Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Thanksgiving

May every day be  our Thanksgiving Day to God, the Most Merciful.
 
[2:152] You shall remember Me, that I may remember you, and be thankful to Me; do not be unappreciative.
 
[2:172] O you who believe, eat from the good things we provided for you, and be thankful to GOD, if you do worship Him alone. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving Day,

[14:7] Your Lord has decreed: "The more you thank Me, the more I give you." But if you turn unappreciative, then My retribution is severe.

[32:9] He shaped him and blew into him from His spirit. And He gave you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brains; rarely are you thankful.
[36:35] This is to provide them with fruits, and to let them manufacture with their own hands whatever they need. Would they be thankful?

[40:61] GOD is the One who designed the night so you can rest in it, and the day lighted. GOD bestows many blessings upon the people, but most people are not thankful.

 
Muhammed Irtaza

Free Will 2-256, 18-29

[2:256] There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in GOD has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient.

[18:29] Proclaim: "This is the truth from your Lord," then whoever wills let him believe, and whoever wills let him disbelieve....

[6:104] Enlightenments have come to you from your Lord. As for those who can see, they do so for their own good, and those who turn blind, do so to their own detriment. I am not your guardian.
[10:99] Had your Lord willed, all the people on earth would have believed. Do you want to force the people to become believers?

[2:148] Each of you chooses the direction to follow; you shall race towards righteousness. Wherever you may be, GOD will summon you all. GOD is Omnipotent.

[73:19] This is a reminder; whoever wills, let him choose the path to his Lord.

Thank you and may God guide me,

Muhammed Irtaza

Monday, December 6, 2010

Quraan Conference Program Sequence

The purpose of this conference is to understand the issues and find ways to remove such fears in an open forum and restore the cohesiveness of our society and work towards building a safe and secure America

PROGRAM SEQUENCE
·         National Anthem
·         Pledge of Allegiance
·         Acknowledgements
·         How it got started – Jonathan Halsey
·         Purpose – to build a cohesive America
·         Misrepresented verses in circulation
·         Narrow it down to 10 Verses 
·         A short prayer
·         Methodology of reading the verses
·         Non-Muslim Panelists will read & explain a verse each
·         Conclusion – 1 minute comment from each  panelist
·         Recognition of Recent Awardees
·         Refreshments.
IN CO-OPERATION WITH:
     American Clergy Leadership Conference
     Dallas Peace Centerwww.DallasPeaceCenter.org
     Unity Church of Dallas - http://www.unitydallas.org/
     Universal Peace Federation – www.upf.org
     Fun Asia, banquet halls, theaters, catering www.Funasia.net
MODERATOR – Mike Ghouse

PANELISTS
Pastor George Mason - Wilshire Baptist Church
Rev. Petra Weldes – Center for Spiritual Living
Rev. Michael Jenkins – American Clergy Leadership
Dr. Harbans Lal – Guru Granth Sahib Studies
Pastor Eric Folkerth - United Methodist Church
Hon. Lon Burnam – Texas State Representative
Dr. John Norris – Professor of Theology, UD
Rev. Bill Matthews, Chair, Interfaith Council
Rev. Tony Brigmon, Mormon Church
            Dr. Karen Hollie, Protestant

MUSLIM PANELISTS
Imam Zia Shaikh, Irving Community Center 
Imam Shakoor, Warith Deen Muhammad Masjid
Hamid Sheikh, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community 
Dr. Basheer Ahmed, Muslim Community Center

QURAAN COPIES
CAIR – Council on Islamic Relations
ISNA – Islamic Society of North America 

KEY VOLUNTEERS
Rita Clarke and her team, Dallas Peace Center
Dr. Karen Hollie and her team, Life way Church
Esther Vasquez and her Team, Unification Church
Adil Khan, General Assistance

SERVICES
Aftab Chagani and his Staff – Audio & Video
Kevin Foresman, Video Technician
Syed Rafi, Banners and Signs

GRATITUDE TO:
           
Laura Sutherland, Unity Church of Dallas
Thank you.
Mike Ghouse

List of Difficult Passages in Quraan


Thank you for being a part of this event, one in a series of five events planned for next year.  Since our independence in 1776, we have been tested time and again by various political, economic and religious forces to divide us, however, at the end we have come out strong as one nation. The Civil War, the Great Depression, the World Wars, Pearl Harbor, Women’s rights, Abortion, the Vietnam War, Civil Rights, Budget Deficits, Unemployment, 9/11, the Iraq and Afghanistan War have all been difficult, but we will make it through and sanity will prevail.

The controversy over the Muslim Community Center in New York has unraveled the difficulties Catholics, Jews, Mormons, Wicca and others have endured.

Religion has been “abused” and “misused” to someone’s advantage, as Americans, are we going to let that happen? No, we can pull ourselves together and not fall for the tempters who have a gain in dividing us.  


