Tradition of non-violence

Osama Bin Laden Killed: Life and death are in the hands of allah

Mon, 2 May 2011 01:07:28 -0400

Tonight, I saw the news that Osama Bin Laden was killed and I am relieved. The Council on American Islamic Relations ,CAIR, “Welcomes Elimination of Osama Bin Laden”. I hate war and violence, even in the death of my enemy I feel some remorse. A life wasted by one who advocated hate. That reciprocal hate turned to more hatred and killing. Some years ago I was videotaped in a paid television ad spot produced by (CAIR), in it I denounced the promoters of terrorism and violence by any one including Bin Laden. It was followed by an interview on the O’Riley Factor in which denounced him and people who preach hate and violence.

I was happy to see the non-violent resistance movements sweeping parts of the Muslim world, leveraging the non-violent legacy of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The military in Egypt held back from attacking civilians and I saw the hope and power of non-violence. But then when Qaddafi turned his soldiers turn on the civilian population in Libya I found my heart bleeding and crying for Article 7 of the UN Charter to take military action which has now led to the deaths of Qaddafi’s son and grandchildren. War is hell. The temptation to use force is a seductive tool to resolve conflict, but without reconciliation it only postpones the need for dialogue and understanding. Peace is a mass movement not an event.

Some time after those television broadcasts I encountered a Muslim friend of mine. He said to me that he was so proud of me for taking such a bold public stand against Bin Laden, Al-Qaeda, terrorism and the support of Muslims especially American Muslims. Then he said something I had not thought about. He said that was really brave of you!

For a second it thought, ‘How can talking on television be brave’. Then it dawned on me or he said it (i can’t remember), people like Osama Bin Laden silence their critics by cutting of their heads. So I guess I should be happy that he (Osama Bin Laden) is dead.

Maybe now when I travel to countries in the “Muslim World” I’m safer because he is gone. Perhaps his henchmen will forget what I an other American Muslims have said and take me off their list of “Most Wanted Americans”......but I fear that violence only begets violence.

I believe that Jesus, The son of Mary, The Messiah and Muhammad, The Prophet -Peace be upon them both were peace makers in their time. They opened an era in human history to preach peace, tolerance and love.

Yet we followers have much to learn. We, the followers of the peace makers demonstrate our loyalty by making war and killing. We must redouble our efforts to make change in the hearts and minds before the crisis of expediency causes us to kill. It seems that the just war theory is always used a “justify” war theory. There must be a better way.

"O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allaah as just witnesses;
and let not the enmity and hatred of others allow you to avoid
justice. Be just: that is closer to piety; and fear Allaah. Indeed,
Allaah is Well-Acquainted with what you do.".....Al-Maa'idah 5:8

Blessed are the peace makers.....Matthew 5:9

7 out Last 10 Terror Plots Against US Foiled with Muslim Help

Tue, 7 Dec 2010 00:40:28 -0500

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. I just wanted to make you all aware of the latest update to MPAC's Post-9/11 Terrorism Incident Database.

Given the latest public information on the recent arrests of Al-Qaeda domestic violent extremists, we have been able to update our statistics. Among our newest findings are:
7 out of the last 10 Al-Qaeda plots threatening the U.S. since 9/11 have been prevented with the help of Muslims.
Overall, almost 40% of all Al-Qaeda terror plots threatening the U.S since 9/11 were foiled with the assistance of Muslim communities.
Link: http://www.mpac.org/publications/policy-papers/post-911-terrorism-database.php

Take care and let's all continue our hard work towards keeping our nation safe and free.

Sincerely,

--
Alejandro J. Beutel
Government and Policy Analyst
Muslim Public Affairs Council
E-mail: alejandro@mpac.org
Tel.: 202-547-7701
Fax: 202-547-7704

Who is imam faisal abdul-rauf?

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:26:23 -0400

Here are some facts you could pull from regarding Imam Faisal's efforts, taken from an article by the Huffington Post entitled "Ground Zero Mosque Imam Helped FBI With Counterterrorism Efforts" (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/17/ground-zero-imam-helped-f_n_685071.html):  -Imam Faisal Rauf was a main speaker at a forum FBI officials in New York hosted in 2003. One thing he said was: "Islamic extremism for the majority of Muslims is an oxymoron," he said. "It is a fundamental contradiction in terms."  -"Imam Feisal has participated at the Aspen Institute in Muslim-Christian-Jewish working groups looking at ways to promote greater religious tolerance," Walter Isaacson, head of The Aspen Institute told the Huffington Post.  -In 1997, he founded the American Society for Muslim Advancement to promote a more positive integration of Muslims into American society.  -He told NBC’s Katie Couric in an interview in October 2001: "We have to be very much more vocal about protecting human rights and planting the seeds of democratic regimes throughout the Arab and Muslim world,"  -In November 2004, Feisal Abdul Rauf participated in a lengthy discussion on religion and government with, among others, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. In May 2006, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright placed the imam among a host of luminaries who inspired her book, "The Mighty and the Almighty."  -Albright eventually collaborated with Feisal Abdul Rauf and others on more substantive political projects. In September 2008, the two, along with a number of other foreign policy heavyweights (including Richard Armitage and Dennis Ross) signed a report claiming that the war on terror had been inadequate in actually improving U.S. security. No less a figure than Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), the ranking minority member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, embraced the findings. "The Project's report offers a thoughtful analysis of the current state of America's relations with the Muslim world and constructive recommendations on how we can approach this pressing concern in a bipartisan framework," said the senator.  -During the Bush administration, Feisal Abdul Rauf was dispatched on speaking tours by the State Department on multiple occasions to help promote tolerance and religious diversity in the Arab and Muslim world.  -In February 2006, meanwhile, he took part in a U.S.-Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar with Undersecretary of State Karen Hughes, a close adviser to President Bush.

Love is another word we tend to only whisper

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:40:37 -0400

The term Non-violence has to be returned to our vocabulary. We are trapped in a narrative in which violence seems to be the only story. A struggle is not just about political victory, it's about changing the way we live, finding new ways to live together. Non-violence is just a way (a tool) to reach the Beloved Community. This is the community King was talking about when he said - Where do we go from here, chaos or community? We cannot reach the Beloved community unless we have compassion for others. Violence destroys, it never creates or builds. It is good that you uphold key principles and correct the mistakes we too often hear in the public sphere.
After you disagree with someone, ask yourself, how do you now begin to find common ground to agree.
The key is that we not just practice non-violence but that we continue to love without conditions. Love is another word we tend to only whisper.

Ethelbert Miller

HALALCO has removed Anwar al-awlaki’s materials

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 17:04:46 -0400

AS-SALAMU ALAIKUM (Imam Johari),

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL INPUT ON THIS MATTER. WE HAVE ALREADY REMOVED THESE TITLES FROM OUR SHELVES AS WELL AS OUR ONLINE STORE.
THANKS AGAIN
ABDUL-MATEE,
halalco@halalco.com