Muslim Views On The Circumcision Ban

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This article was first Published on 06/07/2011 12:01 pm  at – : https://www.huffpost.com/entry/circumcision-satire_b_872270

Calling it Male Genital Mutilation is going too far, it shows utter disregard for enduring religious traditions of Jews, Muslims and others comprising nearly a fourth of humanity. Mind you, it is not a practice of a vanishing cult that is here today and gone tomorrow.

The right is obsessed with anti-everything; Abortion, Civil rights, Gays and Lesbians, Health Care, Hijab, Immigration, Mormons, Peace talks and Sharia among other things. The left does not want to be left behind in the competition to be offensive and negative.

The Jews cannot call this Anti-Semitism as the Muslims will spoil it by joining them and a new term has to be invented. The left may call this Anti-Circumcision, and add a feather to their portfolio of Anti-items.

It is time for the moderate majority to speak up for one’s freedom to eat, wear and believe and not let anyone dictate the other, we are not a Taliban nation. So I say to them, guys we will give-up ours but you keep yours.

We have to speak out against this move through the ballot box in November this year. We cannot let anyone infringe on the freedom of the other, where does it end?

Male circumcision involves removal of the foreskin from the penis and every Jewish and Muslim male is circumcised. Jewish tradition is carried out within eight days of the birth of a child signifying a covenant between Jewish boys and God. The practice started with Abraham, who was circumcised when he was 99 as a sign of fidelity to God. There is no age limit set for Muslim Males although every Muslim is circumcised, it is not a requirement in the Quran but a practice carried on. My brother and I were circumcised when we were 5 and 8 years old respectively. The circumcision healed within three days, we did not miss a bit, as if it was never there.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), global estimates suggest that 30% of males are circumcised, of whom 68% are Muslim. The prevalence of circumcision varies mostly with religious affiliation, and sometimes culture. Most circumcisions are performed during adolescence for cultural or religious reasons; in some countries they are more commonly performed during infancy.

Jerusalem Post writes, “The measure, if it passes, would make it a misdemeanor to circumcise a boy before the age of 18, with a maximum penalty of one year’s jail time or a $1,000 fine. The ban would allow circumcision only for medical reasons, without religious exceptions.

There have been numerous justifications for circumcision including health, quoting correlations between decreased incidence of HIV and circumcision.

Health is a justification and not the original religious requirement, let Jews and Muslims practice what has been their practice for thousands of years. We don’t need justification for a practice that is 3000 years old. There should be no restrictions and people should have their freedom to practice their religion with or without the foreskin.

Rick Perry Has To Prove His Sincerity

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This article was first Published on 06/10/2011 01:34 pm  at – :https://www.huffpost.com/entry/perry-has-to-prove-his-si_b_874392

If Governor Perry is sincere in calling Americans to join in the prayers for peace and prosperity of our nation, he has an opportunity to demonstrate it by giving a dignified space to every representation of the 312 million Americans.

Whether you are a Native American, follow an earth based tradition, believe in one God, multiple representations of God or No God, you must feel the embracive inclusion.

America is God’s country; it is enriched with the width and breadth of his creation. This boat represents every belief, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, bigots, exclusionists, pluralists, evolutionists, racists, Islamophobes, anti-Semites, anti-immigrants, anti-GLBT, anti-everything and pro-everything. We are a Pluralist nation and let our boat be inclusive, that is the new definition of America, a Pluralist Nation.

America is Atheists’ country; the Atheists, humanists, earth-based and native traditionalists must be invited to express their wishes (aka prayers) to fellow Americas without invoking God. I do hope, all of us wish for the well-being of every one of us.

Americans see God in every form; male, female, genderless and non-existent, non-being, nameless and with innumerable names, and to each one of us it is different. Indeed, we have created God in our own image as opposed to the other way around.

I cannot be safe if the ones around me are not. I cannot be at peace if the ones who surround me are not. It is in my interests and America’s interest to ensure everyone is included and honored as God would have done it, then the national prayers would be meaningful.

If Governor Perry invites me, I will be happy to open the event with inclusive greetings and Pluralism prayers where every American feels welcome.

I appeal to Americans to attend the prayers by demanding an inclusion and not allow Gov. Perry to chop God into bits and pieces; yours and mine. America is yours and America is mine, let’s not allow any rascal to monopolize God to serve his interests and whims.

Let’s commit to work towards a cohesive America and rededicate our pledge to one nation under the dome indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

If this is a political stunt by Governor Perry, he will fall flat on his face and we need to makes sure that he does. We don’t need a God, a public figure or a president who does not represent every one of the 312 Million of us; we do not want a President who has an agenda for the right or the left, but not for America. God has not signed a deal with any religious group behind our backs, so should be our president. Both must be free from bias, prejudice and favors.

I appeal to the majority of Americans with a belief in Jesus to act on it and not let anyone divide America as Jesus would have done it.

Here is an example of what an inclusive prayer might sound like.

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, writer, thinker and an activist committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

Happy Fathers Day: A Tribute To My Pluralist Father, M. Abdul Rahman

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Life is all about expressions and completing transactions. Every emotional thought action or change creates a new debt that needs to be re-balanced. Obviously, we cannot reciprocate our parents’ favors in full, but we have been able to do that with a thank you in the most simplistic way.

