http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_converts_to_Islam
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/191419/burqa-caption-%E2%80%98uncalled-for%E2%80%99-pdi-%E2%80%98we-say-so-sorry%E2%80%99#comment-529201149
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/191419/burqa-caption-%E2%80%98uncalled-for%E2%80%99-pdi-%E2%80%98we-say-so-sorry%E2%80%99#comment-529201149
Bismillaahi walhamdulillaah wassalaatu wassaalaamu alaa rasuulillaah
Assalamu alaykum Mohammed Ryan :)
Your personal comments have the effect of reminding me to exercise utmost restraint and counsel myself not to be angry.... "auto sabar mode"...because of the provocative stimulus that elicited a gamut of reactions RE: Security Risk? Allaah bless your living in this world, Mohammed Ryann-- somehow your comments have neutralized "my ire". Subhanaallaah. I am reminded to sustain gracious speech with wisdom as well as humility that I can humanly muster. Bi idhnillaah :)
Indeed, responsible media can be a powerful tool in engendering or even forging peace but when used recklessly/thoughtlessly- irresponsible media can be a lethal tool in perpetuating senseless war.
Conversely, any religion, creed, or belief can also engender peace just as it can lethally perpetuate senseless war (intolerance, xenophobia etc) in all forms WHEN such religion, creed, or belief is used malevolently out of the "perversion" of certain "human beings."
The Omniscient, Omnipresent, Sovereign King, Lord of Mankind and the Universe is Perfect, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, Most Loving and Most Just. Alhamdulillaahi Rabbil Aalaameen. However, human beings can never have those qualities of The One God.
Some people -regardless of gender/sogi, creed, race, faith or religion- have the proclivity when hurt and hurting to the max - to become warped and blame the creed, race, faith or religion and worst GOD just because one or anyone of them - acting individually - has done something evil against others.
It is the obligation of the striving-to-be-God-fearing on the face of this earth to ENJOIN what is good and to FORBID evil; what was commanded by The Almighty God is "NEVER" to FORBID GOOD NOR to ENJOIN EVIL!
However, every humane person (from the People of the Book or otherwise) must know and understand just as every Muslim who surrenders himself to the will of ALLAH must likewise do- that in enjoining good and in forbidding evil: one must in all circumspection weigh the maslaha (benefit) and the mafsaada (harm) that it will bring the community.
In enjoining good and forbidding evil, the maslaha or the benefit must outweigh the mafsada. Are we stoking the Flames of Goodwill or are we unconsciously stoking the Flames of ILL FEELINGS? I inwardly ask myself these questions foremost. In so doing, I invite all readers along with Mohammed Ryan :) and The OverLord who are both (seemingly) traumatically hurting and consequently are now hurting themselves in the process of self-healing. :) I can just imagine where ALL of these hurt and pains are coming. La hawla wa la quwwata illaa billaah.
Thus, this is my personal supplication: May this SECURITY RISK? RIGHT TO COMMENT bring us peoples of Faith greatest benefit and least harm. aameen Ya Rabb.
The Young Moro Professionals Network (YMPN) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) composed of young Moro professionals advocating peaceful means to improve the socio-economic well-being of the Bangsamoro people. While a majority of members live in the Philippines, particularly in Metro Manila and Mindanao, there are several members who are based in other countries. YMPN members are largely employed, both in government and private sector jobs.
Assalamu alaykum Mohammed Ryan :)
Your personal comments have the effect of reminding me to exercise utmost restraint and counsel myself not to be angry.... "auto sabar mode"...because of the provocative stimulus that elicited a gamut of reactions RE: Security Risk? Allaah bless your living in this world, Mohammed Ryann-- somehow your comments have neutralized "my ire". Subhanaallaah. I am reminded to sustain gracious speech with wisdom as well as humility that I can humanly muster. Bi idhnillaah :)
Indeed, responsible media can be a powerful tool in engendering or even forging peace but when used recklessly/thoughtlessly- irresponsible media can be a lethal tool in perpetuating senseless war.
Conversely, any religion, creed, or belief can also engender peace just as it can lethally perpetuate senseless war (intolerance, xenophobia etc) in all forms WHEN such religion, creed, or belief is used malevolently out of the "perversion" of certain "human beings."
The Omniscient, Omnipresent, Sovereign King, Lord of Mankind and the Universe is Perfect, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, Most Loving and Most Just. Alhamdulillaahi Rabbil Aalaameen. However, human beings can never have those qualities of The One God.
