's territorial integrity and how suicide bombings are a perversion of the Koran and Islam."
The imam has taken part in the prayer at an inter-faith memorial service in Yankee Stadium two weeks after the September 11 attacks. Ali has also been active in larger inter-faith initiatives such as the National Dialogue of Muslims and Catholics and Imams and Rabbis conferences in the United States and abroad.The largest Mosque in NY, the ICC, is getting applause from the city's... more
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An organisation of Indian Muslims in the US have condemned the jaipur blasts and appealed for calm.
Rasheed Ahmed, President of Indian Muslim Council (USA), said:
"This is yet another dishonourable and immoral act committed on our society aimed at disturbing peace and harmony of the city's residents. It deserves denunciation by all people of conscience,"
Terrorism goes against Islam, the attacks killed both Hindu's and Muslims. Muslims and Hindu's alike donated blood to help the victims of the blast and worked to form peace groups in the city.An organisation of Indian Muslims in the US have condemned the jaipur blasts and... more
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Saturday night is going to be a special time for the faithful in Woodland's. Why? because its going to hopefully foster better relations between the Muslim and Christian communities in Woodland and Davis according to Rev. Brad van Sant.
"Peace Picnic" was Initiated by members of the Muslim community in Woodland the "Peace Picnic" will be a time to share an informal picnic at the park with genuine Pakistani barbecue supplemented with salads and desserts brought by the attending families.
The picnic at Woodside Park is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The park is located at the northeast side of Cottonwood Street and El Dorado Drive. Saturday night is going to be a special time for the faithful in Woodland's. Why?... more
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With misconceptions about Islam in the world very common, a Muslim group in the U.S. has decided to hand out free translations of the Holy Quran so people can get rid of misconceptions about the faith often held from TV.
"I'd read it just to see what it says, but I believe in Jesus, not Allah," said Macy, a longtime Christian. "They have a right to do it . . . but I feel pretty strong in my faith."
The book also contains a number in which people can ask questions regarding the Quran such as "What does Islam say about the Virgin Mary?".
"We're just trying to be honest brokers of information," said Wajahat Sayeed, founder and director of Book of Signs, which also is known as the Al-Furqaan Foundation. "You make your own judgment."
"The general sense will be clear," Sayeed said. "Islam teaches peace."
With misconceptions about Islam in the world very common, a Muslim group in the U.S.... more
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While the blasts intentions were to destroy the communal harmony, the opposite has happened, it has bought out the best of people from all the faiths Hindu's, Muslim's etc
Dera Sacha's sevadars have donated blood.
The Nirankaris of Jaipur have joined relief work in a big way. They have opened a 24-hour langar (kitchen) and have donated 150 units of blood.
The blast also prompted a group of Muslim youths who call themselves Pathan Chowk Vikas Samiti into action. Shahid Khan, an advocate and the group's leader, says that the decision to help the blast victims was carried out with rapidfire immediacy. "We not only helped lift the dead but also carried the injured to the hospital. Thirty of our members have donated blood," he says.
While the blasts intentions were to destroy the communal harmony, the opposite has... more
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Muslim countries across the globe have condemned the terrorist attacks in Jaipur which were created with the intent to sabotage communal harmony in India.
President of Afghanistan, Karzai said in his statement:
"The people of Afghanistan who have suffered from terrorism over the past several years share the pain and sadness of the people of India,”
Other Muslim countries who have condemned the blasts include Bangladesh, Pakistan and UAE along with Non-Muslim countries such as Canada and Austrailia. Terrorism is un-Islamic as it violates the sanctity of life by killing innocent people.Muslim countries across the globe have condemned the terrorist attacks in Jaipur which... more
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On 14th May in Dubai The United Arab Emirates (UAE) strongly condemned the blasts in Jaipur and extended its support to India in its fight against terrorism.
