Ramadan day 11 Dallas Family Church

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Title
– Ramadan day 11 Dallas Family Church
Date
– Monday, July 30, 2012 | Ramadan11, 1433
Mosque
(not a Mosque) – Dallas Family Church (214)
905-9233
Address
– 1922 Anson Road, Dallas, TX 75235
Website
– n/a
29
Mosques – 29 days of Ramadan at: www.RamadanDaily.com
Today’s
Pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157630832396550/show/
Iftaar
Time today: 8:31 PM CST
Recommended reading
listed below the note


Today’s Iftaar
was at Dallas Family Church.
Rev. Kook Jin
Moon
Dallas Family Church is
a place I visit a few times a year, and it is always a joy to be there, the
folks at this ministry are committed to the interfaith work. Indeed, they have
become a family to me, particularly Rev. Mark Hernandez. If he asks me to drop
other things and join him, I will do that out of respect for this great man. As
the month progresses, I will share some extraordinary stories and experiences
from the interfaith events, including the one tonight.
Reverend Moon’s ministry
has made several trips to Jerusalem with the Middle East Peace Initiative, and I
have been with them as well. In Korea this March, they held an international
meeting with thousands attending from across the globe. They celebrated the
interfaith movement with a unique concept – they made 4 Gold plated statues of
major religious leaders; Moses, Jesus, Buddha and for Islam, they made a gold
plated symbol of Quraan on a pedestal and conducted their meetings under the
umbrella of these. They are very respectful of Islam, and I have opened many a
sessions with interfaith prayers.
Today, Rev. Kook Jin
Moon made it to Dallas, a Harvardian heading his father’s business, an inventor
himself and a powerful speaker. He is visiting several Cities in the United
States and other countries on a mission about creating freedom societies,
similar to mine building cohesive societies, but his emanates from theology of
Rev. Sun Myung Moon, his father.
Mark asked me to join
him to hear Kook Jin this evening, and also asked me to join for lunch. I
mentioned to him that I will join them, but that, I am fasting.

Mark Sat
next to me and was reluctant to eat, I broke the ice, and told everyone to
simply enjoy their food, the more temptations sit in front of me, the stronger I
get in my fasting, indeed, I looked into each delicious dish, and took pictures
as well. The food looked real good.

Delicious “looking” Korean food

Then
I spoke about what fasting was all about – it’s to bring Taqwa, the spirituality
in us, it is getting closer to God and acquiring those qualities – to be kind,
forgiving, generous, loving and caring towards all of God’s creation, and to
learn to be ourselves by being ourselves rather than go with the
flow.


Kook Jin Moon shared
some powerful views about freedom, less government, less regulations and let the
freedom determine the outcomes. Ideologically, it sounds good and almost like
the concept of “freedom wins” at last. I shared the concept of freedom
expressed in Quran 2:256, that there shall not be no compulsion in the maters of
faith.

Furthermore, God could have prevented or programmed Adam to be
obedient, and we would not have been kicked out of heaven. God means business,
when he gave free will to Adam, he meant it. He did not interrupt, nor did he
slap Adam for disobedience. Adam knew there was a consequence to his decision,
and we are living it.

When Christians talk
about the first sin, or being born sinners, they mean that it is in our DNA to
disobey, and that we have to do our inner Jihad to be free again.
On the other hand, the
Saudi Police is intolerant of Muslims who do not fast, as if they are
responsible to God on the Day of Judgment. I don’t know if Iran has enforcers.
What an individual does is his own business and not any one’s. Similarly, a few
Muslims embarrass others by blatantly asking them if they are observing the
fast. On our part, we should not look down on those who don’t observe fasting,
as it amounts to degrading our own taqwa. I do hope our Imams agree with this.
Isn’t Islam about common sense and free will?
Rev. Mark Hernandez is
Chair for the seven states area for the American Clergy Association and Family
federation of Churches, in 2005 he heard me on 820 AM Radio and came to the
Unity Day USA, since then we have become friends. The founder of this world wide
church is Rev. Sun Myung Moon whose ministry is based in South Korea, but has
flourished well in the United States. He is quite an influential person on the
world stage. I have had the opportunity to have breakfast with him and his wife
at 4:30 AM a few years ago, and also welcomed him in Dallas by placing a Garland
on him, and my late wife Najma had welcomed his wife Rev. Hak Jahan Moon. I have
met with three of their sons, who run their own businesses and head the church
now, and thier daughter Rev. Injin Moon, who heads the Church in the United
States.
BREAKING THE
FAST

The program was from 7-10 PM and breaking of fast was at 8:32
PM. I had informed Rev. Hernandez earlier, who had informed Rev. Moon that I
will be stepping out for Iftaar, thank God; Mrs. Yuri Hernandez had set a fruit
plate for me and Marzuk Jami, the other Muslim among some 250 people in a packed
hall to listen to Kook Jin Moon. By the way, we quietly walked out and did our
Iftaar and Maghrib prayers in the fellowship hall. My i-phone compass worked to
point to the Kaaba.

This is the first
time I am on the other side of the fence.

Five years ago, my Sikh and
Zoroastrian friends reluctantly shared a story from seven years ago, and they
wanted to know why Muslims had walked out on them in the Unity Day in 2005? They
asked if the prayer sequence for religious leaders be reversed this time from
Zoroastrians to Atheists (though not a religion, they are a part of the Unity
Day) instead of the other way around. I could not bear their hurt, and quickly
did inquires and found out that Muslims did walk out on them when the Sikhs,
Wicca and Zoroastrians were speaking. I don’t let these things go unverified,
and found out that it was the time for Maghrib on September 11, 2005 and Muslim
went to prayers. It was all in Alphabetical order. My Sikh and Zoroastrian
friends were relieved knowing the truth, and the restoration of
goodwill.

Our Key note speakers that evening were Daisy Khan and Mayor
Pat Evans of Plano. I shared the story and added that for Muslims, duty to God
takes precedence over other things, and mentioned to the Mayor and other Mayors
present that even if President George Bush (2007) would be speaking, Muslims
would go to pray. It was a revealing story, and the moral is, don’t hold against
people without verifying the truth. Whether it is Christians, Jews, Hindus,
Muslims or any one, we really need to verify before we hold someone in contempt,
it is for our own good, saving the anguish and sustaining the
goodwill.

Mike Ghouse, Rev.
Kook Jin Moon, Rev. Mark Hernandez

And today, it was my
turn to inform the organizers of the event to let them know in advance, that I
will be stepping out to do my Iftaar. Indeed, I stepped out at 8:29, right when
Rev. Kook Jin Moon was being introduced. This ministry is well versed with the
religious nuances of Jews, Christians, Hindus and Muslims.

