Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Ramadan day 5 Masjid Al Islam

Ramadan day 5 - Masjid Al Islam, Dallas For the first four days visit: http://ramadanexclusive.blogspot.com/


Tuesday, July 24, 2012 | Ramadan 5, 1433
Masjid Al Islam, 2604 S. Harwood, Dallas, TX
(214) 421-3839 Website: www.MasjidAlIslam.org


A few pictures are in the link above

Masjid Al-Islam follows the Warith Deen Muhammad tradition of Islam which is identical to the Sunni tradition.
This is one of the two oldest Mosques in Dallas established in 1968, the other one was on Baghdad street in Grand Prairie, [a predecessor of the Richardson Mosque (Day 2)] another suburb of Dallas/ Fort Worth.

Did you know that the first Muslim in the United States to start the interfaith dialogue was Imam WD Muhammad? Did you know the first man on the earth to start the interfaith dialogue was Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)? Wherever I speak on Islam, I draw blanks on this question from Muslims for God’s sake!

Imam Warith Deen is known as the America’s Imam for his interfaith work. Thanks to him for the work, it is actively carried out with the greatest enthusiasm. One of them was a series called what do the Prophets Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad mean to Jews, Christians and Muslims. It was an enlightening program. I had asked Rabbi Stern to switch the name from Moses to Muhammad, the anchors to the story are same, they way he described them. We recognized Alexis and Marzuk Jaami for their interfaith work at the Unity Day USA in 2009.

I speak at a few South Dallas Churches on Pluralism and Islam, mainly African American ethnicity, one of them was the Church of Living God and the other is Lifeway Church. The WD Muhammad Imams have a strong fellowship and relationship with the Churches surrounding the Mosques. I am perhaps the only non-African American Muslim that participates in their programs. We talk about unity but need to practice and be a part of each other. It is time to bring the change.

Two of the greatest contributions of Imam Warith Deen Muhammad were the outreach/interfaith work and transitioning nearly 1.5 Million Muslims from Nation of Islam to the mainstream Sunni Islamic tradition some four decades ago, that is one massive conversion. The African American Muslim constitute nearly 1/3 of Muslim in America, the other 3rd is Subcontinentians and the rest re from different nations. Currently 6 Million Americans are claimed to be Muslim, but really don’t know how many, but that is the number quoted by everyone including President Obama, and he is not a Muslim, but his father was. An idea that is difficult to comprehend elsewhere in the world, but it happens in America.

Nation of Islam is another Muslim group of which Minister Louis Farrakhan is the Imam, he is known as Minister Louis Farrakhan.

The Dallas Masjid started out as Mosque on Forest Avenue around 1968. The current location at 2604 S. Harwood in Dallas was purchased in April 1980 by Imam W. D. Muhammad. The dedication ceremony was held in May, 1980 with Imam W. D. Muhammad present.

The following brothers have served as Imams at the Dallas Masjid of Al-Islam at the Harwood location: Imam Qasim Ahmed (1979-1982), Imam Yahya Abdullah (1982-2001), Imam Muhammad Shakoor (2001-2003) and the current Imam now serving is Imam Khalid Shaheed (June 27, 2004).

By the way, one of the first Islamic schools was established in this building, the big house in the picture next to Masjid is called Sister Clara Muhammad School, a fine institution of learning.

I am blessed to have known all the four Imams at this Majid, with fairly regular interactions. Two of them, Imam Yahya and Imam Shakoor are pictured at this link - http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2012/07/dallas-interfaith-imams-and-ramadan.html

I met Imam Qasim Ahmed a month ago at the Week end conference celebrating the life of Imam Warith Deen Muhammad - Khalid Shaheed and Qasim Ahmed are in the picture at, along with Imam Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, Dr. Yusuf Zia Kavakci and Mike Ghouse . Imam Larry Shariff is also the Imam at this Masjid. http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/06/wd-muhammad-appreciation-week-in-dallas.html

They follow the same tradition as the Sunni and Ahmadiyya in terms of Salat and breaking fast rituals.

I have been to this Masjid for Juma Prayers (different Mosque), this was my first time to visit this Mosque for Iftaar, I called and left a message for Imam Yahya and Imam Larry Shariff…

The Masjid is closed; the Iftaar is usually on the weekends. It was amazing to see the deserted streets from 8 PM on wards. The Iftaar was at 8:36 PM.

I have to share this story. The female dog in the picture was my only company for a while, I got out of the car to take a picture of the Masjid, as the name board was hidden in the trees, and she ran towards me, I jumped back into my van. She seemed harmless, but I did not want to take the risk of getting bit and the hassle of the Rabies shot. She followed me where ever I went… she must have a lot of puppies, as the milk feeders were full.

