Jewish Muslim Christian Trialogue at Temple Beth Shalom

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JEWISH MUSLIM CHRISTIAN TRIALOGUE

Rabbi Suzan Grossman, Rev. Bill Au and Mike Ghouse carried an interfaith Trialogue at Temple Beth Shalom in Columbia, MD. It was a great conversation covering several topics. I will gather the notes in a few days.

Experiencing God is an amazing thing…

Piety, or God consciousness, or going further with it – to be God like amounts to being home with what surrounds you, when you achieve piety, you do not consider any human to be inferior or belittle others to have a false sense of being superior. You feel you are part of the God energy and others are similar parts to be respected.

The sun shines on the dirtiest puddle as well as the crystal clear mountain, and when your experience God consciousness, you shine on all humanity without any discrimination. When you get to that point – you are most comfortable in life, it is true nirvana or salvation at that time.

The basic tenets of Islam are like the Ten Commandments, they offer the basic structural support for creating harmony in the society. All religions and systems of Governance has one thing in common – to build cohesive societies where no one has to live in apprehension or fear of the other.

mikeghouse-suzangrossman-billau

Mike Ghouse

 

I voted for Hillary-Kaine

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I VOTED TODAY AND WROTE IN MY NAME ON THE BALLOT

There is a joy in standing in the line on the day of voting and chatting with people. Usually people are afraid to talk about politics in public, but thank God, I have always had great conversations, may be because I do not have a belligerent attitude towards Republicans or Democrats. So what if you vote for one or the other? You won’t diminish in my view, as you simply exercised your choice. We can call this political pluralism.

I could not resist writing “Mike Ghouse” for Neighborhood Commissioner and council person from a Single Member district. I was a neighborhood commissioner in the City of Carrollton and served two terms. Now, I will work for the next election cycle.

For President and VP, I voted for Hillary-Kaine, Delegate to US House of representatives Eleanor Homes, Franklin Garcia for US Congress, and Mary Lord for Member at large for DC council. This is the first time; I have voted all Democrats, simply because there was no Republican on the ballot.

Back home in Dallas, a majority of names will be Republicans with many un-opposed. I voted for the candidate without regard to party affiliation.

The ballot card was different in DC. It was very simple… after 3 short screens and 10 names or so, it was done! I was puzzled that it was over so soon. Double checked to see if I was missing anything, I wasn’t. A blank card was inserted in the machine and after checking the candidates, you PRINT the card, which you will carry it to another machine and insert in it for tabulation. In Texas, you scrolled at least 7 or 8 long screens to complete voting some 100 candidates from city, school boards, county, state and federal…

There is no possibility for voter fraud. I was in an all Black neighborhood that Trump seems to allude to fraud. She checked my voter registration card, drivers licence, asked me to spell my name, and recite the address. How can I be dead and recite my name and address and yet vote? These are the volunteers and I will see if it is not too late, I may volunteer to sit in there myself.

I was panicky today, as I will be out of town till the 8th, what if I don’t get back in time? I did not want to miss it, so I went to Sherwood polling station in DC and voted. I may still go out and visit the folks and hear different point of views on the day of… Democracy is so beautiful!

The candidates who won in the last six elections were the ones I voted. Let’s hope I won’t be wrong again in reading the national pulse. It was Clinton, Clinton, Bush, Bush, Obama and Obama and now it is Clinton, and in 2020, it will be Clinton again. The only vote I have regretted was vote for Ted Cruz.

What is the process in your state?

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Mike Ghouse

Muslim Speakers Training by AMI

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Purpose

To train men and women, youth and seniors to speak about Islam in public square. Let Islam be explained by trained Muslims and non-Muslims rather than the pundits who have learned Islam from the wrong sources.

Need

In a survey produced by the Evangelical Pastors, there was a glaring item in it; 64% of the Evangelical Pastors thought Islam was a violent religion and 46% of their congregation also believed in the same.   In one of our monthly programs called, “State of Muslims,” we asked the pastors what does it takes to improve the situation.  The overwhelming response was the need for Muslim Speakers to speak in the common language. The dearth of average Muslim speakers to speak about Islam has been a major problem in the society; it has created an imbalance in creating stereotypical images of Muslims. We hope to train Muslims to speak in Churches, Synagogues, Gurdwaras, Temples, civic center, community centers,  Schools, Colleges and the Media.

Who can attend

Program is not limited to Muslims, all are welcome to learn and understand Islam. After all we have to work and live together as neighbors and co-workers.

Program

The program is divided into three parts:

The training will focus on presenting basic Islam (Islam 101)  in its social, cultural, ritual and spiritual dimensions, so people of other faiths can understand Islam.

PART I

Saturday, October 29, 2016 – 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM Venue: Montgomery County Muslim Foundation 811 Russell Ave, Suite G, Gaithersburg, MD 20879

RULES

RSVP is required  –
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/muslim-speakers-training-tickets-28562060893

Class room doors will be closed at 11:00
No late entries allowed – it is a discipline we have to practice to be on time.
Full attendance is required to receive certification.

Sponsored by: Montgomery County Muslim Foundation – www.mcmfmd.org/

Supporting Organizations:  Islamic Society of Washington Area – www.iswamd.org/ Add the name of your organization Even though it is basic course, there is a lot to learn.

