MABDA Report 26.12.10

MABDA Report 26/12/2010

Muslim and Interfaith Peace Rally

The leaders of the Corvallis mosque that was firebombed organized a peace rally in Pioneer Square, after the arrest of Mohamed Mohamud's who allegedly tried to bomb the Christmas-tree-lighting-ceremony. The hour-long "Interfaith Peace Solidarity Rally" had a long-list of sponsors including Jewish and Christian groups. They had the aim of spreading the message that terrorism is un-Islamic, raising signs that said: “Terrorism is Un-Islamic, Islam says love all Mankind, and Islam condemns terrorism”.

For more information and photos kindly refer to:

http://portlandcitycenter.katu.com/content/islamic-peace-rally-converges-pioneer-square

Texas Presbyterian Camp Stands Against Anti-Muslim Bigotry

Mo-ranch, a Presbyterian Camp in Hunt, Texas, will host the 2010 MYNA Winter Leadership Retreat.  In anticipation of this event, Mo-ranch began receiving emails and letters accusing them of being un-Christian, un-Patriotic, and supporting terrorism by hosting an ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) event.

In response to these allegations, Dr. Jordan, president of the camp, issued a press release on Dec 14 to clearly articulate the absurdity of these claims.

https://web.archive.org/web/20110131161954/http://www.isna.net:80/articles/News/-Texas-Presbyterian-Camp-Stands-Against-Anti-Muslim-Bigotry.aspx

A week of Interfaith solidarity:

Muslims & Jews in Michigan united to help poor people at Christmas

For the past 20 years, hundreds of local Jews have volunteered on Christmas to help needy people on a day when many Christians are busy celebrating the holiday.

But because Dec. 25 falls on a Saturday this year — a day of rest for observant Jews — the Muslim community will be filling in on Christmas, helping at soup kitchens, senior citizen homes and in impoverished neighborhoods.

For more information kindly refer to:

http://www.freep.com/article/20101224/NEWS05/12240321/Holiday-brings-Muslims-Jews-together-to-volunteer#ixzz1951UjG1h

Hand in hand, in effort to save Haitians

Muslims Without Borders Tampa joined Muslim Aid Australia To Fight Cholera in Haiti. According to the BBC, a cholera outbreak in Haiti has killed more than 200 people in northern and central Haiti.

For photos kindly refer to:

http://muslimgoodnews.com/page/1

Interfaith Community Gathers to Help Those in Need

A group of Muslims and Christians got together to help those in need by assembling food and clothing boxes.

“Deborah Milan-Niler, with the Shalom Salaam Tikkun Olam Organization said, “The volunteers have been just fabulous working together tirelessly and especially coming down on Christmas Eve. And there's going to be more volunteers tomorrow.”

The event was organized by the Shalom Salaam Tikkun Olam Organization which means peace and repair to the world.

For more information kindly refer to:

http://www.abc4.com/content/news/top_stories/story/Interfaith-community-gathers-to-help-those-in-need/k3DEPcAGO0-g3kknhFTJJw.cspx

Oklahoma Muslims plan free Christmas Meals for the Homeless

The Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma and two other Muslim organizations are teamed up to provide a free Christmas meal for the homeless.

Imad Enchassi, the society’s president and imam, said the meal is the Muslim community’s way of recognizing the “Season of Giving.”

“Our faith teaches us to reach out to those who are in need,” Enchassi said.

For more information kindly refer to:

http://newsok.com/muslim-community-plans-free-christmas-meal/article/3526426#ixzz194uV9zVs

Another fallen leaf from the tree of Knowledge: Sheikh Nuh Al Qudah

Last week the Muslim world lost a learned scholar, Sheikh Nuh Al Qudah. Through the opinions of people, whether they were acquainted with him personally or not, one concludes that he was a person who was just, wise, honest, fair and stood by his principles.

Sheikh Nuh was born in 1939 near Ajlun, Jordan. After studying Sacred Law, grammar and tenets of faith from his father, he left, in 1954,  to study in Damascus, at the Islamic preparatory and secondary schools of al-Jama'iyya al Ghurra'. He then attended the College of Sacred Law at the University of Damascus and studied under Mustafa al-Zarqa, Wahbi Al-Zuhayli, Abd al Fattah Abu Ghudda, and others. He graduated in 1965 and returned to Jordan where he joined the armed forces and became their mufti in 1972. He then traveled to Cairo, where he received a master’s degree from the prestigious al-Azhar University in 1980. In 1986, he received his doctorate from the University of Imam Muhammad bin Saud in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Prior his death, he was Jordan’s grand Mufti from 2007 to 2010.

His Majesty King Abdullah named the Faculty of Law and Jurisprudence at the World Islamic Sciences and Education University, after Sheikh Nuh al Qudah, for he considered him to be one of the most outstanding scholars in Jordan and in the Muslim World. This honor was for his efforts and contribution to Islamic thought, contemporary jurisprudence, issues in regard to the nation and his reputation amongst the present day scholars.

Statements about Sheikh Nuh:

Omar Al Ashkar: “Sheikh Nuh is well-known for his piety; he was honest, warm-hearted, loving and keen on spreading the true word of Islam. He was like a fountain of knowledge and quenched the thirst of those who sought it, as well as for those whose true intentions were for the sake of Allah, Islam and Muslims, not for the sake of others.

Ahmad Nofal: I have never been acquainted with a Jordanian personality which was so loved such as that of Shiekh Nuh.

Hamam Sai’d: “Shiekh Nuh was a scholar, chaste, pure hearted, loyal towards his religion and nation, applied the knowledge he had, just in his judgment, and impartial in his Fatwa.

Abdul-Moni’m Abu Zanat: With the passing away of the well reputed scholar, Jordan did not only lose a great scholar but the Muslim world as a whole lost a scholar who was well-known for his abundant knowledge.

Mohammad Khazar Al-Majali: Shiekh Al-Qudah was one of the rare ideal models at this point in history. He was an example of those scholars who applied their knowledge.

Abdul Nasser Abu Basal: The Muslim nation lost one of the greatest scholars, for he left behind clear footprints through his dawah’. He laid down the foundations for a special school of thought, which was moderate, and according to a well-established basis, seeking to unite the Muslims.

Yaser Abu Hilaleh: It is rare to find an Islamic scholar whom one can refer to with blind trust in Jordan, Sheikh Nuh Al Qudah, being one of few. His personality gained the love of people and their trust through being an example of knowledge, in the institutions he built or worked in. He was regarded as a person who applied the knowledge he acquired, far away from political or ideological disputes.