Results for Muslims

Results for America Together Foundation, World Muslim Congress and the Foundation for Pluralism. 

There are many outcomes we desire.  Here is what we have done and continue to do, and if this appeals to you, we ask your support.

Conflicts fade and solutions emerge when we learn about each other, and demystify the myths about others.  

What have we done? It�s a successful three fork strategic action plan; engage with TV, Print and Radio Media, engage with polarized minds and, be a catalyst in social integration.

All our work is about taking the relationships from detached estrangement to positive engagement with successful outcomes, almost all our activities are bridge building in nature. 

1. Positive engagement with Fox News, instead of running away from it. We chose to work with Sean Hannity and Stuart Varney, who finally promised not to use the phrase �Muslim Terrorist� or bash Quran.  I have been on Hannity for six years and have appeared on 110 TV shows and innumerable Syndicated Radio shows and about 5 times on Stuart Varney Show, and nearly 150 times on Fox News. Video-1, Video -2, 

2. Unity Day USA, turning a negative 9/11 day into a positive unifying day for over 12 years in a row now. www.Unitydayusa.com

3. Holocaust and Genocides � for 10 years now, we have been building bridges with people, and almost all communities who have endured these brutalities by coming together and seeing the humanness in each one of us and reflect on never again.  www.HolocaustandGenocides.com

4. Thanksgiving Celebrations and Awards Night � for 18 years, we have been sharing different cultural expressions with fellow Americans. www.thanksgivingcelebrations.org

5. Peacefully easing the Quran burning pastor Terry Jones into oblivion through non-violent positive engagement. If funds become available a documentary will be made for the Muslim world to understand free speech and for non-Muslims to clearly understand that violence is not Islamic but comes from the fringe among us.  http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/04/reestablishing-right-muslim-attitudes.html

6.  Successfully handled Quran bashing by Pastor Robert Jeffers into an educational event and creating a positive understanding about Quran among pastors, clergy, rabbis, and others. These ten pastors in Dallas will defend the sanctity of Quran with their church members, as they were a part of the solutions in the conference.  Umpteen TV and Newspaper write ups about it. www.QuraanConference.com

7. In Summary � over 3000 Articles on Islam, Pluralism and other matters are written. 175 TV appearances, over 150 syndicated Radio shows, and over 30 major events to bring people together.

Our mission at America Together Foundation is simply this; �To build a cohesive America where no American has to live in tension, apprehension or fear of the others.�  We need an America where Muslim, Jews, African Americans, Latinos and all others feel safe, and want their children�s life style to continue to be secure despite Trumps and other hiccups.

 www.Americatogetherfoundation.com,www.foundationforpluralism.com and www.WorldMuslimCongress.com ;

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We can do a lot more to turn things around for Muslims and fellow Americans, please donate generously at: http://americatogetherfoundation.com/donate/

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What did I write about Sean Hannity, Stuart Varney and Fox News today?
Let me know, and I will be happy to email you.


Mike Ghouse
(214) 325-1916

Dr. Mike Ghouse is a community consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer, newsmaker and a professional speaker on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam,  politics, human rights,  Terrorism,

  and foreign policy.  Mike is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. Visit him - 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at TheGhousediary.com 

'Royal' wedding in Maheshwar: Holkar scion's marriage to Godrej family girl draws attention

The era of princely states ended long ago, 68 years to be precise.

But many of them continue to be referred as 'royals' and any event in these families draw attention of the masses.

In Central India, descendants of many states including Gwalior [Scindia] and Indore [Holkar] still have clout.

Even, the self-styled 'royals' of other states like Rewa, Dewas are visible in public space.

The scions of some small states have earned more fame because of their involvement in politics.

An example is Raghogarh [Digvijaya Singh] that was a small principality, while many other big states [like Bhopal] have lost their clout because they failed to enter either business or politics and frittered away their legacy.

Recently, the Holkar dynasty was again in news as a scion of the former rulers of the erstwhile state, 'Prince' Yashwant Rao Holkar III was to get married with Nayarika [of Godrej family]. The wedding took place in Maheshwar, an ancient temple town, which was capital of Holkar state.

All the rituals were performed elaborately. There was media attention, as expected. All the events drew coverage in local channels and newspapers.

The marriage was a mix of tradition and modernity.

Villagers from the Holkar's native village were also invited.

Also, in Nazarbagh premises, the reception was held.

The Holkar family met everyone and interacted with other 'royals' as well as the rural folk who had attended the marriage.

Politicians, businessmen, socialites and a large number of people from outside the country, also came for the marriage.

Maheshwar was the capital of Ahilya Bai Holkar, the famous woman ruler of the dynasty.

All the rituals and 'puja' were held as per the family's age-old traditions.

After the marriage, the couple--Yashwant Rao and Nayarika, sought blessings of everybody.

They went for boat ride in the river. For days, it remained front page news for newspapers in Madhya Pradesh. See more photos of the marriage below.

Q&A: The Mufti Mentality

The following is are extracts of a translation from an Arabic Q&A from the time of Sheikh Taqiuddin an-Nabhani.

??? ???? ?????? ??????

