Zakir Naik on NDTV talk show “We the People”

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The Governor of Andhra Pradesh, N.D. Tiwari was involved in a sex scandal a few days ago. He at his 87 years of age was trapped in a video which was relayed in a Telugu channel world wide. Yediyurappa, the CM of Karnataka having extra marital relationship with Shaoba Karadlaje..Kumaraswamy, the Ex C.M of Karnataka and .. and many many more. Not to forget Clinton and Monica lewinsky. Even well known Swami Jayendra saraswati involved it sex scandal, and also the so called great Tiger woods, who is still not out of the woods.

The Man Swami Nityananda claimed to be practicing celibacy, was also considered by many Hindu devotees to be God. He was addressed as Swami Paramahamsa Nityananda Guruji. He was known to be a preacher on Bhagavadgita, conducting regular discourses in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and also in the foreign countries. A public figure often seen in Televison channels, wearing saffron robes depicting the traditional Hindu customaries, with Vibuthi on his forehead and rosary beeds on his neck and not to forget the kumkum.

Swami Nityananda

A well renowned personality until March 2nd, 2010, had all his lifetime honor going down the drain, when the famous Sun Tv, the Tamil Indian Television channel showed Swami Nityananda lying in a compromising position with a movie actress Ranjitha. The sexual advancements that he endeavored with her, was all shown to world, when Sun Tv broadcasted the duo having sex in a closed room.

The people who had taken him as god, revolted against him, and went on protests on streets, burning his posters, pictures and also his ashram in Bidadi, Karnataka. People in Tamilnadu have also requested the Commossioner of Police of Tamilnadu to arrest Swami Nityananda and punish him for his act of immoral conduct.

What went wrong in all of this episode? Who is to be blamed? Is Swami Nityananda solely responsible for this or not? In reality, there are hundreds of Nityanandas and Ranjithas in the Indian subcontinent. This is not the first time that we have heard about a Swamiji involved in sex scandal. It is not the first time that we have heard about an actress involved in sex scandal. Where are these people being tutored to do such things?

Firstly, it is the belief of the people that needs to be blamed. It is the masses that produce people like Swami Nityananda. When people are ready to get fooled by beautiful speeches, and believe that man can become god, these culprits like Nityananda take advantage of their belief and thereafter exploit them. People must never consider a man or a woman to be god. Man has all the weakness. He wants to eat to survive, he wants to answer the call of nature (he visits the toilets), he needs to sleep, he needs to rest and so on. Man is mortal, but God is immortal. God does not need food, water, sleep or anything. Man needs all of it. Man is also in need of a mate, through whom he finds tranquility and repose. It is the false belief of the people that has jeopardized the entire system. If people had not worshiped Swami Nityananda, he would have been earning his livelihood by working and would have also got married to a woman to lead a family life. Celibacy is never a norm in our society, nor can it ever become one. We have seen the Catholic Priests in Rome, who claim to celibate but, eventually ended up in debauchery, for having had sex with young boys and other women. We have heard even in the books of Mythology that even Vishwamitra could not resist the beauty of Menaka. Even in the Mythological and fictious stories it never happened. Then why have false hopes? God has created us to live a natural life in which man’s nature is created. Hence, I blame the belief of the people first.

Secondly, I would condemn today’s movie industry that is filled with obscenities and nudism. Even to sell a match box we find a woman coming in front of the screen in mini skirts. What are the commercial Ads trying to do? Exploit womanhood? These women who act in movies and TV commercials, lose their level of modesty and chastity from their selves. They become immune to shamelessness. And these women actresses have a miserable marital lives. Their families often break due to lack of trust between the partners. Which husband would feel comfortable to see his wife dancing with another man dressed up like a live band singer? Its a total chaos. It is the today’s Movie Industry that manufactures such Ranjithas. And not to forget the public who watch these movies by paying the movie tickets and supporting the movie producers. The people who watch the obscenities in the form of movies are also adding to this immoral culture.

And Thirdly, I would blame the inadequate man made law that lacks stern punishments to check the rise of such immoral societies. What would the current Indian law do, even after the pair being convicted for their crime? Would they be convicted at all, missing the loop holes of the existing law? People dont fear the existing law and order. In fact, the people who suppose to maintain the law and order are corrupted to the core.

