-
-
Morocco: sending moderate preaches to fight extremism in Europe
Morocco's King Muhammed VI is to send moderate Muslim preachers in European countries to help the fight against extremism during the Holy month of Ramadan to address Mosques when they will be packed.
Morocco's religious affairs ministry has instructed preachers to:
"answer the religious needs of the Moroccan community abroad, to protect it from any speeches of extremism or irregular nature, and to shelter it from extremism and fanaticism"
Morocco held its annual sacred music festival this year with people from all faiths singing sacred music, and one with Islamic & Christian choir performing at the same time.
Morocco's King Muhammed VI is to send moderate Muslim preachers in European countries to help the fight against extremism during the H... more -
Mosque feeds 1, 000 needy Singaporians
Muslims worked together this weekend to provide Sunday lunch for people of races & religions at the Al-Iman Mosque in Bukit Panjang.
BLESSING TO ALL COMMITTEE
Soon after the Tsunami in 2004 Islamic Religious Council of Singapore and mosque heads set up a Blessings to All committee to help in humanitarian efforts. To date, it has raised $1.3 million for disaster victims in South Asia, Indonesia, Myanmar and Sichuan, China.
Yesterday the committee presented a $129,000 cheque to Mercy Relief for survivors of this year's cyclone in Myanmar and earthquake in China.
The committee encourages Mosques to make a difference in neighborhoods. Some Mosques now projects like running soup kitchens & beach clean ups.
RESPONSES
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said:
'Keep up the good work, to be good Muslims, good citizens, good neighbours!' he wrote in a note at the mosque, alongside comments from other well-wishers, who included representatives of major religions in Singapore.
Said Mr R. Bawajee of the Hindu Advisory Board: 'The promotion of sharing among communities facilitates inter-faith harmony.'
Muslims worked together this weekend to provide Sunday lunch for people of races & religions at the Al-Iman Mosque in Bukit Panjan... more -
Switzerland to ban minarets?
Switzerland is to vote on banning Mosque minarets as there has been over 100,000 signitaures asking for a ban nation-wide against Mosque minarets led by Swiss People's party.
Earlier this week a channel 4 documentary "It Shouldn't Happen to a Muslim" showed how many press reports have reported false reports on Muslims & Islam and how many Muslims are living in fear in the UK with some even go as far as buying homes in places like Muslim-Turkey incase things get worse.
The documentary was hosted by a Peter Oborne a devout-Christian who was shocked to find what was happening. Switzerland is to vote on banning Mosque minarets as there has been over 100,000 signitaures asking for a ban nation-wide against Mosq... more -
Muslim couple get married over the telephone
A Indian couple exchanged vows over the telephone because the groom could not return home from Kuwait (where he works) for the wedding.
The whole of the village in India's state of West Bengal watched as the Muslim clerics put the phone on speaker mode to hear the wedding vows.
The Islamic cleric who organised the modern marriage ceremony said: "They said qubul (I do) thrice and the marriage was complete" A Indian couple exchanged vows over the telephone because the groom could not return home from Kuwait (where he works) for the wedding... more -
Iran Tests Missile System
A defiant Iran continues to test missile systems in the wake of a show of strength by Israel's air force. So far, the U.S. is opting for diplomacy to deal with the Islamic republic's perceived nuclear threat. But persistent threats from Tehran to destroy Israel continue to draw international sanctions. A defiant Iran continues to test missile systems in the wake of a show of strength by Israel's air force. So far, the U.S. is opting f... more
-
Salman Rushdie wins 'Best of Booker' Prize
Midnight's children, the bestselling 1981 novel by the recently Knighted Indian-British novelist Salman Rushdie has been awarded the 'Best of the Booker' prize. The award, voted for by the public, was to find the most popular winner in the Booker Prize's 40 year history. The book centres around events in India before and after the independence and partition of the country, which took place at midnight on 15 August 1947.
Rushdie attracted controversy from the Muslim community for his 1988 novel 'The Satanic Verses', which was inspired in part by the life of Muhammad. He was subsequently forced into hiding after the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, then Supreme Leader of Iran, issued a fatwa on Rushdie, which invited Muslims to kill him for their religion.
