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Written by El Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gilani
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Wednesday, 24 February 2010 |
International Qur’anic Open University Vice Chancellor Sends Appeal to
the President of the United States to Halt Afghan War, on Humanitarian
Grounds to Stop Obama
T o the President of the United States,
Syed Barack Hussein Obama: I, El Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gilani, El
Hashmi El Hassani wal Hussaini and my Qadri followers hereby come
forward to proffer our assistance to act as much needed intermediaries
to play an integral role in sorting out and bridging the gaps amongst
warring parties in the massive conflict in Afghanistan. We can, and
must, collectively bring an end to the senseless loss of human lives and
the growing number of victims.
Assuredly, I and my followers are
genuinely and personally grateful for your efforts and considerations in
this laudable undertaking and are quite confident that all the worlds’
citizens share in this appreciation as well. However, we are requesting,
and hopeful, that at your upcoming meeting, Syed President Barack
Obama, a mandate will be ratified to bring all American troops home.
This war is not winnable. It is, therefore, our responsibility before
the One Almighty Creator, as civilized men, to show the utmost respect
for human life. Indeed, man has been made Almighty God’s vicegerent on
earth and is answerable for the manner in which he bears this trust.
Because
of this trust, the International Qur’anic Open University staff and
students have been, and will always be, available to provide our
services and support in promoting an end to all war and human suffering
–as we have demonstrated for the last 30 years by sponsoring several
interfaith rallies at the United Nations and in Washington, D.C.,
calling for an end to war. In addition to this, we have traveled abroad
for rescue efforts and to provide medical relief for the quake victims
in Pakistan; bought and distributed food, medicines and tents for
Kashmiri refugees; were quickly on hand in the midst of the devastation
left by Hurricane Katrina; and were on site within 24 hours at Ground
Zero assisting in the first responder efforts there.
The nature of
these acts is simply our duty and purpose as Sufis; yet, we feel
confident in appealing to your refined sense of humanitarian
responsibility as well.
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Written by M. Hussein Omar Abu Bakr
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Wednesday, 24 February 2010 |
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The
following is a letter addressed to the Pakistan Minister of the
Interior, Rehman Malik, from the International Qur’anic Open University
Chairman, the Honorable M. Hussein Omar Abu Bakr.
Honorable
Minister Rehman Malik, the International Qur’anic Open University (IQOU)
has applied for visas to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan that have
once again been disregarded. As the Chairman of IQOU, I take this time
to address your office regarding the appalling manner in which the visa
requests for members of our staff have been treated.
Dr. Bashir Abdul
Wadud and Dr. Bilquis Abdallah have properly submitted completely valid
visa applications and been denied. These are the same doctors who
served as part of the American Muslim Medical Relief Team dispatched
immediately to Pakistan to provide much needed medical treatment to
victims of the devastating 2005 earthquake; of which the majority of
patients they treated were children and the elderly.
Despite the lack
of medical supplies or proper equipment, Dr. Wadud and Dr. Abdallah,
worked day and night - all without expectation of compensation. All of
their tireless efforts were organized by the Vice Chancellor of IQOU, El
Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gilani, El Hashmi, who himself provided
medical supplies, equipment and relief materials for the entire duration
of the four month project.
Not once has the Pakistani government
expressed a word of gratefulness or appreciation for the selfless
sacrifice of the Vice Chancellor or IQOU staff.
Recently, the Vice
Chancellor suffered a severe lung ailment, which led to one of his lungs
collapsing. For the past month he has received intense treatment by
three doctors at a Lahore hospital. Our urgent requests for visas to be
at the side of our dear Vice Chancellor at this time, however, have
fallen on deaf ears.
In light of the Pakistani government’s patent
lack of sensitivity or even simple courtesy, we are withdrawing our
applications and will use all of our resources to shed an international
light on your inhumane treatment of American Muslims. We are not the
people to receive this type of treatment.
It seems you have forgotten
that it was El Sheikh Gilani who, as a child, first raised the flag of
the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and whose noble father played an
integral role in the development and establishment of the Republic. Know
that the Gilani’s are a noble family and stand in no need of soliciting
favors from anyone.