The Verses that have been marketed as “Evil Verses” by those who have an interest in creating chaos and having a gain. There is always a gain for some one.
                                              Website – www.QuraanToday.com
           
Changes will come if we take the initiatives; the World Muslim Congress and the Foundation for Pluralism have embarked on an educational program for 2011 to deal with issues that divide us; Anti-Semitism, Gay and Lesbian acceptance, Gender issues, Woman President, Women Clergy, Racial Profiling, Islamophobia and other issues – the idea is to understand them and make a small effort in building cohesive societies.  Whether this will cause a change or not, I believe that without doing anything, no change can be expected. While the forces continue to produces negatives, we have to produce good things as well

IN CO-OPERATION WITH:
1. American Clergy Leadership Conference
2. Dallas Peace Centerwww.DallasPeaceCenter.org
3. Unity Church of Dallas - http://www.unitydallas.org/
4. Universal Peace Federation – www.upf.org
5. Fun Asia, banquet halls, theaters, catering www.Funasia.net


Verses of Quraan falsely marketed as “Evil Verses”.

Finding the truth is one’s own responsibility, as it frees one from suspicion, doubt, ill-will and malice, that is the secret of living a normal healthier life and building cohesive societies for all of us to live without fear of each other.

Prophet Muhammad in essence shared this wisdom, before you believe in malicious comments about others; you must verify them, lest you regret it when the truth emerges. Living a regret free life is one of the peaceful things to do. 

The following Verses are in circulation and many a times without verification if it is indeed the verse from Quraan or not.
The following group of 14 verses was the basis for the short documentary called Fitna produced by Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders and sold to a few of our Senators and congress persons – A full response was given to this and is at:  http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2008/01/muslim-response-to-wilders.html
 1.      Give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doom to those who disbelieve. 9:3

2.      Slay the idolaters wherever you find them. 9:5

3.      Don't let idolaters tend the sanctuaries. Their works are in vain and they will be burned in the Fire. 9:17

4.      Give tiding of a painful doom to Christians and Jews. 9:34

5.      If you refuse to fight, Allah will afflict you with a painful doom. 9:39

6.      Disbelievers go to hell. 9:49

7.      Those who vex the Prophet, for them there is a painful doom. 9:60

8.      Those who oppose Allah and His messenger will burn in the fire of hell. 9:63

9.      Allah promises hypocrites and disbelievers the fire of hell. Allah curses them. They will have a lasting torment. 9:68

10.  Fight the disbelievers and hypocrites. Be harsh with them. 9:73

11.  Allah will afflict disbelievers with painful doom in this world and the Hereafter 9:74

12.  For disbelievers there will be a painful doom. 9:90

13.  Don't pray for idolaters (not even for your family) after it is clear they are people of hell-fire. 9:113

14.  Fight disbelievers who are near you, and let them see the harshness in you. 9:123

The other verses in circulation:

  • Qur'an 2:65 mentions that Jews who broke the Sabbath were turned into Apes.
  • 3:151 We will put terror into the hearts of the unbelievers.  I shall cast terror into the hearts of the infidels. Strike off their heads; strike off the their tongue
  • Believers, take neither the Jews nor the Christians for your friends. (5:51)
  • The unbelievers are your inveterate enemy. (4:101)
  • Surely the vilest of animals in Allah’s sight are those who disbelieve. (8.55)
  • The unbelievers among the people of the book and the pagans shall burn forever in the fire of Hell. They are the vilest of all creatures. (98.6)"
  • Beat your wife if she does not listen to you 4:34
  • If anyone leaves Islam, kill him (4:89)

List of 40 + Verses listed at:

And this one 1:17 - http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2008/01/unlike-jews-or-christians-17.html


Here is a note from a Sikh leader who is doing the right thing by verifying. He writes, Dear Mike, 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.”  My response is at - http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2010/08/quraan-surah-hijr-1526-30.html

God wants his creation to co-exist in harmony and the Qur’aan is God’s guidance to live in peace with oneself and what surrounds one; life and matter. The human weakness manufactures imaginary enemies and spins the wheels of evil in establishing such manufacture.  Of the 22 translations of Quraan available on the market today, 2 of them have been deliberately mistranslated for political gains; one was in 1042 by The European kings labeling themselves as Christians and the other one was in 1922 by a Muslim after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. The holy Quraan has remained intact, and not a dot, comma or a period has changed in it.


About Us


The Foundation for Pluralism: Our mission is to encourage individuals to develop an open mind and an open heart toward their follow beings.

If we can learn to respect the otherness of other and accept the God given uniqueness of each one of the 7 billion of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge. 

We believe that knowledge leads to understanding and understanding to acceptance and appreciation of a different point of view.

World Muslim Congress  
To be a Muslim is to be a peace maker, one who seeks to mitigate conflicts and nurtures goodwill for peaceful co-existence of humanity. God wills for us to live in peace and harmony with his creation .

