Great initiative, it is fairly close to the Sharia conference I have been planning, indeed, I had sent the initial plan to Imam Mujahid along with a large group of Muslims leadership in the US. Glad to see this coming through. Together, we can reach out and allay the Sharia Phobia among the right wing Americans, and hope to assure the Moderate Americans, the majority that the Sharia law portrayed by them does exist in 3 out of the 56 Muslim Majority nations, but will never make it among Muslims living in other nations, and certainly not in America. Muslim Americans are not asking or want that part of the mis-applied Sharia. Please refer to the article on the left panel.
Mike Ghouse
Muslims Together working for a cohesive America
----------------------
Hate against Muslims is becoming lethal.
The Norway terrorist Anders Breivik, who killed 77 people, was influenced by American anti-Sharia Islamophobes. He said that he was killing to stop a Sharia takeover.
Breivik’s brand of hatred is based on intentional ignorance. The same ignorance is represented in the 49 bills in 25 states calling for a Sharia ban. Now a number of U.S. presidential hopefuls are calling for a federal Sharia ban.
The major source of this ignorance and hate is the internet. Just Google the word “Sharia” and see the search results in images, videos, and articles. This is what the Norway terrorist quotes and this is what anti-Sharia lawmakers cite.
We Muslims must tell our story.
Practicing Islam is practicing Sharia. Our month-long fasting, our prayers, eating Halal and serving our communities are all Sharia. But that is not what our neighbors know.Banning Sharia affects you and I in concrete ways. These bills will prevent Muslims from being able to marry, divorce, inherit, bequeath, and finance according to Sharia.
We cannot allow the criminalization of our faith, or for that matter, any faith in our country. Freedom from state interference in religious practice is one of the cornerstones of our nation. Anti-Sharia bills do just the opposite.
This ignorance will not die if we remain silent. It is crucial that we urgently provide accurate information about Sharia. Even those who oppose these bills are searching desperately for more information. Abraham Foxman, National Director of the ADL, says that “People don’t know what Sharia means…”
Sound Vision is developing fresh information on Sharia to answer the critical questions the public has on the topic. We plan to put this material on Sharia101.org, to be launched this fall and updated regularly thereafter insha Allah.
Alhamdu lillah, so far we have written about 100 articles on Sharia, and filmed professors from Harvard, Columbia, Duke, and other universities on different aspects of Sharia, Jewish and Catholic laws, and freedom of religion in our country.
However, a great amount of work still needs to be done. We need to retain more scholars, producers, and SEO experts. Sharia 101 requires retaining top-notch experts who must be compensated for their time and effort.
Sound Vision has been serving the community for the last 23 years by producing high quality Islamic information for Muslims and non-Muslims. This is our area of expertise.
Please support this initiative during this blessed month of Ramadan through your Zakat and Sadaqa. I urge you to consider giving $40, $80, $500, $1,000, $2,500, $5,000 or whatever you can for the sake of our Deen.Your donations are Zakat-eligible and tax-deductible.
Donations are needed now to develop the content of our project before the presidential campaign, in which a federal ban of Sharia is likely to be proposed.
We need to raise $480,000 for this project. So far we have raised $120,000. With Allah’s blessings and your support we will insha Allah be able to assist our neighbors to understand Muslim perspectives on Sharia so that ignorance can no longer be used as a weapon by hate-mongers to kill, attack our Masjids, or criminalize the practice of Islam.
Thank you.
May Allah reward you for your generosity.
Wassalam,
Abdul Malik Mujahid
President
P.S. Sound Vision is a tax deductible not for profit 501 (C) 3 organization. You can learn more about our Sharia101 project here. p.s.s. We have already produced three brochures for non-Muslims about Sharia. Please feel free to call to get copies for your friends or Masjids at 1-800-432-4262
Sharia Resources Available Now
These three brochures are available now for our neighbors providing some aspects of Muslims perspectives on the Sharia debate. Order printed copies here, here, and here or Download free from the links below:
Sharia American Muslims
http://sharia101.yolasite.com/resources/The%20Sharia%20Muslim%20Americans%20Live.pdf
Prophet Honored by Supreme Court
http://sharia101.yolasite.com/resources/Prophet%20honored%20by%20Supreme%20Court.pdf
Sharia and Freedom of Religion
http://sharia101.yolasite.com/resources/Sharia%20and%20the%20Freedom%20of%20Religion.pdf
Sharia 101
http://www.soundvision.com/info/shariah/shariah101.asp
What you can do against the anti-Sharia bills today!