The Governor of Andhra Pradesh, N.D. Tiwari was involved in a sex scandal a few days ago. He at his 87 years of age was trapped in a video which was relayed in a Telugu channel world wide. Yediyurappa, the CM of Karnataka having extra marital relationship with Shaoba Karadlaje..Kumaraswamy, the Ex C.M of Karnataka and .. and many many more. Not to forget Clinton and Monica lewinsky. Even well known Swami Jayendra saraswati involved it sex scandal, and also the so called great Tiger woods, who is still not out of the woods.

There is a need for a change in the system, an alternative system, that can tackle all the existing problems of our society. In my view, with 100% conviction, the alternative is Islam. In Islam, intermingling of sexes is not allowed. In Islam, women are not allowed to reveal their beauty to strange men. In Islam, there is a strict Shariah law that punishes those indulging in extra marital affairs with a death penalty (for the married person) or hundred flogs (for the unmarried person). And the last but not the least, in Islam, no Muslim is allowed to worship humans, monkeys, snakes or idols. Hence, people like Swami Nityananda have no place in the Islamic society. The complete system for an aspiring nation is Islam. If the people are willing to change, then surely the current situation will change. Join the club of Muslims by renouncing the false religions of the forefathers’. Discover Islam, the only way to peace. Islam is the only solution, the only hope.

Author – Umar Shariff, (President, DIET)

There will be series of speeches on various topics like Islamic Culture, Importance of Knowledge, Youth for Goodness, Family Life, and Life hereafter. The speakers for the day are Brother Jabir Amani, Brother Subhan Babu and Brother Mir Imran Ali.

Venue for the camp would be Peace Propagation Center’s Lecture Hall. Kindly call 9985571980 for more details.

Check the camp flyer below:

Shaykh Al Albaani: My advice to you and to the youth, who are walking in a deviant line as we see it, and Allah is the most knowledgeable. That you do not waste your time talking about each other’s faults such as saying so and so said this and so and so said that.

For firstly, this has nothing to do with knowledge. And secondly, this way (type of talk) only Hardens the hearts and this only causes conflict and jealousy between the hearts.
(I advise you) To seek knowledge, For true knowledge will reveal if these are true mistakes, for there are plenty of mistakes.

For example, if this person is part of a innovation. But at the end we will have to see if he is an innovator we have no reason to be looking into this. I advise not to get into this subject for the facts are many people are complaining.

This group that is proclaiming to be from the Quran and Sunnah or as we call it “Daw’ah Al Salifia”, this group, Allah knows best the most (problems) are to restrain oneself which is inclined to evil. And it is not the different of opinions. This is my advice. May Allah reward you and May Allah reward you too.

Questioner: O Shaykh, The picture of what is happening between many youth these days is terrible, and we know for a fact that there are people who follow innovation or those who follow other than the sunnah or those who make mistakes. But the truth is now the youth are taking this personally by saying so and so said, but they do not realize how much time they are wasting and by causing hate between each other. They don’t look at this from this point of view and of course we know they have the right. But when I ask most of the youth that do this, how much of Quran have you memorized? They reply by saying less than three Ijza and how long have you been in this subject? (Defaming and talking about scholars), they reply by saying three years. They stay three years by saying he is an innovator he is not an innovator, He is a disbeliever, a believer, so and so said so, so and so is deviant (in error) and in some times he really could be a person who is part of a mistake or maybe this person is deviant. For example if someone would come to them and advise them not to waste their time in this, most of the time they will think this adviser is with them ( in their ideas and thoughts). Its something strange he only wants to advise them. A youth who is 17 years old, who memorized a small portion of the Quran, gets himself into the differences of opinions between great scholars, while the great scholars have left these differences of opinions such as shaykhul islam ibn Taymiyyah and other great scholars while these youth hasten themselves into getting into this subject. Me personally, a lot of the youth now come to me and ask me, what do you think of so and so?

Shaykh Al Albaani: What I understand from this, is that he is biased and maybe they are asking about our brothers and maybe from our brothers from the older generations, who are said (some of them) to be deviant.

And stand steadfast as you are commanded (Hud 11:111)

Seek knowledge, and this knowledge will differentiate for you between a righteous person and a sinner and wrong from right and don’t feel animosity for your brother simply because – I won’t say mistaken -but because he is deviated. But he is deviated in two or three matters, but in remaining matters he didn’t.

We find in the scholars of Hadeeth, that they accept many Ahadeeth from people who were Murjia, Khariji, Nasibi etc. These are all deviants, but they (scholars of Hadeeth) have a balance, to which they hold on and they don’t prefer exposing the sin over the good deeds, or two, three sins, over a lot of good deeds; the greatest of which is the testimony that “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad (Pbuh) is his final messenger”.