Our Mission is to work for a world of co-existence through inclusiveness and participation. Indeed we aspire to promote goodwill amongst people of different affiliations, regardless of their faith, gender, race, nationality, culture or any other uniqueness blessed by the creator.

OUR ANNUAL EVENTS:
- Unityday USA, since 2005
- Reflections on Holocaust & Genocides, since 2006
- Thanksgiving Celebrations, since 1993

Mike Ghouse runs the Foundation for Pluralism championing the idea of co-existence through respecting and accepting the otherness of other and 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 offering pluralistic solutions to the issues of the day. He is a speaker, thinker, writer and a peace activist. Mike's work is reflected at three websites & twenty two Blogs listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

Mike is available to speak on Pluralism, Islam, Civil Societies, Peace & Justice Saturday, December 04, 2010at your school, work place, seminars or place of worship.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Difficult Passages in Quraan

Verses of Quraan falsely marketed as “Evil Verses”.

Finding the truth is one’s own responsibility, as it frees one from suspicion, doubt, ill-will and malice,  that is the secret of living a normal healthier life and building cohesive societies for all of us to live without fear of each other..

Prophet Muhammad in essence shared this wisdom, before you believe in malicious comments about others, you must verify them, lest you regret it when the truth emerges. Living a regret free life is one of the peaceful things to do. Interestingly President Reagan had said, "Trust but verify".

God wants his creation to co-exist in harmony and the Qur’aan is God’s guidance to live in peace with oneself and what surrounds one; life and matter. The human weakness manufactures imaginary enemies and spins the wheels of evil in establishing such manufacture.  Of the 22 translations of Quraan available on the market today, 2 of them have been deliberately mistranslated for political gains; one was in 1042 by The Christian Europe and the other one was in 1922 by a Muslim after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. The holy Quraan has remained intact, and not a dot, comma or a period has changed in it.


The following Verses are in circulation and many a times without verification if it is indeed the verse from Quraan. I have found the Verses Number quoted and it has taken me back to USC websites – and there is no such verse in Quraan.  Quraan is a document to help create just and peaceful societies.


The following group of 14 verses was the basis for the short documentary called Fitna produced by Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders – a full response was given to this and is at: 
http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2008/01/muslim-response-to-wilders.html

1.      Give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doom to those who disbelieve. 9:3

2.      Slay the idolaters wherever you find them. 9:5

3.      Don't let idolaters tend the sanctuaries. Their works are in vain and they will be burned in the Fire. 9:17

4.      Give tiding of a painful doom to Christians and Jews. 9:34

5.      If you refuse to fight, Allah will afflict you with a painful doom. 9:39

6.      Disbelievers go to hell. 9:49

7.      Those who vex the Prophet, for them there is a painful doom. 9:60

8.      Those who oppose Allah and His messenger will burn in the fire of hell. 9:63

9.      Allah promises hypocrites and disbelievers the fire of hell. Allah curses them. They will have a lasting torment. 9:68

10.  Fight the disbelievers and hypocrites. Be harsh with them. They are all going to hell anyway. 9:73

11.  Allah will afflict disbelievers with a painful doom in this world and the Hereafter. 9:74

12.  For disbelievers there will be a painful doom. 9:90

13.  Don't pray for idolaters (not even for your family) after it is clear they are people of hell-fire. 9:113

14.  Fight disbelievers who are near you, and let them see the harshness in you. 9:123

The other verses in circulation:

The purpose of this program is listed on the website www.QuraanConference.com along with several videos as documentary and TV interviews.  

In Surah 48, ayah 29, it says, Muhammad is Allah’s apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another? Through them Allah seeks to enrage the unbelievers.

Qur'an 2:65 mentions that Jews who broke the Sabbath were turned into Apes.”

Koran 60:4 sets out the Islamic position of hatred and enmity towards those who do not accept Allah and Muhammad.

3:151 We will put terror into the hearts of the unbelievers.  I shall cast terror into the hearts of the infidels. Strike off their heads, strike off the very tips of their tongue

Believers, take neither the Jews nor the Christians for your friends. (5:51)

Mohammed is God's apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another. (48:29).

The unbelievers are your inveterate enemy. (4:101)

Surely the vilest of animals in Allah’s sight are those who disbelieve. (8.55)

The unbelievers among the people of the book and the pagans shall burn forever in the fire of Hell. They are the vilest of all creatures. (98.6)"

Beat your wife if she does not listen to you 4:34

List of  40 + Verses listed at :

And this one 1:17 - http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2008/01/unlike-jews-or-christians-17.html


As an example of individuals who are working on finding the truth, here is note from a leader from the Sikh Community 
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

Thank you
Mike Ghouse runs the Foundation for Pluralism championing the idea of co-existence through respecting and accepting the otherness of other and 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 offering pluralistic solutions to the issues of the day. He is a speaker, thinker, writer and a peace activist. Mike's work is reflected at three websites & twenty two Blogs listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/