By Chibuzo Ohanaja on 10/16/2010 1:15 AM

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After his sentence to prison in 2002 for denouncing the Iranian government, Professor Hashem Aghajari was soon renowned as one of the most influential voices in the call for a Islamic reform in Iran. Witnessing the digressive state of societies in the Muslim world, Aghajari, in a  speech commemorating the anniversary of the death of the Iranian Intellectual Dr. Ali Shari'ati,  urged Muslims globlally to recognize the dire need to initiate a modern movement for Islamic Reformation; a reformation that  most importantly would be inextricably grounded in the ideals of rationality and humanism. In his speech, Aghajari argues that there exists a vital distinction between what he refers to as "core Islam" and, the prevelant " traditional Islam", the latter which he states as lacking legitimacy...

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By Chibuzo Ohanaja on 10/10/2010 10:16 PM

Quraan (Koran) Conference in Dallas, an American effort to build cohesive societies  



The Conference puts the Quraan in the hands of panelists made up of Pastors, Rabbis, Pundits, Shamans, Clergy, lay persons, United States elected Government officials and the public. It is to demystify the myths about Quraan and Islam. It is an American effort to build cohesive societies.

 

By Mike Ghouse

PRESS RELEASE  Oct 09, 2010 – DALLAS, TEXAS – The Foundation for Pluralism and the World Muslim Congress have announced a conference on Quraan in Dallas to be held between 3:00 PM and 6 PM on Sunday, December 5, 2010 at the Unity Church of Dallas. Representing the organizations, Mike Ghouse adds, “As members of diverse family of faiths, we seek to demystify the myths, malice and falsification of our respective faiths. It is time for all of us to gather...

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By Chibuzo Ohanaja on 4/4/2010 4:31 AM

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By Chibuzo Ohanaja on 3/12/2010 1:32 PM

 

 

Washington, D.C. - Reza Aslan author of the highly praised “No God but God: The Origins, Evolution, and the Future of Islam,” gave a spirited dinner lecture at Au Pied Bistro in Georgetown Sunday. A Doctoral Candidate in History of Religions at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and – for the pop culture-savvy – former guest of The Daily Show with John Stewart, Aslan bursts with enthusiasm and has the ability to convey ideas eloquently on an issue that leaves most Americans uncomfortably silent. The issue at hand is Islam, and, more specifically, the future of this; or, as Aslan puts it, its evolutionary “reformation.”

The sold out event was an essential part of NIAC’s mission to encourage Iranian Americans to “proactively present their image on their own terms.” Esteemed scholar and director of the Center for Persian Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park Dr. Ahmad Karimi-Hakkak served as a friendly foil to Aslan as the evening’s discussant.

Islam, according to Aslan, is a faith that is particularly conducive to interpretation because it is unencumbered by a ridged hierarchy in the form of theocratic institutions. “Islam is what Muslims say Islam is. It is not a creedal faith. Unlike the Catholic Church, there is no Muslim that speaks for God,” Aslan argued.

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By Chibuzo Ohanaja on 11/16/2009 1:11 AM

The current relations, issues and conflicts internationally have all shown that right now mankind is exists in a critical time in our history which will require all nations to work diligently towards creating a more just global society. Recently, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to discuss some of these issues in front of a congregation of members of the United Peace Federation. For those who are unfamiliar with the UPF, the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) is a global network of individuals and organizations dedicated to building a world of peace in which everyone can live in freedom, harmony, cooperation, and prosperity. Additionally, the UPF is a NGO that holds special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.  Since the organization’s founding in 2005, the UPF has promoted many services and global initiatives for the United Nations and below are some of the objectives which the organization hopes to establish. 



·                     Renewal...

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By Chibuzo Ohanaja on 9/9/2009 5:49 AM

by Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer

 

 



Today's world is fast becoming pluralist with variety of religions, languages and cultures in one country particularly due to fast developing processes of modernization, liberalisation and globalisation. Also, feudal socio-economic and socio-political structures have either crumbled or crumbling very fast in the third world also of course with certain exceptions. In the past there was no concept of civil society at all and the state was all powerful. The subjects did not enjoy any rights, they had to discharge only duties towards the state. The modern democratic state, on the other hand, has to concede well defined rights to the citizens. The civil society has its own autonomy in a democratic set up and the notion of human rights has acquired great significance.