End of Conversation.

[Source: This is the translation of Arabic version of Shaykhs Fatwa. The audio of this version can be found http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogoSEAsS9ho]

The pub which was bought by Toheed-Ul-Islam Association, a registered charity, for £600,000 two years ago has also got the approved car parking plan from the Aylesbury Vale District Council recently. The Association which will be running the organization also aims to maintain mutual interpersonal relations with its neighbors so that any concerns regarding their problems or grievances will be looked into amicably.

It has been reported that Javed Farooqui, who spoke on behalf of the association’s trustees, has expressed that there had been no problems where planning was concerned but the committee wants to make it sure that everything goes smoothly before the actual opening of the center. He said that they are really hopeful that the center will start functioning soon within two months, and that this is a first step towards providing quality Islamic education to the locals of the area as there had been only one mosque in Aylesbury all these years.

Mr. Farooqui has also expressed his enthusiasm towards the incorporation of this Islamic center and stressed on how this center will not only provide the Muslims a place to worship but would also serve as a place to hold the community functions in the area. The other social groups or organizations in Aylesbury cannot deny how the Muslim population in the area has been rapidly increasing for the past few years and according to Mr. Farooqui, this rapid growth of the Muslim population really require a center which not only provides good Islamic orientation but also a fine education system that allows them to mutually cooperate with the rest of the communities in the society.

The new Islamic centre is opened to all the Muslims and the non-Muslims alike and will not be a restrictive place, as there are already plans up the sleeves regarding the inclusion of the junior football leagues for all and also the homework classes for everyone, out there. But of late, there had been regular prayer sessions in the center for the past one month.

Post arson attack in August 2008 on the building premises, the Toheed-Ul-Islam Association had to extensively work for the renovation of the building since then. The fire which engulfed the building from its rear had actually caused a lot of damage to the building’s overall structure and the inventory inside. Therefore, a lot of space in the building had to be reutilized for this purpose.

Mr. Farooqui also exclaimed how this place as a pub earlier, posed hazardous effects to the surroundings of the place where the pub visitors used to throw the used beer bottles and cans all over the place and also urinated on the doorsteps and the walls of the houses of the people dwelling there. With this in mind, the locals there really feel relieved and have no issues with the inception of the new centre.

Though the South court Residents Action Group had initial inhibitions regarding the traffic flow in the area due to this new center, but today, many association members have admitted that there have been no problems or disturbances because of the set up of the new center in Aylesbury. They have rather witnessed how things have been running smoothly in the area since the time the new center has come up in that area.

This is the reason why Allah repeatedly affirms that Jesus (Peace be upon him) is a slave of Allah like other prophets, in several places in the Glorious Quran. He affirms that it is He who molded Jesus  (Peace be upon him) in his mothers womb like every other creation of His. He also affirms that He created Jesus (Peace be upon him) without a father, just like how He created Adam (Peace be upon him) without a father and a mother.

Allah the Almighty said: Allah chose Adam, Nooh (Noah), the family of Ibrahim (Abraham) and the family of Imran above the Alameen (mankind and jinns) (of their times). Offspring, one of the other, and Allah is the All-Hearer, All-Knower.

Remember when the wife of Imran said: “O my Lord! I have vowed to You what (the child that) is in my womb to be dedicated for Your services (free from all worldly work; to serve Your Place of worship), so accept this, from me. Verily, You are the All-Hearer, the All Knowing.”

Then when she delivered her (child Mary), she said: “O my Lord! I have delivered a female child,” and Allah knew better what she delivered, – “and the male is not like the female, and I have named her Mary, and I seek refuge with You (Allah) for her and for her offspring from Satan, the outcast.”

So her Lord (Allah) accepted her with goodly acceptance. He made her grow in a good manner and put her under the care of Zechariah. Every time he entered Al-Mihrab (a praying place or a private room), he found her supplied with sustenance.

He said: “O Mary! From where have you got this?” She said: “From Allah. Verily, Allah provides sustenance to whom He wills, without limit.”

(Al Quran 3: 33-37)

Here Allah announces that He has elected Adam (Peace be upon him) and the elite of his progeny who are obedient to Allah. After this he mentions the family of Abraham (Peace be upon him) which includes the sons of Ishmael (pbuh), and the family of Imran, the father of Mary.