Answer and question

Question:

The Hizb says in some of its answers and questions that the Hizb does not give Fatwaas and that the Shabaab are not Muftis (those who give out legal verdicts) and if he was to be asked for a Fatwaa then he should respond frankly by saying that we are not Muftis. And this opinion means that we turn the people away from asking us about the Ahkaam Ash-Shari'yah and this means withholding knowledge and both of these are not correct to come from us. This is because turning the people from the Hizb is not correct because one of our most important aims is to make the Ummah embrace the Hizb and to make the ideas of the Hizb dominant upon the people. And because withholding knowledge is not permissible due to the statement of the Messenger (saw): <> so how do we reconcile between the opinion of the Hizb and what we are aiming to achieve and that which has been made Waajib upon us by the Shar'a?

Answer:

The following has been stated in the definition of the Hizb as published in the last page of the book 'Mafaaheem': [Hizb-ut-Tahrir is a political party who's Mabda is Islam] and it was also mentioned in Mafaaheem: [It is obligatory for the bloc that carries the Islamic Da'wah to be a political bloc and it is not permitted for it to be a spiritual bloc, moral bloc, scholarly or educational bloc or anything from this type or similar to it. Indeed it is necessary for the Kutlah (block) to be political and from this understanding came Hizb-ut-Tahrir. It is an Islamic party, a political party whose work is political and it works to culture the Ummah with the Islamic culture in which the political aspect stands out] and in the following was mentioned in the book 'At-Takattul: [And when the Mabda (ideology) becomes embodied in the people it is not possible to keep it restrained but rather it drives them towards carrying the Da�wah so the actions become shaped by it and proceed according to its method and restricted by its limits. Their existence becomes solely for the sake of the ideology and for carrying the Da�wah to it, fulfilling its legal responsibilities. And this Da�wah aims at making the people embrace this ideology alone to the exclusion of anything else and towards bringing into existence �Al-Wa�ee Al-Aamm� (general awareness)] and then it says: [The general awareness about the ideology will lead to the unifications of the thoughts, opinions and beliefs within the majority if not the whole of the Ummah and through this the goal of the Ummah is unified as well as its Aqeedah and viewpoint in life].

And it is also mentioned in the book �At-Takkatul�: [It is necessary to place a thick barrier between the mind and the academic aspect so that the Hizb culture does not take the direction of the academic school culture]. It then states: [It is necessary to place a thick barrier between those who have become part of the Hizb and the academic aspect in the Hizb�s culture and to pay attention that the purpose of the Hizb culture is to change the concepts and to work in the battlefield of life and to carry the intellectual leadership to the Ummah and it is not permissible for this person to hasten towards the academic aspect]. It then states: [And it is dangerous to push forward with the culture towards the academic aspect because it will take away from the essence of the work]. These thoughts, indeed these concepts are image of the Hizb and they represent the image of every Hizbi in the Hizb. This is because the Hizb represents a complete intellectual sensation and as such every Hizbi is the Hizb and the image of the Hizb is the image of every Hizbi. And as long as this is the image of the Hizb and the image of every Hizbi then it is impossible for him to be a Mufti and it is not correct for him to be one. As for him, he is a Da�wah carrier that proceeds on the political path and this is political and nothing else.

The image which is imprinted in the minds of the people in regards to any personality from amongst the personalities whether this personality is a Shakhsiyah Haqeeqiyah (real) like a leader�s personality or the personality of the ruler, or this personality can be a Shakhsiyah Ma�nawiyah (in perception) like the personality of a political party or a charitable association. And it is this which determines how the people behave towards this personality and defines their behaviour towards it. And the image of Hizb-ut-Tahrir which it is attempting to imprint in the minds of the people is the image of the aware leader (Qaa�id), the innovative/creative politician, the image of the judicious thinker and the image of the just ruler. This is because he aims at leading the Ummah in the struggle against peoples and nations, and he desires to revive her with the correct revival with the enlightened thought, and he strives to take her authority and take care of her affairs and take charge her issue. Therefore if the image that she (the Ummah) has of this personality does not manifest the characteristics of true leadership then how will she hand over her leadership to it and rush forward towards martyrdom in the way of achieving its goal?

Indeed the enemies of Islaam have given the Muslims a distorted image of the Messenger of Allah, an image that is stripped from the thoughts of Islaam and they were able through this to make the leadership of the Muslims with Islaam seem like a matter of wishful thinking and that taking the Messenger of Allah (saw) as the example in politics and leadership would lead to failure within authority and politics. And as long as this image does not return to the minds of the Muslims then they will never be led by Islaam and as long as the image of Abu-l-Qaasim (the Nabi (saw)) remains as a vague imagination in the Ummah then she will never be able to gain the strength to struggle against Kufr and the Kuffaar. Therefore providing the Ummah with the correct image of its Islaamic leadership is alone what will make the leadership of the Ummah firm and what will make her capable of entering the struggle with nations.

