Date - Tuesday, July 31, 2012 | Ramadan12,
1433
Mosque (not a Mosque) - World Muslim Congress
Address - 2665 Villa Creek Drive, Suite 206,
Dallas, TX 75234
Website -
www.WorldMuslimCongress.org
29 Mosques - 29 days of Ramadan at: www.RamadanDaily.com
Link to this Article -
Link to this Article -
Today’s Pictures: No Pictures
Iftaar Time today: 8:31 PM CST
Iftaar Time today: 8:31 PM CST
Recommended reading listed below the note
Today, on the eve of 12th Iftaar, I chose to stay in the office, Insha Allah, I will visit at least 25 Mosques this month. A few volunteers joined me during Iftaar to discuss the 8th
Annual Unity Day USA to be held on Tuesday, September 11, 2012. We hope to invite a 1000 people; the last highest attendance
was 650. This is an event that brings people of all faiths, races and
ethnicities together as a step towards building a cohesive America. Please visit www.unitydayusa.com for details.
 |
| Muslim families serving - 12 year old Zahra Cheema writes (story below) |
At the Unity Day, we recognize and appreciate up to 7 individuals a year who have gone out of their way to build
bridges among Americans of all hues. Indeed, it is our duty to honor and cherish those individuals who have dedicated
their lives for the purpose. Here is a
list of 22 individuals in the last 7 years.
Hon. Len Ellis, Hon. MaryAnn Thompson-Frenk, Dr.
Imam Zia Shaikh, Pastor
George Mason, Dr. Harbans Lal, Rev.
Bill Matthews, Hon. Muriel Pinkus, Rev. Bob Roberts, Bishop Mark Hernandez, Dr.
Basheer Ahmed, Hon. Jeff
Weiss,
Hon. Bob Ray Sanders, Hon. Julie Ann Turner, Hon. John Hammond, Hon. Jonathan Halsey, Hon. Steve Blow, Dr. Rev. Petra Weldes, Hon. Marzuk Jaami and
Alexis Yancey, Hon. Late Elliott Dlin, Dr. Robert Hunt, Hon. Sam Hodges, and Hon. Daisy Khan.
This year on Tuesday, September 11, we have
another great individual from the Muslim community who will be recognized and 5
others from Hindu, Jewish, Christian and other communities.
We have
just begun the process of serving the nation in every which way we can and have
ways to go. We have to be a part of the society; a well integrated society is good
for every one of its inhabitants in the long run. Please don’t look to the government
or me to do it (as some do, I am simply a volunteer and don’t get paid for any one to demand), you do your share and
take pride in it.
To paraphrase President John Kennedy, “Ask not what the country can
do for you, ask yourselves, what you can do for the country”. It should
resonate with Muslims strongly, ask not what the Prophet can do for you, ask
yourselves what you can do for the community, not just Muslim but every
American; it’s the free will we are blessed with. God tells us to be
individually responsible for our acts, and we will be accountable for it individually, and on the Day of the Judgment we are on our own. The best ones among us
are those who care for their neighbors.
HOW ARE WE SERVING
We have regular free Medical clinics in most cities in America. In Dallas/ Fort Worth area we have three regular clinics to serve Americans. While the Al-Shifa and Richardson Mosque clinics offer free outpatient checkups, the Ismaili clinic offers extensive services for a small fee to be self operating with full time nurses and the staff. Several other mosques have started smaller clinics. It was an idea that began in the early Muslim societies and gaining momentum in America now, thanks to the Muslim Doctors to do their share in providing medical care to the un-insured.
I do urge Muslims in every City in USA and Canada to write up about their community, an effort must be made such as the following note. Don’t ask the organizations to do it, they have plenty of work to do, ask yourselves what can you do about it, and just do it. We will be happy to share it at the WorldMuslimCongress@yahoogroups.com a service forum about co-existence and at the WorldMuslimCongress.org. Alhamdu Lillah, many a magazines and Journals around the world are republishing the material including ones in Somalia. In the past, Tehran Times, and Jakarta Post have picked a few of the pieces as well as Arab News has published many of the pieces from here. I have mentioned about Ramadan in Dallas Morning News in my article today.
As an
example of expressing to encourage others to do the same, here is a 12 year old
Zahra Cheema, who writes to her Dad Tariq.
“AA Baba
On Saturday, July 29th, Mama, Ibrahim, Bhaijaan, & I went to a Church called "Holy Ghost Church". The reason we went was to volunteer in serving food to the homeless. When mama told us that she signed us up, I was pleased because I've never volunteered in anything exactly like this. It seemed really interesting, & something new I would love to participate in.
“AA Baba
On Saturday, July 29th, Mama, Ibrahim, Bhaijaan, & I went to a Church called "Holy Ghost Church". The reason we went was to volunteer in serving food to the homeless. When mama told us that she signed us up, I was pleased because I've never volunteered in anything exactly like this. It seemed really interesting, & something new I would love to participate in.