  1. Each Segment will be 20 Minutes followed by 15 Minutes Q&A.
  2. A bulleted outline will be given to the students to follow.
  3. Diverse speakers will be presenting the material.
  4. All material will be based on Quran and Hadith.
  5. Our audience would include Muslims and non-Muslims
  6. This is offered for the first time, and we have to continually improve upon it.

COURSE MATERIA

First Amendment

A study of the first Amendment and its impact. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Islamic Values

It is time we emphasize on Islamic values. These values contribute towards creating a cohesive America, and they are;   Caring for fellow beings, Justice, humility, forgiveness, truthfulness, pluralism and freedom of conscience.

Islamic History

It is a two part history – Islamic history in general and Islamic history in America in Particular.

Rituals and the Five Pillars of Islam

The five pillars of Islam and the rituals that go with including but not limited to Eid-al-Fitr, Eid-al-Adha, Ashura, Milad and other events with a clear understanding that there is diversity of practices among Muslims.  A one unit prayer demonstration will be beneficial including the postures and Duwa.

Denominations

All the known denomination will be respectfully presented – the major divisions are; Sunni, Shia, Sufi and Ahmadiyya. Within Sunni there are many subgroups including Wahhabi, Ahle- Hadith, Ahle-Sunnah and several others, and among Shia we have Alawite, Bohra, Ismaili, Twelvers and others, then the Ahmadiyya and Sufi groups are smaller. Baha’i and Druze are different religions and not a part of Islam. Like all human endeavors and religions, Islam has many denominations or unique sub-groups among Muslims.  Indeed God intentionally chose each one of us to be unique and made us into many tribes, communities and nations while acknowledging different religious traditions.  After all only God has the authority to judge what is in one’s hearts and not us.

Quran:

Quran is God’s words revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), this is the primary sources of all Islamic teachings.  It is a book of guidance address to the entire universe with the very first verse to all humanity in the last chapter.   Thanks to the human progress, we have over 50 English translations available in the market now, of which two of them are loaded with mistranslations and most of the others are acceptable translations.  Newer translations have made their way in fixing some of the translation errors of the past. Beware: In the middle Ages, European leaders commissioned a hostile Quran translation to foster warfare against Muslim invaders. Later, Muslim leaders produced another translation to inflame Muslims against Christians and Jews. Details will be shared in the class.

Hadith:

Hadiths are the sayings and practices of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) compiled and named after the scholars; Sahih Al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu-Dawud, Malik’s Muwatta, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and others. There are six schools of thoughts as well.

PART II

Saturday, December 3, 2016 – 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM    Venue: Muslim Community Center 15200 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Springs, MD 20905 Sponsored by Muslim Community Center – mccmd.org/ Supported by:

COURSE MATERIAL (Details will be provided soon)

  1. Pluralism
  2. Sharia
  3. Islamophobia, Terrorism and Jihad
  4. Countering Violent Extremism and radicalization.
  5. Youth
  6. Women
  7. FAQ ( included review of the terminology)

CAPSTONE

Saturday, December 10, 2106 – Media Training The final and 3rd part would involve preparing Muslims to deal with the Media with experts from the media conducting the 4 hours workshop.  One must attend Part I and Part II to qualify to attend this course. A certificate will be issued to those who successfully complete all the three events.  …………………………….

Please visit our website: www.AmericanMuslimInstitution.org go to Events tab RSVP to the event:  Event will be listed on Eventbrite About us: Thank you

Program produced and moderated by:  Mike Mohamed Ghouse

Dr. Mike Ghouse is a Muslim Speaker, thinker, writer, organizer and an activist committed to building cohesive societies with a belief that what is good for Muslims has got to be good for the world and vice versa to sustain peace, harmony and prosperity.

Mike has appeared in over 300 shows on TV and Radio, and about 150 times on Fox News and over 100 times with Sean Hannity.  He has published over 3000 articles and about a 1/3rd on Pluralism, a third on Islam and the rest on a variety of topics. Bulk of the writings is published by Dallas Morning News, Huffington Post, Op-ed News and others. Mike’s Mission is to work for a world of co-existence through inclusiveness and participation. www.MuslimSpeaker.com

Ashura, 3rd important event of Muslims

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Yom-e-Ashura is one of the three major commemorative events on Muslim Calendar; the other two are Ramadan and Eid- al Adha. There are several other celebrations like Milaad (Prophet’s birthday), Shab-e- Baraat, Shab-e-Meraj, Ghadir Khumm, Ismaili Imamat Day etc. These are collective festivities and commemorations of Muslims of many denominations.

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Yom e Ashura in (10th day of the month) the month of Muharram is a commemoration and not a celebration (for my non-Muslim friends). It was a battle between good and evil fought some 1336 years ago. Imam Hussein (RA) stood up against the wicked King Yazid, and refused to endorse him as the spiritual leader when he appointed himself as the “Caliph” of the growing Muslim community. In the battle that followed Imam Hussain and his whole family including a baby was martyred. It is a very tragic story and my eyes have welled up every time I have heard during the Muharram gatherings at the Shia Mosques and homes.

Imam Hussein’s sacrifice is a constant reminder to us that we have to stand up for what is right. Mahatma Gandhi has often cited Imam Hussain’s resistance against corrupt rulers.

I have written about it a few times, here are two articles handy.