And giving the Muslims an image of Hizb-ut-Tahrir as a Mufti would make her pray behind it but it would not make her led by it and it would make them go to it for knowledge but not for protection and the caring of her affairs. As such then we if we want to take leadership of the Ummah then it is necessary that the Ummah takes from us the image of a leader, a political image, an image of a thinker and strong ruler and there is no way to achieving this except by providing her with the image of Hizb-ut-Tahrir. As such it was from the most important of obligations to be committed to, that the image of every Hizbi is the image of the Hizb in the eyes of the Ummah. And in addition that the personality of every Hizbi be a personality of political struggle in the eyes of the people which is attempting to take the leadership of the people so as to contest the throes of struggle. That the behaviour of every Hizbi be a behaviour of someone who engages in struggle built upon awareness for the sake of focusing on the flag and achieving the objective and this means nothing other than raising the word of Allah, breaking the material obstacles so as to open the way to the Islamic Da'wah. This is the personality of the Hizb in its true reality and this is its image and true essence. Therefore it is obligatory for every Hizbi to provide the people with the image of Hizb-ut-Tahrir just as it is and not the image of a Mufti or Muftis.

The Mufti is the one is open to give Fatwaas and the people go to him asking him about the Hukm Shar'i in relation to specific acts which they or others have come across and the 'Aalim is the one whose work is to explore knowledge in the books but does not address the people with Fatwaas although if asked about a specific issue then he will provide an answer to it as an issue and not as a specific Hukm for a specific occurrence. The Waa'izh (preacher) is the person who reminds the people about the punishment of Allah, with Jannah and the Day of account whereas the teacher is the one who teaches the individuals naked knowledge without any regard to its applicability to reality, circumstances or to acting upon it. And each of these four types manifests an image which differs from the other so the image of the Mufti is different from the image of the 'Aalim, and the image of the Waa'izh (preacher) is different from the Mu'allim (teacher) and even if the Waa'izh was in fact a teacher, and an image of the possessor of each characteristic from these characteristics is what is represented and none other and this is even if he possessed all four of these attributes/characteristics. As for Hizb-ut-Tahrir it does not possess the characteristic of a Mufti because he does not put himself forward to giving Fatwaa and he does not look into the acts of individuals in their description as individuals to provide them with Shar'iah rules but rather he is only a politician who cares for the affairs of the people with the Shar'iah rules. The Hizb also does not possess the characteristic of the 'Aalim because its work is not to sift through knowledge in the books and even if it revises the books seeking to obtain knowledge because sifting through knowledge is not its work or purpose but is rather a means employed within its work which political. It is also not a Waa'izh reminding the people of the Aakhirah and he does not turn the people away from the Dunyaa but rather he takes care of their affairs and he gives them awareness about the Dunyaa so that it takes mastery over it and it makes the purpose of the Dunyaa the happiness of the hereafter and obtaining the pleasure of Allah. And it is also not a teacher even if it cultures the people with the thoughts and rules so teaching knowledge alone is not its work and it does not concern itself with it and it only aims at acting in accordance to the thoughts and rules so it provides the knowledge linked to its reality and circumstances politically and not as knowledge and so as to take care of its affairs and not as education.

As such it is from the acts of Zhulm (injustice) to say that the Hizbi is a Mufti and it is a deviation if the Hizbi becomes a Mufti. It is true that there is nothing to prevent answering the questioner in regards to the Hukm Shar�i in a specific act but rather he cultures him with the Hukm that he has been asked about and he pulls him towards knowledge and enlightenment. So he takes a question that is suitable for culturing and provides the answer as culture and not as a Fatwaa. So he does not turn people away the question regarding the thoughts and the Ahkaam but does the opposite so he answers so as to attract them to him and to enlighten the minds with the thoughts of the Hizb and its opinions. However he does not put himself forward to provide Fatwaas but rather turns the questioner away from seeking a Fatwaa and enters with him into a discussion in which there is culturing for the questioner with a Hukm Shar�i so that he acts according to his knowledge which he has given him and not with what he has taken from the Fatwaa. So there is an underlying danger in addressing people with the Fatwa and to give the Hukm Shar�i as a Fatwaa from amongst the Fataawaa. If this happened it would transform the Shabaab of the Hizb into something that they are not and following from this it would distort away the image of the Hizb. He also does not conceal knowledge but rather he does not provide it as mere knowledge and rather must provide the knowledge as effective culture, as an enlightened thought and as a concept from amongst the concepts which affect the behaviour. From this the atrocity of turning the Hizb into a Mufti becomes apparent and for the Shabaab of the Hizb to become Muftis. That would lead to the real destruction not just for the Shabaab alone and not just for the Hizb but rather for the Ummah which needs to be led by the Hizb and the Mabada (ideology) which it carries when it transforms it from being a viewpoint for life to being a treatment of the individual alone.

This Hizb has been tested with three attempts to shift it from its true nature, attempts to pull it away from politics towards the Deen and Fiqh. So when the Naa�ib (elected representative) began to give purely political speeches in the Jordanian representative assembly, this caused a stir amongst some of the Shabaab who are no longer present amongst others who questioned: Where is the Islaam in these speeches? And where are the Aqaa�id and Ahkaam in the discussions of Hizb-ut-Tahrir in parliament? Then it occurred again when the Hizb began to make its weekly comments (statements) and political comments which led to many of the Shabaab of the Hizb amongst others say: The Hizb has deviated from its path and it can no longer be counted as an Islamic Hizb and it has become a political party just like the other political parties. And they began to attempt to direct the Hizb away from politics and from the political publications so as to return to publications of the ruling of Islaam and discussion around the Ahkaam As-Shar�i. Then when the Hizb began to attack the persons in ruling and restricted its publications to opposing their actions and restricted itself to the action of striking at the relationships between the authority and the Ummah then many of the Shabaab amongst others made a big issue about this that the Hizb attacked the personalities (i.e. rulers themselves) and chose to expose certain acts of certain rulers, and they said: The Hizb is resorting to insults and the Hizb is swapped its concern for thoughts to focusing on people and from Islaam to the rulers and they attempted to return the Hizb to Islamic publications and to distance it from opposing the ruling people. These are the three trials that the Hizb overcame and it did this, not by standing against it to rebuke it and not by accepting discussion about it but rather it overcame them by continuing with the political statements and political actions and it continued to strike at the hands of those who held on to the authority with strong consecutive strikes to bring down its sides, remove its place of dignity and the ambitions of the people within it. And it preserved its true Hizb nature in that it is a political party and it has no action apart from politics and this false thinking (even if it came from those who are sincere) could not budge the Hizb even a hair away from its identity or effect it in the smallest way from the true reality of its personality.