Some people -regardless of gender/sogi, creed, race, faith or religion- have the proclivity when hurt and hurting to the max - to become warped and blame the creed, race, faith or religion and worst GOD just because one or anyone of them - acting individually - has done something evil against others.
It is the obligation of the striving-to-be-God-fearing on the face of this earth to ENJOIN what is good and to FORBID evil; what was commanded by The Almighty God is "NEVER" to FORBID GOOD NOR to ENJOIN EVIL!
However, every humane person (from the People of the Book or otherwise) must know and understand just as every Muslim who surrenders himself to the will of ALLAH must likewise do- that in enjoining good and in forbidding evil: one must in all circumspection weigh the maslaha (benefit) and the mafsaada (harm) that it will bring the community.
In enjoining good and forbidding evil, the maslaha or the benefit must outweigh the mafsada. Are we stoking the Flames of Goodwill or are we unconsciously stoking the Flames of ILL FEELINGS? I inwardly ask myself these questions foremost. In so doing, I invite all readers along with Mohammed Ryan :) and The OverLord who are both (seemingly) traumatically hurting and consequently are now hurting themselves in the process of self-healing. :) I can just imagine where ALL of these hurt and pains are coming. La hawla wa la quwwata illaa billaah.
Thus, this is my personal supplication: May this SECURITY RISK? RIGHT TO COMMENT bring us peoples of Faith greatest benefit and least harm. aameen Ya Rabb.
THE WAY TO A PEACEFUL NATION
A Statement by the Young Moro
Professionals Network Inc.
(Regarding a caption of a photograph showing a woman in burqa at the
front-page of Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) last May 9, 2012, Wednesday)
Media plays a
critical role in our society. We live in a society that largely depends on
information and communication and media is one of the key social agents that shape
public opinion and public behavior.
For quite some
time, reports on particular incidents easily tag the word “Muslims” or
associate explicitly or implicitly Muslims with terrorism and violence. Numbers
of media reportage of the religious group has promoted a negative image,
misperception, and prejudice against the Muslim population in the country.
Muslim men and women across age-levels have to grapple with experiencing
pockets of intolerance, stereotyping, and discrimination from non-Muslims who
are majority in the country. Meanwhile, a number of non-Muslim individuals and
groups—embracing peace advocacy, interfaith-dialogue, and social justice—
acknowledge and help address the alarming situation of bias in media against
Muslims.
As much as we
recognize the fact that reporting on another religion or culture can be a
challenge, we all need to value respect for all religions and cultures, based
on moral grounds and based on basic human right to freely exercise one’s
religion without discrimination.
The Young Moro Professionals Network (YMPN) is deeply concerned about a
caption of a photograph showing a woman in burqa at the front-page of Philippine
Daily Inquirer (PDI) last May 9, 2012, Wednesday. The said photograph was
labeled, “SECURITY RISK? President Aquino
greets a Muslim woman wrapped in a burka and niqab during the oath-taking of
officers in charge of ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly held in Malacañang on
Tuesday. The unidentified woman is reportedly a relative of one of the
officers.”
In lieu of this, we also recognize
that the said photo has another version in other copies you released, which
already indicates a more appropriate term, “PALACE GUEST.” We are deeply
concerned by this as it may add to the adverse image that the majority of our
society has against Muslims, while endangering the lives of our Muslim Women
wearing burqa or niqab that may also result to discrimination.
Such act shows disrespect to Islam as a Religion and to us Muslims and further
feed into the stereotyping of Muslims as terrorists. The burqa
(loose body covering) and hijab (veil) serve both as a woman's shield from
non-mahram (strange men) and also serve as a symbol of her faith/submission to
Allah. People need to respect and be enlightened on why Muslim women
cover themselves for others not
to easily
make negative/derogatory statements even if Muslim women
wearing burqa had been a big issue and may have been used for negative purposes
in other countries.
It is highly disheartening that the Philippine Daily
Inquirer (PDI), which should be one of the nation’s partners in peace building
given the role and influence of the media sector, runs contrary to the efforts
of YMPN and Other Groups’ efforts to promote peaceful and harmonious
relationship among people of different faiths.
We would like to make an appeal to PDI, being a leading
newspaper in the country, to do the proper course of action by issuing a public
explanation to the offended parties and make necessary policies promoting
respect for religions and cultures within the framework of peace and religious
tolerance.