Muharram – a catalyst for change
http://worldmuslimcongress.org/muharram-2014-a-catalyst-fo…/

Muharram 2011 – Centrality of Imam Hussain
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…/muharram-2011-centrality-im…

I urge Muslims to pray that we all get the courage and commitment to stand up for justice in the footsteps of Imam Hussain.

Mike Ghouse

Does Atheism Matter?

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We all have a choice to believe that there is someone called God who created us intentionally or there is no such thing as God. While a majority of humanity believes in an active God of the universe, nearly 10% of the humanity does not believe that there is something called God which consciously directs every aspect of life. What we believe is indeed our inalienable right.

It would be sheer arrogance to believe that Atheists are wrong, they may be wrong to you, but not to them. It is time we learn to respect the otherness of others and accept the uniqueness of each one of us on this planet, if we do that, conflicts fade and solutions emerge.

By the end of 2020, there will not be a major city in America, and perhaps in the world, where you will not find people of different faiths, cultures, ethnicities, races, nationalities and social backgrounds working, eating, playing, marrying, and doing things together. We need to prepare ourselves for those eventualities to prevent possible conflicts, and lay a good foundation for nurturing goodwill and effective functioning of the societies. Exclusive communities will become a thing of the past. If you live amidst others, you must also respect the otherness of others, as you expect them to do the same for you. Our goal is to bring people of different faiths together and provide a platform for them to share about their beliefs, their systems and rituals, while expanding the knowledge zone of each group.

Program: Understanding the wisdom of religion Place: The Church of Scientology National Affairs Office Address: 1701 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 Date: First Monday of the month Time: 11:00 and 2:00 PM from August 2016 Refreshments will be provided RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/atheism-understanding-the-essence-of-atheism-tickets-27442611590

Details at: www.CenterforPluralism.com/Workshops The Center for Pluralism is committed to promoting understanding between peoples of different religious, social, political and national affiliations. We would like to thank the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office for hosting the series of events. In support of Article 18 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, knowledge leads to understanding and understanding to acceptance and appreciation of another faith. If we can learn to respect the otherness of others and accept the genetic uniqueness of each one of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge.

Bias against Atheists

Back in the 70’s, I followed Dr. Abraham Kovoor, the father of Modern Atheism. I understood his logical explanations about nature and creation. Being an Atheist was acceptable in India, when I came to the United States, I was completely taken back by the way people looked down at you when you claimed to be an Atheist. Thank God, that is not the case now.

I was an active participating member of the community in Dallas. I used to publish a news paper where we wrote about every religion. In 1996, I launched a radio show and dedicated 15 minutes each week to the festivals of each faith. Someone prodded me to join the Thanksgiving Square in Dallas, which was a vibrant community center in Dallas. My app was rejected as they did not have a pigeon hole for an Atheist; I was told I could join if I were a Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist or the other. Instead, I chose to organize the Center for Pluralism (at that time it was Foundation for Pluralism) to include every human. The Irony is funny – back in 2005 we initiated the Unity Day USA event that continues today as an annual event. My goal was to include everyone in the event and I was a part of every religious group but Atheists (I chose to become a Muslim in the late 90’s), so I joined an Atheist group with the express purpose of keeping in touch and inviting them to the Unity Day and other events. Guess what happened? A week later, I got an email asking me if I believed in God, which I answered in affirmative. They kicked me out of the membership. What a world! In 2003-2004, I had a Radio show called “Wisdom of Religion.” It was a daily morning show between 6 AM and 7 AM. Each week we did a program on Christianity, Islam and Hinduism and each alternate week it was Baha’i, Buddhism, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Interfaith and Atheism and other traditions. Atheism was one of the most popular shows; there was the curiosity among people to know more about it. Why don’t you learn about my religion?

You have heard this before, “Why don’t you learn about my religion?” As if the problem will disappear if you learn about his or her religion. In reality most of us are loaded with myths and misinformation about the other traditions. Indeed, if we learn about others, we tend to purge our own biases towards others and start living our lives and let others live theirs. Muslim are not the only who believe, Islam is misunderstood. Hindus also believe their tradition is misunderstood. Indeed, Atheism is one of the most misunderstood traditions from the very beginning of humankind. We all have a choice to believe that there is someone called God who created us intentionally, and there are those who don’t believe that there is a thing called God. If you discount Atheism, you give legitimacy to others’ discounting your own faith.

You are so right about it, and here is your chance of doing precisely that; to understand 13 other faith traditions in a series of seminars over 13 months. We will follow the Alphabetical sequence fro Atheism to Zoroastrianism and every faith in between.

By learning about other faiths, the strength of your faith multiplies while giving full respect to others. It is like Bill Gate’s attitude, the more people he made millionaires the greater a billionaire he became, likewise the more faiths your respect, your own faith strengthens. You have to ask the people who have a strong faith; they never denigrate others’ faith. Let me be blunt, if you do not give full value to other faiths, it is more than likely that you do not value your own faith. You miss out on the joy of full faith that comes without dismissing others. Muslims and Atheism Today, I have a strong faith in Islam based on respect for other traditions committed to building cohesive societies. Learning about other faiths does not weaken your faith, but rather it strengthens knowing that other faiths are equally committed to building peaceful societies. We hope each one of us would walk in with an open mind and an open heart towards understanding other faiths, and walk out feeling connected with our fellow beings who are different than us. No matter what faith we believe, we have to live together, and as responsible citizens we have to create an environment for each one of us to live without apprehension.