Indeed it is Hizb-ut-Tahrir and it is an Islamic Hizb from the angle of its ideology (Mabda) but it is not an Islamic party like the other Islamic structures....Rather it is only a political party whose ideology is Islaam. So Islaam is its Mabda (ideology) but it is not its work and Islaam is its foundation but not its description. So it will take hold of the authority when it becomes available to it to take over so as to take charge (care) of the affairs of the people in actuality and it will account the authority at all times whether it is in the ruling or outside of it. Therefore all of its work is restricted to politics, either practically by running affairs or by view through accounting the rulers upon the basis of Islaam.

And the Hizb and it is a collective of Shabaab and administrations however if the people say that the Hizb has said such and such or done such and such then they are referring solely to the Shabaab of the Hizb and its publications and this is because the Hizb is a sensory intellectual whole so every Hizbi is the Hizb. Therefore if the image of some of the Hizbiyeen or just a single individual becomes the image of a Mufti then the Hizb would have become distorted and become a Mufti. This is in addition to causing a deviation from the actions of the Hizb and a deviation from its identity because in time it will distort the image of the Hizb and transform the Shabaab of the Hizb from being politicians to turn them into Muftis. Due to this it is a danger for the Shabaab to start addressing Fatwaas and provide people with them because they will become Fuqahaa in the eyes of people and not leaders, seekers of knowledge and not Da�wah carriers, and the Hizb will become an educational association and not a political block. And in all of this there is a clear and wide-ranging harm upon the Shabaab themselves and the Hizb.

And this is regardless of the providing of Fatwaas being the lowest form of Fiqh and regardless of it merely being the word of a Mufti which represents decline in the society, and regardless of it encouraging the people to seek Fataawaa which exposes the Ahkaam Shari�ah for ignorant people to issue verdicts from it, and regardless of the giving of quick answers or giving answers from the memory being prone to error in the majority of cases. Indeed advising the Shabaab not to expose themselves to giving Fatwaa and making them understand the danger of being Muftis is not for the reason of treating the issue of Fatwaas in the society and it is not to stand up against the peoples understanding of the Ahkaam Shari�ah but rather it is for the sake of preserving the image of the Hizb in the eyes of the people as it should be seen as a political party and no other type of party. And it is also to protect the Shabaab from going outside of the frame of the Hizb and becoming something else like Muftis or �Ulamaa or preachers or teachers.

So in conclusion it is not correct for the Shabaab to put themselves forward for giving Fatwaas so that the people go them for Fatwaas. However if he is asked about the form of the Du�aa of Qunoot then he grabs hold of the opportunity to explain the (full) meaning of the Du�aa, and if he is asked about a movement in the Salaah then he grabs hold of the opportunity to explain the meaning of Taqleed, and if he is asked about estate agents he moves the discussion to the obligation to abide by the Hukm Shar�i. So he does not conceal what he knows and he does not attempt to learn so as to give Fatwaa but rather he is at this time and at all times upon this condition of being a Da�wah carrier on a political methodology i.e. he is a politician who�s ideology (mabda) is Islaam.

22 Rabee�ul Awwal 1390

26/06/1970

Spread Hope and Tawakul Not Just Despair

Every few minutes of the day, on our TV, smartphones and via the internet, we receive the latest news and videos of atrocities facing our Ummah in the areas where we live and abroad. The latest massacre in Syria, the latest verbal assault on a Muslim woman on a bus in London and the latest UK government policy targeting our Mosques and madrassas. The constant barrage of bad news through the forwarding of these messages and videos is leading some to despair and choose to become silent or even change their appearance and aspects of our Deen � due to not seeing a way out of the many tests that are facing us on many fronts.

Comment:

The ability � via social media and smartphone apps � to forward distressing news of the latest plots, attacks and policies against Islam and Muslims is leading some to despair. In a single day, some of us receive so many videos one after another that the bad news can become overwhelming and paralysing. They seem to further reconfirm the power of our enemies and our helplessness. Is this the intended purpose?

When the Prophet ? was in the cave with Abu Bakr (ra) during the hijra, the situation was indeed desperate. The Quraish had now decided to finish him and to hunt him down and those pursuing them where just at the entrance to the cave leading to Abu Bakr to be extremely anxious. Instead of further increasing Abu Bakr�s anxiety by saying that they were indeed doomed, or that they would surely be captured, the Prophet ? reassured his companion telling him not to despair because Allah ?????? ?????? � the All Powerful � is with them and would aid them. Allah relates this in the Qur�an,

???? ????? ??? ???????? ???? ??????? ??????????? ??? ???????? ????? ??????? ??????? ????????? ??????? ??????????? ???????? ??????????? ????????? ????? ????????? ???????? ???????? ????????? ???????? ??????????? ? ?????????? ??????? ???? ?????????? ? ????????? ??????? ???????