One of the incomplete transactions of my life was not being able to do the things I wanted to do for my father. As a kid, I would step in and take over the work from him so he could take a rest, an Indian tradition that I cherish. When I moved to Saudi Arabia on an assignment, I sent my first check to him with which he started paying off my loans. With the next check, I asked him to buy clothes for the family and wanted him to replace the old black Jacket he wore forever with a new one. He said, first things first. In the first week of December 1977 my check paid off all my loans, and with the next check, I asked him to oblige me.

He did not get the check, Man, I am feeling a deluge of emotions as I am writing this, darn, my eyes are welled up. My father lived up to his words, “Until my last breath, I will be earning my living and take care of my family.” Darn it, he did it. I was angry for my helplessness and was happy that the man kept his word. But that created a huge gap in my life and I continue to recover my balance by serving the senior friends in whatever little way I can. You can always count on me to drop everything off to attend to a senior’s request. It was a pleasure serving Maini Saheb.

Talking about keeping one’s word; in the late sixties, he decided to go back and till his father’s land abandoned some forty years ago, when much of our family was wiped out in the influenza of 1918. He sold a thriving property we had and sunk the money in the farm and I was on it for six months. He gave his word to someone that he will sell the property and told us about it in the evening. Three of his friends descended at our house with three times the money, my father refused and said I have given my word to that man. My mother and I were angry; he said he would rather lose the money than his word. I did not like it then, but when I left home, it all meant so much to me and yes, I have lost quite a lot for keeping my word, then I realized that no one will take the wealth with them either.

My father is my hero and opened the doors of wisdom to me and my siblings. Pluralism indeed runs in my family. He taught one of the biggest lessons of my life in social cohesiveness and dealing with extremism that I continue to reflect on in my talks, workshops, acts, and write-ups.

During the communal riots in Jabalpur (India) in the early sixties, both Muslims and Hindus were killed in the mayhem. I wish every father in India, America, and elsewhere teaches this lesson to his kids. He told us the “individuals” are responsible for the bloodshed and not the religions; he would emphasize that you cannot blame the intangible religion and expect justice. He continued, we must blame the individuals who caused it and punish them accordingly for disturbing the peace and thus bring a resolution to the conflict by serving justice. You cannot annihilate, kill, hang or beat the religion, then why bark at it? Bark at the wrongdoer individual.

My father was a Mayor of the Town of Yelahanka (The town gave birth to Bangalore in 1537) and served the council for many years. He was also the president of the Islamic Association of the town. We grew up with no barriers between us and another soul, my father’s friends included everyone from every caste and religion. We considered all the festivals as our own. Watched Ramayana played out in front of my home for nearly 25 years.

He also broke the prevailing traditions of the society; during the early sixties India was pretty much like the U.S. in the way people treated the “Harijans” — God’s chosen people as Mahatma Gandhi termed them “untouchables”. The African Americans endured such treatment here. My father would invite them into our home and my mother would serve tea and food in the same glasses and plates that we drank and ate. It was a big no-no at that time, some boycotted coming to our house and many people opposed him with unsavory words, but my father stood his ground. I see that streak in me playing it out all the time. Thank you Dad for inculcating the value of treating every human with full dignity, that is just one of the thousands of things you blessed me with. I love to see all of God’s creation treated fairly and justly. I am glad to be free from prejudice towards everyone.

He treated all of us kids with dignity and I am pleased I got to be disciplined at least once. I guess I replicated that with my children to the point my kids would actually say, Dad, you should have disciplined us. I did not see the need for it. I am fine and they are fine too. However, I gave them the cold shoulder that my father had given me to straighten me out, and it worked both ways, although my daughter was a tough cookie, she would not budge.

I was about ten years old and watched a man fall off his bicycle with a big bag of rice and was struggling to get back on it, and I wasn’t going to help the man. I saw my father about 100 feet away and the way he sped towards me got me frightened for the first time, I dashed inside the home and a few minutes later after helping the guy, my Dad walked in looking for me. I climbed on top of the paddy bags in a corner of the house, I thought he could not get me there, so he goes outside and plucks a long branch off the mulberry tree and gives me a few good ones. “My son will never do that” after that conditioning, I have developed the habit of stopping for everyone who needs help. I dare not watch and not do something about it.

On this day, I thank Dadsky Everett Blauvelt who was the reason for me to be here in Dallas, he and I worked together in Saudi Arabia some 35 years ago. I also want to express my gratitude to my friend Davendra Dev Maini who is a fatherly figure to me as well and my two senior friends whom I admire; Dr. Harbans Lal and Rev. Bill Matthews, all of them have great attitudes and affection for humanity and I love them.

To those who have not had a father or had a negative experience, God has offered guidance through the instrument of forgiveness to release you from the pain. Just do it. I will be happy to be a big brother or even a father for the moment of your need. It’s an open offer to call me at (214) 325-1916.

This article was first published on 06/17/2011 06:02 pm at – https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pluralist-father_b_879528

God bless us all, Amen!

The tribute to my mother is here.

Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a speaker, thinker, writer and a frequent guest on Hannity show and nationally syndicated Radio shows and Dallas TV, Radio and Print Media. Over 1000 articles have been published on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, India and cohesive societies. Two of his books are poised to be released this fall on Pluralism and Islam. His work is encapsulated in 27 blogs, four websites and several forums indexed at mikeghousedotnet.

Senator Williams’ Remarks Offended Hindus

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This article was first Published on 11/07/2011 07:32 am at – : https://www.huffpost.com/entry/senator-williams-offend-hindus_b_1075392

It is not only a Hindu issue, it is indeed an American issue. The speaking out shouldn’t be just from Hindus, but Christians, Jews, Muslims, Atheists, Pagans, Wiccans, Zoroastrians and others as well. Why should anyone stand up for you, if you are not willing to do the same for others?

As people of faith, we condemn the statement made by Kentucky State Senator David Williams, “Williams charged that the actions of Beshear were tantamount to “idolatry.” He stated that as a Christian, he would not participate in Jewish, Muslim or Hindu prayers, and hoped Hindus would open their eyes and “receive Jesus Christ as their personal saviour.” Williams made this comment about the ground breaking ceremony of a manufacturing plant in Elizabeth Town in Kentucky that Governor Steve Beshear attended.

As a moderate Republican I am embarrassed that almost all of the bigotry in our nation is flowing out of fellow Republicans. It is time for the good Republicans to speak up and stop this flow and at least lose gracefully in 2012. If the economy turns around a little bit even a useless Democrat will win against a Republican. It is time to wake up and speak out against the bigotry of Williams and all others including the Presidential candidates.

Williams also criticized the Governor for sitting cross-legged with a “dot on his forehead,” and described the ceremony as “polytheistic.”

I have condemned and talked about similar pronouncements from Pat Robertson, Robert Jeffress and a few Muslims and Jewish clerics for their take on idolatry with a primitive understanding. Idols or icons are representations of God for the Hindus, just as the holy books are God’s words for the Jews, Christians, Muslims and others.

No one has a right to belittle other’s faiths. If Senator Williams has a problem let it be his problem and one should not malign Christianity for his bigotry. Each faith is dear to the believer and no faith is superior to the other. Faith is about humility and not arrogance. All faiths are designed to bring solace to its followers. Religion is a mechanism that gives hopes and restores one’s balance with what surrounds one; people and the environment,.

Indeed, we are one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. We are represented by every race, nationality, ethnicity, language, culture and religion. We see God as one, none and many and in every form; male, female, genderless and non-existent, being and non-being, nameless and with innumerable names. Americans together are committed to preserve this pluralistic heritage of America.

No one should have a problem with other’s belief, but it should become our problem when someone denigrates it. We must stand up for each one of the 312 Million Americans.

Essence of Eid-al-Adha, a Muslim Festival of Sacrifice

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This article was first Published on 11/08/2011 11:08 am  at – : https://www.huffpost.com/entry/essence-of-eidaladha-a-mu_b_1075393

Eid-al-Adha is also known as Bakra Eid, Eid-el-Kabir, the Big Eid and by 20 other names including a non-Eid sounding phrase ‘Waliya Perunnal’ in Malyalam language. If you wish to greet Muslims on this day you may say “Happy Eid” or “Eid Mubarak” and even Eid-al-Adha Mubarak. Eid is celebration and festivity.

At the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, known as Hajj nearly 2 Million Muslims visit Mecca and perform the rituals initiated by Prophet Abraham. Throughout the world Muslims celebrated Eid-al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice) on Sunday, November 6, 2011.

During the Hajj, Muslims remember and commemorate the trials and triumphs of Prophet Abraham. The Qur’an describes Abraham as follows: An-Nahl (The Bee) 16:120 — “Verily, Abraham was a man who combined within himself all virtues, devoutly obeying God’s will, turning away from all that is false, and not being of those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God”

Abraham’s commitment

Love is sacrifice. God wanted to test Abraham’s faith, love and devotion and asks of him what everyone in love asks; “If you love me, you would…” the routine. No one wants the beloved to give up his or her life, but wants a simple assurance and commitment to the relationship. It was Abraham’s main trial to face the command of God to sacrifice his only son. Upon hearing this command, he prepared to submit to God’s will. When he was all prepared to do it, God revealed to him that his “sacrifice” had already been fulfilled. He had shown that his love for his Lord superseded all others that he would lay down his own life or the lives of those dear to him in order to submit to God.

Thus the tradition of symbolic sacrifice began. During the celebration of Eid-al-Adha, Muslims commemorate and remember Abraham’s trials by sacrificing an animal such as a sheep, camel, or a goat. This action is very often misunderstood by those outside the faith.

What does submitting to God really mean from a non-religious perspective? It simply means subscribing to the idea of a cohesive environment where each human being is respected for his or her place, nourishment and nurturance. Chief Seattle, a Native American said this perfectly: “All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does it to himself.”

That is perhaps the idea of one God, one web that the monotheistic religions talk about. Indeed, the idea of the world as one family is talked about in native religions as well as the Hindu and other dharmic religions in words like Vasudaiva Kutumbukum. It is this oneness of diverse elements to function well that every religion addresses.