Rev. Kook Jin
Moon’s talk on freedom was incredible, I do see his point, he is more like Ron
Paulian libertarian, and I am more like Gary John Libertarian or John Huntsman
Republican. We did talk about Sean Hannity. Sean is indeed a good conservative
who believes in genuine individual freedom, but somehow he slips into being a
radical Republican. He did correct me once that he is a conservative rather than
the Republican and I pray he remains conservative but becomes a moderate
Republican.

I will write about Rev.
Moon’s speech in a separate piece. However, I do want to thank Rev. Hernandez
for inviting me, and appreciate the honor Rev. Joshua Cotter gave me by
referencing several times from the stage.

Happy Ramadan.

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

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

What
does God really want?

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

A
Muslim observing the lent:
http://nabsites.net/demo/happy-easter/

Quraan
conference, dealing with mis-translated verses of Quraan
http://quraanconference.blogspot.com/2012/07/pastor-robert-jeffress-ingnites-quraan.html

Are
Muslims a part of the American society? http://nabsites.net/demo/are-muslims-part-of-american-story/

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


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

MikeGhouse 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 contributes weekly to
the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning
News and
regularly at Huffington
post, and
several other periodicals across the world. The blog www.TheGhousediary.comis
updated daily.

Ramadan day 10 Masjid Yaseen, Garland

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Title – Ramadan day 10 Masjid Yaseen,
Date – Sunday, July 29, 2012 | Ramadan10,
1433
Mosque – Masjid Yaseen
Address – Campbell Road, Garland, Tx
75044
Website – www.MasjidYaseen.org
This article is at: http://nabsites.net/demo/ramadan-day-10-masjid-yaseen-garland/
29 Mosques – 29 days of Ramadan at:  www.RamadanDaily.com
Today’s Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157630815553888/show/
Iftaar Time today: 8:32 PM CST
Recommended reading
listed below the note

Masjid
Yaseen is perhaps one of the first Mosques in the area that is built 10 years
ahead of its time; ample parking and spacious sanctuary space to grow into. The
paneling on the Mehrab is full two stories high and looks beautiful with full
height windows. This mosque also has great PA system that gives out clear crispy
voice of the Imam during the prayer.

Again,
the dome of this mosque is first of its kind that is symmetrical, and raised
above the roof top to be seen from outside. The builder in me spots things that
are unusual; the dome on this mosque is raised high enough to be visible from
the parking space and on either east or west, it is the south side that the dome
is not visible, as the building itself is about 5 fee above street level. A few
other mosques sunk the dome behind jagged edged walls on the outside, no idea
why they cannot focus on street scape. However, that is a different design
element altogether, the dome of this Mosque is just very pleasant and so is its
color.

I
was looking at the name of the organization, “Islamic Association of Arabi”
unlike most other Mosques that list the name of the city. But when I browsed
through the website I found what Arabi meant; it is a suburb of New Orleans, Louisiana where this
tradition of Mosque took root. Their website reads, “The Islamic Association of
Arabi began as a small Masjid (Masjid Yaseen) and in only five years, the first
boarding Islamic institute in the United States was established. From 1990 to
2005, fifty-five American Muslim children completed memorization of the Holy
Quran and another thirteen went on to become Scholars of Islam. Today,
Alhamdulillah, it is a sense of great pride that these products of The Islamic
Association of Arabi are serving various Masjids and communities all over our
nation.”
Brother Mir Yusufuddin, one of
the earliest Muslims in Dallas

I was early in the
mosque, and searched for the Hilali Khan** translation of Quraan, thank God; I
did not see it, as it is one of the most dangerous translations of Quraan that
fuels Islamophobia. There was a translation in Urdu, and read through the first
chapter and it was fine. I am very conscious of the wrong translation and the
havoc they play in the society. Sean Hannity at Fox News had mentioned that to
me, and I presented him with Muhammad Asad’s translation, which is by far the
best, but not perfect.

IFTAAR –
Breaking the fast;

It was great to see Brother Mir Yusufuddin in the
Mosque. He is one of the earliest Indian Muslims pioneers to have come to the
United States. Most of the migration started in mid-sixties, right after the
passage of the Civil rights acts. But Dallas was blessed with about 10 families
who came in early sixties – among them were Brother Sabu, Dr. Bukhari, Dr.
Amanullah Khan, Dr. Afzal and others. I believe Yusufuddin bhai came in around
that time. He was on my Radio show in 1996 where we did a talk show series and
he shared the story of Dallas then – there was no Halal meat nor any Indian
grocery was available at that time. We talked about the history of Indians,
Pakistanis, Sri Lankans and others, then Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and
others. By the way, the oldest Indian in town is a Jewish man by the name Simon
Saragon, who migrated with his mother in 1932! The second one was Ike Sekhon, a
prominent Indian Sikh, who came to Dallas in 1956. He passed away a few years
ago.

Prayers
The
Audible Aameen chorus after Sura Fateha was toned down in this mosque, and at
the Noori Masjid, it did not exist, in other Mosques it is
vigorous.

After
the prayers, it was time for Hadeeth reading. The gentleman, a Medical doctor
was reading the Hadiths from Sahih Bukhari – In one Hadith, Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) says to his associates that if you can find a way to remove ill-will
towards every one, keep it that way, that is the right thing to do. I was rather
pleased to hear that Hadith. He shared a few other Hadiths, and repeated each
one three times; I was attentive to see if the narrator of the Hadith was
different, it was the same narrator. Later he told me that, it was prophet’s
practice to emphasize it by repeating three times.

I wish he had
clarified the depth of the words “ill-will towards none” as I have heard a few
among us, who understand it be “ill-will towards no Muslim”. It should mean
towards any human being. Not sure, if there is a feedback system in place to
ensure the kids understood it the same way or the other way.

Last year,
I was the speaker at Diwali Celebrations, and told the story of Rama and Krishna
to the nearly all white non-Hindu audience, and when the time for feedback came,
almost everyone understood the way it was explained to them. Everyone knew Sita
and her relationship with Rama. I was surprised at the attentiveness and
listening habits, and the president of Hindu Temple was rather pleased to see
good feedback, so did Nishi Bhatia, a teacher and an organizer of the event.

Dinner

The Haleem was extraordinary, unlike the dark colored
ones, this one was light , and maybe it was chicken Haleem, if there is a thing
like that. Haleem is grinding the meat with lentil and cooking it together,
creating a thick pasty pulpy food. It had the Hyderabadi touch to it – bits of
cashew added to it made it delicious. I
am waiting Ramadan to be over, so I can eat, Bisi Bele Baath, a south Indian
vegetarian dish with Lentil, Veggies and Rice cooked
together..