Please mark your calendar for the Unity Day USA, a positive event that brings all Americans Together to rededicate our pledge for a peaceful, prosperous and secure America. We are a part of America and we need to feel and live it. If you liked some of the article, you will like the description of Unity Day USA at www.UnityDayUSA.com

A few other Articles to read if you have the time:

HAPPY RAMADAN - What does God really want?

Are Muslims a part of the American society?http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/10/are-muslims-part-of-american-story.html

A call from God to know each other http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2012/01/mission-of-world-muslim-congress.html


Please visit
http://ramadanexclusive.blogspot.com/ for a record since 2010.

Mike Ghouse is committed to doing his individual share of building cohesive societies and invites you to the 8th Annual Unity Day USA on Tuesday, September 11, 2012. Details at www.UnitydayUSA.com, it’s an event that builds bridges and uplifts every American.

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quraan burning

Planned Muslim Response to Qur'an Burning by Pastor Jones on September 11 in Mulberry, Florida

PRESS RELEASE
August 19, 2013| Dallas, Texas

Mike Ghouse
Text/Talk: (214) 325-1916
MikeGhouse@aol.com

Mirza A Beg
(205) 454-8797
mirza.a.beg@gmail.com

www.WorldMuslimCongress.com


PLANNED MUSLIMS RESPONSE TO QUR'AN BURNING BY PASTOR JONES ON 9/11/13 IN MULBERRY, FLORIDA

We as Muslims plan to respond to pastor Terry Jones' planned burning of 3000 copies of Quran on September 11, 2013 in positive terms.

Our response - we will reclaim the standard of behavior practiced by the Prophet concerning “scurrilous and hostile criticism of the Qur’an” (Muhammad Asad Translation Note 31, verse 41:34). It was "To overcome evil with good is good, and to resist evil by evil is evil." It is also strongly enjoined in the Qur’an in the same verse 41:34, “Good and evil deeds are not equal. Repel evil with what is better; then you will see that one who was once your enemy has become your dearest friend.”

God willing Muslims will follow the divine guidance and pray for the restoration of Goodwill, and on that day many Muslim organizations will go on a “blood drive” to save lives and serve humanity with kindness.

We invite fellow Americans of all faiths, races, and ethnicities to join us to rededicate the pledge, “One nation under God”, and to build a cohesive America where no American has to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of fellow Americans. This event is a substitute for our 10th Annual Unity Day Celebration (www.UnitydayUSA.com) held in Dallas, but now it will be at Mulberry, Florida.

Unwittingly Pastor Jones has done us a favor by invigorating us by his decision to burn nearly 3000 copies Quran on September 11, 2013. Obviously he is not satisfied by the notoriety he garnered by burning one Qur'an last year.

As Muslims and citizens we honor the free speech guaranteed in our constitution. We have no intentions to criticize, condemn or oppose Pastor Terry Jones' freedom of expression. Instead, we will be donating blood and praying for goodness to permeate in our society.

We plan to follow Jesus Christ (pbuh), a revered prophet in Islam as well as Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) – that of mitigating the conflicts and nurturing good will for the common good of the society.

We hope, this event and the message will remind Muslims elsewhere in the world as well, that violence is not the way. Muslims, who react violently to senseless provocation, should realize that, violence causes more violence, and besmirches the name of the religion that we hold so dear. We believe that Prophet Muhammad was a mercy to the mankind, and we ought to practice what we believe and preach. We must not insult Islam by the negative reactions of a few.

We can only hope it will bring about a change in the attitude of the followers of Pastor Jones, and in the behavior of those Muslims who reacted violently the last time Pastor sought notoriety – We hope this small step towards a bridge to peaceful coexistence would propel us towards building a cohesive society.

Like most Americans a majority of Muslims quietly go about their own business, but it is time to speak up and take positive action instead of negative reaction. May this message of peace and goodwill reverberate and reach many shores.

Lastly, we appreciate the Citizens of Mulberry, Florida, Honorable Mayor George Hatch, City Commissioners, police and Fire Chiefs for handing this situation very well. This will add a ‘feather of peace’ in the City’s reputation. We hope Mulberry will be a catalyst in showing the way in handling conflict with dignity and peace.

We thank the Media for giving value to the work towards peace rather than conflict.






URL- http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/08/planned-muslim-response-to-quran_18.html



Thank you.

CIVIL DIALOGUE

The people in Dallas are making an effort to understand and clean their own hearts first, when we are free from bias, it would be easy to share that with others. Islam teaches us in so many ways to "respect the otherness of others" and it is time we find simple practical ways of doing it.