If we can understand the concept of oneness of humankind, i.e. if one is hurt, we feel it, if one needs help, we step up to take care of him or her, then we can certainly understand the concept of oneness of God.We have demonstrated that goodness and oneness during each calamity like; Tsunami, Katrina, Earthquake in Mexico, Pakistan or any other disaster. On an individual level there are thousand of stories every day that we come across; the recent ones that got appreciated were where an individual dived on the rail road track to save a guy who fell in the subway despite an oncoming train closing on him, that was an instant response; then there was another guy who stood up against the bullies who beat up the guys for merely wishing Rosh Hashanah. Our humanness, when not deliberated, supersedes race, religion, culture and ethnicity.
That is also the powerful message of oneness of God, it implies that, if we learn to accept and respect the God given uniqueness of each one of the 6 billion of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge. If we are worshipping that single source of creation, despite difference in how we do that, the barriers of division evaporate into thin air, I believe God meant that. I will have to find that out one day and report back to you.
God through Qur’aan repeatedly says that he will forgive most sins but not the one where his authority is divided, or someone else is added to his singular authority. I have found that most people struggle with this concept, they simply move on instead of digging deeply and finally saying eureka. In my search for the truth, I find that, it simply means, if we do not accord the singularity of the source of creation, sustenance and destruction to one creator, we are creating a division, a conflict and that is destructive to his creation – life and matter. He (it or she) prefers the creation to be in harmony.
By the way this concept of oneness is not a mechanical one, it is a spiritual one that one feels in the bones be it a Aztec, Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Confucius, Hindu, Hopi, Jain, Jew, Muslim, Sikh, Shinto, Wicca, Yazid, Zoroastrian and others. There is one mother and one God. Our disputes are mechanical and political. I hope, we rise above that.
Marylou, this email is dedicated to you, as you walk on a similar path in understanding God, creation and us. I have just opened a new page on the website for understanding Qur’aan from the perspective of co-existence. Please feel free to comment.
And this is my new understanding of what it means to be a Muslim; To be a Muslim is to be a peace maker; one who constantly seeks to mitigate conflicts and nurtures goodwill for harmonious co-existence and world peace – God wants his creation to be in peace, that is the chief purpose of religion.
Here the word Muslim simply means one who is committed to creating that peace for God and not the politically clustered people called Muslims.
Mike Ghouse
http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/Quraan/Quraan-information.asp
To be a Muslim is to be a peace maker; one who constantly seeks to mitigate conflicts and nurtures goodwill for harmonious co-existence and world peace – God wants his creation to be in peace, that is the chief purpose of religion – Mike Ghouse
Qur’aan
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Qur’aan is the wisdom and the word of God, just as the Bible, Torah, Vedas, Jaina Kalpasutra, Avesta, Kitab al Muqaddas, Guru Granth Saheb, Tripitaka or holy book of any religion. It is a book of guidance for humans to follow to bring about peace, justice and co-existence. No one owns any book, owning any book exclusively takes it out from the realm of God to private ownership and it is wrong. No one owns any religion either. Each one of us by default or by choice subscribe to different ideas of living a balanced life. As beauty is the in the eyes of the beholder, faith is in the heart of the believer.
If we can understand the concept of oneness of humankind, i.e. if one is hurt, we feel it, if one needs help, we step up. That is the powerful message of oneness of God, it implies that we learn to accept and respect the God given uniqueness of each one of the 6 billion of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge.
There are about 20 translations available on the market, each one is slightly different. If you have read one that gives you grief, most likely you have the wrong translation on your hand.
I urge you to read as many as you can, so you understand the intended message – that is to be peace maker.
I urge you to read the Book “Muhammad” by Karen Armstrong first to fully comprehend Qur’aan. That is how, I refreshed my brains.
A fresh, evenhanded biography of the founder of Islam by the author of “A History of God.” “Portrays Muhammad as a passionate, complex, fallible human being.”– “Publishers Weekly”
Mike Ghouse is a Speaker, Thinker, Moderator and a Writer. He is president of the Foundation for Pluralism and is a frequent guest on talk radio and local television network discussing interfaith, political and civic issues. He is the founding president of World Muslim Congress with a simple theme: Good for Muslims and good for the world. His comments, news analysis and columns can be found on the Websites and Blogs listed at his personal website www.MikeGhouse.net. Mike is a Dallasite for nearly three decades and Carrollton is his home town. He can be reached at [email protected]
This page is a repository of articles about Qur’aan; we will deal with the issues head on, especially a few verses that are presented as hateful by those whose business is to frighten people and cash in on their fears. We need people to work on goodwill and nurturing peace.
Reform Qur’aan or understand it:http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/Quraan/Reform-Quraan-or-understand-it.asp
Qur’aan Reading:http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/Quraan/Quraan-Reading.asp
Qur’aan, Neocons and Islamophobia:http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/Quraan/Quraan-Neocons-and-Islamophobia.asp
Slay the idolaters, where ever you find them:http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/Quraan/Slay-the-idolaters-whereever-you-find-them.asp
Anger like Christians or went astray like the Jews :http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/Quraan/Not-like-Jews-and-Christians.asp
Be ruthless to the infidels:http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/Quraan/Be-ruthless-to-infidels.asp
Our Mission:http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/WorldMuslimCongress/Articles/Our-Mission.asp
The World Muslim Congress is driven by the Qur’an, Al-Hujurat, Surah 49:13: “O mankind! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. The noblest of you, in sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Allah Knows and is Aware.” Our Mission is to work for a world of co-existence through inclusiveness and participation. As a member of diverse family of faiths, our efforts will be directed towards justice and equity to attain peace for the humankind with a firm grounding in commonly held values. No one should have advantages at the cost of others. Such benefits are temporary and deleterious to lasting peace. We believe what is good for Muslims has got to be good for the world, and vice versa, to sustain it. Indeed we aspire to promote goodwill amongst people of different affiliations, regardless of their faith, gender, race, nationality, culture or any other uniqueness blessed by the creator. www.WorldMuslimCongress.com