My fasting and my prayers are my personal business, and I am accountable for my own actions and not others', none whosoever.
However, to encourage understanding of others, I am writing this Blog with the intent of developing Intra-faith relationships. Each one of our denomination sticks to his own folks, and that is just fine, but unless we know about each other, we will always live in myths, distrust, and fear of others.
Islamophobia is a great example, Muslims know very well that the Neocon fears have no basis, but they get hyped up, and phobias do exist, and that is what makes them say stupid things. Aren't we guilty of the same? Look at the fear of Iran and Saudi Arabia among themselves.
Knowing each other does not imply that you jump in and do what others do, or denigrate their others practices, it simply means you learn about others and accept them as they are.
God has created each one of us and asks us know and learn about each other. Knowledge leads to understanding and understanding to acceptance of a different point of view and respecting the otherness of other amounts to honoring God, for it is he who created diversity intentionally. Indeed, knowing each other mitigates conflicts and nurtures goodwill resulting in peaceful societies. (Reference Quraan 49:13).
True fasting is self-purification; and from this, a rich inner life brings about values such as justice, generosity, patience, kindness, forgiveness, mercy and empathy - values that are indispensable for the success of the community.Consciousness of behavior and vigilance over action are the most profound dimensions of fasting: the fasting of the heart focuses on the attachment to the divine.
That is when Ramadan really becomes a source of peace and solace, just as Christmas goes beyond the rituals to bring forth kindness, charity and caring. For fasting to be truly universal, its benefits must extend beyond the fraternal ties of Muslims and must extend to forging a common humanity with others. Fasting is meant to impart a sense of what it means to be truly human, and its universality is reflected by its observance in Bahai, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Sikh, Wiccan, Zoroastrian, other faiths and importantly the native traditions.
Last year, I had invited a people of diverse religions to my house for Iftaar, this year, Insha Allah I will visit diffrent Mosques. I have not sought permission from the Ismaili Jamaat Khana and the Bohra Mosque and I do hope I get the permission to break the fast with them.
Alhamdu Lillah, I have been blessed to pray in all the three holy place of Muslims; Mecca, Medina and Aqsa, as well as the dome of the rock masjid.
During the weekdays, I will hit most of the same denominations, for example on the weekends, I will visit all the denominational mosques, and during the weekdays, the other Mosques of the same denominations. You are welcome to join me by texting or talking at (214) 325-1916, at least an hour before iftaar, as I intend to shut down the phone.
2012 RAMADAN SCHEDULE
July 20 - Friday, Carrollton Mosque
July 21 - Saturday, Richardson Mosque
July 22 - Sunday, Plano Mosque
July 23 - Monday,
July 24 - Tuesday,
July 25 - Wednesday,
July 26 - Thursday,
July 27 - Friday,
July 28 - Saturday, River Road, Mosque, Louisville
July 29 - Sunday, Mosque in Louisville,
July 30 - Monday,
July 31 - Tuesday,
Aug 01 - Wednesday,
Aug 02 - Thursday,
Aug 03 - Friday, Ahmadiyya Mosque, Allen
Aug 04 - Saturday, Bohra Mosque, Irving
Aug 05 - Sunday, Shia Mosque, Irving
Aug 06 - Monday,
Aug 07 - Tuesday,
Aug 08 - Wednesday,
Aug 09 - Thursday, WD Deen Muhammad
Aug 10 - Friday, Sufi Mosque, Murphy
Aug 11 - Saturday, Tarrant County Mosque
Aug 12 - Sunday, South Lake Mosque
Aug 13 - Monday,
Aug 14 - Tuesday,
Aug 15 - Wednesday,
Aug 16 - Thursday,
Aug 17 - Friday, Watauga Mosque,
Aug 18 - Saturday,
========================================================
2011 SCHEDULE
Need to copy it from the Archives
========================================================
2010 SCHEDULE I YEAR
http://ramadanexclusive.blogspot.com/2010/08/my-iftaar-schedule.htmlAug 11 - Fox Studios, Dallas
Aug 12 - Carrollton Mosque, Carrollton
Aug 13 - Ahmadiyya Mosque, Allen,
Aug 14 - FunAsia and friends, Richardson,
Aug 15 - Shia Mosque..., Carrollton,
Aug 16 - Deen Mohammad Mosque, Dallas,
Aug 17 - Irving Mosque, Irving
Aug 18 - Undecided
Aug 19 - Airport/Frankfurt
Aug 20 - Mosque/ Tel Aviv
Aug 21 - Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem
Aug 21 - undecided
Aug 22 - Mosque, Jerusalem
Aug 23 - undecided
Aug 24 - undecided
Aug 25 - New York
Aug 26 - Richardson Mosque
Aug 27 - Ismaili Jamat Khana, Plano
Aug 28 - Bohra Mosque, Irving
Aug 29 - Madina Masjid, Carrollton
Aug 30 - Makkah Masjid, Garland
And on September 11, if Ramadan still continues, Insha Allah, I will break the fast across the Church in Florida, where they are burning the Quraan and pray for Pastor Jones good will. Can some one go there and do the right thing? Or I will be happy to make the pilgrimage, does any one has miles that can buy me the ticket to go to Florida - in the afternoon, and hope to return right back or first things Sunday Morning to do the Unityday progam in Dallas on 12th - http://www.unitydayusa.com/
About Quraan Burning:
http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2010/08/quraan-burning-church-and-solutions.html
No comments:
Post a Comment