God does not need one to sacrifice; it has nothing to do with atoning sins or using the blood to wash ourselves from sin.

Qur’an 22:37 in the chapter Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage):

Never does their flesh reach God, and neither their blood. it is only your God-consciousness that reaches Him. It is to this end that we have made them subservient to your needs, so that you might glorify God for all the guidance with which He has graced you. And give thou this glad tiding unto the doers of good.

The act symbolizes our willingness to give up some of our own bounties in order to strengthen and preserve the web and help those who are in need. We recognize that all blessings come from God, and we should open our hearts and share with others. The meat from the sacrifice of Eid-al-Adha is given away in three ways; self, relatives and the poor. It is a symbolic act of sharing with people who are malnourished and don’t get to eat the meat as we do.

The symbolism is in the attitude — a willingness to make sacrifices in our lives in order to stay on the right path (subscribing to the oneness of humanity and oneness of creator the God). A Muslim is one who submits himself or herself completely to the Lord. It is indeed the strength of heart, purity in faith and willing obedience that our creator desires from us. Most people follow this guidance with the exception of 0.1 percent of the group, a recurring percentage in every religious group.

God does not want anything more from us than asking us to be just and truthful. It brings tranquility and balance to an individual and what surrounds him; life and environment. The creator would be pleased when his creation is nurtured, cared for and sustained. Indeed, to be religious is to be a peacemaker, one who seeks to mitigate conflicts and nurtures goodwill for peaceful co-existence.

Just as a parent would risk his or her life to protect the child, people in love have the passion to value their beloved’s life and are willing to get the bullet and save the life, they are willing to rescue the child from a freezing lake risking their own life, even strangers do that. It is the willingness to put the life of the loved one’ above one’s own life.

Honoring Police, Firemen and soldiers

Every day our police officers risk their own lives to protect ours, the firemen and women risk their lives to save a child, a pet or an aged person from a fire; and every day our soldiers put their lives at risk to save fellow soldiers and to save our freedom.

I urge fellow Muslims and all others to stop and salute every one of these men and women, honoring them for their sacrifices and their love for humanity. Better yet, call the firemen, policemen and let them know that as a Muslim you appreciate their sacrifice, and this festival is also about appreciation for such sacrifice.

Sikhs and Muslims Can Come Together for Guru Nanak’s Birthday

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This article was first Published on 11/10/2011 09:29 pm at – : https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sikhs-and-muslims-on-542n_b_1087327

It’s the 542nd birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev, founder of Sikhism. Let’s pray this Gurpurab nurture goodwill and remove ill-will between Muslims and Sikhs.

Guru Nanakji’s birthday has a special significance to me. Indeed, the religion we called Sikhism started out as an interfaith movement, in which Guru Nanak primarily brought people from different religions together and taught common sense goodness, serving humanity and caring for the neighbors.

On this auspicious day of Guru Nanak Devji’s birthday, on behalf of World Muslim Congress and the Foundation for Pluralism, we wish peace and blessing to the world.

Guru Nanak Jayanthi is the birth celebration of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak, and one of the most sacred festivals in Sikhism.

The festivities in the Sikh religion revolve around the anniversaries of the 10 Sikh Gurus. These Gurus were responsible for shaping the beliefs of the Sikhs. Their birthdays, known as Gurpurabs, are occasions for celebration and prayer among the Sikhs.

The Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs is a stories and guidance in poetry composed by Hindu and Muslim spiritual teachers. Indeed, the land for the Golden Temple was a grant by King Akbar and the first brick for the Golden Temple was laid out by a Muslim fakir.

Happy Gurpurab to all the Sikhs and to everyone who is a well-wisher of the ideals of Sikhism. I hope, on this auspicious occasion of Gurpurab, that Muslims and Sikhs make a genuine effort to pay tribute to the spirit of Guru Nanak Devji and remove the misunderstandings that erupted from a wrong translation of Quran that happened 350 years ago and has rightfully etched in the psyche of Sikhs.

In an article in The Huffington Post about Kentucky Senator David William’s bigotry I wrote, “No one has a right to belittle other’s faiths. If Senator Williams has a problem let it be his problem and one should malign Christianity for his bigotry.” Likewise, King Aurangzeb’s bigotry should not be slapped on Muslims. I have nothing to do with it, nor does any Muslim anything to do with him.

Sadly there was a lot of bloodshed during the partition of India that has deepened the ill-will among a few Muslims and a few Sikhs. It is time to forgive for our own sake, as it will release the tension and apprehension within us and free us to deal with each other as free individuals.

May the noor (divine light) of Guru Nanankji brighten the world. Amen! Sikhism was one of the first formal religions that began as a reconciliatory goodwill nurturing faith and let’s give the full value to it.

I just want to share a great misunderstanding that occurred in the 17th century and has lasted till this day.

I was a speaker on “reading the scriptures” at the Parliament of World’s Religions in Melbourne, Australia. During the conference, one of the Sikh scholars was presenting a verse from Quran that has been difficult for Sikhs for more than 350 years. When Dr. Avtar Dhaliwal started his presentation with the obviously wrong translation of a verse from Quran, a fellow Muslim was outraged and walked out and was looking at me for a response. Later, I invited him back into the hall and responded to the mistranslation during my presentation and not during Dr. Dhaliwal’s presentation. That is a whole another story, but for now, I will share the email that followed the conversation.