Taraweeh

I was
stunned with the pace of Quraan recitation in this mosque. One gathering prays
in the main sanctuary and the other on the second floor – the second floor guys
are doing the Khatam-Khwani; i.e., completing the entire Quraan recitation in
Taraweeh Prayers in 10 days! The main floor guys will finish in normal time –
27 to 28 days and these guys will do it three times. You know what time they go
home? 12:30 AM! And what time do they get up? 4:30 AM!. That is dedication to
Ramadan!

I
hope you see the uniqueness of each mosque and will have no ill-will towards
others for practicing their own version of Islamic rituals, and some times, very
differently. By the time, I will finish writing about Ramadan in28 to 29 days,
we all should have a pretty good idea about the uniqueness of each Masjid.
If
reading this is offering you an understanding of different traditions within
Islam, and is opening your heart and mind to respect other traditions, please
feel free to share your comments.
One of the purposes for
my visits to different Mosques each day, during the month of Ramadan is to
understand various traditions and have the cushion to absorb them all and give
full value to each one. I hope, some day, more and more Muslims make these
rounds. It is humbling and yet powerful to have the ability to understand the
differences and respect them.

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

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

MikeGhouse 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 contributes weekly to
the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning
News and
regularly at Huffington
post, and
several other periodicals across the world. The blog www.TheGhousediary.comis
updated daily.

Ramadan day 9 Noori Masjid, Plano

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Allama
Iqbal said it well, “Tujhe kya milega namaaz may” what do you get out of fasting
and prayer, if it does not make you a humble person. Humility is the other name
for Taqwa or spirituality, it broadly means treating, feeling and acting equal
with your employee, spouse, kids or others; Muslim or not. How do we measure
up?

Title – Ramadan day 9- Noori Masjid,
Plano
Date – Saturday, July 28, 2012 | Ramadan 9,
1433
Mosque – Noori Masjid (972)
423-5786
Address – 1251 Shiloh Road, Plano, Tx
75074
Website – www.IslamicAcademy.org
This article: http://nabsites.net/demo/ramadan-day-9-noori-masjid-plano/
29 Mosques – 29 days of Ramadan at: www.RamadanDaily.com 
Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157630798321704/show/
Iftaar Time today: 8:34 PM CST
Recommended reading listed below the
note

EXPERIENCE RAMADAN AT
NOORI MASJID

Artists rendering of Noori
Masjid, click to enlarge the image

It is a euphoric feeling to
feel at home again, I am home* at this Masjid as well, and I was thankful to God
for removing every barrier in my life between me and another human being. I
believe this is what God meant, to know each other, and when we do, we are home,
no matter where we are, and blissfully, I am. The purpose to mention these
feeling are to encourage you to have it, by merely respecting the otherness of
other.

Allama Iqbal said it well, “Tujhe kya milega
namaaz may” what do you get out of fasting and prayer, if it does not make you a
humble person. Humility is the other name for Taqwa or spirituality, it broadly
means treating, feeling and acting equal with your employee, spouse, kids or
others; Muslim or not. How do we measure up?
The
welcome was nice, as I was seated with a Khajoor (date) and a napkin, I was
smiling to have an actual napkin in my hand.

There were at least six or
seven men in bottle green turbans, something I had seen on the great grandson
(14th) of Imam Bukhari, and who and I were fellow Ambassadors for
peace with UPF. He passed away three years ago and I had great memories of him.
At the Parliament of world’s Religions in Melbourne at the Flag Ceremony, I
asked people to pick up the flag of a nation that is not theirs or the one their
nation is in conflict with, I handed a Palestinian Flag to an Israeli Rabbi and
the Israeli Flag to Imam Bukhari, in the spirit of goodwill both complied and
actually said, it was a great feeling to be in other’s shoes.

Breaking
the fast

Time for silence, everyone was ready for breaking the fast, the
Imam recited a short three verse prayer before breaking the fast, and then the
traditional verses after we had the date and the water, some had milk ( I am
allergic to lactose). He recited and we repeated. It is not a
common tradition in other Mosques.

Prayers
An
after reciting the Sura Fateha in Qiyam (standing position of the prayer – the
picture on left panel of the site gives different postures), it was quite,
unlike the “Aameen” said in Audible Chorus Mosque wide in other Mosques. This
is how it was when I was growing up, no one said Ameen out loud.

When
growing up, I was taught, that in the final sitting position, the toes of the
right foot remain facing in the same direction as you are, making an “L” out of
your foot. Personally, I cannot do it any more due to my ingrown tow nails, and
I do not see that discipline in the last 8 days, as I witnessed today.
Physically, this posture brings relief to the feet.

The full prayer was
identical to most of the Sunni tradition. However, after the conclusion of the
prayer with a Salaam to the right and the left, there was supplication lead by
the Imam, and the congregants say Aameen at the end of each verse recited,
there was an invocation for Darood (reciting special verses of peace to Prophet
Muhammad) as well. This practice is not common any
more.

A
unique tradition is observed here, and that is, whenever, the name of Prophet
(pbuh) is recited, every one out of reverence, kisses his or her fingers and let
the fingers touch the closed eyes for a moment.

The
Iftaar dinner was delicious, The Biryani was one of the best ones I have had in
a while, hot but great and the Pakoras were great as well.

The current
Masjid is in a portable building, a fairly large one. When I was with Grand
Homes, before we built the Model Homes, we rented these huge portable buildings
for about $1000/month. The Mosque management has done a great job in customizing
it to make a Mehrab for the Imam’s area.

The
Mufti Saheb, someone who has received special education to be able to render
opinions on religious matters. Indeed, my nephew is planning to be one in
Bangalore. He led the prayers short and sweet. Again, during Ramadan, let the
prayers be short and avoid reciting long Chapters or taking more time in Ruku
(bent position) and Sajda (prostration).
The man sitting next to me in
the Masjid said he moved from Connecticut for his son’s schooling, the Plano
Schools and the Religious school here at the Islamic academy of this Masjid.
Wow! So many Muslims have moved to Dallas for the Religions education, I am not
sure about other cities, but I do know we have great many schools. I may have to
go sit and listen. It is my town, and I want to do my share of work in building
a cohesive America.
The freeway was blocked and I
had to cut through the traffic and barely made for the Iftaar. The Masjid is
under construction, it is going to be a big one with 10,406 Square feet ground
for the school and the sanctuary. It looks like a beautiful Mosque.
Visit their website www.IslamicAcademy.org

The
Boston Globe News paper is one paper that captures pictures of Ramadan from
around the world, there are some 50 pictures in one group showing how Eid was
celebrated in 2009, and how Iftaar began this season. These are really beautiful
pictures listed on this site.

