"Our campaign to prevent people around the world from being radicalized to violence is ultimately a battle for hearts and minds."
February 17, 2015
By Barak Obama
...In the face of this challenge, (click here) we must stand united internationally and here at home. We know that military force alone cannot solve this problem. Nor can we simply take out terrorists who kill innocent civilians. We also have to confront the violent extremists — the propagandists, recruiters and enablers — who may not directly engage in terrorist acts themselves, but who radicalize, recruit and incite others to do so.
This week, we'll take an important step forward as governments, civil society groups and community leaders from more than 60 nations gather in Washington for a global summit on countering violent extremism. Our focus will be on empowering local communities....
From "The Muslim Times."
Two Hundred Verses about Compassionate Living in the Quran (click here)
February 18, 2015
Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times
As only the Islamophobes, who hate Islam or those Muslims, who want to enforce Shariah Law, of their imagination, by hook or crook, make headlines, the compassionate teachings of the Holy Quran are lost to the ordinary, non-Muslim observer.
The Holy Quran talks about One God and one human family.
Here, I want to stress the Quranic message of compassion, love and kindness by cataloging, as many verses, as I can, realizing that it can never be an exhaustive list as other readers will continue to find new ideas of mercy and grace in other verses of the Holy Quran.
I will count the verses, in this post, as I go along....
One of the problems that are not identified by modern day Muslim leaders is the application of the Quran to the times in which people live. There is no war to fight anymore. There are no hostages to take. The world as it exists today is not leaning to destroying the Muslim faith.
The Quran, no differently than the Bible was written by scholars in very different times. The years of the Quran was a struggle for survival and recognition of the faith. That is no longer in question. The world we all live in today is one of acceptance.
The extremists like to paint a picture of struggle and war simply because they misinterpret the intention of the writings within the Quran. If Mohammad was alive today he would praise the degree in which the Muslim faith existed and the peace most of these nations of people strive to maintain. He would be abhorred by the violence of those seeking to kill in his name and in the name of God.
Every holy book can be turned into a battle plan. After September 11, 2001 the holy men and women in the USA found the strength they needed within the teachings of their holy books. It was a time of need for the people to be strong and at the ready to defend their land. That is a simple illustration of the words of holy text to bring to modern day society. Little did the USA ever expect such hatred to be leveled at it from individuals misinterpreting their religious teachings.
There are leaders within the Muslim faith that can "teach the lessons" in the Quran that can be applied to modern Islam. The war for acceptance is over. The nations of people within the Muslim faith today can find peace if they long for it. Tolerance is also in the teachings of the Quran that can be found in the passages in this article written by Zia H Shah.
For as long as I have been writing on this blog I have witnessed great brotherhood among all Mideastern leaders. They have come together many times to solve the problems of their people and their region. They are great leaders and they realize the world today is very different than the time of their holy scholars.
I look forward to the results of this new alliance of scholars to uphold the peace of nations.
February 17, 2015
By Barak Obama
...In the face of this challenge, (click here) we must stand united internationally and here at home. We know that military force alone cannot solve this problem. Nor can we simply take out terrorists who kill innocent civilians. We also have to confront the violent extremists — the propagandists, recruiters and enablers — who may not directly engage in terrorist acts themselves, but who radicalize, recruit and incite others to do so.
This week, we'll take an important step forward as governments, civil society groups and community leaders from more than 60 nations gather in Washington for a global summit on countering violent extremism. Our focus will be on empowering local communities....
From "The Muslim Times."
Two Hundred Verses about Compassionate Living in the Quran (click here)
February 18, 2015
Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times
As only the Islamophobes, who hate Islam or those Muslims, who want to enforce Shariah Law, of their imagination, by hook or crook, make headlines, the compassionate teachings of the Holy Quran are lost to the ordinary, non-Muslim observer.
The Holy Quran talks about One God and one human family.
Here, I want to stress the Quranic message of compassion, love and kindness by cataloging, as many verses, as I can, realizing that it can never be an exhaustive list as other readers will continue to find new ideas of mercy and grace in other verses of the Holy Quran.
I will count the verses, in this post, as I go along....
One of the problems that are not identified by modern day Muslim leaders is the application of the Quran to the times in which people live. There is no war to fight anymore. There are no hostages to take. The world as it exists today is not leaning to destroying the Muslim faith.
The Quran, no differently than the Bible was written by scholars in very different times. The years of the Quran was a struggle for survival and recognition of the faith. That is no longer in question. The world we all live in today is one of acceptance.
The extremists like to paint a picture of struggle and war simply because they misinterpret the intention of the writings within the Quran. If Mohammad was alive today he would praise the degree in which the Muslim faith existed and the peace most of these nations of people strive to maintain. He would be abhorred by the violence of those seeking to kill in his name and in the name of God.
Every holy book can be turned into a battle plan. After September 11, 2001 the holy men and women in the USA found the strength they needed within the teachings of their holy books. It was a time of need for the people to be strong and at the ready to defend their land. That is a simple illustration of the words of holy text to bring to modern day society. Little did the USA ever expect such hatred to be leveled at it from individuals misinterpreting their religious teachings.
There are leaders within the Muslim faith that can "teach the lessons" in the Quran that can be applied to modern Islam. The war for acceptance is over. The nations of people within the Muslim faith today can find peace if they long for it. Tolerance is also in the teachings of the Quran that can be found in the passages in this article written by Zia H Shah.
For as long as I have been writing on this blog I have witnessed great brotherhood among all Mideastern leaders. They have come together many times to solve the problems of their people and their region. They are great leaders and they realize the world today is very different than the time of their holy scholars.
I look forward to the results of this new alliance of scholars to uphold the peace of nations.