http://www.soundvision.com/info/shariah/what-you-and-your-family-can-do-for-sharia.asp
What your Masjid can do?
http://www.soundvision.com/info/shariah/what-masjids-can-do-to-defend-sharia.asp
What your interfaith partners can do?
http://www.soundvision.com/info/shariah/what-interfaith-partners-can-do-for-sharia.asp
Volunteers for the project
http://shariavolunteers.surveyconsole.com/
Sharia project
http://www.soundvision.com/info/shariah/shariah101.asp
Showing posts with label InterfaithSpeakerMikeGhouse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label InterfaithSpeakerMikeGhouse. Show all posts
Friday, August 26, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Muslim Speaker Mike Ghouse
NURTURING PLURALISTIC VALUES EMBEDDED IN ISLAM
A Muslim Speaker, thinker, 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.
To be a Muslim is to be a peace maker, one who constantly seeks to mitigate conflicts and nurtures goodwill for peaceful co-existence of humanity. God wants us to live in peace and harmony with his creation; Life and Matter. Over 1000 articles have been published on a range of topics in Islam and Pluralism. Insha Allah, a book outlining the Muslim vision is on the horizon.
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnists/steve-blow/20100919-In-defense-of-Islam-pursuing-9397.ece
A Muslim Speaker, thinker, 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.
To be a Muslim is to be a peace maker, one who constantly seeks to mitigate conflicts and nurtures goodwill for peaceful co-existence of humanity. God wants us to live in peace and harmony with his creation; Life and Matter. Over 1000 articles have been published on a range of topics in Islam and Pluralism. Insha Allah, a book outlining the Muslim vision is on the horizon.
In defense of Islam, pursuing a civil dialogue
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnists/steve-blow/20100919-In-defense-of-Islam-pursuing-9397.ece
Over and over you hear it said: If Muslims oppose terrorism, why don't they stand up and say it?
If that has been you, Mike Ghouse ought to be your hero.
It is hard to imagine that anyone has worked harder than theCarrollton
And that effort includes personally visitingDallas ' First Baptist Church
"It was wonderful," Ghouse said of the visit. "We were so warmly received."
He hopes a quick chat with Jeffress will be the start of deeper discussion about Islam and the importance of respect between religions.
"I want to have a dialogue with him, not to say he is wrong but to share another point of view," Ghouse said.
The 57-year-old Muslim was born in India and has lived in theUnited States
"It is my passion," he said in his distinctive raspy voice.
He has been a guest a dozen times on Sean Hannity's TV and radio talk shows. "I don't like the way Sean cuts me off, but I have to honor him for giving the American public a semblance of another point of view."
Ghouse said he can understand fear and criticism of Islam because he went through a time of similar feelings. As a teen, he was troubled by passages of the Quran. He called himself an atheist for a while.
But he said deeper study led him to realize the Quran had been purposely mistranslated down through history.
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.
"It was all for politics," he said.
Ghouse said he hopes to present Jeffress with a modern, faithful translation and challenge him to find evil verses.
"If he can, I will convert. I will join his church," Ghouse said. "If he can't, I will call on him to retract his statements and become a peacemaker."
Ghouse acknowledges that deep problems persist within Islam. "Three steps forward, two steps back," he said with a sigh.
And he agrees that mainstream Muslims have not done enough to counter violent images of their faith.
"That is very true," he said. "But part of it is that many Muslims have given up hope that we will ever be heard."
He said repeated denunciations of terrorism seem to fall on deaf ears.
And some efforts have backfired - like the proposed Islamic information center inNew York
Instead, it has deepened hostility toward Muslims.
I have been astounded by the amount of anti-Islam propaganda that circulates via e-mail. Tons of it has come my way in the last few weeks.
One theme is that people like Mike Ghouse can't be trusted, that Islam encourages deception.
But Ghouse says actions speak louder than words. And he points to elections in Muslim nations.