�When they were in the cave and he said to his companion, �Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.� And Allah sent down his tranquillity upon him and supported him with soldiers (angels) you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah � that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.�

(At-Tawba 9:40)

So we should forward and spread the news about the problems, challenges and tests facing our Ummah but we should not do that alone without also forwarding reminders of Allah�s Might and Power and ability to rescue you from any situation � even when you cannot see a way out. We should also forward positive stories of Muslims who are challenging those against them or standing up proudly with their Deen despite the trials. Such things help to remind us to have tawakkul(Dependence on Allah), sabr (patient perseverance) and hope. This is what the Prophet ? did when he reminded Abu Bakr in the cave that Allah ?????? ?????? is with them � and on the side of the believers. So let us act as He ordered, make dua to Him to ease our situation and to grant victory to our Ummah soon. Let us be those who awaken people to the reality of the challenges facing us whilst also spreading hope and reliance on Allah ?????? ??????.

????????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ??? ???????????

�And Allah is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know.�

(12:21)

Taji Mustafa

Source

Q&A: Surveillance Cameras - Sheikh Ata Abu Al-Rashtah

Question:

As-Salaam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakaatuhu

Best Wishes and Eid Mubarak to you our respected Amir, may Allah protect you�

My question is: What is the ruling on using public surveillance cameras and in stores? Is it permissible to criminalize the person by using the captured camera images as evidence if the person is caught stealing on camera?

From Dr. Bassam Ash-Shab�an

---

Answer:

Wa Alaikum us Salaam Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakaatuhu

Your question is composed of two parts: in the first you asked about the ruling of using surveillance cameras, and in the second you asked about the images captured by the surveillance cameras if they can be considered as Shariah evidence or not?

The answer to the first part of the question:

Cameras falls under the Shariah principle: �In origin things are permitted unless there is prohibition evidence� taken from the verse of Quran:

?????? ??????? ????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ??? ??? ????????????? ????? ??? ?????????

�Do you not see that Allah has made subject to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth�

(Luqman: 20)

Also His saying ?????? ??????:

????????? ?????? ??? ??? ????????????? ????? ??? ????????? ???????? ??????

�And He has subjected to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth � all from Him�

(Al-Jathiya: 13)

There is no evidence that prohibits cameras, therefore its original rule remains as permitted. But the thing, though permissible, if used in a prohibited action, this use is forbidden, according to the comprehensive Shariah principle: �The means to a haram (prohibited) is itself haram (prohibited)� as well as the second principle of harm: �Every individual permissible thing if harmful or leading to harm, it will become prohibited while the matter remains permissible.� Therefore, the surveillance cameras if used for a permissible matter such as monitoring shops to prevent theft, or in the streets for traffic control � and so on, all these uses are permissible. But they were used to spy on people and monitor their movements and where they live or to look at their awrah, or to photograph the inside of their homes� All these uses are prohibited because spying on people and monitoring their movements and where they live, is prohibited due to the saying of Allah:

????? ???????????

 �And do not spy�

(Al-Hujurat: 12)

And what was narrated by Abu Dawood in his Sunan from the Prophet ? who said:

�????? ?????????? ????? ???????? ?????????? ??? ???????? ????????????�

�If the Amir (leader) seeks distrust in people he would corrupt them.�

And because looking at the awrah of people and their private lives is prohibited; it was narrated by Muslim from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet ? said:

�???? ???????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??????????? ?????? ????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ???????? �

�One who looks into people�s houses without their permission, it is permitted for them to poke his eye.�

And the answer to the second part of the question is:

The images captured by the surveillance cameras are not considered as a Shariah evidence for the crime because the Shariah evidences that are indicated as Shariah evidences are only four types, namely: Confession (the recognition), Yameen (oath), testimony, and irrevocable written documents.

There is no evidence other than these four evidences, based on the following evidences:

� Iqrar (confession): What is narrated from Zaid bin Khalid and Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with them, from the Prophet ? that he said:

�??????? ??? ???????? ????? ????????? ?????? ?????? ??????????? ????????????�

�O Unays go to the wife of so, if she confesses then stone her.�

� Yameen (oath): what was narrated by Ibn Majah in his Sunan from Ibn Abbas that the Messenger of Allah ? said:

�???? ??????? ???????? ?????????????? ??????? ????? ??????? ??????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????????? ????? ??????????? ????????�

�If people are given according to their claims, the people claimed the blood of men and money, but oath is on the defendant�.

And what is narrated by Ad-Daaraqitni on the authority of Atta�, on the authority of Abu Huraira, from the Prophet ? that he said:

�???????????? ????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??? ????????????�

 �The evidence must be provided by the accuser, and the one who denies must give (oath) except in the case of Al Qasamah (the repeated oath of the family of the murdered.�

And in another narration Amr ibn Shuaib, from his father, his grandfather, that the Messenger of Allah ? said:

�???????????? ????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??? ????????????�

�The evidence must be provided by the accuser, and the one who denies must give (oath) except in the case of Al Qasamah.�

� Testimony: the saying of Allah ?????? ??????:

??????????????? ??????????? ???? ??????????? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ??????????????