The PDI incident is
an eye-opener and a great call for us to look at long term solutions in
response to this kind of issue. We recognize the importance for media companies
to come up with a manual on the Code of Ethics emphasizing on writing about
other religions and cultures and promoting peace reporting. We acknowledge the
importance of integrating peace education in schools and peace journalism for
media practitioners.
We plead that His Excellency President Benigno Aquino III
and the government would support our stand and take necessary actions to
strengthen policies or laws ensuring equal and fair treatment of people
regardless of religion, culture, gender and the like.
We would like to thank our Muslim brothers and sisters for
demonstrating patience and diplomacy in the face of such sad news. Our deepest
gratitude to Non-Muslims who have expressed sympathy and support, who have
called on the nation to continue to be more vigilant and to work with us not
just for mere co-existence but for long-lasting harmonious inter-human
relationships.
Amidst this sad incident, we are open to having a dialogue with you to forge
partnerships to promote a nation without prejudice, bigotry and religious
intolerance, to advance peace reporting especially on news about Muslims and
Moro Affairs and make a positive change to contribute to bridging understanding,
healing, peaceful coexistence and nation-building. We want to be an active
partner of PDI to publish good news about the Muslim population with the
purpose of promoting positive image and help address the
alarming situation of bias in media against Muslims.
This is the Way to a Peaceful Nation.
End.
The Young Moro Professionals Network (YMPN) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) composed of young Moro professionals advocating peaceful means to improve the socio-economic well-being of the Bangsamoro people. While a majority of members live in the Philippines, particularly in Metro Manila and Mindanao, there are several members who are based in other countries. YMPN members are largely employed, both in government and private sector jobs.
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Re: [y_m_p] The Way to a Peaceful Nation (A Statement by the Young Moro Professionals Network)
From:
"Rohaniza Sumndad"
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Salam Brothers and Sisters.
On an affirmative note, let us also look at the positive side of the issue on PDI and learn from it as it shows that we need to help our Non-Muslim brothers and sisters to understand Islam. As Muslims, let us be active partners of PDI especially on reporting about Muslim affairs. Let us learn from how Prophet Muhammad (SAW) responded to these kinds of issues during his time.
This is one of the times that our Faith is being tested. This is our personal jihad. Jihadun-Nafs, our intimate struggle to purify one's soul, doing what is good and forbidding what is wrong. In this world, our Islamic faith is always being tested, where we should learn to protect, be more assertive and stronger yet humble to protect our Ummah (Muslim Community) from the unjust part of our society.
As an educator and peace advocate, my personal stand on this matter is that this is a great call to promote and integrate peace education in schools and special programs promoting cultural and religious awareness in institutions for media practitioners. Inculcating the Culture of Peace at the young stages of our lives can help avoid incidents like this. This is what we actually do in another organization that I am involved with, Asia America Initiative (AAI). This is an eye-opener that we also need to look at a long term solution on Building a Culture of Peace in the Philippines. After all, in reality, we all want to have a nation with no prejudice, discrimination, bigotry and religious intolerance.
May Allah guide us all.
Sincerely,
Honey
On an affirmative note, let us also look at the positive side of the issue on PDI and learn from it as it shows that we need to help our Non-Muslim brothers and sisters to understand Islam. As Muslims, let us be active partners of PDI especially on reporting about Muslim affairs. Let us learn from how Prophet Muhammad (SAW) responded to these kinds of issues during his time.
This is one of the times that our Faith is being tested. This is our personal jihad. Jihadun-Nafs, our intimate struggle to purify one's soul, doing what is good and forbidding what is wrong. In this world, our Islamic faith is always being tested, where we should learn to protect, be more assertive and stronger yet humble to protect our Ummah (Muslim Community) from the unjust part of our society.
As an educator and peace advocate, my personal stand on this matter is that this is a great call to promote and integrate peace education in schools and special programs promoting cultural and religious awareness in institutions for media practitioners. Inculcating the Culture of Peace at the young stages of our lives can help avoid incidents like this. This is what we actually do in another organization that I am involved with, Asia America Initiative (AAI). This is an eye-opener that we also need to look at a long term solution on Building a Culture of Peace in the Philippines. After all, in reality, we all want to have a nation with no prejudice, discrimination, bigotry and religious intolerance.
May Allah guide us all.
Sincerely,
Honey
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