It is difficult to shed the prejudices, but once we do, there is genuine freedom (Mukti, Moksha, Salvation, Nijaat and Nirvana.) in it.

Article by Mike Ghouse

Why Should Muslims Condemn Terrorism?

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Let’s think through this.

Are you responsible for the New Town school shooting, Denver Theater shooting, Orlando Shooting, Wisconsin Shooting or any shooting?

Each year you can count on hundreds of mass shootings, that number was 355 last year. Huffington Post

As an American, did you apologize for those shootings? Who would you apologize to? We are all Americans and a small percent of us are killing each other. Did each one of the 322 Million Americans apologize? If not, why not?

My proposal: No American Muslim should apologize for the acts he or she did not commit.

It is time we quit acting like outsiders and doubtful Americans. Indeed, we are confident Americans and this is our home and this is our land, and we are as patriotic as anyone, and no one has the right to question my patriotism, but if I break the law, I should be nailed.

All those criminals are same, they are there to harass, bully and hurt you. They are on their own. If a rapist enters your home forcibly, you don’t ask his religion, you chase him and hunt him down and knock him out.  Do Christians, Jews, Hindus, or White, Black, Hispanic or Vietnamese Americans let go of the rapist if he were to say he is a Christian, Jews or…. ? Hell no!  Neither Muslims will let go if he says he is a Muslim. If he is a terrorists, Muslims would be the first one to turn him in to the FBI.

As Americans we cannot live in shadows, we are not second class citizens and we should not take this crap any longer, we have to put an end to these accusations.  I don’t want to apologize for the acts I did not commit. If you want me to apologize, I will give you the list, and each one of the 322 Million Americans has to apologize for each one of the 355 mass murders last year, fair enough?

If I murder someone, my heinie needs to be hauled off.  Don’t be stupid enough to buy my piss poor excuse that my religion made me do it, or plead insanity. If you do, you are too dumb or you were born to hate others anyways, and were simply waiting for an excuse to light up the hate in you for others. Wake and have common sense.

If I were the Police Chief, I would have said to that creep, “You SOB, you murdered the innocent people, and I am not stupid to buy your excuses, I know your religion did not tell you to kill a single soul, don’t give me that bull anymore, you did it, and you are going to pay for it. If you have accessories, we will hunt them down and punish them as well.”   End of the story.

In the same breath I would have said to Fox News heads, “In New York, where your studio is located, you had 242 Murders last year and 1,037 rapes, shall I say to Sean Hannity, “You are a murderer and a rapists?”  Would you buy that? No matter which group you belong to, there are always a few bad guys in your group.

We must condemn every act of terrorism, but what we should not pick and choose, nor should we demand others to apologize.  Bad guys are bad guys and deserve to be punished per the law of the state.

Blaming the religion is the dumbest thing some of these talking heads do. What the hell can you do to a religion? It is an intangible, you cannot slaughter, kick, hang, beat, shoot or bury it, then why bark at it? On the other hand if we blame the individual, we can punish the individual and restore justice and order in the society, and that is what we all want, doesn’t it?

It is time we change the narrative. If an American Muslim kills another American, that is his problem, and the responsibility of the state is to nail his ass, and not even look at other Muslims for answers. Punish the criminal spare the innocent.

Reference: What if Boston Terrorist is a Muslim?

Mike Ghouse

Pushing the Rabbi, Pastor and an Imam to face challenges in promoting co-existence

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What do Torah, Bible and Quran preach about co-existence? If they do, do the Synagogues, Churches and Mosques highlight those ideals in their weekly sermons? What are the challenges Rabbis, Pastor and Imams face when they preach what is in the texts? What is the responsibility of the congregants in shaping the conversation in their respective place of worship?

We hope you would walk out of the auditorium with hope and optimism. The American Muslim Institution is committed to promote the ideals of co-existence. We have chosen a Rabbi, Pastor and an Imam to be on one platform in a dialogue to offer pragmatic solutions on co-existence of humanity, focused on the practitioners of faiths in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

In the Symposium scheduled on Sunday, September 18, 2016 at Marriott Fairview in Falls Church, Virginia at 2:00 PM, three holy books will be placed on the table symbolically acknowledging God’s wisdom in building cohesive societies where no human has to live in tension, apprehension or fear of the other.

Everything you always wanted to know about what the real scriptures say, and what is preached and practiced is what you will hear. This will be one of the most productive meetings you would have ever attended, make sure you RSVP and bring your friends.

Here are statements from each one of the participants and the President AMI.

Rabbi Charles M. Feinberg said, “Each of the Scriptures of the Abrahamic faiths has passages which I would consider problematic and offensive. It is the responsibility of religious leaders to interpret these passages in a way that promotes justice and peace.”

Imam Mohamad Bashar Arafat said, “The political situation today, nationally and internationally, is making it more difficult for the voices of reason and wisdom to be heard. The word of God has been and will continue to be our refuge in Him from the temptation of our desires and the misunderstanding of our interpretations.”

Ambassador Islam Siddiqui, President of AMI said, “We firmly believe in an America in which all religious and ethnic communities contribute to her success while living in peace and harmony, free from prejudice and discrimination.”