�And bring two witnesses from among your men, if there are no two men available, then bring a man and two women�

(Al-Baqara: 282)

� Irrevocable Written Documents: the saying of Allah ?????? ??????:

????? ?????????? ???? ??????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ?????????? ????????????? ????????? ?????? ??????????? ?????? ???? ??????? ????????? ????????? ????????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ??????? ?????? ????????????

�And do not be [too] weary to write it, whether it is small or large, for its [specified] term. That is more just in the sight of Allah and stronger as evidence and more likely to prevent doubt between you, except when it is an immediate transaction which you conduct among yourselves. For [then] there is no blame upon you if you do not write it.�

(Al Baqara: 282)

These are the evidences indicated by the Shariah evidences, but other evidences like: fingerprinting, blood analysis, photos, using police dogs, and others, they are no more than indicators used for identification, because they do not have proof from the Book (Quran) or the Sunnah and are not considered as Shariah evidences. Thus, evidences are considered as Shariah evidences only if there is proof for them or they were included under one of the evidences. Therefore, the images of surveillance cameras are not evidences, but that does not mean that they are worthless, they are clues, to help in identification, while this is identification and evidence is another thing, like the images and others, is permissible for use in identification, as in the case of identifying the murderer, but it is not considered as an evidence for the accusation. Al-Bukhari narrated in his Saheeh from Anas bin Malik may Allah be pleased with him:

�????? ??????????? ????? ?????? ????????? ?????? ??????????? ??????? ?????: ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ??????? ????????????? ???????????? ???????????? ??????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? r ??????? ???????? ?????????????�

 �A Jewish man pushed the head of a servant between two stones, and she was asked: Who did this to you, is it so, is it so? until the Jew was named, she nodded her head in agreement, the Jew was brought in and he confessed, the Prophet ? ordered that his head be hurled with stones.�

When the Messenger ? asked the servant who attacked her and called out names of men she identified the Jew. He ? did not take her statement as an evidence but as an identification, the Jew was brought in and he confessed and was killed. The evidence was his confession and not the words of the attacked servant � other clues, can be used as indicators not as Shariah evidences, unless they include Shariah evidences.

Your brother,

Ata Bin Khalil Abu Al-Rashtah

11 Rabii� Al Awwal 1437 AH

22/12/2015 CE

The link to the answer from the Ameer�s Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/AtaabuAlrashtah.ht/photos/a.1944098179148858.1073741828.1944073112484698/1955748491317160/?type=3&theater

The link to the answer from the Ameer on Google Plus:

http://bit.ly/1U9X3Hn

The link to the answer from the Ameer on twitter:

https://twitter.com/ataabualrashtah/status/680760462775074816

The West has lost the battle for hearts and minds

The battle has been lost. It began whilst the embers of the last Khilafah State were still burning, soon to be extinguished. Whilst the poet�s ink was fresh on the page, when he cried,

The wedding songs turned into echoes of mourning,

And your death was announced within the signs of joy,

You were shrouded in the night of wedding with its dress,

And you were buried at the time of morning break,

You were escorted to your burial in horror, with the tears of a laughing (person),

In every area; and with agony of drunkenness of a conscious (person).

Minarets and minbars shouted for you,

Kingdoms and provinces cried on you,

India is bewildered and Egypt is sad,

And she cries on you with flowing tears.

Ash-Sham, Iraq and Persia ask,

Is there anyone who wiped the Khilafah from our lands?

All the great and the good attended your funeral,

They sat there in the seats of mourning,

O men! Watch a murdered noble-born (lady),

She was killed without sin or guilt.

This battle was one to terminate a civilisation, no less. Shawqi wept for its demise. Yet the memory faded. The Khilafah state would become a distant memory. Of times past, where greatness belonged to another era. The force of secular democratic systems and Arab demagoguery was meant to confirm this victory. Islam was all but extinguished, only to remain a word on the lips and shadows in a Mosque. The West had extinguished Allah�s order, so it believed. It was said the British General Allenby declared in 1918 when marching into Jerusalem, �now the Crusades are over�. For Britain and the West, the demise of the Khilafah was the demise of Islam. No less a victory over its greatest enemy.

Yet the battle failed. The history that ended, came back to life. The feeling and the thought returned into the hearts of iman, once occupied by foreigners. The West looked on with dismay, as this great civilisation began to rise. At first it haughtily declared the battle for hearts and minds would be won, hailing the supremacy of liberal capitalism. In freedom and equality. Yet it failed in the cells of Bagram, in the injustice of Guantanamo, in the atrocities of Fallujah and in the secret prisons it plotted around the world. It failed with its drones and its private militias. It spoke of freedom, yet its leaders closed the gates to those fleeing the wars they started. It spoke of equality, yet banned any utterance of Islamic political expression in Egypt. It used every means at its disposal to halt Islam. And with it, it destroyed its own fa�ade.