Here is note from a leader from the Sikh Community, who is making every effort to set the record right. We must appreciate all such efforts where people have made a difference in creating a better world for all of us.

Avtar Dhaliwal, July 27, 2010

Dear Mike,
Greetings. I hope by now you are well recovered from the exhausting Parliament meeting in Melbourne, Australia.

I am working on my article on Sacred Scriptures and its Intended use—misinterpretations.

Apparently, during my presentation, I did not apply the qualified translation which resulted in misunderstanding By our friend from Bombay. I apologize for not gathering my information correctly. I had applied the translation that was posted on the Internet by ‘Quran Explorer.com’. I have no intension of denigrating any sacred books.

You had mentioned that correct translation is available for Surah 15:26-30. However, a Sabd by Guru Nanak Ji had been misinterpreted by the Clerks in the court of Aurangzeb, and the same interpretation has been copied in Sikh literature for the last 350 years.

I am trying to get the correct explication of the misinterpreted Sabd in Sikhism. In reference to that I need correct translation of Surah 15:26-30.

Will you please, send the correct translation in the English language as well as in the Urdu language.

Thanks for time.
Wishing the best.
Avtar S. Dhaliwal
Tennessee, USA

Here was my response. It is lengthy but worthwhile in removing 350 years of ill-will carried in our hearts.

Quran, Surah Hijr 15:26-30

Apparently the verses from 15:24-30 were mistranslated to suit one group over the other as the note below indicates. I will add a note after hearing from Mr. Dhaliwal.

Thank God, no one had dared to make a change in the Arabic version of Quran since its inception, however there have been three mistranslations, two of which I am familiar with, one was paid to mistranslate in 1142 AD by the European Kings around the crusades times to have the Christians hate Muslims; the other one was by Hilali Khan in 1922 after the fall of Ottoman Empire to rally up Muslim support by creating enemies out of Jews and Christians. I am not familiar with the third one, apparently during King Aurangzeb’s time. Aurangzeb was an honest man, but was an intolerant fanatic towards Hindus and apparently Sikhs.

Quran, like all other holy books is a book of guidance for humanity to co-exist in harmony and peace, the religious scriptures are God’s love for his creation. Just as the Nuclear power in the hands of good men and women can be beneficent to humanity and destructive in the wrong hands, the holy books are the same. Neither Quran, nor Nuclear powers are bad, it is whose hands in it is that determine the outcome. Fortunately, the intolerants ones are less than 1/10th of 1% of the population.

The best way to understand a verse is to read five verses before and after, and read at least three translations to get the right meaning. Finding the truth is one’s own responsibility.

15:24 (Asad) and well do We know [the hearts and deeds of all human beings – both] those who lived before you and those who will come after you; (Or: “those of you who hasten forward [towards Us], and those who lag behind”. Both these interpretations are considered equally legitimate by the early commentators)

15:25 (Asad) and, behold, it is thy Sustainer who will gather them all together [on Judgment Day]: verily, He is wise, all-knowing!

15:26 (Asad) AND, INDEED, We have created man out of sounding clay, out of dark-slime transmuted

There are many references in the Quran to man’s having been “created out of clay (tin)” or “out of dust (turab)”, both these terms signifying man’s lowly biological origins as well as the fact that his body is composed of various organic and inorganic substances existing-in other combinations or in their elementary forms-on or in the earth. The term salsal, occurring in three verses of this surah as well as in 55:14, adds a further dimension to this concept. According to most of the philological authorities, it denotes “dried clay that emits a sound” (i.e., when it is struck); and since it is used in the Quran exclusively with reference to the creation of man, it seems to contain an allusion to the power of articulate speech which distinguishes man from all other animal species, as well as to the brittleness of his existence (cf. the expression “like pottery” in 55:14). As the construction of the sentence shows, this salsal is stated to have evolved (Razi) out of hama’ – which, according to some authorities, is the plural of ham’ah, signifying “dark, fetid mud” or “dark slime”-while the participial adjective masnun which qualifies this noun denotes, as Razi points out, both “altered” (i.e., in its composition) and “brought into shape”: hence my rendering of this expression as “transmuted”, which to some extent combines both of the above meanings. To my mind, we have here a description of the primeval biological environment out of which the “sounding clay” – the matrix, as it were – of man’s physical body has evolved in accordance with God’s plan of creation. (Quran 15:26 )

15:27 (Asad) whereas the invisible beings We had created, [long] before that, out of the fire of scorching winds

“out of the confusing flame of fire (marij min nar)”: i.e., of non-corporeal elements. The noun al-jann, rendered by me as “the invisible beings”, is in reality a singular, denoting here the kind of these particular beings or forces, similar to the use of the singular noun “man” (al-insan) which describes the collective entity “mankind”.

15:28 (Asad) And lo! Thy Sustainer said unto the angels: “Behold, I am about to create mortal man out of sounding clay, out of dark slime transmuted;

15:29 (Asad) and when I have formed him fully and breathed into him of My spirit, fall down before him in prostration!