My best memory of an Imam in green turban goes
back to my Childhood, when an Imam visited from Hyderabad every year and gave
sermons on Friday that was 45 years ago! The one I cannot forget is on Sura
Fateha, the first chapter of Quraan, I don’t remember the details, but it
produced good feelings then. Indeed, Sura Fateha is a summary statement of
Islam.
If reading this is offering
you an understanding of different traditions within Islam, and opening your
heart and mind to respect other traditions, please feel free to share your
comments.
One of the purposes for my
visits to different Mosques each day, during the month of Ramadan is to
understand various traditions and have the cushion to absorb them all and give
full value to each one. I hope, some day, more and more Muslims make these
rounds. It is humbling and yet powerful to have the ability to understand the
differences and respect them.

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

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

What
does God really want?

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

Are Muslims a part of the American
society? http://nabsites.net/demo/are-muslims-part-of-american-story/

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


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

MikeGhouse 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 contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column
at Dallas Morning News and regularly at Huffington post, and several other periodicals
across the world. The blog www.TheGhousediary.comis updated
daily

Oprah's Blunder – Indians eat with hands

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OPRAH’S BLUNDER

She has done a two part series on India, and one of the insensitive remarks she
made was that Indians still eat their food with hands. I hope she does a follow
up highlighting the cultural value of eating with fingers. She forget, we Americans eat most everything with hands, take a look;
http://nabsites.net/demo/oprahs-blunder-indians-eat-with-hands/

Indeed, fingers are the original forks, and we love eating
with our fingers, finger licking is good when the hands are curry dipped.

By the way, this has nothing to do with being rich or poor,
educated or not, it is just our culture.

She has mistaken civilization to eating with forks. No, it
is not. Eating with fork is fine and works for certain foods but not most of
the Indian foods.

You cannot eat Masala Dosa with fork to fully enjoy it,
Dosa is the king of South Indian food.

You cannot eat Naan/Roti, the staple food of India, 

Naan is the king of North Indian food. 

She lost her bloody mind and did not realize that;

President Bill Clinton Eats Burger with his hands,

Nominee Mitt Romney eats Chicken with his hands,President  Barack Obama eats Chicken with his hands,
President George Bush eats Corn on the Cob with his hands,
Legendary John Wayne eats Ribs with his hands…

Oprah, who eats Pizza with fork?
Which is nerdy, eating with hands or fork?

You cannot eat chicken with fork and knife;
you got to pick it up with your
fingers and dig it in.

You cannot eat ribs with fork and knife,
you got to bite the
meat out of the bones.

That’s enough.

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on the topics of Pluralism, Coexistence, politics, interfaith, Islam and cohesive societies. He is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day, his bio is at www.MikeGhouse.net and at www.TheGhousediary.com is his daily blog. 

Ramadan day 8 Imam Barga-e-Hujjat – Shia Masjid

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Ramadan day 8- Imam Barga-e-Hujjat
Friday, July 27, 2012 | Ramadan 8, 1433
1112 Milam Way, Carrollton, TX 75006
 website:

Tonight’s Iftaar was at the Shia Mosque, known as Imam Barga-e-Hujjat in Carrollton. I went in early to familiarize myself with the Mosque, as this is in a new location; the last one I went was on Belt Line Road for Yom-e-Ashura two Muharrams ago. There are several Mosques and the main one is Momin Center in Irving.
Imam Irataza Naqvi and Mike Ghouse
The Names of  successive Shia Imams
Names of the Imams

clay tablet

The Shia Muslims follow a different time schedule for Iftaar; there is always that definition of dusk and last ray of the evening.  I went in there at 8:10, but found out the Maghrib (evening) prayers were at 9:00 followed by Iftaar.

I went out and had my Iftaar with Gatorade at 8:34 and was back at the Mosque in-time to join the Jamaat (Congregation).

As I walked in, the volunteers gave me a Sajda-gah, a clay tablet, (Clay from Karbala City, where Imam Hussain was martyred, son of Imam Ali, the 4th rightly guided Caliph of Islam) which is placed on the floor, to rest your forehead during the prostrative posture of the prayers. This practice is exclusive to Shia tradition.

Similar practices exist in Jewish tradition. Every Synagogue you visit, they have Kippah (cap) in a basket at the front that is given to you to wear as you go into the sanctuary. The Madinah Masjid in Carrollton also has a basketful of caps that you can wear if you want to. In a few Mosques in India, they give the cap to wear. I wore a cap when I was growing up. But in the last forty years, less and less people wear caps, and I have not worn it either. In the Swami Narayan Hindu Temple they put the tilak (a dot on the forehead with color, usually Red orange powder).

The Adhan (prayer call) was a long one, same Adhan is recited in other mosques, but without the additional phrases to express the uniqueness of the Shia tradition.

I met Imam Irtaza Naqvi earlier on, as we are new to each other,  and I asked his permission to take the pictures, he said feel free to do so. Last year at the Momin Center the visiting Imam said the same thing, but two years ago, I was asked not to take the pictures of the sanctuary. 

The Shia Masajid’s are decorative; they have extensive items on the walls and the benches are displayed with frames of the names of 12 hereditary Imams following Imam Hazrat Ali.  The Mehrab (Niche, where the Imam leads the prayers from) is covered with Damascus Cloth with 5 names embroidered on it; Allah, Muhammad, Ali, Fatima, Hassan and Hussain. Most people in the subcontinent call it Panjatan-e-pak; the holy five.

 Invoking the Panjatan-e-Pak is a common practice among mainstream Shia and its denominations; Bohra and Ismaili traditions. Where as it is not a practice of Sunni and Ahmadiyya Muslims. However exceptions are always there, some of the Sunnis from South India do invoke Panjatan-e-Pak and I recall my father used to invoke in his supplications,  where as my maternal Grandfather did not and it is not my practice either. However, I do appreciate the devotion with which people turn to God in their own ways.

In one of the pictures, you see the Sajda-gah (clay tablet) is placed in front of everyone in the prayer, I had one too, and I rested my forehead twice on it during the Sajda (prostration with forehead on the floor) and I simply could not do it again. After the prayers, I looked around the other guys’ foreheads for the marks from the tablet, there wasn’t any, and I looked down on the floor, and I found the secret; they had the soft side of the clay tablet on the top and the printed side at the bottom and mine was upside down. No one said a word, but I knew the print on my forehead was visible to the guy next to me, as he glanced at it twice.

 Prayers are similar, 3 Rakats (units) for Maghrib (dusk) and 4 for Isha (nightly. They pray both Maghrib and Isha one after the other in a sequence. The Sunnis do that, if they are travelling and cannot come back two hours later.

In Shia tradition, during the standing position of the prayers, individuals drop their hands on side, like in the attention position,  where as in other traditions, the individuals place their hands on their stomach at various levels, from navel all the way up onto the chest.  