Muhammad Ibn Ishaaq stated that he was Imran Ibn Bashim, Ibn Amun, Ibn Misha, Ibn Hosqia, Ibn Ahriq, Ibn Mutham, Ibn Azazia, Ibn Amisa, Ibn Yamish, Ibn Ahrihu, Ibn Yazem, Ibn Yahfashat, Ibn Eisha, Ibn Iyam, Ibn Rahba am, Ibn David (Dawud).

The sister of wife of Prophet Zakariyah (Peace be upon him) had a daughter named Hannah. She was married to Imran, a leader of the Israelites. For many years,  she bore no children and the both remained childless. Her wish for a child increased whenever she saw another woman with a child. Although several years had passed,  But she never lost hope. She believed that Allah would one day bless her with a baby, on whom she would shower all her motherly love.

She turned to the Lord of the heavens and the earth and pleaded with Him for a child. She vowed to offer the child in the service of Allah’s house, in the temple of Jerusalem. Allah granted her request. When she learned that she was pregnant, she was the happiest woman alive, and thanked Allah for His gift. Her overjoyed husband Imran also thanked Allah for His mercy.

However, Imran passed away before even seeing his child. Hannah cried bitterly on Imran’s death saying that he did not live to see his own child for whom he  waited so many years. 

She gave birth to a girl, and again turned to Allah in prayer: “O my Lord! I have delivered a female child,” and Allah knew better what she delivered, – “and the male is not like the female, and I have named her Mary, and I seek refuge with You (Allah) for her and for her offspring from Satan, the outcast.”

(Al Quran 3: 36)

Now Although Hannah had promised to give her child in the services of Allah’s house, she had a big problem in reference to her promise to Allah, for females were not accepted into the temple. This worried her a lot. Her sister’s husband Zakariyah, comforted her, saying that Allah knew best what she had delivered and appreciated fully what she had offered in His service. She wrapped the baby in a shawl and handed it over to the temple elders. The question of her guardianship posed a problem for the elders since it was a girl. This was a child of their late and beloved leader, and everyone was eager to take care of her. Zakariyah said to the elders: “I am the husband of her maternal aunt and her nearest relation in the temple; therefore, I will be more mindful of her than all of you.”

As it was their custom to draw lots to solve disagreements, they followed this course. Each one was given a reed to throw into the river. They had agreed that whoever’s reed remained afloat would be granted guardianship of the girl. All the reeds sank to the bottom except Zakariyah’s. With this sign, they all surrendered to the will of Allah and made him the guardian.

To ensure that no one had access to Mary, Zakariyah built a separate room for her in the temple. As she grew up, she spent her time in devotion to Allah. Zakariyah visited her daily to see to her needs, and so it continued for many years. One day, he was surprised to find fresh fruit, which was out of season in her room. As he was the only person who could enter her room, he asked her how the fruit got there. She replied that these provisions were from Allah, as He gives to whom He wills. Zakariyah understood by this that Allah had raised Mary’s status above that of other women.

Thereafter, Zakariyah spent more time with her, teaching and guiding her. Mary grew to be a devotee of Allah, glorifying Him day and night.

Ali Ibn Abi Talib narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “The best of the world’s women is Mary (in her lifetime), and the best of the world’s women is Khadija (in her lifetime).” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

Abu Musa Al-Ashari also narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “May among men attained perfection but among women none attained perfection except Mary the daughter of Imran, and Asiya the wife of Pharaoh, and the superiority of Aisha to other women is like the superiority of Tharid (an Arabic dish) to other meals.”

[Source: The story of Jesus ('Isa): Section 1; Stories of the Prophets by Ibn Kathir]

Despite a troubling spike in terrorism arrests and incidents in 2009, violent terrorist activity by Muslim-Americans since 9/11 is rare. In the 100 months since 9/11, 139 Muslim-Americans have been accused of planning or carrying out terror-related violence. To put this in perspective, more than 136,000 people have been murdered in the United States since 9/11, and only 31 of those murders were committed by these Muslim-Americans.

Together with University of North Carolina sociology professor Charles Kurzman and Duke University religion professor Ebrahim Moosa, I have been studying Muslim-Americans for the past two years to learn about how they deal with the threat of radicalization within their communities and to identify ways that may help prevent home-grown terrorism in the future.

We found that:

• Muslim-American organizations and the vast majority of individuals who we interviewed firmly reject the radical extremist ideology that justifies the use of violence to achieve political ends.

• Muslim-Americans have taken a number of positive steps to reduce the potential for radicalization in their communities. They have consistently spoken out against terrorist incidents, and counseled or sometimes cast out from mosques and community groups those expressing radical views. Muslim-Americans also provide information to law enforcement about radical individuals who might engage in violence.