The allegorical character of all the passages bearing on the creation of man and on God’s command to the angels to prostrate themselves before him is brought out clearly in God’s saying, “I am about to create mortal man … ; and when I have formed him fully. ..”, etc.: for it is obvious that, in reality, no lapse of time is required for God’s completing His creation – since, “when He wills a thing to be, He but says unto it, ‘Be’-and it is” (cf. 2:117, 3:47 and 59, 6:73, 16:40, 19:35, 36:82 and 40:68). God’s “breathing of His spirit” into man is obviously a metaphor for His endowing him with life and consciousness: that is, with a soul. (Quran 15:29 )

There are several references where God tells the angels to bow to the man he has just created. In essence, God is asking to look up to man who is not an automatic machine to be in peace and free from conflicts, but has the free will and will strive to achieve peace, a state of conflict free, guilt free life.

15:30 (Asad) Thereupon the angels prostrated themselves, all of them together,

15:31 (Asad) save Iblis: he refused to be among those who prostrated themselves.

15:32 (Asad) Said He: “O Iblis! What is thy reason for not being among those who have prostrated themselves?”

15:33 (Asad) [Iblis] replied: “It is not for me to prostrate myself before mortal man whom Thou hast created out of sounding clay, out of dark slime transmuted!”

This signifies lack of trust in God by Iblis (Shaitaan) and arrogance to bow in front of a thinking and independent creature.

15:34 (Asad) Said He: “Go forth, then, from this [angelic state]: for, behold, thou art [henceforth] accursed.

Mike Ghouse is committed to build a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His work is indexed at MikeGhouse.net

Thanksgiving: An Interfaith Celebration

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This article was first Published on 11/23/2011 03:14 pm at – : https://www.huffpost.com/entry/interfaith-thanksgiving-c_b_1110631

The biggest part of Thanksgiving is sharing and caring. It is a day to express friendship and kindness to those who are struggling with the difficulties of life. It ought to bring out the best in us for others.

Why should we do that?

The Native Americans believe that the world is one large family, an interconnected and interdependent web of life, where each one of us is a strand. What affects one, affects the other. It behooves us to care for each other for the web to remain intact. Indeed, Hinduism titles this beautifully: Vasudaiva Kutumbukum — the whole world is one family.

Jesus said, do unto others as you would want others to do for you. He reached out to the ones who were abandoned by the society. He embraced the whole humanity with his heart and soul. The Jewish tradition highlights Ve’ahavta la’ger — you must love the stranger for that guaranteed happiness. Prophet Muhammad said the least you can give to others is hope and a smile. The Sikh faith is indeed founded on the principle of caring for the humanity; the Jains and Baha’is believe our joy comes from taking care of others as the Wiccan believe we have to take care of what we see — mother earth and everything she nurtures. The Atheist morality is based on the logic of co-existence and they believe in thanking the unknown energy or the system that keeps us all going.

Life Is A Self-Balancing Act

Those who achieve balance in life are the happiest people. Our happiness is directly dependent on fulfillment of our desires; lesser fulfillment yields greater discontentment. So, the enlightened Buddha says, fewer desires bring less sorrow!

It’s just not you. Ask Bill Gates, whom God has blessed, he would say not enough! Ask the Homeless and the answer is still the same: not enough. Who has enough then?

Walk the Middle path, said Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), just have enough desires that you can fulfill them, happiness stays with you. My mother used to say “don’t stretch your feet beyond your sheet,” meaning, stay within your means. Every faith and every family is enriched with such an advice.

For every good we receive, we have to offer our gratitude to the giver, absence of a simple thank you creates an imbalance in the relationship and the spiritual energy. A simple thank you will tie the loose ends and restores the balance.

For every hurt we hurl on others, an equal amount of energy is depleted from us, and until we say sorry and repent genuinely, the energy balance remains low and the transaction remains incomplete.

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction; and as a spiritualist I believe that for every wrong we do, an equal amount of energy is drained down from us and for every good we do, energy is recouped.

Life is a continual act of balancing between pain and pleasure, and to lead a normal life we have to maintain that equilibrium. We are constantly receiving and giving energy, intake and output must be equal to have a healthy mindset, or else we are thrown off balance.

Thanksgiving is a day to pull ourselves together and tie the loose ends of life. Through the year we receive a lot of good from others in the form of words and actions, and many a times the transaction remains incomplete. A mere thank you brings genuine relief and balance to the spirit.

The Story Of Incredible Gratitude

Let me share a story from my teen years. It was a Sunday ritual for me to sit and take care of the poor. A line of the needy people would pass in front of my house, and, being the oldest in the family, my Dad had assigned me the task of doling out the cash and food items to the individuals as they pass our door. I have seen lepers, people who cannot see, hear or talk, and certainly people with missing body parts.

I was fascinated by one such person. He did not have arms and limbs from the base of the body, and he was just the torso and the head. He wrapped his body with a rubber tube (those days car tires were inlaid with an air tight rubber tube to hold the air) of a car tire, and would slide inch by inch on his back from door to door. His shoulder and rear part would move in tandem similar to a snake. He always made me think about life and hope. I was about 14 years old then and was hesitant to speak with him.