Before the 2nd Ruku (bent posture with hands on knee caps), Shias and their two branches do their supplication and conclude the prayers with reciting the words, where as Sunnis call on peace and turn their heads to the right and then on the left to conclude the prayers.
The Imam actually recites the phrases audibly during the bent and prostrate positions, unlike the Sunnis and Ahmadiyya.
There is no tradition of Taraweeh Prayers in the Shia, Taraweeh are late night prayers, either 20 or 22 Units to recite a chapter a night from Quraan to complete the Quraan recitation in the month of Ramadan.

The dinner was amazing, I realized that for 8 days, I had not had the Indian (ok, Pakistani to the Pakistanis, and Bengali to the Bengalis- either one) curry; I have been on a variety of foods. The curry was incredibly delicious; they must have used the Coconut milk in it, like the Thai curry or the Bangalore Curries. ( oops, no napkins again, it does not seem to be in our culture, and  I wiped my fingers in my pant pockets again – I will have to carry a few Napkins from tomorrow) 

Fida Hussain, one of my friends and I had a short conversation and his words were amazing, as a photographer/ Videographer he has been to most places of worship, he said, the more places you visit the bigger your horizon becomes. Indeed, I just wrote those words on my 7th day of Ramadan. He was the videographer of the Unity Day USA program in 2005 and I hope he finds the video of using clip on 9/11/2012 program.  
One of the purposes for my visits to different Mosques each day, during the month of Ramadan is to understand various traditions and have the cushion to absorb them all and give full value to each one. I hope, some day, more and more Muslims make these rounds. It is humbling and yet powerful to have the ability to understand differences and respect them.

It is a challenge to write different things each day, so far, I have found it easy to do, got another 22 days, and have to be more attentive to absorb it all to write later. By the way, it was a struggle to align and place the pictures in the right place.. 

# # #

A DIFFERENT MOSQUE EACH FRIDAY

Went to Madinah Masjid for Juma prayers, that is the only place I knew, where I can get a parking space and I did.

We have been hearing the same traditional, pre-written, class taught Khutbas for ages. It is time to improve on it. Last night I wrote the ideas for Jumma Khutba (Friday Sermon) and hope our Imams incorporate a few thoughts from it.

By the way, after the first part of the Friday sermon, there was a break for people to do optional prayers followed by Adhan and second part of Friday Sermon. I am still trying to figure it out, if I had experienced that in this very mosque before, but certainly not a tradition in other Sunni mosques thus far, I have a lot more mosques to visit to put it all together.

Madinah Masjid, Carrollton

Imam Seraj Misbahi had excellent lines about learning not to react to provocation, instead learn to restrain yourselves and not aggravate the conflict. That was really a good call.

The Imam delivered his sermon in Urdu sprinkled with English.  I was pondering about certain standard sentences, most writers and Imams still use them. For example, “During the month of Ramadan, abstain from sex with your spouse”… If this was videotaped and posted on the Mosque websites,  and non-Muslim watch it, or even Muslims who are born in the United Sates watch it,  it sounds like Muslims have sex all day long and they had to give it up during the fasting, poor thing! What a sacrifice! I don’t know anyone who is that engaged! May the teens are. The wordings may have to be culturally Americanized to give the right understanding. For example, this is the month of self discipline, we abstain from anything that we desire; water, coke, coffee, tea, food, intimacy and the likes…to bring a discipline, by learning to manage our desires and not impulsively act on it.

The bait sentences like “the prayers during Ramadan have 10 times more powerful with greater blessings or certain rewards are 700 times more. Looks like Allah has a big sale during the month of Ramadan do one prayer and get 70! What does it really mean and how should it be expressed. I urge my fellow Muslims to write about it.

Fasting is for the sake of Allah – what does it mean? How does it benefit the mankind? I encourage you to write about it as well. 
   

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

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

What does God really want?

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

Are Muslims a part of the American society? http://nabsites.net/demo/are-muslims-part-of-american-story/

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


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

MikeGhouse 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 contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News and regularly at Huffington post, and several other periodicals across the world. The blog www.TheGhousediary.comis updated daily. 

Ramadan day7 Reflections on Stereotyping Muslims

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Ramadan
day 7- Reflections for Juma Qutba

Thursday, July 26, 2012 | Ramadan 7,
1433
2665 Villa Creek, Suite 206, Dallas, TX 75234
Today is the 7th Iftaar, and after the Salat and dinner, I
decided to catch up with reflecting on Ramadan.

I received the following email from my African
American Muslim friend who reads my writings, “Mike; I keep sending you
such information because someday likely you will meet our Brother and I want to
start to introduce you now and before any actually meeting because I am very
aware of the opinion of many immigrant Muslim of us and generally it is not good
and some have told me to my fact “You All are not Real Muslims” ……not
realizing that it was us that paved the way for them to have some peace
here.”

Although I have addressed the above in bits and pieces, I wanted to focus on it and hope our Imams can address it in their Juma Khutbas (Sermon).

Stereotyping is a common pit that most of the humanity keeps falling into over and over again. It is judging the whole community, ethnicity or a nationality from the experience with one. As Muslims we get frustrated when we hear dumb statements like Muslims are terrorists, Arabs are rude, xxxx are not trust worthy…. and stuff like that, and yet shamelessly we indulge in it ourselves.

A few Arabs think that the Pakistanis are not Muslim enough, and the Pakistanis don’t see Indian Muslims to be Muslim enough, and Indian Muslims don’t think the Bangladeshis are Muslim enough and I guess they don’t think the Rohingi Muslims are not Muslim enough and there is no end to this baseless thinking and is contrary to the teachings of Islam in this case.

Most Muslims enthusiastically quote Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh)  last sermon that no one is superior to the other… the question is, do we really mean it? Does it reflect in our words and actions?

Much of the wisdom and guidance in Quraan boils down to the things we need to do to keep a balance in the society, where no one has to be afraid of the other. Islam in one word: Justness.

Don’t we realize that Islam was a solution to generate peaceful (Islam) societies by knocking the arrogance out of individuals and communities? Arrogance is the root cause of most conflicts and troubles. God’s wisdom is crystal clear;  whom he likes the most and the least, the forgivers and arrogant people respectively.  Just as you want your home to be in order, Allah wants his creation to be in order, and that order is harmony among people and things.
The note from my African American friend is a common thing with most of the humanity, but as Muslims we have specific instructions and guidance to avoid judging others. The word Taqwa has become a technical term and seems to have lost its essence.
You can argue all you want to argue about African Americans, Arabs, Pakistanis, Indian, Bangladeshis, Rohingis, Somalis or any one… but the fact is you will be buried with the same respect as others whether you are a Sunni, Shia, Ahmadiyya or from any religion, and your body will decompose at the same speed as others. You are not superior to the other when you are in that grave, your grave will get exact same sunshine, rain or winds as others.