So when we arrived there, a
man guided us to the kitchen & on our way in, there were so many mats on
the ground & their we're people sleeping/sitting on them. When I saw that
they must've spent the night, I thought it was really kind that the Church was
letting the homeless stay overnight. We got to the kitchen, & greeted the
Auntie that was hosting the event, & right away, I helped her daughter load
eggs into a pot before putting it on the stove ready to boil.
The kitchen
wasn't modern at all, so everyone had to do more things manually. Yet still
everyone had smiling faces and were happy to help out the less fortunate. The
breakfast was a nice typical American breakfast. It consisted of, pancakes, hash
browns, different types of fruits, & other sides to go with. Each person
was also given out a goody bag with treats in them. After the food was served
on a buffet-style table, I started to wash the dishes with Mama.
While we were
washing, the boys' we're helping pick-up, wash,wipe, & dry each mat. They
had to fold the pillows & blankets in a bag. & they sweeper the whole
floor while They were eating. The boys did a lot of physical work. Then, mama
& I went out of the kitchen to see what was going on. We saw the volunteers
pouring the food into each of their plates. It made me happy to see that these
people got to eat a generous ammount & fill their small stomachs.
What made
me sad/sorry was when I saw a family with a couple, & about 4 children. I thought
to myself how hard it must be to have to worry about your 4 children eating
everyday. I wondered if this was the only proper breakfast these people were
eating all week. “
I am sure you
have a story to share, start writing as simple as Zahra has done, ask your kids
to do it. They are more expressive than we were at their age, at least that is
the case with me.
On the interfaith front, we don’t frequent Churches, Synagogues, Temples and Gurudwaras, as we invite others to join us; we need to visit them as well.
IMAM AND A PASTOR
A pastor in Dallas is observing 30 days of fasting, as a way to connect with Muslims and feel the spiritual part of fasting. Thank God, the public radio in Dallas broadcasted the interview of Dr. Wes McGruder of Rowlett and Imam Yaseen of Plano. Here is the pod cast -
On the interfaith front, we don’t frequent Churches, Synagogues, Temples and Gurudwaras, as we invite others to join us; we need to visit them as well.
IMAM AND A PASTOR
A pastor in Dallas is observing 30 days of fasting, as a way to connect with Muslims and feel the spiritual part of fasting. Thank God, the public radio in Dallas broadcasted the interview of Dr. Wes McGruder of Rowlett and Imam Yaseen of Plano. Here is the pod cast -
MUSLIMS OBSERVING LENT
For your
information, many a Muslims are reciprocating it as well, albeit with
criticism. We cherish others when they do our stuff and I hope we can do the
same when our folks do the stuff for others. I thank Allah for giving me the guidance to
set a few stretched benchmarks - observing
lent, commemorating Holocaust,
Baptized
on the spot where Jesus was baptized and visiting Krishn’s birth place among
many other things. Alhamdu Lillah, as a
Muslim, I have been standing
up for every community and Insha Allah, my dream is to serve every human
without reserve or hesitation.
We do have volunteer at various Mosques that have done the work for Habitat for Humanity, soup Kitchens, feeding the homeless, but the burden is on a few, who keep doing again and again. I hope we all make a concerted effort to encourage volunteerism. Our Imams hold the key in changing our perceptions through encouragement to volunteer.
We do have volunteer at various Mosques that have done the work for Habitat for Humanity, soup Kitchens, feeding the homeless, but the burden is on a few, who keep doing again and again. I hope we all make a concerted effort to encourage volunteerism. Our Imams hold the key in changing our perceptions through encouragement to volunteer.
We have
to compile all our works together, to encourage more to participate and
volunteer in building an America that is good for every American.
If we
can raise or invest the funds, we can get a National Muslim paper to update
every one about everything we do, and need to do.
Indeed,
of the many things we do, we have dedicated this day to bring Americans
together and rededicate our pledge to the safety of America.
Are Muslims a part of the American society?
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/10/are-muslims-part-of-american-story.html
Please do visit the site www.unitydayusa.com , the words are few, but look at the impact it will have on the society in making America a beautiful nation for everyone.
If you wish to volunteer, sponsor or be a part of the event, please visit www.UnitydayUSA.com
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/10/are-muslims-part-of-american-story.html
Please do visit the site www.unitydayusa.com , the words are few, but look at the impact it will have on the society in making America a beautiful nation for everyone.
If you wish to volunteer, sponsor or be a part of the event, please visit www.UnitydayUSA.com
Jazak
Allah Khair
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:
What does God really want?
A
Muslim observing the lent:
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/04/happy-easter.html
Quraan conference, dealing
with mis-translated verses of Quraan
http://quraanconference.blogspot.com/2012/07/pastor-robert-jeffress-ingnites-quraan.html
http://quraanconference.blogspot.com/2012/07/pastor-robert-jeffress-ingnites-quraan.html
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