“The UAE vehemently condemns the blasts in Jaipur and extends full support to India’s efforts to fight terrorism,” UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said, according to state run Emirates News Agency (WAM).
“We extend our sympathies to those injured and pray for their speedy recovery,” Al Nahyan said.
The terrorist attacks go against Islam's principle of sanctity of life, the attacks have been condemned by Muslim organisations and countries.On 14th May in Dubai The United Arab Emirates (UAE) strongly condemned the blasts in... more
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New Delhi , May 15 (ANI): Muslims led by one of the prominent leaders of the BJP Shahnawaz Hussain protested against Jaipur bomb blasts and called for strict measures to deal with terrorism in New Delhi today.
Shahnawaz Hussain said the community will fight against terrorism by all means.
“The Muslim community in India has taken a pledge to come together and fight against terrorism. As a minority community we appeal to the central government to take some strict action on this issue,” said Hussain.
The blasts killed both Muslims and Hindus, other quite recent terrorist attacks included a Mosque (Mecca Masjid) and Hindu Temples, it is thought they were done to spread hatred between the two communities. The attacks have been condemned by Indian Muslim organisations aswell as UAE and the Afghan president. New Delhi , May 15 (ANI): Muslims led by one of the prominent leaders of the BJP... more
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A few days after the the Pope saying Aliens may exists, the Jews and Muslims of Russia have also confirmed their beliefs in Aliens.
The Muftis’ Council of Russia representative stated:
“According to the Holy Koran, the Almighty speaks about creation of various worlds. We know the world of people, jinns, plants and animals. Perhaps, we don’t know everything. The Creator can create anything. Other creatures may inhabit the worlds out of our reach,”
He then went on to recite the chapter from the Quran saying “Praise Allah, the Lord of the worlds!” and noted that thus the holy Muslim Book confirmed “that other civilizations may exist.”
Rabbi Zinovy Kogan said that “the Lord is the first cause for everything existing in micro and macro worlds.”
“It couldn’t be excluded that other creatures similar to man exist in other worlds,” he stressed. A few days after the the Pope saying Aliens may exists, the Jews and Muslims of Russia... more
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When Indian television news broadcasts appealed for blood donors on Wednesday, a day after the blasts, Yaseef Khan rushed to help.
"How can I sit at home when people are crying for blood?" Khan said.
He was one among many Hindus and Muslims joining to give blood. Both Muslims like Khan & Hindus united on Wednesday to help victims of the bomb blasts, offering the use of their mobile phones, distributing food & fruit juices as relatives swarmed hospitals of Jaipur from the early hours of the morning along with distributing free medicine to those who cant afford it (through voluntary organisations).
"We managed to save at least 150 lives last night because of help from these unknown people," Rakesh Sharma, an orthopaedic surgeon said.
The bombs are thought to be done with the intent to cause hatred between the two faiths followers. "Bombs cannot divide the Hindus and Muslims, it never succeeded and people should know that it is not going to work," Sohail Illyas, a Muslim man.
Hindu's and Muslims were killed in the attacks, which the PM of India & Muslim organisations have condemned. These attacks violated the Quranic principle of the sanctity of life. When Indian television news broadcasts appealed for blood donors on Wednesday, a day... more
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Muslim organisations across India have condemned the horrific terrorist attacks.
Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadees Hind has called the Jaipur bombings inhuman, barbarous and condemnable.
Maulana Asghar Ali Imam Mehdi Salfi secretary of the organisation in a statement said people behind attacks want to sabotage communal harmony in the country, and demanded the government to conduct a impartial enquiry into the attacks, and bring the culprits to book and urged people to maintain peace. He also expressed his sympathy with the relatives of the victims.
Other Muslim organisations which condemned the blasts include; The Aligarh Alumni Association of Metropolitan Washington (AAA), Tamilnadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK), Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH). Terrorism violates the Quran as terrorism does not value sanctity of life.Muslim organisations across India have condemned the horrific terrorist attacks.... more
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