Anyone who assesses this Ummah will witness its recovery. Yes, it has weaknesses. For sure it fails on many fronts. However, the Islamic thought has returned and the hearts have been turned. The West currently plots to restore Syria. Yet after countless conferences and meetings, it has failed to find support on the ground. This is because they know what is now an inevitability, the liberation of this Ummah has begun. The same west has attempted for years to �integrate� Muslim populations in Europe and America, the sons and daughters of a Muslim world ravaged by colonialism. Yet they have failed. What we are witnessing is a monumental shift in the mindset of the West.

They now know this liberation cannot be reversed. This battle has truly been lost. And so they resort to an age-old strategy. To spread fear and hatred. If you cannot change Muslims, you spread fear. All their laws and restrictions upon Muslim communities in the West is to alarm. So fear consumes communities.

And to their non-Muslim populations, they spread hatred. Hatred for Islam, a blind hatred. A hatred for Muslims, mosques, caliphate, madrassahs, hijabs, beards, reverts, the young, the old, the work colleague, the taxi driver� To associate Islam, its people and its institutions with terrorism. When the cartoonic Donald Trump speaks, he echoes a deeper animosity peddled by politicians of all political hues. Hatred is a currency. It can be used when Islam returns to state and society, to confront it. It can only be reversed when the Mercy of Islam returns to extinguish their darkness.

And this is what is left of western civilisation. Fear and hatred.

?????????? ??? ??????????? ????? ?????? ??????????????? ????????? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????

�They desire to extinguish Allah�s Light with their mouths. But Allah refuses to do other than perfect His Light, even though the kafirun detest it.�

(At-Tawba: 32)

Abdullah Jaleel

Source

Holiday readings on Christmas day and Milad-un-Nabi

I am pleased to share a few notes for your joyful reading on this auspicious day, when more than half of the world population is praising two men who brought the message of peace to the world, and who wanted the world to live in harmony and balance between each other and their environment. 

1. Holiday Reading

2. Joan and Katherine made my day
3. What is Pluralism?

4. Invitation to a historic event

5. How can you help?

 

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The current world population is 7.3 Billion,  and the Christians and Muslims together add up to 3.9 Billion (2.2 Billion Christians and 1.7 billion Muslims ). God places a huge responsibility on our shoulders to keep the world intact, they way he created, with all elements of the creation functioning together cohesively. We have an obligation to create safe and secure societies for all of us, every human, where everyone minds his own unique life (be it social, cultural, spiritual or religious) but yet nurtures the connectivity of all beings. At American Muslim Institution, we take this responsibility seriously and will take the initiatives to forge the ideals of one nation, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. We are committed to a cohesive and safe America for everyone. 

To understand a cohesive world, our bodies are an example. Each organ of our body system is interconnected, and the heart, brain, kidneys, lungs, liver, stomach and anus are all coded to work with each other, no organ is superior to the other and all are equally partners in our system.  If one element malfunctions, or loses its balance, it will affect the normal functioning of all. That is how God created a cohesive universe, and the cohesive planet earth, where life, matter and environment function together in balance.  If we lose any balance, we mess up our own safeness. 

Chief Seattle, a Native American said this perfectly, �All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the webs, he does it to himself."

Both Jesus and Muhammad created a vision of such a cohesive world in the form of heaven, where every soul would live in eternal bliss, a conflict free zone, living their own bliss and letting others live theirs.  This vision is expressed in the form of Pluralism, an attitude of respecting the otherness of others and accepting the God given uniqueness of each one of us, and when we reach that level of integrity in our attitudes,  conflicts fade and solutions emerge,  and that was their vision.  

I call Jesus, the first pluralist in the world and Muhammad the second one sequentially. Indeed, both the men were (are) a mercy to mankind.  Neither of them was needed, if the world was created to be 100% perfect, the world is indeed built-in with 1/10^th of 1% of extremity or anomaly, that is capable of messing the balance of the entire 99 - 9/10^th of the world. One embraced the diversity of God�s creation and the other prayed for the ignorance embedded within others.  Together they offered solutions to restore the world through forgiveness, humility, kindness, justness and acceptance of the otherness of others.

The other half of the population is guided by great men like Zarathustra,  Moses,  Krishna, Rama, Buddha, Confucius, Mahavir, Nanak, Bahaullah and a host of others from the native and earth based traditions including those who do not believe in a defined God, but advocate creating balance in the society.  All of spiritual masters taught us to be kind and gentle to the fringe among us.  Each one of them taught to respect the sanctity of life.  A majority of us get that right and the fringe among us don�t, and it is our duty to include them kindly and gently to be a part of the norm as Jesus did.    

Joan and Katherine made my day!

While driving to Staples this morning to pick up the banner for the event on Saturday, I got a call from a Katherine, she seemed so happy about the joint birth celebration of Jesus and Muhammad (pbuh)  that I had to pull over to listen to her sentiments and what a joy it was to hear her out.  She said, she sees hope, when the people of two of the largest religions come together to create harmony in the world. She was full of praise for Rizwan Jaka, the chairman of the board of trustees for ADAMS center.  It was indeed a joy to know the work of Rizwan and his entire team at ADAMS center in creating such a cohesive environment. 