Midnight's children, the bestselling 1981 novel by the recently Knighted Indian-British novelist Salman Rushdie has been awarded the '... more -
Muslim-run organisation throws "Pizza for the hungry" parties!
The pizza parties -with live music- saw people of all faiths caming together across U.S. states which saw 15,000 pizza slices donated to the homeless & hungry at soup kitchens through eyeBLINK’s business (a not for-profit-organisation)!
The Muslim-run eyeBLINK’s business's manager and creator of 'Pizza for the Hungry: A Smile Brings Hope' Obai Kadwani said:
“It is a part of our religion to feed the hungry,”
“Charity is both encouraged and required in Islam. Muslims are encouraged to feed the hungry irrespective of the religions of the hungry. It is great to showcase such a great characteristic of Islam. As everyone knows, actions speak louder than words.”
http://www.free-press-release-center.info/pr00000000000...
The pizza parties -with live music- saw people of all faiths caming together across U.S. states which saw 15,000 pizza slices donated ... more -
Saudi Muslim scholar: following al-qaeda against Islam
An Islamic scholar in Saudi Arabia has said the terrorist network alqaeda goes against the principles of Islam. The statement was issued after al-qaeda militants were arrested last month in S. Arabia.
The Saudi scholar, Al-Sheikh said:
"The things that al-Qaeda members do in Saudi Arabia must be unacceptable to any Muslim,"
"He who commits crimes such as those of the deviant sect (refering to al-qaeda) is nothing but a wicked person who has abandoned his faith and behaves like animals or barbarians."
"Supporting them means committing one of the biggest sins." An Islamic scholar in Saudi Arabia has said the terrorist network alqaeda goes against the principles of Islam. The statement was issu... more -
Islamist protests after mass death-row amnesty on Bhutto birthday
Pakistan has pardoned 7,000 death row inmates and changed their sentences to life imprisonment to celebrate the late Benazir Bhutto's birthday.
The gesture, which constitutes one of the biggest amnesties in modern history, was approved by the Cabinet this week. According to Amnesty International, the reprieve will affect almost one third of the world's death row population, which is estimated to be around 24,000. The prisoners sentences will be changed to imprisonment for life. According to a Pakistani official, prisoners sentenced for drug offenses and terrorism charges might not be offered a pardon.
However, radical Mullahs are encouraging Muslims to protest against the amnesty, arguing that it is against Sharia law and, as such, "un-Islamic." Furthermore, Mullahs draw attention to Islamic laws according to which only relatives of murder victims can pardon the murderer. Islamic leaders have announced that a meeting of religious groups is to be held at the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad on July 6 to make a plan to protest. Pakistan has pardoned 7,000 death row inmates and changed their sentences to life imprisonment to celebrate the late Benazir Bhutto's ... more -
Iran: Rising number of foreigners in religious schools in Qom
Twenty thousand foreign students have graduated from the theological schools in the holy Iranian city of Qom, which is considered the cradle of Shia Islam.
Mahommad Kabiri, a representative at the Mostafa al Alamieh University in Qom released the data on Friday and said that the foreign students represented 104 different ethnicities.
"Currently, we host 10,000 students who are not Iranian nationals, including 2,000 women, who are studying theology in the city of Qom," said Kabiri.
The Mostafa al-Alamieh University manages 13 theological schools for young foreigners. One of these schools, known as Bent al Hoda, accepts only female foreign students. Twenty thousand foreign students have graduated from the theological schools in the holy Iranian city of Qom, which is considered the ... more -
Muslim Morocco using Music as a bridge between world faiths?
As Saudi Arabia held its first ever conference on interfaith dialogue Morocco is hosting its 14th festival of World Sacred Music.
The president of the festival, Mohamed Kabbaj, said:
"Religion is too important to leave to clerics alone"
There was even a Christians & Muslims performing together which was shown on France24 on its 'Culture' Magazine.
Other performers from across the globe include a Christian singing in Syriac related to Aramaic the language of Jesus (pbuh) & Indian Madhup Mudgal who will sing in Hindustani (classical Indian) even using Hindu scriptures like the Vedas. A Greek Othordox choir & other Muslim sufi perfomers also performed.