Look at the practices in Islam – the Salat and fasting for instance, what do they do to you, and what is the cumulative effect of it? Allama Iqbal said it well, “Tujhe kya milega namaaz may” what do you get out of fasting and prayer, if it does not make you a humble person. Humility broadly means treating, feeling and acting equal with your employee, spouse, kids or others; Muslim or not. How do we measure up?

Pathetic material came up in the Economist yesterday, how Shia and Sunni are denigrating each other and calling each other infidels?  Do they throw the Prophets’ last sermon out of window? Do they follow the Sunnah? I hope our Imams are urging their congregants not to denigrate others, absolutely not, for their own good in the long haul – so they can live in a safer society.


Religion, ethnicity, nationality and race should never be slapped with false labels for the acts of a few.  Statistically, if you meet “one” Muslim, Hindu, Christian or a Jew and he or she turns out to be a bad person; you can claim that 100% of Muslims, Hindus, Christians or Jews are bad. 

And if you meet two of each and only one of them turns out to be a bad dude, your statistic is halved; only 50% of Muslims, Hindus or others are bad.
But when you meet 1000 of them in each group, most likely the following statistics will emerge.

95% of people in every religious group get their religion right
02% of people in every religious group are enforcers, tyrants
02% of people in every religious group are easy goers
01% of people in every religious group are intolerant ones

The statisticians can tell what a reliable sample is, which will yield similar results no matter where and when you test. This has been my observation of several groups that I have been a part of for nearly 20 years, and a part of my e-lists that I mail to Atheists, Baha’i, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, Jews, Muslims, Native Americans, Sikhs, Wicca, Zoroastrians and others.

I hope the Imams can pull verses from Quran and emphasize the ills of prejudice and stereotyping, instead of frightening with hell fire, which means nothing to many. God loves us all and wants us to live in peace and that is the summary of God’s will. 

Not sure how many Muslims and others can shed their arrogance and prejudice towards others, I  want to assure every Muslim, yes, every Muslim that he or she can count on receiving full dignity and respect from God for them and their belief and their tradition, whether they are a denomination of a Islam or of any religion. We are all God’s creation (Children is not a descriptor in Islam).

As a fellow human, you can count on me to treat you with full respect for who you are,  and as a symbolic gesture, I will visit your sacred place without hesitation, simply to honor your uniqueness that God has endowed you.  I will not agree with you, and you may not agree with me, but we can respect each other; both of us are God’s will.

Thank God for his guidance, I have made the time to visit every denomination among Muslims and have been with Aztecs to Zoroastrians and every one in between. I am confident of my faith Islam,  that I follow and give respect to every one who is confident about his or her faith. When you do not have a strong faith, you shy away from knowing others and run from others,  God wants us to know each other (49:13),  so together we can create cohesive societies that are good for you and I and every one around us.

This is what God wants, to get along and keep the social, economic, spiritual and emotional world in balance and harmony with oneself and with others, and I believe that is God’s will.

About My Israel-Palestine trip in Ramadan. 

The pictures in the link above are of Ifaar and Suhoor at Masjid-al-Aqsa and Bait-al-Muqaddas and a street in Jerusalem before Iftaar. If you wish to see 250 pictures of entire Israeli and Palestinian lands, let me know, I will send you the link. I have traveled from Jerusalem to Golan Heights in the north and from Haifa down to Tel Aviv and in between been to Jericho, Nablus, Nazareth and other cities.

The bus tour guide was giving mis-information about Islam, she said Islam has six pillars, the first one is Jihad and she explained it means killing the infidels. It was not easy, but I am not going to let falsities go unquestioned, finally the tour operators agreed to change to five and also the right meaning of the word Jihad. Jihad is like nuclear power, in the right hands it is beneficent to the whole humanity and in the wrong ones, it is hell.  Jihad in itself is a word, neither bad nor good, it is the struggle to fight our own conscience and win over the humanist ills like anger, hate, malice, jealousy etc. It is the user of Nuclear power that is good or bad, and not the word. Less than 1/10th of 1% abuse nuclear power, Jihad, Religion, presidency, chairmanships of corporations etc. They are dangerous, and we need to round them up and not what they are affiliated with; family, religion, nation, pastor or their holy book. 

 I must give credit to the Israelis on that thing. I am not sure, if I would have been thrown out of the bus in Islamic nations if I had stood up and wanted to correct mis-information. However, I have also seen the disgraceful walls of apartheid which weakens and gurantees insecurity to the Israeli society for years to come. As Mother Teresa says, they need to dialogue.   Insha Allah, I will be in Jerusalem again in December and hope to work for peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Two Dutch Imams and I was on the bus, we did our Iftaar with the dates and we gave the Adhan as well in the bus. If you have an interest in seeing my individual share of work, please visit http://www.israelPalestinedialogue.com 

# #
#

Please mark your calendar for
the Unity Day USA, a positive event that brings all Americans Together to
rededicate our pledge for a peaceful, prosperous and secure America. We are a
part of America and we need to feel and live it. If you liked some of the
article, you will like the description of Unity Day USA at www.UnityDayUSA.com
A
few other Articles to read if you have the time:
What does God really want?
http://ramadanexclusive.blogspot.com/2012/07/happy-ramadan-what-does-god-really-want.html

Are Muslims a part of the American society?
http://nabsites.net/demo/are-muslims-part-of-american-story/

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

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

MikeGhouse 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 contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News and regularly at Huffington post, and several other periodicals across the
world. The blog www.TheGhousediary.comis updated daily.

Ramadan day 6 Masjid Al Quran

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Ramadan day 6- Masjid Al
Quran, Dallas

Wednesday, July 25, 2012 | Ramadan 6,
1433
Masjid Al Quran, 2420 Cedar Crest Blvd, Dallas, TX 75203
(214)
948-3040
Masjid Al Quraan like Masjid Al Islam also
follows the Warith Deen Muhammad tradition of Islam which is identical to the
Sunni tradition. Unfortunately the Mosque was closed; they are open on Friday,
Saturday and Sunday Iftaar, but not every day. The Mosque gate was
locked.
Unlike all other Mosques, the Qur’aan lessons
are shared prior to Iftaar. When I visited the Masjid two years ago for Iftaar,
this was my observation.

Imam Muhammad Shakoor was speaking and asking
the men and women sitting around the tables to read verses from Sura 22 titled
Hajj and then he would ask questions and then responds to them. It was quite an
interactive session. By the way, there is no separation of men and women
in this mosque, all gather around to discuss Quran.

Imam Shakoor is relaxed and packs humor in his
talk. I enjoyed the way he was talking about how the Shaitaan attacks … from
the front, back, left and right… and from every where… he was literally
doing the chicken dance and it sure was fun to see the Imam with a
life.

He talked about
patience as a virtue, and referred to 9:32, 6;122-125 and several other verses.
He also shared the story of Samson and Delilah and Adam in this context. Where
they were given bountiful and were asked to stay away from one item… and they
did not, like wise God asks us not to rush to conclusions until all facts are
in; patience is the
virtue.