By the end of year 2020, there will not be a major city in America, and perhaps in the world, where you will not find people of different faiths, cultures, ethnicities, races, nationalities and social backgrounds working, eating, playing, marrying, and doing things together. We need to prepare ourselves for those eventualities to prevent possible conflicts, and lay a good foundation for nurturing goodwill and effective functioning of the societies. Exclusive communities will become a thing of the past. If you live amidst others, you must also respect the otherness of others, as you expect them to do the same for you. You are who you are, and I am who I am. As long as we don’t mess with each other’s space, sustenance and nurturance, and mind our own business, we all will do well. If we can learn to respect the otherness of other and accept the God-given uniqueness of each one of the seven billion of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge.

Venue: Marriott Fairview, 3111 Fairview Park Dr, Falls Church, VA 22042 Time: Sunday, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM – Doors open at 1:40 PM.

AMI is committed to be a proactive voice for American Muslims, and our actions, writings and talks are geared to achieve the ultimate goal; where fellow “Americans will see Muslims as their neighbors and fellow citizens, committed to fighting against violent extremism and protecting the homeland.

Mike Ghouse is the Executive Director of American Muslim Institution and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He can be reached atMike@AmericanMuslimInstitution.org

Don’t exempt non-Muslims from hudud, Muslim scholars suggest

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I don’t know how they became Scholars. These men who issued this fatwa are not scholars from any sense of the word, they are parrots who don’t use intelligence and simply repeat what is drilled into them.

First of all, Islam is not a religion to force and compel others to your belief or your systems.

Secondly, if you disagree with others, you respectfully tell them, “to you is your faith and to me is my faith.” That is, neither faith is inferior to the others. If you say other religion is inferior, then it is your word against God’s word. God has not condemned any religion, nor he wants you to, you had better study Quran, or check out this article on Sura Kafirun.

Islam is a guidance to live in harmony with fellow humans to create peace for all. Don’t the scholars  believe Islam means peace, can they compute how peace is achieved?   Did’t Prophet say, stand up against oppressors. We need to stand up against these oppressors who want to push their whims on others. Dr Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin is an oppressor or accessory to oppression.
mohamed-asri-zainul-abidinOne of the clerics said, “Non-Muslims should not be exempted from severe hudud punishments if the controversial Islamic penal law is implemented in Malaysia, religious scholars suggested in a forum discussing the issue today.” This is non-sense.

Mohd Amar says, “That is fair … because a Muslim has chosen his faith. When he chose Islam, he chose the entirety of Islamic teaching, including its laws,”

Once again, he knows nothing about Islam. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) initiated and lived by the Madinah treaty, where Jews, Christians and Pagans lived by their laws.

More at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/dont-exempt-non-muslims-from-hudud-muslim-scholars-suggest

Mike Ghouse
www.Muslimspeaker.com

My Cow, my real story

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The story of brutality of factory farms listed below bothered me, however it took me back to the love for my cow when I was a teenager. One day I walked home and found out that my father had sold the cow to a farmer for eventual packaging. I was upset, very upset.

She was 35 and had stopped giving milk; this was the Cow my father’s friend Muniyappa has sold him years back for the milk needs of my family. I found out who had purchased it and rode my bike straight to his home. I walked up to her and saw the tears rolling down her eyes, OMG, I feel the emotion now and feel misty… I still see her big blue eyes crying.

A big hug was due her, and she responded positively. I understood her language that she wanted to come home. I brought her back, a year later I was convinced that letting the cow go was the best option, as I was still recovering from the mourning of my dog Sheru who was killed in a road accident and I did not want to see her die.

I must be around ten or eleven at that time, and remember taking her out for grazing by the lake, and letting her graze while I read books, then as the sun was setting, along with other shepherds, I will bring my cow back home. It was about two miles walk. I remember buying the bundles of fresh grass in the market place for her fodder, I loved that smell. I loved the smell of cakes that were made for her from Ragi (grain that looks like Rye) flour and we ate the food made out of the same flour, it is a Bangalore delicacy – called Ragi Mudday. When my friend Shariff visits his sister Baseera in Washington DC, I go to see him and she makes the Raggi Mudday, our favorite.

I have often wondered about the reality of that emotion, I try to go back to that time, and then find it comfortable to give up the thought and believe that my cow was indeed crying.

Have you experienced something like this?

I thank Len Ellis, my friends whom I have listed on my profile as the friends I admire at
http://www.mikeghouse.net/ProfileMikeGhouse.asp

Mike Ghouse
__________________________________

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-robbins/the-brutality-of-factory_b_643567.html

The Brutality of Factory Farms: An Inside Look (VIDEO)

This past week, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill that will essentially prohibit, starting in 2015, any egg from being sold in the state that comes from caged hens. This bill became law 20 months after a majority of California voters approved Proposition 2, making it clear that concern for the living conditions of livestock is no longer the province of animal rights activists alone.
Recognizing how widespread concern about the humane treatment of farm animals has become, the California Milk Advisory Board has recently ramped up its 10-year “Happy Cow” advertising campaign with a new series of ads proclaiming that “Great milk comes from Happy Cows. Happy Cows come from California.” These ads are now being shown across the nation.