• Muslim-Americans feel the strain of living in America during the post-9/11 era. They perceive both official and societal discrimination, endure negative portrayals in the media and worry about the many barriers to assimilation and participation in mainstream American life.

• Muslim-Americans are responding to these concerns through increased political activity, community-building activities and forming a strong identity as a religious sub-group.

• Counterterrorism officials should take heed of these findings. Actions that distance Muslim-Americans from mainstream society and increase social isolation will likely reduce productive cooperation with law enforcement and possibly contribute to the conditions that lead to radicalization.

To stave off this possibility, Muslim-Americans should be encouraged to participate in political institutions, which provide an outlet for grievances and exposes our political system to viewpoints that might otherwise be unheard. Political participation demonstrates to Muslims both here and around the world that, in America, normal, nonviolent action can lead to positive social change. It is therefore important that both political parties include Muslim-Americans in their organizations and actively seek support of Muslim-Americans through the political process.

We also recommend government support for community-building activities such as youth centers, public-health clinics, housing initiatives and child-care facilities. Such outreach would show Muslim-Americans that America cares about the strength and vibrancy of their communities, not just the contribution they can make to counterterrorism.

It may turn out that the contacts made with Muslim-Americans through these initiatives will build the type of relationships that result in better counterterrorism intelligence. These activities are especially important in isolated immigrant communities.

Additionally, current tensions between Muslim-Americans and law enforcement need to be addressed, especially in regard to the use of informants within Muslim-American communities to build criminal cases. Some Muslim-Americans view many of the cases brought against Muslim-Americans as instances of entrapment. A clearing of the air on this issue is urgently needed.

Law enforcement should develop a policy on when to use informants, especially actions involving infiltration of sacred spaces such as mosques. This policy should be discussed with Muslim-American organizations and strictly enforced. For their part, Muslim-Americans must realize that use of informants is a traditional, accepted law enforcement tactic that is appropriate in some cases.

Policies that alienate Muslim-American communities in an effort to crack down on terrorism are likely to exacerbate, not reduce, the threat of homegrown terrorism. Initiatives that treat Muslim-Americans as part of the solution to this problem are far more likely to be successful.

David Schanzer is an associate professor of the practice of public policy at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy and director of the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security

[Source: post-gazette.com]

]]> http://peacepropagation.com/2010/01/vast-majority-of-american-muslims-reject-extremism/feed/ 0 http://peacepropagation.com/2010/01/adam-habib-and-tariq-ramadan-free-from-bush-era-ban/ http://peacepropagation.com/2010/01/adam-habib-and-tariq-ramadan-free-from-bush-era-ban/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:29:48 +0000 admin http://peacepropagation.com/?p=1587 WASHINGTON (AFP): On Wednesday, Department of US State announced that the ban that was imposed on two Muslim scholars, Adam Habib and Tariq Ramadan, during the bush  era has been lifted. This decision was made as there was absolutely no threat from these two scholars to Americas national security.

State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed documents allowing the South Africa-based Habib and Britain-based Ramadan to apply for US visas like other prospective visitors.

“The secretary of state signed an exemption for Tariq Ramadan and Adam Habib,” under the Immigration and Nationality Act, Crowley told reporters.

“The next time professor Ramadan or Professor Habib applies for a visa, he will not be found inadmissible on the basis of the facts that led to denial when they last applied,” Crowley said.

“We do not think that either one of them represents a threat to the United States,” he said.

However, he said the pair “will still be subject to the other standards” that apply to anyone seeking a visa for the United States.

“Consistent with President (Barack) Obama’s outreach to Muslims around the world, we want to encourage global debate,” he said.

“We want to have the opportunity potentially to have Islamic scholars copme to the United States and have dialogue with other faith communities and people here in our country,” he said.

[Source: Yahoo News]

The organisers of “1001 Inventions: Discover the Muslim Heritage in Our World” hope to illuminate 1,000 years of neglected science from north Africa to China that provided a bridge between ancient and Renaissance scholarship.

In doing so, they expressed hope it would help improve understanding between the Muslim world and the West. “If you neglect the contributions of other cultures then it gives you a sense of having cultural superiority, which is dangerous,” said Professor Salim TS Al-Hassani, who masterminded the exhibition at London’s Science Museum.

He said: “As we move into a new global world, we need to respect and recognise the contributions of all other races and cultures into what we have today. This exhibition demonstrates that.”

