We
are concerned about the violent reactions to Quran burning by some of
the fringe elements among Muslims elsewhere in the world, the
perceptions that get slapped on to Muslims for the actions of a few, and
safety of fellow Americans and American Embassies.
As American
Muslims, we plan to respond to pastor Terry Jones' planned burning of
3000 copies of Quran on September 11, 2013 with grace and dignity. We
honor the free speech guaranteed in our constitution for every American
and have no intentions to criticize, condemn or oppose Pastor Terry
Jones expression. Instead, we will be donating blood and praying for
the goodness to prevail.
We hope, our mercy based message will
remind Muslims to follow the examples of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), a
mercy to mankind to contribute towards a better world. We believe it
may also bring a change in the attitudes of followers of Pastor Jones,
and in the behavior of those Muslims who reacted violently the last time
Pastor sought notoriety.
Our response would be to show unity and
solidarity with fellow Americans and the fellow humanity – we will
establish a system to respond to conflicts. Americans of all traditions
and religions will come together and express our goodness through
fellowship and prayer, and rededicate our pledge to the safety, security
and unity of our nation.
What exactly will Muslims do?
Details at: www.UnitydayUSA.com
Mike Ghouse
(214) 325-1916 text/talk
. . . . .
Mike
Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics,
peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He
is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic
solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in
Standing up for others and has done that throughout his life as an
activist. Mike has a presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print
Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a
commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the
Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington
post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site
www.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work through many links.
Courtesy: Times of IndiaWASHINGTON: In an effort to overturn the image of Muslims as fire-breathing, sword-slashing conquerors and avengers, a Muslim group in America will resort to a pacific response to the provocative burning of the Quran by a fundamentalist Christian evangelist.
Pastor Terry Jones, the notorious Christian extremist who riled Muslims across the world with his inflammatory burning of the quran in 2011, has upped the ante by threatening to burn 3000 copies of the Quran on September 11, the anniversary of the terrorist attack on America that killed nearly 3,000 people. But instead of getting provoked, the so-called " World Muslim Congress" in the US said it will "reclaim the standard of behavior practiced by the prophet concerning scurrilous and hostile criticism of the Quran."
It cited a quranic verse that says, "To overcome evil with good is good, and to resist evil by evil is evil," and said it is also strongly enjoined in the Quran in the same verse 41:34 that "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."
The Texas-based outfit said many Muslim organizations across America will go on a "blood drive" to save lives and serve humanity with kindness on the same day pastor Jones has said he will burn the copes of the Quran.
"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," said Mike Ghouse, an Indian-American Muslim community leader who has been promoting inter-faith harmony in the US for several years.
Ghouse said the organization hoped that the blood drive event and the message will remind Muslims elsewhere in the world 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," a statement from the organization said.
Jones's Quran burning capers have caused universal revulsion, including in the United States, and also led to sporadic episodes of reactive violence in some countries. US government officials, from the federal, state, and local levels, have repeatedly condemned his antics.
"It's regrettable that a pastor in Gainesville, Florida with a church of no more than fifty people can make this outrageous and distressful, disgraceful plan and get, you know, the world's attention," former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said when Jones first announced his provocative move in 2010.
But Jones has kept at it despite universal condemnation, including promoting a movie called the "Innocence of Muslims" that vilified Islam and conjuring up September 11 as "International Judge Muhammed Day." Although dismissed as a wingnut in the US, he still gets enough attention to rile up some Islamic extremists. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/From-Muslims-in-America-a-novel-protest-against-quran-burning/articleshow/21982162.cms
Posted: Aug 22, 2013 4:53 PM CST Updated: Aug 22, 2013 4:56 PM CST
Video at: http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/23233567/2013/08/22/pastor-wants-to-burn-3000-korans-in-mulberry
URL- http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/08/planned-muslim-response-to-quran_18.html
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.
CONTACT:
Mike Ghouse
Text/Talk: (214)
325-1916
MikeGhouse@aol.com
Mirza A Beg
(205)
454-8797
mirza.a.beg@gmail.com
www.WorldMuslimCongress.com
Thank you.
. . . . .
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a
writer
on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work
place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers
pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in
Standing up for others and
has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a presence on
national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on
Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to
the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly
at Huffington post; and
several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work
through many links.
. . . . .