Unfortunately, there are a few problems with the ads. For one, they weren’t filmed in California at all. They were filmed in Auckland, New Zealand.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Current Milk Board ads claim that 99 percent of the state’s dairy farms are family owned. But in order to arrive at this figure, they count as “dairy farms” rural households with one or two cows. Meanwhile, there are corporate-owned dairies in the San Joaquin Valley which have 15,000 or 20,000 cows. It is these far larger enterprises that produce the vast majority of California’s milk.

My concern, let me emphasize, is not with small-scale family farms. I have no problem with the many hard-working families who treat their cows well, take care of the land and try to bring a healthy product to market. My problem is with the much larger agribusiness enterprises, the factory farms to whom the animals in their care are nothing but sources of revenue.

Thanks to the practices they employ, the amount of milk produced yearly by the average California cow is nearly 3,000 pounds more than the national average. This increased production may seem like a good thing, but it is achieved at great cost to the animals. The cows are routinely confined in extremely unnatural conditions, injected with hormones, fed antibiotics, and in general treated with all the compassion of four legged milk pumps. Roughly one third of California’s cows suffer from painful udder infections, and more than half suffer from other infections and illnesses.

Although genetically engineered bovine growth hormone is banned in many countries including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and much of the European Union, it is widely used in California’s largest dairy operations to increase milk production. Unfortunately, it also increases udder infections and lameness in the cows, markedly raises the amount of pus found in milk, and may increase the risk of cancer in consumers.

The natural lifespan of a dairy cow is about 25 years, but one-fourth of California’s dairy cows are slaughtered each year (typically at four or five years old), because they’ve become crippled from painful foot infections or calcium depletion, or simply because they can no longer produce the unnaturally high amounts of milk required of them.

The Milk Board ads present the California dairy industry as a bucolic enterprise that operates in lush, grassy pastures. Some of the ads employ the slogan “So much grass, so little time.” But California’s dairy industry is concentrated in the dry and barren Central Valley. Here, the cows are typically kept in overcrowded, dirt feedlots. Some never see a blade of grass in their entire lives.

The ads show calves in meadows talking happily to their mothers. But the calves born to California dairy cows typically spend only 24 hours with their mothers, and some do not even get that much. Here is a video that reveals what actually happens to the calves:

The ads propagate the image that California dairy cows live in natural conditions and the practices of the dairy industry are in harmony with the environment. But the amount of excrement produced each year by the dairy cows in the 50-square mile area of California’s Chino Basin would make a pile with the dimensions of a football field and as tall as the Empire State Building. When it rains heavily, dairy manure in the Chino Basin is washed straight into the Santa Ana River and some makes its way into the aquifer that supplies half of Orange County’s drinking water.

The large-scale factory dairies in California’s Central Valley produce more excrement than the entire human population of Texas. About 20 million Californians (65 percent of the state’s population) rely on drinking water that is threatened by contamination from nitrates and other poisons stemming from dairy manure. Nitrates have been linked to cancer and birth defects.

The Milk Board defends the ads by saying they are entertaining, and are not intended to be taken seriously. But the Milk Board is not in the entertainment business. It has not spent hundreds of millions of dollars on this ad campaign to amuse the public, but to increase the sales of California dairy products. Besides, does misleading the public become legitimate just because it is done in an entertaining way?
The Milk Board knows that showing calves being taken away from their bellowing mothers and confined in tiny veal crates won’t sell their product. Neither will showing emaciated, lame animals who have collapsed from a lifetime of hardship and over-milking, being taken to slaughterhouses and having their throats slit. But this is the reality for animals in the large-scale factory farms that produce most of the state’s milk. Covering up this misery with fantasy ads of happy cows who are actually in New Zealand is not amusing. It is perpetrating a sham on the public.

This is why I have joined with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in a lawsuit that challenges the Milk Board’s ads as unlawfully deceptive. Thus far, the Milk Board has prevailed in court, even though it’s obvious that the ads lie to the public. Why? Because the California Milk Advisory Board is the marketing arm of the California Department of Agriculture, a government agency. And in California, in a truly Orwellian twist, government agencies are exempt from laws prohibiting false advertising.

Should we hold our advertisers, even if they are government agencies, accountable to reality? Should we require that what they tell us have some resemblance to the truth?

This month, PETA has erected billboards throughout the state that read, “California Cheese Comes From Miserable Cows.” PETA, of course, is an animal rights group, but this issue is increasingly being recognized as one that concerns not only vegetarians and animal advocates. Consumers who want the animal products they buy to be from humanely raised animals can be found in every segment of society.
Consideration for the plight of animals is a central part of the American character. It is an essential part of who we are as a people. The “happy cow” ads are an insult to the legitimate humanitarian concerns of millions of people. As consumers, do we want to reward this sort of behavior with our hard-earned dollars?

Abraham Lincoln was speaking not only for vegetarians or for animal rights advocates when he said, “I care not much for a man’s religion whose dog or cat are not the better for it.”

To learn about steps you can take towards greater physical health, social conscience, and economic freedom, read my latest book The New Good Life: Living Better Than Ever in an Age of Less. For information about my work, and to sign up for my email-list, visit JohnRobbins.info.

Questions a few Muslims resist

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Do Muslims resist the following questions?
Many a Muslim clergy shy away from answering the following eight questions, in reality the guardians in all religions desist responding to tough questions.