Furthermore, we have taken a decision to
withdraw the assistance freely provided to Pakistan over these many
years. American Muslims are competent and respected role models with
access to many resources. We are quite well off in America and currently
have a number of students furthering their studies at Al Azhar, while
others will travel elsewhere to continue our generous humanitarian
efforts.
M. Hussein Omar Abu Bakr
Chairman, International
Qur’anic
Open University
deputydirector at iqou-moa.org
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Written by IQOU
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Wednesday, 24 February 2010 |
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Congratulations Extended to New Group of Al-Azhar Students
(IQOU
Press Release) –The International Qur’anic Open University staff and
students sent their best wishes with the six travelers who arrived at Al
Azhar University in Cairo from John F. Kennedy airport in New York in
the latter half of February to commence their advanced studies in Arabic
and Islamic sciences.
Abdul Rahim Harleston, Naib Ibrahim Smith,
Amir Mujahid, Ibrahim Caba, Jalil Lang and Hussain A. Muqit were
welcomed by other members of the Muslims of the Americas currently
matriculating at Al Azhar.
The six advanced students will also be
expected to teach at IQOU educational forums as American Muslims become
fluent in the language of Islam. IQOU therefore extends its heartfelt
congratulations to the travelers and their families.
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Written by IQOU-MOA Webmaster
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Wednesday, 24 February 2010 |
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Notice:
The International Qur’anic Open University is proud to announce that
the United Muslim Christian Forum’s Annual Eid Milaad parade will be
held again this year in Binghamton, NY on March 14, 2010.
Large
numbers of Muslims commemorate the birth anniversary of the Holy Last
Messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him), which falls on 12 Rabi-ul-Awwal
of the Islamic lunar calendar. This date is important to Muslims
because the birth of the Holy Last Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon
him) is regarded as a great blessing for the whole of humanity.
This
is, in part, because the Holy Last Messenger (peace be upon him) is the
chief of all the messengers sent on earth and it is to him that the
Holy Qur’an was revealed; although the characteristics and qualities and
accomplishments would take volumes to enumerate, and even still one
would never know the extent of the greatness of the Beloved of Allah.
The
event itself, termed Eid Milad al-Nabi, is marked by public gatherings
of Muslims. At these meetings poems and speeches are recited by high and
low on the life of the Holy Last Messenger (peace be upon him) and the
thousands of reasons he is honored, praised and loved by God and man.
Accounts
are related about the different aspects of the blessed life, birth,
childhood, youth and adulthood; and children are educated about his
teachings, sufferings, and how he forgave even his most bitter enemies.
Upon this day, the world is informed about true bravery, wisdom,
eloquent preaching and final triumph of good over evil.
Salutations
and songs in his praise are also recited. In most countries, streets and
mosques are decorated and illuminated at night.
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Read more...
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Written by El Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gilani Hashmi
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Wednesday, 24 February 2010 |
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From the Desk of the Sultan, El Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gilani
‘First
and Foremost: Purify Yourselves’
The following are excerpts from
a Banaatun Noor International Reunion Closing Discourse on purification
of the heart, sent for the gathering by El Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Shah
Gilani Hashmi, Imam of the Muslims of the Americas.
Polytheism is
the worst sin, but even the lesser shirk should go. No Muslim will go to
a temple to worship idols. But yet, if we go to a doctor or if someone
takes medicine, you should not say that the medicine gave you relief.
You should say that Allah gave you healing through this medicine,
through this doctor. Shirk must be turned into complete tawwakal,
reliance upon Allah. Allah says in the Holy Quran: “Whosoever relies on
Allah, Allah is sufficient for him!” 65:3 Your largest assets are your
supplications to Him.
The next evil is anger. The Arabic word for
anger is ghadab. You must not allow yourself to be carried away or over
powered by anger; under no circumstances. A man asked the Holy Last
Messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him), for advice, the Holy Last
Messenger (peace be upon him), repeated thrice, “Do not become angry
–Laa taghdab.” Once you become angry, Satan plays with you like a child
plays with a ball. You become Satan’s instrument. Through you he hurls
abuses on people, attacks people, and you do not know what you are
doing. This is the biggest Satanic attack. Whenever you feel angry, sit
down if you are standing; if you are sitting, lie down and recite: Laa
haula wa laa quwwata illa Billah. Drink water.