More than half of Muslims live in countries with some degree of democracy. And time and time again, Islamist parties are overwhelmingly rejected in favor of secular, mainstream parties.
"The religious parties don't get more than 3 percent of the vote," Ghouse said.
Polls show deep mistrust of Muslims. "But the most important question in those surveys is: 'Do you know anything about Islam?' " Ghouse said. "Most people say no."
What keeps him going is faith in Americans, he said.
"The majority of Americans, if they know the truth, they will change their minds."
It is hard to imagine that anyone has worked harder than the
And that effort includes personally visiting
"It was wonderful," Ghouse said of the visit. "We were so warmly received."
He hopes a quick chat with Jeffress will be the start of deeper discussion about Islam and the importance of respect between religions.
"I want to have a dialogue with him, not to say he is wrong but to share another point of view," Ghouse said.
The 57-year-old Muslim was born in India and has lived in the
"It is my passion," he said in his distinctive raspy voice.
He has been a guest a dozen times on Sean Hannity's TV and radio talk shows. "I don't like the way Sean cuts me off, but I have to honor him for giving the American public a semblance of another point of view."
Ghouse said he can understand fear and criticism of Islam because he went through a time of similar feelings. As a teen, he was troubled by passages of the Quran. He called himself an atheist for a while.
But he said deeper study led him to realize the Quran had been purposely mistranslated down through history.
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.
"It was all for politics," he said.
Ghouse said he hopes to present Jeffress with a modern, faithful translation and challenge him to find evil verses.
"If he can, I will convert. I will join his church," Ghouse said. "If he can't, I will call on him to retract his statements and become a peacemaker."
Ghouse acknowledges that deep problems persist within Islam. "Three steps forward, two steps back," he said with a sigh.
And he agrees that mainstream Muslims have not done enough to counter violent images of their faith.
"That is very true," he said. "But part of it is that many Muslims have given up hope that we will ever be heard."
He said repeated denunciations of terrorism seem to fall on deaf ears.
And some efforts have backfired - like the proposed Islamic information center in
Instead, it has deepened hostility toward Muslims.
I have been astounded by the amount of anti-Islam propaganda that circulates via e-mail. Tons of it has come my way in the last few weeks.
One theme is that people like Mike Ghouse can't be trusted, that Islam encourages deception.
But Ghouse says actions speak louder than words. And he points to elections in Muslim nations.
More than half of Muslims live in countries with some degree of democracy. And time and time again, Islamist parties are overwhelmingly rejected in favor of secular, mainstream parties.
"The religious parties don't get more than 3 percent of the vote," Ghouse said.
Polls show deep mistrust of Muslims. "But the most important question in those surveys is: 'Do you know anything about Islam?' " Ghouse said. "Most people say no."
What keeps him going is faith in Americans, he said.
"The majority of Americans, if they know the truth, they will change their minds."
# # #
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, writer, thinker, futurist and an activist of Pluralism, Islam , India
He is a commentator at Fox News on the Hannity show, nationally syndicated Radio shows along with Dallas TV, Print and Radio networks and occasional interviews on NPR. He has spoken at international forums including the Parliament of Worlds Religions in Melbourne , Middle East Peace initiative in Jerusalem , International Leadership conference in Hawaii , Washington
Concerned by the divisiveness, he saw the need to bring Americans together and founded America Together Foundation committed to building a cohesive America
The Annual Unity Day USA is in its 7th year now, it is a purposeful event to bring Americans together, on this Unity Day, we the people of the United States of America
Thanksgiving Celebration is in its 15th year showcasing cultural diversity.
The 5th Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides is to learn and to acknowledge and reflect upon the terrible things we have inflicted upon each other and commit to avert such tragedies. Through this event non-Jewish people have consciously learned about Holocaust for the first time, it was also for the first time that people of 14 faiths came together to join in to commemorate the Holocaust that commemorated within the Jewish Community for years. They are not alone anymore in their anguish, we are all in it together with them, and it is a Muslim initiative to effect a positive change.
The programs, seminars and workshops conducted by the Foundation for Pluralism have become a part of the America Together Foundation. While the Foundation for Pluralism continues championing the idea of co-existence through respecting and accepting the otherness of other, the commitment to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam through the World Muslim Congress continues.