A few Imams and Muslim scholars do not have the guts to speak up and stand up, as they are pandering to their funders. They are not leaders by any means, but caterers in all reality, they are afraid of those who own fatwa factories. By the way, I believe that is the case with people of pulpits in all religions, however the majority of Muslims, like any other majority believe and practice live and let live.

The questions were presented by Mr. Iftekhar Hai and I have responded to them as clearly as I can. My opinions are my own and you are welcome to refute, differ or add to it.

Define believers. Do you consider Jews and Christians as believers?
The answer is in a larger context; believer is an individual who seeks peace for himself and what surrounds him or her through the principles of justness, fairness, truthfulness and respect for the God given life to every member of the creation. The principles of oneness of creation and God imply one world and one God. God has sent a messenger and a peacemaker to every nation and tribe.

Whether it is the Jews, Christians, Hindus, Wiccans, Mayas or any one who subscribes to the idea of oneness of mankind is a believer as the end result is peace, which comes from submission to the idea of oneness of creation; meaning we are all in it together and we have to make it better for every one of us. We cannot be safe when others around us are not.

How do you define Islam? Did it start from Adam and Eve or did it start from our Prophet?

The need for peace was born with the very first humanoids, when competition for available resources was pitching them against each other causing them to live in fear of the other, thus co-existence was a natural outcome. The idea of accountability and responsibility for one’s action became necessary for peaceful co-existence followed by surrenderance of “my ego” and “your ego” to a higher ego that both can subscribe to and abide by.  Islam broadly means peaceful co-existence and submission to a judge and it did start from Adam and Eve.

If Islam means a privately owned club by Muslims and claiming God and his bounties to be exclusively on their side, then it started long after the Prophet. This idea of private club goes against the very essence of ‘rabbul Aalameen (Lord of the universe)’ in the very first sentence of the Quraan and ‘Rahmutul Aalameen (Blessing of the universe)’ describing Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).  The prophet said, he is not bringing a new religion, but simply updating the existing ones.

Your way of life is dear to you as mine is to me was a new paradigm in the milestones of history expressly written in Sura Kafirun heralding a new era in accepting the otherness of others without denigrating the other.

It is human to make Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism or other religions one’s personal property, it is human to own the prophets and chain the holy books to their private club. By claiming ownership rights to a religion, we are stripping the universality of that religion and creating boundaries around it and excluding others. The very boundaries religions formed to remove.

What are the criteria for going to Heaven? Can you quote authentic sources?

Private club membership sets narrower rules to have access to the property. Heaven is not a private club; it is God’s place, the universal God and not my God or privately owned God by you. Quraan could not be clearer than saying, “those who are Jews, Christians and others need not worry about my grace” those who do good need not worry, he knows what is best. Prophet defines what is best (good deed) as an act that benefits God’s creation like planting a sapling that would give shade or fruit to some one else upon its maturity. The prayers are for the individual to benefit where as serving the humanity is serving the creator.

Allah is the master of the Day of Judgment and he alone reserves the right to judge. There are numerous examples where Prophet had asked people not to be judgmental on the issues of faith (as faith is one of the motivators of morality and conduct) because he alone knows what is one’s heart. Our physical acts are not always the reflection of what is in our hearts.

[2:62] Surely, those who believe, those who are Jewish, the Christians, and the converts; anyone who (1) believes in GOD, and (2) believes in the Last Day, and (3) leads a righteous life, will receive their recompense from their Lord. They have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.

Define the word KAFIR. Do you consider people of other faiths who believe in God as Kafirs?

Kafir is some one who has his own private agenda; his motivation is himself or his clan. He does not subscribe to oneness of creation or peaceful co-existence, he or she denies  the universality of God or oneness of God, oneness of accountability in messing up the social balance. Hinduism has a beautiful phrase for it Vasudeva Kutumbakam, we are all part of one family, one creator or one causer of what we witness, imagine and see.

This may be a stretch to some, but ultimately, even the Atheist who does not subscribe to religious version of God –(containable in scope, definable, collapsible to a word or imaginable) cannot be called a Kafir – as he is not denying the need to have one world, a world of equilibrium and respect for the genetic individuality of humans.

God wants his creation to live in harmony, he has intentionally created each one of us to be unique, and we have our own unique thumb prints and unique DNA. Just as a Chef wants his food to be enjoyed by every customer, as mother wants her children to get along, God wants us all to get along and to get to know each other. The words in Quraan 49:13 are powerful. If we make God truly a Rabbul Aalameen, then everyone who subscribes to the idea that we have to get along and we have to co-exist in harmony, we will not be calling one a Kafir whether he or she is a Christian, Hindu, Jew, Sikh or an Atheist.

Please ponder over this, the “me and my interest” in us wants to deny others the same values, but when we uplift ourselves to be a common citizen of God who is all pervasive, omniscient and omnipotent, we will embrace every individual thumbprint.

Does Quran supersede all other previous scriptures? What are the reasons?

Quraan as we Muslims believe is the capstone, the final touch to co-existence; it is a book of guidance with a belief in one abstract God as opposed to privately owned multiple Gods in conflicts with each other. It is an inclusive and a comprehensive document for all to be had.