Next, from anger, is
jealousy. Do not feel jealous; although, it is a big struggle. You must
try your level best not to feel jealous of others. If your community has
decided to give a home and shelter to one sister who has been delayed
because of non availability of a husband and then she has been sent to
your home for your family to provide her a home and love, for the sake
of Allah, please accommodate her. Muslims and Muslimahs are sacred
people. Do not let jealousy come! A little bit will always remain, we
don’t deny it, but not to the extent that you always have a fire in your
heart and you are always finding fault. Jealousy is a sin which burns
one’s worship and burns one’s countenance. You can see jealousy in the
faces of people who remain jealous. Turn the jealousy into friendliness;
turn to the person with friendship and love. You can control the bad
attribute of jealousy by turning it into love.
How do you control
anger? You turn it into hilm, [the kind forbearance] which is the
opposite of anger.
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Written by IP News Service
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Saturday, 06 February 2010 |
Muslims of the Americas: Corporate Media
Groups ‘Uninformed’
v
(IP)
-It was no surprise to the residents of Holy Islamville, South
Carolina, when Charlotte, NC, television station, WSOC, showed up
seeking an interview regarding what they said were reports of strange
activities in the area of the village. Investigative reporter Jim
Bradley came, accompanied by his camera man, to give, according to Mr
Bradley, “Islamville residents an opportunity to answer some of the
suspicions.”
Although unannounced, Ali A. Rashid, who hosted Jim
Bradley during his stay, claims the visit was somewhat expected as, in
the recent past, “certain organizations with an intent to disrupt and
destroy the humanitarian efforts of His Eminence, El Sheikh Mubarik Ali
Gilani and his organization, the Muslims of the America (MOA), to which
the village of Holy Islamville is a part, are spending a great deal of
money to enlist all the media contacts they can, to bring about disunity
between the Christian and Islamic communities in America.”
Why
is “suspicious activity” not reported to the police?
Mr. Bradley
was asked by his host if he or the neighbors in question went to the
local authorities or even the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) to
see if there were any reports of strange activities of persons in the
area of Holy Islamville, to which he answered he himself had not, nor
did he know if the neighbors or the ones reporting the activity had
sought assistance from the police. Then the reporter was asked if he had
checked with the county sheriff’s office or with the FBI office to see
if they were aware of the presence of the Muslim community and were at
all suspicious of them and their activities. Mr. Bradley then answered
that he checked with one Sheriff Bryant who told him there have been no
reports of suspicious actions in that area, and as far as he was
concerned “those people are law abiding.”
In a similar scenario, one
Detective Barnes, based in nearby Sydney, New York, when interviewed by
Al Arabiya, stated that although he has been stationed in there for
seven years, no person, media or otherwise, has inquired about the
activities in and around MOA villages.
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Written by Hk. Raziya A. Mumin
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Saturday, 06 February 2010 |
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Hakimah’s Corner: Codex Alimentarius is Here
By Hk. Raziya
A. Mumin
Islamic Post Staff Writer
As the ball was dropped in
Times Square in N.Y symbolizing a new year, so too were the veils
lifted on December 31, 2009 when a new law that prohibits all God given
natural and healing herbs, foods, and food by-products went into effect.
The truth in this case is stranger than fiction. Vitamins, minerals and
supplements are now considered toxic and therefore harmful and have
been banned. A commission sponsored by the United Nations Health
Organization, and supported by the U.S Food and Drug Administration have
banned over the counter herbs, minerals, and supplements.
Codex
Alimentarius is criminalizing natural health. According to the rulings,
all dairy cows must be injected with growth hormones. All fruits,
vegetables, fish, meat and poultry must be irradiated. Unfortunately,
many nations are on board with these ruling. The United States of
America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, to name a few, are a
part of the 176 countries backing this law. Codex is not food safety
standards, it is not dealing with health standards, it is a set of food
trading regulations from the World Trade Organization. It is a monster
that is mowing down anything healthy and natural in its path. The future
of food has been grim, but now it is dismal.
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