# # #
Mike is working on two books scheduled to be released this year; The American Muslim Agenda and My Journey to Pluralism.
Mike has written over 1000 Articles on Pluralism, Islam , India
Locally, he is a panelist at Dallas Morning News's and writes weekly on a range of issues facing the nation. Washington Post, Huffington Post and other news papers and sites regularly publish his work.
Mike is available to speak on Pluralism, Islam, Civil Societies, and Peace & Justice at your place of worship, school, work place, seminars, workshops or conferences. His work is reflected at three websites & twenty two Blogs listed at http://www.MikeGhouse.net/
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Quran (Koran) Conference in Dallas, an American effort to build cohesive societies
The Conference puts a Quraan in the hands of panelists made up of Pastors, Rabbis, Pundits, Shamans, lay persons, elected officers and the public. It is to demystify the myths about Quraan and Islam. An American effort to build cohesive societies.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct 10, 2010 -DALLAS , TEXAS - The Foundation for Pluralism and the World Muslim Congress have announced a conference on Quraan in Dallas
Representing the organizations, Mike Ghouse adds, "As members of diverse family of faiths, we seek to demystify the myths and falsification of our respective faiths. It is time for all of us to gather and understand the Qur'aan, the holy book of Muslims, which has been the subject of attack by a few among us. Indeed, the conference is a positive response to negative sermons delivered from a few pulpits ofAmerica
The uniqueness of the event is highlighted by facing the "terrifying passages" of Quraan. For the first time in history, the actual verses from Quraan will be read directly and explained by non-Muslim panelists made up of Pastors, Rabbis, Pundits, Shamans, Clergy, lay persons and elected officials who have a deep interest in bringing Americans together on common grounds. The Muslim scholars either affirm their reading or refer to the Quraan for further understanding. It would be indeed a first hand educational experience.
It is time now to replace the ill-will with goodwill; no American has to live in anxieties, discomfort or fear of the other. The purpose of this conference is to remove such myths in an open forum in the public and restore the cohesiveness of our society and work towards building a safe and secureAmerica
Bring your children to experience the multi-cultural costumes in a designated room for them.
Refreshments will be served after the event.
THE EVENT IS FREE
Please R.S.V.P. to confirmattendance@gmail.com
Direct your inquiries to QuraanConference@gmail.com .
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker, writer, optimist, educator and an activist of Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam and Civil Societies. He heads the Foundation for Pluralism and World Muslim Congress and offers Pluralistic solutions to the media and the public on issues of the day. Mike's work is reflected at three websites & twenty two Blogs listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct 10, 2010 -
Representing the organizations, Mike Ghouse adds, "As members of diverse family of faiths, we seek to demystify the myths and falsification of our respective faiths. It is time for all of us to gather and understand the Qur'aan, the holy book of Muslims, which has been the subject of attack by a few among us. Indeed, the conference is a positive response to negative sermons delivered from a few pulpits of
The uniqueness of the event is highlighted by facing the "terrifying passages" of Quraan. For the first time in history, the actual verses from Quraan will be read directly and explained by non-Muslim panelists made up of Pastors, Rabbis, Pundits, Shamans, Clergy, lay persons and elected officials who have a deep interest in bringing Americans together on common grounds. The Muslim scholars either affirm their reading or refer to the Quraan for further understanding. It would be indeed a first hand educational experience.
It is time now to replace the ill-will with goodwill; no American has to live in anxieties, discomfort or fear of the other. The purpose of this conference is to remove such myths in an open forum in the public and restore the cohesiveness of our society and work towards building a safe and secure
Bring your children to experience the multi-cultural costumes in a designated room for them.
Refreshments will be served after the event.
THE EVENT IS FREE
Please R.S.V.P. to confirmattendance@gmail.com
Direct your inquiries to QuraanConference@gmail.com .
For details visit website http://www.quraanconference.com/
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker, writer, optimist, educator and an activist of Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam and Civil Societies. He heads the Foundation for Pluralism and World Muslim Congress and offers Pluralistic solutions to the media and the public on issues of the day. Mike's work is reflected at three websites & twenty two Blogs listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/
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