Please mark your
calendar for the Unity Day USA, a positive event that brings all Americans
Together to rededicate our pledge for a peaceful, prosperous and secure America.
We are a part of America and we need to feel and live it. If you liked some of
the article, you will like the description of Unity Day USA at www.UnityDayUSA.com
A few other Articles to read
if you have the time:
HAPPY RAMADAN – What does God really
want?
http://ramadanexclusive.blogspot.com/2012/07/happy-ramadan-what-does-god-really-want.html

Are Muslims a part of the American
society?http://nabsites.net/demo/are-muslims-part-of-american-story/

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


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

MikeGhouse 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
contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning
News and regularly at Huffington
post, and several other periodicals across the world. The
blog www.TheGhousediary.comis updated
daily. 

Ramadan day 5 Masjid Al Islam

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

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

A few pictures are in the link
above
Masjid
Al-Islam follows the Warith Deen Muhammad tradition of Islam which is identical
to the Sunni tradition.

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

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

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

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

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

Nation of Islam is another
Muslim group of which Minister Louis Farrakhan is the Imam, he is known as
Minister Louis Farrakhan.
The Dallas Masjid started out
as Mosque on Forest Avenue around 1968. The current location at 2604 S. Harwood
in Dallas was purchased in April 1980 by Imam W. D. Muhammad. The dedication
ceremony was held in May, 1980 with Imam W. D. Muhammad
present.
The following brothers have
served as Imams at the Dallas Masjid of Al-Islam at the Harwood location: Imam
Qasim Ahmed (1979-1982), Imam Yahya Abdullah (1982-2001), Imam Muhammad Shakoor
(2001-2003) and the current Imam now serving is Imam Khalid Shaheed (June 27,
2004).
By the way, one of the first
Islamic schools was established in this building, the big house in the picture
next to Masjid is called Sister Clara Muhammad School, a fine institution of
learning.
I am blessed to have known all
the four Imams at this Majid, with fairly regular interactions. Two of them,
Imam Yahya and Imam Shakoor are pictured at this link – http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2012/07/dallas-interfaith-imams-and-ramadan.html

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

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

I have been to this Masjid
for Juma Prayers (different Mosque), this was my first time to visit this Mosque
for Iftaar, I called and left a message for Imam Yahya and Imam Larry Shariff…
The Masjid is closed; the
Iftaar is usually on the weekends. It was amazing to see the deserted streets
from 8 PM on wards. The Iftaar was at 8:36 PM.
I have to share this story.
The female dog in the picture was my only company for a while, I got out of the
car to take a picture of the Masjid, as the name board was hidden in the trees,
and she ran towards me, I jumped back into my van. She seemed harmless, but I
did not want to take the risk of getting bit and the hassle of the Rabies shot.
She followed me where ever I went… she must have a lot of puppies, as the milk
feeders were full.
Please mark your calendar for the Unity Day USA,
a positive event that brings all Americans Together to rededicate our pledge for
a peaceful, prosperous and secure America. We are a part of America and we need
to feel and live it. If you liked some of the article, you will like the
description of Unity Day USA at www.UnityDayUSA.com
A few other Articles to read
if you have the time:

HAPPY
RAMADAN – What does God really want?

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

Are Muslims a part of the American
society?http://nabsites.net/demo/are-muslims-part-of-american-story/

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


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

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

Ramadan day 4 Madinah Masjid

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DAY
4 – Madinah Masjid, Carrollton

Monday, July 23, 2012 | Ramadan 4,
1433
Madinah Masjid, 2180 Old Denton Road, Carrollton, TX
75006

Ramadan
Realization


I
was completely exhausted today, the fasting really got to me. I was hungry from
Noon down. The only thing that came to my mind was hungry children and people
around the world in Congo, Haiti, Somalia and Burma. The tragedy of Rohingi
people in Burma shatters me… it is the identical humility that the Vietnamese
suffered, and Darfurians and Palestinians are enduring.
click to enlarge
image
A
sense of responsibility grips me and the only possible thing I can do is pray
for them, and through fasting, in my own way, I express solidarity with them,
and empathize with them. Taqwa or spirituality in simple terms is being in tune
with the creation, created and the creator. We feel helpless, yet we feel part
of the whole universe.

My biggest reference point is always Holocaust,
the world did nothing while people were sent to gas chambers, and mercilessly
shot into the ditches… the looks in their eyes was so overwhelming, friends
turned their faces away from them; a sheer betrayal of humanity. That is one of
the most dominating scenes in my life, when I hear the word helplessness, that
is the scene for me and that means more of the Ramadan Realization for me, a
month of connecting with humanity, a month of feeling empathy for others and a
month of goodwill generation.

I
was debating about breaking the fast in my office. But, decided to head out to
Madinah Masjid. It is perhaps the only Mosque in the area with arrangement for
Iftaar dinner every evening.

Click to enlarge image – 14
other pics
My
friend Javed Haider has been in-charge of Ramadan Iftaar along with Amin,
Naushad and a few others for several years. I go to Madinah Masjid, at least
twice during each Ramadan. The hospitality here is exemplary, a smaller but a
friendly group of people.
Madina
Masjid is a fully ethnic mosque, meaning the congregants are homogenous and
predominantly Urdu Speaking. Most of them are from India and Pakistan. Other
than the ritual prayers, all other talk is in Urdu.

Those who come fresh
from India or Pakistan may feel home at this Mosque, it is a continuation of
every practice that is done back home.

Click to enlarge
image
For
instance, before breaking the fast, in most mosques the Adhan (prayer call)
signifies the moment to break the fast, in Madinah Masjid, Imam Seraj Misbahi
sits down with the group and recites the words slowly prior to breaking the
fast, so others can repeat after him.
After
the formal obligatory congregational prayers, most mosques conclude the prayers
at the last act of the ritual –
that is sending peace and blessings to the right and to the left with the head
turning in both directions. In Madinah Masjid, the Imam goes for the duwa
(supplication) after the end of the prayes, a common practice in the
Subcontinent.
The
Imam also keeps the recitations short; the prayers are supposed to be short
during Ramadan. Imam Zia Shaikh of Irving and Imam Muhammad Shakoor of Dallas
are sensitive to this need. However, when a guest imam leads the prayers in
some Mosques, the Imams love their own voices so much that they take it for
ever, and it is quite taxing during Ramadan. I wish everyone tells some of
these Imams to keep it short and take all the time they want in the Taraweeh
Prayers; that is the special nightly prayers during Ramadan, where one chapter
of Quraan is completed each night in 29 to 30 days.
Click to enlarge – 14 pics in
all
The
food was great with Salad, lentil, rice, and grilled chicken. The dessert was
kheer (rice pudding) with sliced almonds and possibly broken cashew. Loved it!