One day, I asked him what made him want to live. He did not have relatives, could not do anything, could not have a family, could not have a place to live, and could not wear clothes. What made him want to live?

He took a deep breath and looked at me and said, “Son, I look forward to every morning to see the blue sky or see the rain and smell the earth, I smell and taste the good food people give me, I am thankful to God for giving me these eyes to see the beauty of his creation.” He was quite poetic.

Appaiah turned around and asked me instead, “Isn’t there so much to thank the Lord?” I was rendered speechless. Here is a man with nothing to hope for, yet he is not complaining, that is gratitude. Just that morning, I heard my Dad’s favorite verse from the Quran (55:16): “Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny? To this day, if I am down, I to go to the scriptures, I have found solace in opening Bhagvad Gita, Bible, Dale Carnegie’s book, the book of Mormon or Kitáb-i-Aqdas or simply read Sura Rahman, chapter 55 in the Quran, to uplift my spirits. We have to be grateful for whatever we have and express it to the unknown giver, a true thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving

Please carry a small piece of paper with you anywhere you go, and whenever you find a quiet moment, make a list of all the people you want to thank, you will find a sense of relief in it. Even if you don’t call everyone on the list, you have already said your thanks by thinking about the individual. The tension of the action (good done to you) is released with your reaction of thinking about them or writing their name down and possibly calling them.

Ponder over all the good things people have done to you, the good words they have said to you. Even if you don’t like some of them now, separate the good they have done and say thanks for it. Rein in your ego and feel the victory within you.

I thank every soul for contributing to my positive energy.

When you step out of your home today and run into someone who is down, be kind to him or her. Prophet Muhammad was once asked if you don’t have anything to give in charity, what can you give? He said a genuine smile is the most beautiful thing you can give. See the difference you make in their life — and your own. That is the least amount of charity you can do.

I further express my gratitude to our men and women who are doing their duty to protect our freedom.

Happy Thanksgiving
God Bless America

Muharram 2011: The Centrality of Imam Hussain

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This article was first Published on 12/02/2011 03:13 pm at – : https://www.huffpost.com/entry/muharram-2011-centrality-imam-hussain_b_1117929

Muharram is one of the most sacred months for Muslims. It is one of the four sanctified months of the year where peace is mandated and conflicts are to be mitigated.

The Muslim New Year begins with the month of Muharram. Nov. 25, 2011 was the first day of the year 1433 on the Muslim Lunar Calendar. Indeed the Jewish, Hindu and many other traditions follow the lunar calendar as opposed to the Gregorian calendar. Whether it is Ramadan, Rosh Hashanah or Diwali, it is not on the same day of the calendar every year as the lunar calendar is short by about eleven days.

Please hold the temptation to wish a happy new year to Muslims as it is a month of commemoration and not a celebration. It was on the 10th day of this month that Hazrat Imam Hussain (ra), grandson of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and son of Hazrat Ali and Fatima (ra) was martyred in the battle of Karbala.

It was a conflict between Imam Hussain and Yazid the caliph of that time. Yazid usurped the leadership of Muslim community and wanted the true spiritual leader Imam Hussain to endorse him for legitimacy, which Imam Hussain rightfully declined and Yazid had him killed along with his young children. It was indeed like the Battle of Kurukshetra in Mahabharata; Good against evil, except Krishna’s good forces win the battle over the evil ones.

Yazid was one of the most corrupt and immoral leaders who violated the meritorial and consultative selection process of leadership and took over with his influence; wealth over morality. Personally I have not heard any Muslim who names his or her child Yazid, just as it is a rarity to name Hitler.

The Shahadat (martyring) of Imam Hussein turned two critical chapters in Islam.

First, it killed the democratic process in Islam. When Prophet Muhammad passed away, he did not pass the leadership to his son- in-law (different legitimate views prevail), the most qualified one to lead, and was the first one to believe in Prophet’s message and he grew up with him.

Prophet Muhammad believed in a consultative process for civil society. Spiritual teaching was not necessarily needed since Islam was complete and fully established. Hence, the Prophet did not appoint any one as his successor because, he probably thought that public governance was not his to dole out but best determined through a democratic process. And, thankfully a good system was moving forward, selecting leaders based on consultation and merit. Indeed previous to Yazid, at least the first four caliphs were elected through the process of consultation. This came to an abrupt end with Yazid; it is a day to mourn for the demise of a nascent democratic system, where the leadership was not passed onto the next heir.

The second part is the sad demise of Imam Hussain where we lost the righteous guidance for centuries to come. Personally, I view it as a celebration, hailing the hero of Islam, because he showed the strength of his character by valuing morality and righteousness over his own life. Indeed there is a couplet in the Urdu language that is etched in the memories of the people of the subcontinent.

Qatl-e-Hussain asl may marg-e yazid hai,
Islam Zinda hota hai her karabla ke baad.

The essence of this couplet means, that killing of Imam Hussain is actually the death of evil, as the longing to be righteous and just gets refreshed after each conflict. He was martyred on the 10th day of Muharram and many a Muslim fasts on that day and pledges to be righteous from there onward.

