Message for Friday - The caller is like the actor

It is narrated that Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) said, "The one who guides towards excellence is like the one who does it."

People who have refined the art of eloquence can sway the hearts and minds of many. In fact, many eloquent speakers can influence their audiences without using logic but connecting through emotional appeals.

Hence, the callers to faith and civic responsibility have the weighty responsibility of mobilizing the public towards wholesome, constructive behaviors within society. Their ability to influence can be a powerful catalyst in bringing about good.

It is also narrated that Prophet Muhammad said, "The one that guides towards evil is similiar to it."

American law recognizes the illegality of those who call towards mischief; it is referred to as incitement. People, for instance, who incite others through their speech towards violence bear some of the responsibility of the active participants whether the inciters took part in the actions or not.

One example of this is the hate websites and blogs ran by terrorists to Islamophobes that incite hatred towards certain groups of people. They have a burden to bear for the actions of those who were inspired by their diabolical rhetoric. Although they may not face justice in a court of law, they most certaintly will answer to G'd for every word.

And surely G'd knows best.

U of M "foot bath" station is about hygiene

What escaped being printed in this story is that Muslims make ritual ablutions before prayers and that Muslims have been putting their feet in face bowls because washing feet is a portion of the ritual ablution. The University of Michigan-Dearborn is simply making provisions based upon hygiene concerns. The school cannot restrict the practice of Muslims washing themselves for prayer.

The safety issue is also a factor in regards to possible slipping of a student or staff due to wet floors from feet washing, which is currently done at the face bowl areas.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070605/SCHOOLS/706050368/1003/METRO

College's foot bath plans spark backlash
Project for Muslim students draws accusation U-M Dearborn is giving faith favored treatment.

Karen Bouffard / The Detroit News


DEARBORN -- The University of Michigan-Dearborn plans to spend $25,000 for foot-washing stations, making it easier for Muslim students to practice their religion but sparking questions about the separation of church and state.

The university claims the stations are needed to accommodate Muslim students, who must ritually wash their bodies -- including the feet -- up to five times each day before prayers. But critics hit conservative blogs and radio airwaves Monday to argue public money shouldn't cover the cost.

"Technically, they've got a problem, because it's public money they're using to pay for this," said Hal Downs, president of the Michigan chapter of Washington, D.C.-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

"It's one of those issues that we're going to be facing more and more in this community."

The Internet has created the fuss at U-M Dearborn, argued Dawud Walid, executive director of the Michigan branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

"To my knowledge, none of the students or staff have made any complaints about the foot-washing area," Walid said.

"This whole thing came to light through some right-wing Islama-phobic bloggers that want to promulgate the idea that the university is being Islama-fied."(MORE)

CAIR - 13 years of service

SEE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1huMYeqJfQ

Walid speaks about being patient during opposition & ignorance of Islamic rulings among youth

Today's sermon was delivered in Southfield, Michigan.

Cut & paste to listen:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/210733642f719f/

Message for Friday - Be part of the solution, not the problem

بئس القوم قوم لا يأمرون بالمعروف ولا ينهون عن المنكر

The Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) said, "The worst of the people are people that do not enjoin the excellent standards and forbidden the despicable things."

Approximately 2 weeks ago in Detroit, a 91 year old man was beaten while being robbed of his car by a 22 year old man. This savage act, which was captured on a store security camera, was a heinous crime; however, what was even more disturbing was that a group of men were standing at the scene that watched the elderly man being attacked and did nothing to assist him.

To be a specator of a criminality without working to stop it equals complicity according to the teachings of Islam. A believer in G'd is summoned to do more than just prayer and be a "goodie-goodie." Sanctimonious people in religion that do not work for the betterment of the whole practice religion void of true spirituality.

According to the present day Gospels, Messiah Jesus son of Mary (Peace be upon both of them) said to the Pharisees of his time that had this similiar mentality (Luke 11:44), "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them."

And surely G'd knows best.