I reached Staples, and had to wait, while waiting, I opened the email, the first one was from Joan Greenbaum, and it read, �And thank you for the invitation and honor to be a part of the Season of Peace celebration.  My hope is that the celebrations of the births of these two men, who were instrumental in teaching all of us about peace and humanity, will remind those who have lost sight of our shared heritage, that we are all children of God.  And remind them that we want a civil society that values all.�

Both of them made my day! They were good positive voices and notes. I was excited and had to call in my friends, as many as I can, including  Ambassador Islam Siddiqui and Dr. Aquilur Rahman, President and Chairman of AMI respectively, and who inspire me to do more, but then I did not call other friends as I got tied up on the phone. Thanks to my board of Directors at AMI who encourage me and are committed to a beautiful America.

There is more! The Muslim community in Washington, DC has done a great job in building relationship with members of the families of faiths. As we have done in Dallas with so many events from the Foundation for Pluralism, America Together Foundation, Irving Mosque, The Islamic Center of Richardson and others. Louisville Kentucky has also set a great example, and the Phoenix people have set a record in turning hostility into friendliness with the armed protesters. 

Indeed, we are doing the right things; we need to continue doing them as the work is not a match for the gravity of the negativity out there.  That negativity can be minimized by doing more interfaith understanding. 

I appeal to those few Muslims among us to seriously look at the larger picture and examples of the prophet and his work.  He was the first man in the universe to conduct interfaith dialogue, right in his Mosque; this is a great Sunnah we need to follow.  He was Amin (a great citizen who is trust worthy, truthful, just, and kind with no barriers between him and God�s creation) first, and that is what we have to work on, to be the Amins, the great citizens of this nation,  and all else will fall in its place.  

Thank God, over the last 22 years, I am blessed to have written over 3000 articles, and ahve given innumerable talks. Of them, 1000 were on every aspect of Islam, a thousand on politics, foreign policy, sports, movies, personalities etc and a 1000 about Pluralism.  I am also blessed to have many friends from every faith (including Atheists) cultural, social and racial and ethnic traditions.  

What is Pluralism? 

We have crystallized the definition of pluralism to, �respecting the otherness of the others and accepting the uniqueness of each one of us�. Pluralism is nothing but an attitude of live and let live, and it is applicable in every aspect of life including culture, society, religion, politics, gender, food, ethnicity, race and other uniqueness�s.

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.
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 nurturence, 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. 

You are responsible for other�s actions but your own. Internally it will burn you inside; externally you�ll be punished by the society. No one but you should be blamed for your actions. If you murder someone, it�s you, who needs to be hauled off, not your parents, spouse, siblings, or your children. If you are a rapist, it is you who needs to be punished and not your teacher, mayor, congressman, senator, imam, pastor, pundit, rabbi, shaman, clergy, Quran, Bible, Torah, Avesta, Bhagvad Gita, Guru Granth Saheb, Kitab al Muqaddas and other holy books of any religion for that matter.

Pluralism is not a set of rules, it is simply an attitude of live and let live religiously, politically, culturally and socially.  We are committed to building cohesive societies, where no human has to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of a fellow being.

Invitation

"To a historic event"

It is for the first time in history of Christianity and Islam, that Muslims and Christians are celebrating the birth of Jesus and Prophet Muhammad on the yet another historic place; the steps of Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.  

Saturday, December 26, 2015 at 1:00 PM

Enjoy the Christmas Carols & Milad Nasheeds
Bring your own chair and an umbrella

Parking - Road side public parking subject to availability.

Rail and Bus - The nearest metro stations are Foggy Bottom (23rd St. & I St. NW) and Smithsonian (12th St. &Independence Ave. SW). The Circulator Bus also runs to the Lincoln Memorial along Independence directly from the Union Station.

EVENT IS FREE, BUT PLEASE REGISTER AT:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/merry-christmas-milad-mubarak-tickets-20040393356

Its an interfaith event supported by many organizations.
Details at: http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/12/season-of-peace-joint-celebration-of.html

Latest Press Release: http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/12/press-release-first-time-in-history.html

How can you help? 

1. First attend the event on Saturday and invite your friends to join.
2. Write a heart felt note, why is it necessary to know each other**
3. Depending on the time, I may record your 1 Minute speech as a feed back of the event.

4. Donate if you can.

We have a lot more work to do to build a cohesive America where no American has to live in apprehension or fear of the other. To do this work, takes money, and we invite you to seriously your tax deductible donations to American Muslim Institution, 110 Maryland Av, NE, Suite 508, Washington, DC 2002.

Link to this note, if you would like to share.  http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/12/holiday-readings-on-christmas-day-and.html

God bless you and God bless America. 

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If you wish to read more about these two guys:

• Celebrating Prophet Muhammad's birthday
  http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2015/12/celebrating-prophet-muhammads-birthday.html

• How I Connect With Prophet Muhammad -  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/how-i-connect-with-prophet-muhammad_b_2547782.html

• Interfaith Christmas �Making God boundless  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/interfaith-christmas-making-god-boundless_b_2347856.html

• The 1444th Birth Celebration of Prophet Muhammad -http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/festivals-of-the-world-mi_b_4579452.html 

• A Muslim's Christmas -http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2015/12/texas-faith-when-baby-jesus-meets-neiman-marcus.html/ 

Dr. Mike Ghouse is a community consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer, news maker, and a speaker on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, politics, human rights, India, Israel-Palestine Terrorism and foreign policy. Over 3000 Articles have been published on the subjects. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. More about him in 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net and bulk of his writings are at TheGhousediary.com

** send the note to MikeGhouse@aol.com