Many others commemorate by meeting in the mosques every evening and sharing the glorious stories of Imam Hussain and his family’s sacrifices. On the 10th day of Muharram known as Yom-e-Ashura (Farsi for day of Muharram), difficult rituals are observed to pay tribute to Imam Hussain and feel his pain, to express that his pain was greater than all the pain of the majlis (gathering) combined.

Please note that I have taken the pledge today to do my individual share of honoring Imam Hussain to un-divide ourselves. I will do my best to write about our stories, our ideas and our philosophies that we all jointly own. We the Muslims of all hues, are in this together. These are not only our stories, Muslim stories, but also belong to whole humanity. We have to work to create a better world. I am not secure if others around me are not, and no one will have peace of mind if what surrounds them is not. Our words and acts should bring peace and not stir it up.

This prayer is written up for everyone and if your spirit feels in tune with it, please say ‘Amen’ after each line of the prayer.

Dear God, guide us to seek new beginnings for humanity where no one has live in anxieties, discomfort or fear of the other.

Let this Muharram pave the way for peace and justice for one and all.

I pray that the Shahadat of Imam Hussain become the catalyst for us to remove our differences and come together for peace, security and prosperity of Muslims and every human being.

Lowe’s, Is This the America We Want?

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This article was first Published on 12/15/2011 05:06 pm at – : https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lowes-all-american-muslim_b_1145048

The hardware giant Lowe’s pulled its advertisement from TLC’s “All-American Muslim” reality show depicting day-to-day Muslims. It is (was?) the beginning of creating a cohesive America where no American has to live in anxieties, discomfort or fear of the other stemming from a fellow American.

As Americans together, we must congratulate the producers for breaking the stereotyping of Muslims and working toward the idea of one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Aren’t we sick of portraying the Catholics, Jews, Irish, Italians, Mormons, Chinese, Hindus and now Muslims in a negative light?

The Florida Family Association claims responsibility for causing Lowe’s to pull their advertisements out. Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison’s press release expresses this sentiment well: “This is disappointing since the success of ‘All-American Muslim’ shows how ready the country is to learn about Muslims as Americans. This probably makes hate mongers uncomfortable — as they should be.” It is an unpatriotic act and must be condemned unequivocally.

Let’s hold the temptation to stereotype the Florida Family Association. We know clearly that evil begins with an individual and acquires support from a few core members. The entire membership of Florida Family Association should not be held accountable for the actions of a few among them who are directly responsible to tear the cohesive fabric of America.

One classroom bully gets away frightening the day lights out of a class of 50 students. The rapists and the murders do their evil things openly unchallenged. The wisdom of humanitarians like Einstein, Gandhi, Burke and MLK was clear: Evil exists and perpetuates not necessarily because of evil men, but because good men do nothing about it.

What are you going to do about it?

Why should anyone stand up for you, if you are not willing to do the same for others? To create an America we dream about, we have to act.

One of the things you can do is to speak out against specific individuals responsible for the act, the least you can do is to write your comments below as a support for building a cohesive America. The best you can do is to call Home Depot to sponsor the show and in good faith do business with a company that bodes well for America.

Mike is committed to building a cohesive America, where no American has to live in anxieties, discomfort of fear stemming from a fellow American. Mike offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. www.AmericaTogetherfoundation.com

The Rule of Law Prevails in Oklahoma

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This article was first Published on 01/11/2012 12:28 pm at – : https://www.huffpost.com/entry/congratulations-to-the-pe_b_1198878

Congratulations to the people of Oklahoma that the rule of law has prevailed over bigotry in their state. We applaud the court in Denver for upholding U.S. District Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange’s order blocking implementation of the amendment shortly after it was approved by 70 percent of Oklahoma voters in November 2010.

It is unfortunate that the Oklahomans were misled by the politicians to believe that Muslims were demanding sharia law and that it was dangerous and must be gutted. They trusted their representatives and passed the referendum to ban Oklahoma courts from considering Islamic law to resolve personal matters between individuals.

When a conflict arises between family members, before you sue each other, you seek guidance from other family members, friends, church and the counselors. If you don’t find a solution, you go to the court as a last resort. The court may appoint a mediator if the parties are willing to abide by the decisions or simply take it up with the bench or the jury.

Those who opt for a mediator may agree to common guidelines and one of them is available from your religious sources. In case of Muslims, if the couple is willing to seek sharia to guide them to serve justice equitably to both and willing to abide by, the mediator will get that agreement approved by the judge. The Christians may seek pastoral counseling as Jews may seek guidance from the halacha, their family laws.

Who would not want a resolution to their conflict, be it through friends or religious laws? Isn’t it between them? If a couple chooses to settle their dispute about child custody, divorce or inheritance, they should seek all resources including sharia, which is designed to serve equitable justice to people. It is unfortunate that people have come to associate sharia with injustices. Indeed, abuse of law is prevalent in every nation and society where the innocent is nailed, just as we have administered lethal injection to innocent men and women in Texas.

It is a victory for justice and a victory for all Americans. We cannot a let a few short-sighted men and women deny others their rights guaranteed in constitution.