The notion of human rights is quite fundamental to a society which is pluralistic. All religious, linguistic and cultural groups should enjoy well defined rights and should not live at the mercy of the state or the majority community. Thus it will be seen that the notion of civil society is very fundamental to the modern pluralist society. It is unfortunate that the Islamic world is yet to cope up with the notion of civil society. Most of the Islamic countries do not have full fledged democracy and there is no respect for human rights in these countries. In fact most of the rulers condemn human rights as a western notion and some, even 'un-Islamic'.

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By Chibuzo Ohanaja on 7/12/2009 6:23 PM

 

 

 

 

Often some verses in the Qur’an about Jesus are often missed or misinterpreted because of the lack of use of tasreef, reason or also the lack of knowledge about  the context of the verses. This leads some  people to come to conclusions that are not supported by the Qur'an.  I have listed some verses below that shed some light on the life of Jesus in the Qur’an. My comments are below in bold.

 

 

 

 

Important points to consider

 

As  stated in my blog on wahi Malikah(angels) also refers to individuals who are chosen to deliver God’s message of what It wills according to Its Laws either  because they are able to receive wahi or have authority to deliver a message that  is ordained at an appointed time  in previous revealed scriptures. Verse 42:51 gives the different ways humans receive wahi.

 

42:51 “And it is not for any human being that God will speak to him other than through direct Revelation (to Its Anbia (prophets)) or from behind a barrier (such as at Mount Sinai to Moses) or by sending a Messenger to convey what It  wills according to Its laws with Its Permission (as all Nabi, Malikah and messengers did). Surely, It is the Most High, the Wise.”

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By Chibuzo Ohanaja on 7/6/2009 1:32 PM

"Precise... acutely perceptive... a revelation, an opening up of knowledge too long buried." The Sunday Independent

"Wise and passionate... An incisive, scholarly primer in Muslim history and an engaging personal exploration." The New York Times Book Review

"A stimulating history of Islamic history and thought." New York Review of Books

 



"An eloquent, erudite paean to Islam in all of its complicated glory." Los Angeles Times Book Review

"Grippingly narrated and thoughtfully examined... a literate, accessible introduction to Islam." The New York Times

Short-listed for the Guardian First Book Award Best Book of the Year (Politics and Religion) The Financial Times

Best Book of the Year (Non-Fiction) Los Angeles Times



Though it is...

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By Chibuzo Ohanaja on 5/29/2009 4:09 PM

 



The concept of divine revelation has been an uncertain concept to mankind since the beginnings of civilization. Throughout history, different belief systems that hold a belief in some sort of a Supreme being have depicted their view of the concept of divine revelation, which ranged from being viewed by some cultures as an ability that could attained by any individual or as an ability believed  to not be possible. From a historical perspective, the concept of divine revelation goes back quite far in human history. Although, all societies had some sort of religous system, universal philosophy or traditional worldview, the idea of divine revelation to particular individuals within their own traditional cultures did not exist in every society.

 

In fact, the idea of divine revelation to particular individuals only emerged in certain societies that developed a strong written language or oral tradition throughout the Middle East, Africa and South Asia and for centuries the...

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By Chibuzo Ohanaja on 5/20/2009 8:52 AM

 

 

Throughout history mankind has gone through countless number of wars, conflicts, political disputes and genocides. The revelation of the Qur’an in 7th century established an system that provided a framework for peace justice and progress unparalleled in history. Although, this particular system was lost after a few centuries, there remained a few empires throughout Muslim history that were able to retain some the principles of creating security and peace both inside and outside their empires. By the beginning of the 20th century many countries particularly those in the western world began to establish modern nation states and saw the advantages of creating a global system that would foster peace and justice worldwide. Largely influential in this movement were philosophers, intellectual and leaders who came after of the Renaissance and the Enlightenment who studied periods of history like the early period of Islam as well as philosophical theories of global peace by previous scholars and philosophers. 

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