If we own it exclusively, then we take away its universality, and if we denigrate other scriptures we take away its comprehensiveness and completeness. Quraan has everything one needs to know to lead a peaceful life and peaceful societies, just as other books have everything one can understand to live a peaceful life as well. The issue is ownership – do you own it? If you do, then others don’t as ownership is exclusive. Does God give you the authority to shove it down others throats? There isn’t any compulsion in what one believes (2:256).

Is there Pluralism in Quran?

Islam is indeed a pluralistic faith and imbues a sense of humility and ideals of equality of humankind. These values are embedded in its rituals practices.

Quraan states that all people harvest their own deeds, and no one shall bear the burden of other.

Indeed Quraan is a document for creating peaceful societies, it addresses the whole humanity and not a specific group, and it continuously regards the existence of other nations, other tribes and other communities and teaches to share your ideals, and if they do not subscribe to it, respectfully accept the otherness of other (Sura Kafirun – http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2008/07/sura-kafirun-un-believers.html  )

Qur’aan starts with the word “God of Universe” (not necessarily Muslims) and ends with “Humankind” (and again not Muslims). As such it is understood that God, the cause behind creation of life and matter belongs to all of us. No one owns him (her or it) nor does does one group have an exclusive favors over the other. The creator will offer equal opportunities to all and will not sign a deal behind one’s back with the other.

Al-Fatiha (The Opening) 1:2 All praise is due to God alone, the Sustainer of all the worlds, [2]
الْعَالَمِي الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبّ

An-Nas (The Mankind) 114:1 SAY: “I seek refuge with the Sustainer of men,
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ (114:1

We have a monumental task to repair the World, and we will do our part in working towards a World of co-existence, one person at a time. We are committed, and now help us God. Amen.

Islam teaches one to be non-judgmental, and consistently encourages individuals to do good. It emphasizes about individual responsibility towards the peace and security of society at large.

He fashioned each one of you–and each one of you is beautiful. To God you will all return. He knows all that the heavens and the earth contain. He knows all that you hide and all that you reveal. He knows your deepest thoughts. http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/WorldMuslimCongress/Articles/Mission-Statement.asp

[49:13] O people, we created you from the same male and female, and rendered you distinct peoples and tribes, that you may recognize one another. The best among you in the sight of GOD is the most righteous. GOD is Omniscient, Cognizant.

[2:136] Say, “We believe in GOD, and in what was sent down to us, and in what was sent down to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Patriarchs; and in what was given to Moses and Jesus, and all the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction among any of them. To Him alone we are submitters.”

[17:33] You shall not kill any person – for GOD has made life sacred – except in the course of justice. If one is killed unjustly, then we give his heir authority to enforce justice. Thus, he shall not exceed the limits in avenging the murder, he will be helped.

[4:29] O you who believe, do not consume each others’ properties illicitly – only mutually acceptable transactions are permitted. You shall not kill yourselves. GOD is Merciful towards you.

[4:152] As for those who believe in GOD and His messengers, and make no distinction among them, He will grant them their recompense. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

[22:17] Those who believe, those who are Jewish, the converts, the Christians, the Zoroastrians, and the idol worshipers, GOD is the One who will judge among them on the Day of Resurrection. GOD witnesses all things.
Does Quran encourage Democracy?

The human desire to monopolize World resources is the root cause of all evil. The pockets of anarchy and problems of the world are born out of fear and insecurities of evil men. Religion is not the source of wars or conflict. In fact, Religion is the best Gift humans have received from God, without which the World would be chaotic.

“No wonder that democracy does not find any foothold in nations that discriminates between believers and non-believers, men and women, masters and slaves and even slaves white, brown and black.” Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had said nearly the same words in his last sermon “No man is superior to the other; all are equal beings in the eyes of God. All religions including Islam came into being to make us better beings and create better societies. Most of the people get it, and some don’t.

The Madinah pact, prescribes the rights of its Citizens and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the signatory to it as the head of the City State. It was an all inclusive agreement between the Jews, Christians, Sabeans, Quraish, Muslims and other tribes for a peaceful co-existence. An example was set for a pluralistic society in documenting the rights of individuals. Perhaps it was the first historical document that included diverse people with freedom to practice what they believe. The Word Ummah was used in the document to mean all residents of the City.

There is an example where Prophet removed a part of his signature which read, “Muhammad the prophet of God” and substituted with “Muhammad, son of Abdullah” as the conflicting party did not believe that he was the Prophet. Think about it, if that document is secular or religious?

Research is warranted – where I believe prophet was a secular governor, rather a pluralistic governor than an Islamic governor. The two examples above lend to that idea. Jews and Christians had their own laws under his “Civic” governance. You and I know, most Muslims shy away from this topic – due to harassment from the few. May be the word Kafir applies to them for not wanting to seek the possible truth.

Dr. Abdul Aziz Sachedina has written a monumental book of roots of democracy in Islam, it is worth reading and sharing.
Most of the Constitutions of the world have adopted Secularism as a policy. What is the Quran’s position?
What do you think the Madinah pact did? Jews had their own laws to be governed by, Christians their own and in India, Hindus had their own rules as the Parsees, Jains, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs and Buddhists. Didn’t Quraan permit this?

Mike Presides the Foundation for Pluralism championing the idea of co-existence through respecting and accepting the otherness of other, he has dedicated his life to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam through the World Muslim Congress. He is a regular commentator on the TV, Radio and Print media. Mike’s work is reflected at three websites & twenty two Blogs listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/