The city of Fez has been the spiritual & cultural capital of Morocco & has ties with Europe such as Andulusia, (modern day Spain) as it use to be part of the Islamic Empire where Muslims, Christians & Jews use to live & coexist peacefully. As Saudi Arabia held its first ever conference on interfaith dialogue Morocco is hosting its 14th festival of World Sacred Music. ... more -
Muslim community raises $125,000 for Hospital
A fundraiser hosted by the Muslim community has raised $125 G for the York Central Hospital, well-above the goal to raise $150G over a 5 year span for a blood bank analyser system.
In all, $125,000 was raised by SHIFA (Arabic for “cure”).
“The commitment of $30,000 per year was exceeded significantly by a quantum leap,” Naim Malik, event co-chairperson said.
About 400 guests attended the Thornhill’s Le Parc banquet hall Friday night, for an inaugural hospital fundraiser, hosted by the local Muslim community. Among the attendees were Mayor Dave Barrow, members of council & Pakistan’s consul general, Tassadaq Hussain.The event which included multi-cultural entertainment was led by Mr. Malik and Nancy Coxford, chairperson of the York Central Hospital Foundation.
A fundraiser hosted by the Muslim community has raised $125 G for the York Central Hospital, well-above the goal to raise $150G over a... more -
China destroys Mosque for not supporting the Olympics
A Mosque in the prodominantly Muslim Xinjiang province in China has been destroyed for not putting a sign up to support the olympics.
The Mosque was accused of "illegally" renovating the structure (the renovation took place in 1998), carrying out "illegal" religious activities aswell as storing "illegal" copies of the Holy Quran- which have also been seized alongside many people being detained.
On March 29 this year more than 50 Christians were arrested with their Bibles, books etc being confiscated for a "illegal" gathering in the Sichuan Province. A Mosque in the prodominantly Muslim Xinjiang province in China has been destroyed for not putting a sign up to support the olympics. ... more -
Islamic scholar voted worlds no.1 thinker
Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish Islamic scholar has been voted the world's top intellectual in a poll to find the leading 100 thinkers.
The scholar attracted a massive half a million votes according to the survey organised by a British (Prospect) & an American magazine (Foreign Policy).
The top 10 individuals were all Muslim and included two Nobel laureates, the novelist Orhan Pamuk, who is also Turkish, at No 4, and the Iranian human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi, in 10th.
Gülen has been praised in the West for promoting dialogue & condemned Osoma Bin Laden as a monster after 9/11. Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish Islamic scholar has been voted the world's top intellectual in a poll to find the leading 100 thinkers. ... more -
Islam & America: through the eyes of Imran Khan
Ex-cricketer & Politician explores; why do so many Muslims hate the United States? What has America done to alienate so many people in the Muslim world? Ex-cricketer & Politician explores; why do so many Muslims hate the United States? What has America done to alienate so many peopl... more
-
Muslims raise cash for Palestinians
The Muslim community has raised £15,000 through two dinner-fundraisers & collecting money at Bolton's Mosques for humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza via Islamic Relief.
At one of the dinners MP Dr Brian Iddon, gave a presentation about his experiences in Gaza which he visited earlier this year:
He said: "Conditions in Gaza are bleak, with little or no fuel for public services, including garbage collection and ambulances. People have to walk to work, often arriving late, including doctors, nurses and teachers.
"Food distribution is down to the basics and, recently, the UN were unable to distribute food at all. Around 80% of Gazans now rely on charities and the UN to distribute their basic food supplies."
He added: "If electricity fails at al-Shifa hospital for 30 mins, 80 people die and, if it fails for a week, 250 people die."
He added:
This collective punishment on the imprisoned people of Gaza is illegal under international law." The Muslim community has raised £15,000 through two dinner-fundraisers & collecting money at Bolton's Mosques for humanitarian aid... more -
Muslim doctors to open free clinic in Brooksville
Dr Husam Zarad & 40 other Muslim doctors in Hernando County will begin working on Saturdays in their new space in the Brook Plaza at Broad Street and Ponce de Leon Boulevard, just outside downtown Brooksville. Their goal is to provide free care to the growing number of underserved and uninsured people in Hernando County (which is 18% of Hernando's residents who dont have medical insurance).