Ah, our friend Marylou at the world Muslim congress forum, thought it
was humorous that I had to wipe my fingers inside of my pant pockets as there
was no napkin available yesterday or the other two days. Here at Madinah Masjid,
thank God they had a good supply of them and I wiped my fingers with the napkin
after breaking the fast.

I urge fellow Muslims to become a part of the
whole and visit different Mosques for Iftaar with an open mind and respectful of
other traditions. It takes you out of the narrow cubby and puts you out in a
larger world. That is what Ramadan is supposed to make you, give you arms to
embrace the whole humanity.

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

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

Mike Ghouse is a
speaker, thinker and a writer on the topics of Pluralism, Coexistence, politics,
interfaith, Islam and cohesive societies. He is committed to building a cohesive
America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

Michelle Bachman’s ugly and John McCain heroic moment

      Comments Off on Michelle Bachman’s ugly and John McCain heroic moment

I have not taken a political stand on the basis
of party lines, nor do I intend to.  But I do take a stand against
individuals who are messing up our nation.  

Congresswoman Michelle Bachman has proven herself to make the statements that
have no basis in truth. There have been a number of interviews with her staff
members and advisors, during the presidential run; she routinely embarrassed
her staff with her thoughtless remarks.  I would not be surprised if her constituency
dumps her in the next election bid out of embarrassment.

She shoots her mouth off again
and says that the Muslim brotherhood is infiltrating into the white house. Decent
folks and others have asked her to provide evidence, and she comes with up flimsy
gossip material from Frank Gaffney, who is a successful businessman in convincing
nincompoops like Bachman.  She comes up with
names like Keith Ellison and Huma Abideen as the brotherhood link. Baloney!
Edward Rollins, her former chief of staff had to say this today, “I have
to say that Congresswoman Michele Bachman’s outrageous and false charges
against a top aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Huma Abedin reaches
that threshold.
 
ABC  News reports “Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.,
took to the Senate floor today to rip apart his fellow Republicans’ accusations
and came to the defense of Abedin, whom he calls  a “fine and decent American,” after
observing her work as both a long-time aide to Clinton while she was a Senator
and as the Secretary of State.”  He powered
it up further, “no one, “not least a member of Congress,” should launch such a
“degrading attack against fellow Americans on the basis of nothing more than
fear of who they are an ignorance of that hey stand for.”
I admire Senator McCain for
having the courage to speak up, though I disagree with his hawkish foreign
policy.  He took a stand for what is
right, and against what was wrong.   We need more men and women like him in the
Senate and the Congress. Congressman Keith Ellison must be admired as well for
relentlessly pursuing to purge this nonsense by demanding facts, and not putting
up with her non-sense.

The heroic McCain Moment
It takes one good man to change the course of
history, and one bad one to worsen it, we have seen it.

The McCain Moment was one of the finest moments in history of the world. He must
have listened to Martin Niemoller’s poem during Holocaust.  When he spoke up, there was a chance that he
would be barked at and bulldozed by the opportunists among Republicans; he
dared them, because he was righteous.   He broke away from the communitarianist
Republicans among us, and expressed his individualism boldly, thank God; the
sheep jumped right behind him. Thanks to  Ed Rollins, John Boehner and other among a few
 for giving strength to his voice. It
could have gone the other way as well and weaken him, if it was not McCain.

Michelle Bachman’s ugly moment
She had miserably failed in her bid for
Presidency with her senseless rhetoric. She had difficulty even getting 50
people to attend her talk once or twice, it was pathetic to watch.   She may
have been brainwashed to believe that by barking at Muslims, she can gain some
additional advantage from the non-existent (substantial) supporters.  She probably was desperate to be on the
national scene and thought, she had an opportunity to be nominated to the vice
president or some such thing, should that have happened, she would have sunk
the Republican Party for a long time to come and screwed Americans from having
checks and balances without a strong opposition in the house and the senate.

As a disclosure, I am a Republican, a moderate one; a majority of us feel pity
for the radical ones in our party but do not speak up, most of us do not have the
balls to speak up against loose mouths, however we do it at the ballot.   We
dumped them all; Michelle Bachman, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain
and a handful others who have made uncouth, unsubstantiated statements about
fellow Americans without consequences.  They still don’t get it that radicalism does not
pay, and I pray that they do.

Our party has let the radicals take over our GOP, and I am
afraid, we will pay a price by losing the majority in the house. We have to
speak out firmly and furiously against the likes of Bachman and other radical
republicans amongst us.

I hope our party leaders wake up now, and rescue the party by
purging the gratuitous allegations and gossip from the party.

These men and women have no shame in denigrating Muslims. 
Let these guys say similar things to Jews and the African Americans; they will be
hounded and chased down like wild pigs. Shamelessly, they feel that they have a
free ride on Muslims, Mexicans, Gays and Lesbians.  That is not only unpatriotic, but downright
immoral to treat a fellow Americans in that fashion.

They are an embarrassment to our civil society. In fact, they
are not tearing Muslims, they are tearing America apart; shame on them.

No group of Americans need to be targeted, we should always nail
the bad guys and not their affiliations, consider the following scenario;
If Joe Blow rapes a woman in your
neighborhood, should the police arrest Joe, or should they arrest and harass
his parents, siblings, kids, spouse, and his friends?

If Joe committed the crime, it
his tushie that needs to be hauled off, and by arresting him, it bring calmness
to the neighborhood, knowing that the rapist is locked up. People would feel
safe again and a sense of justice would be restored in the community.

On the other hand, imagine
harassing the entire neighborhood, blaming the Mayor and the pastor or even the
Bible for this criminal, we will never resolve an issue if we dance around it.
Do you remember how quickly the
opportunists cashed in on Osama Bin Laden?

Had we nailed the criminal Osama bin
Laden in the first place, and not others, we would not have caused budget
deficits, and millions of Americans would not have lost their jobs and their
homes. The war mongers should never be listened to, they make their good, but
the common man gets screwed. The results are in our face.

What did we do instead?  We destroyed nations instead of him; we
blamed their religion and their book, how dumb! Did the Billion plus Muslims
vote Bin Laden to do the evil? We recklessly sacrificed 5000 of our own men and
women in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; and have destroyed other nations and
innocent people and shamelessly called it a collateral damage.

 As a nation, we need to
stand up against this non-sense. “Evil persists if the good people do nothing
about it.”  Thank God for Senator McCain
and Congressman Ellison and I pray more will join the righteous ones.

Here is an example of standing up for everyone in the progress. http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/

 MikeGhouse 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 contributes weekly to the
Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News and regularly at Huffington
post, and several
other periodicals across the world. The blog www.TheGhousediary.comis
updated daily.