URL – http://nabsites.net/demo/muslim-response-to-hindu-temple-torched/
The
World Muslim Congress is joined by the Institute of Quranic knowledge
and Intrafaith Religious Acceptance of Quran, and Pakistan American
Association of Texas in condemning the violent act of burning the Hindu
Temple in Larkana, Sindh, by an aggressive mob, unfortunately in the
name of peace; Islam.
Reuters reported, “Hundreds of angry
Pakistanis attacked a Hindu temple and set it on fire in southern
Pakistan overnight following a rumour that a member of the Hindu
community had desecrated the Koran, police and community leaders said on
Sunday.”
As Muslims, we are embarrassed with the acts of these
men who acted on their own, and we condemn these acts unequivocally,
commented Mike Ghouse who heads the World Muslim Congress, a think tank
in Dallas, Texas.
We do however, appreciate one small ray of
hope, “The Pakistani Muslim scholars have denounced attacks on a Hindu
temple in Sindh’s Larkana district, calling for urgent probe into the
incident in which protests against Qur’an desecration turned into
violent clashes.”
The Muslim majority is deeply concerned about
it, and we urge Muslims around the world in general and Pakistani
Muslims in particular to create a fund to rebuild the temple that is the
least one can do to fellow countrymen. Every society has a
responsibility to guard the safety of its minorities, women, seniors and
the children; no one should feel fearful of the majorities that is the
hallmark of civil societies.
Dr. Basheer Ahmed of IQRA and Dr.
Amer Suleman of PAAT felt the responsibility to take that first step in
building a cohesive Pakistan where every Pakistani feels safe. The least
we can do is to contribute towards restoring the Temple. The Pakistan
American Association of Texas is celebrating the Pakistan day on March
23rd in Dallas, and has generously donated a booth at the Mela to raise
the funds. All proceeds will go towards restoration of the temple.
We
have ways to go; a few among us feel insecure in our faith. God is not
going anywhere, Quran will not disappear if someone desecrates or burns
it, nor Prophet will be affected by any acts, they have been around, and
Alhamdu Lillah they will be there forever.
It is odd that Hafiz
Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, the Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema
Council (PUC), told The News on Monday, March 17, “Our religion, Islam,
preaches peace, love and forbearance,” Then he goes on to justify the
violence. “However, it is also necessary that the followers of other
religions should respect the sentiments of the Muslims.” This is
disrespectful to Islam’s principles of peace.
Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) prayed for those who threw rocks at him on his way to Taif, even
Arch angel Gabriel offered to crush the miscreants, but prophet did not
extract a pound of flesh, nor did he blame the miscreants, he forgave
them and prayed for them unconditionally. That is the religion of peace,
and that is the model we need to follow.
While Law and order
brings the situation under control; it does not put off the fires
completely, the dying sparks grow and explode again unless they are
addressed.
Muslims at large are at fault for allowing the abuse
of blasphemy laws in Pakistan, which is anathema to the Character of
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), regarded as mercy to the mankind. It is time
for us Muslims to mean it, that we the followers of Prophet Muhammad
follow the principles of peace he taught us; indeed he was Rahmatul
Aalameen – a mercy to mankind. No human should fear us, instead they
should feel safe and secure and say it out of their hearts that Muslims
are peace loving people and follow the principles of their prophet.
Do
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Quran and God need our protection? If we
believe that they need our protection, then we are dead wrong. As
Muslims, we need to believe in the prophet, he is not going anywhere nor
will he be hurt or harmed with any insults.
Islam stands on its
own; it does not need our defense, and it is silly to protect God or the
Prophet, they are not weaklings or our property to protect, they belong
to the whole universe, don’t they?
If they curse the prophet,
prophet is not going to be cursed, let us have the strength in our faith
and return badness with Good, as he guided us to do; we know all the
examples of his work, can we not be Rahmatul Aalameen to the people of
the Alam?
Contact information
1. Mike Ghouse, President, WMC, [email protected] (214) 325-1916
2. Dr. Basheer Ahmed, President, IQRA, [email protected]
3. Dr. Amer Suleman, President, PAAT, [email protected]
Funds
can be donated to PAAT or IQRA, and funds of over $100.00 can be
donated online at America Together Foundation
http://americatogetherfoundation.com/donate/ – 100% of the proceeds will
go the restoration of the temple. All donations will be reported, and
donations of over $100 will be listed at WorldMuslimCongress.com
website.
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Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a
writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work
place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers
pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in
Standing up for others
and a book with the same title is coming up. Mike has a strong presence on
national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on
Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to
the Texas Faith Column at Dallas
Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington post; and
several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work
through many links.