"This is our dream coming true," Zarad said, wiping sweat from his brow after angling the table into the room. "This is how we are going to give back to our community."
With Zarad and a handful of other doctors at the lead, they're ready to give back the way that their religion asks them — even if it's in a county where religious tensions still run high.
"Charity and doing good make up the Third Pillar of Islam," Zarad said. "And after talking about this for so long, we decided to make it really happen. I'm losing sleep just thinking of the benefits this will bring for the community."
Dr Husam Zarad & 40 other Muslim doctors in Hernando County will begin working on Saturdays in their new space in the Brook Plaza ... more -
Mosque steps in to help raided church
A theif who strolled into St Alban's church (ilford) and stole charity money raised for Christian Aid has been replaced this week by Muslim worshippers from the nearby Ilford Mosque.
Ghazanfer Ali- Chairman of the Mosque says:
"We have a very good relationship with the church and we were all sad to hear the news. It's an absolute tragedy...We are friends and neighbours and we look after each another...There are people out and about who commit these awful crimes," he added.
Mr Ali meets with Father David Milnes on Redbridge Three Faiths Forum. A grateful Mr Milnes thanked members of the mosque.
He said: "It is a lovely gesture, I am really pleased".
Liberal Democrat Cllr Ralph Scott said:
"I'm delighted to be given this news of a practical example where one faith is being assisted by another, at a time of crisis.
"The mosque has always been an outward looking group, and shows Redbridge has reached maturity in building good community relations."
The theif is white, in his early 20's, has short hair & has a tatoo on his right arm.
A theif who strolled into St Alban's church (ilford) and stole charity money raised for Christian Aid has been replaced this week by M... more -
Dalai Lama it's wrong to tag Muslims as terrorists
In an anti-terrorism conference organised by the non-profit Jama Masjid United Forum (JMUF), New Delhi on June 1 (Sunday), Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness – the Dalai Lama – said that it was wrong to tag all Muslims as terrorists.
This comes a day after the leading Muslims anti-terrorism organisation issued ’fatwa’ against terrorism. His Holiness said that the anti-terrorist campaign led by Muslim clerics set a model for the entire world.
The Dalai Lama also made a historic trip to the Capital’s Jama Masjid (Mosque), where he joined others for a special prayer, held for the world-peace. Syed Yahya Bukhari, the historic Jama Masjid’s cleric secretariat, said:
“We condemn all forms of terrorism. Let us make no distinction and terrorism should not be associated with any religion.”
The confrence urged the root causes of terrorism to be tackled.
In an anti-terrorism conference organised by the non-profit Jama Masjid United Forum (JMUF), New Delhi on June 1 (Sunday), Tibetan spi... more -
Saudi king reiterates call for inter-faith dialogue
Saudi King Abdullah reiterated today a call for dialogue between Islam and other religions during a gathering of Muslim scholars to discuss eventual inter-faith talks.
"You meet today to tell the world ... that we are the voice of justice and moral human values and the voice of coexistence as well as just and reasonable dialogue," he told the opening session of the three-day International Islamic Conference in the Muslim holy city of Mecca.
However, the monarch pointed out that among the major challenges now facing Muslims is combating a growing extremism.
"The challenges facing the (Muslim) nation are difficult at this time, as its enemies -- including those extremists among its own people -- have joined forces in a flagrant aggressiveness to distort the ... rightfulness and tolerance of Islam," he said.
The King said we will start the dialogue with our belief in God and added :
"The way to reach out to the other will be through the common values that were preached by God's messages, which were sent for the good of the human being,"
This comes as it was revealed in March this year that Saudi Arabia is to retrain its 40,000 imams in a bid to counter-terrorism & extremism. Saudi King Abdullah reiterated today a call for dialogue between Islam and other religions during a gathering of Muslim scholars to di... more
-
related topics
Islamic
Contributors (149)
Islamic