The exhibits span from about AD 700 to 1700, which Science Museum Director Professor Chris Rapley described as a time of “exceptional scientific and technological advancement in China, India, Persia, Africa and the Arab world”.

It aims to highlight the Muslim scholars who built on existing knowledge to develop new ideas about astronomy and maths, architecture, medicine and engineering — but who have been largely ignored in European history.

At the 13th-century observatory in Maragha in Iran, the exhibition notes, astrologists developed new models for understanding the universe which helped pave the way for Copernicus’ ideas of a sun-centred solar system in 1543. Abbas ibn Firnas, a ninth-century scholar, also performed one of the first recorded human flights when he leapt from the minaret of the Grand Mosque in Cordoba using a glider stiffened with wooden struts.

Cairo medic Ibn Al Nafis is also said to be the first to have accurately described the part of the cardiovascular system involving the heart and lungs, paving the way for William Harvey’s full description of circulation in 1628.

The exhibit also examines 12th century engineer Al Jazari, who invented the double-action suction pump.

[Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com]

“I think the American population, all of us are susceptible to what happens on a daily basis on the news,” said Rami Nashashibi, the executive director of the Inner-City Muslim Action Network, or IMAN, a Chicago nonprofit that advocates for social justice. “And quite frankly, over the last couple of months the news hasn’t been quite great when you think about the three-second sound bite you hear that talks about Muslims.”

IMAN is part of an initiative launched recently to bring together diverse local communities and facilitate change. The One Chicago, One Nation initiative — which includes a film contest, community organizing and a grant program — seeks to eliminate misperceptions about Muslims and Islam while facilitating change by funding projects that unite different faith, ethnic and community groups, Nashashibi said. A grant, for example, may be awarded to a partnership of two faith organizations working to eliminate poverty or feed the hungry, Nashashibi said.

“The best antidote to apprehension, fear and mistrust comes from the uniquely American tradition, a uniquely Chicago tradition, of community engagement for real solutions around real problems,” he said.

The project was developed by One Nation — a national philanthropic project founded in the wake of 9/11 to combat prejudicial feelings about Muslims — Chicago Community Trust and Link TV. In addition to IMAN, the Interfaith Youth Core is part of the initiative.

Nashashibi pointed to regular work IMAN does with members of a nearby synagogue and church to address specific issues, including foreclosures and, most recently, providing aid to Haiti. He said that such efforts not only help others, they help to combat prejudicial attitudes through action.

“It’s not contrived, it’s very genuine,” Nashashibi said. “I have no concern that the people in the parish or the priest that we work with do not go home and watch the news and feel that the Muslims that they work with have anything to do with what’s happening on a global scale in these (specific) incidents and what’s being associated with Muslims on the news.”

But organizers don’t just want to correct negative misperceptions and stereotypes — it’s equally critical to educate the public about Muslims and Islam, said Eboo Patel, the founder and executive director of Interfaith Youth Core. He also serves on President Barack Obama’s Advisory Council of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

Patel said that many people, including children and young adults, don’t know much about Islam or Muslims. He gave the example of his 14-year-old nephew, who attends public high school in a suburb of Houston. The nephew, Patel said, dreads the days when pizza is served because sometimes the school runs out of cheese pizza, leaving only pepperoni. Muslims cannot eat pepperoni because it is made from pork.

“He hates it, he dreads it,” Patel said. “He can’t eat the pepperoni pizza, and when the kids ask him why, he has to explain he’s a Muslim, and then he gets abused. He said, ‘People call me terrorist and Osama bin Laden and a whole bunch of offensive things.’ “

Chicago is well-positioned to serve as the location for this project because of the city’s unique history of overcoming social barriers and rich Muslim history, Patel said, noting the area’s wealth of Muslim leaders and diverse Muslim community. In 1893, Chicago hosted the World’s Parliament of Religions.

“We’re doing it in Chicago because we think Chicago has a great chance of making itself a model for the rest of the nation,” Patel said.

The start of the One Chicago, One Nation initiative comes at a critical time, though it was not prompted by a single incident and has been in the works for months, said Asad Jafri, IMAN’s arts and culture director.

“When Fort Hood happened, we had a conversation saying now, more than ever, we need this,” Jafri said, referring the arrest of a Muslim man in the fatal shootings at the Texas military base. “But (One Chicago, One Nation) isn’t reactionary to one incident. We’re really trying to build a sustainable sense of community. Although it’s Muslims who right now may be viewed (with suspicion) by some, maybe five years from now it may be another group.”

[Source: chicagotribune.com]