Visit of Pope Francis to Turkey Tests Vatican on Islam

Two weeks after his election, 

Pope Francis washed the feet of 12 people at a juvenile detention center in Rome for the annual Holy Thursday ritual. Among those chosen for the rite was a Muslim girl.

 

The image of the kneeling 76-year-old pope washing and kissing her feet sent an unequivocal message: After the tensions that characterized the reign of Pope Benedict XVI-peaking with a 2006 speech that linked Islam to violence-the new pontiff intended to reset Catholicism's relations with the Muslim world.

 

Just over a year and a half later, the limits of the Vatican's efforts are being tested, as the Holy See steps up its call for Muslim leaders to do more to denounce Islamic State atrocities against religious minorities and to guarantee religious freedom to Christians.

 

The pope's visit this weekend to Turkey-where once-robust Christian communities have dwindled and a Muslim majority is now staking a greater claim to the public sphere-provides a crucial example.

 

Since his election, the pope has extended regular gestures of goodwill to the Muslim world. He included an imam in his personal entourage during his Middle East trip. He chose Albania, a Muslim-majority country, for his first visit to a European country outside Italy and sent a message of esteem to Muslims to mark the end of Ramadan. In a lengthy manifesto for his papacy, he wrote that "authentic Islam and the proper reading of the Quran are opposed to every form of violence."
 

To read more, click here. 

 

Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei:

Supreme Leader of Iran 

 

Seyed Ali Khamenei was born in Mashhad, Khorasan province of Iran, in 1939. He began religious studies before completing the elementary education. He attended classes in Mashhad, and then went to Najaf in 1957. 

After a short stay he left Najaf to Mashhad, and later he settled in Qom in 1958. Khamenei attended the classes of Ayatollah Boroojerdi and Ayatollah Khomeini. Later He was involved in the Islamic activities of 1963 which led to his arrest in the city of Birjand. After a short period he was released and continued his life by teaching in religious schools of Mashhad and holding Nahaj-ul-Balagheh lesson session in different Mosques. 
 

In December 1974, Hojatoleslam Khamenei was arrested at his home by SAVAK (secret police of Shah) and dispatched to the joint committee prison of the police department in Tehran. He was released in autumn 1975, went back to Mashhad, but he was not allowed to hold his public classes. 

In January 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini appointed Hojatoleslam Khamenei as a member of the Revolutionary Council. And in March of the same year, in collaboration with his four brothers, established the Islamic Republic Party.

To read more, click here. 

 

USA Jamaats

 

Anjuman e Asghari - Minnesota 

Sheikh Yusufali Mahmoud Yusufali Jan Dhirani (Dec 8 - 14, 2014)

http://www.mnjamaat.com/index.php/en/ja-afry-islamic-center/live-stream

 

Shia Ithna-Asheri Islamic Jamaat - Los Angeles 

Sheikh Jaffer H. Jaffer - English

 

Islamic Jaffaria Association Inc - Miami

Maulana Abul Qasim - English/Urdu

 

Imam Mahdi Education Center - Maryland

Sheikh Ahmad Alhaeri - English

 

Husseini Islamic Center - Orlando

Dr. Akbar Mithani - English

Zakira Tahera Ali (Ladies) - English

www.orlandocenter.org

 

 

Canada Jamaats

 

Islamic Shia Ithnasheri Jamaat - Toronto 

Sheikh Mujahid Sharif for 5 nights (Dec 9 - 13, 2014)

Zakira Tahera Jaffer (Ladies) for 10 days (Dec 3 - 13, 2014)

www.jaffari.org

 

Al Mehdi Al Muntathar Union - London, ON

Sayed Saleh Qazwini - English
 

Shia Muslim Community of BC - Vancouver (Az-Zahraa Islamic Centre)

Br. Ali Reza Naqvi

 

Aza-e-Hussain Association of BC - Surrey

Maulana Sayed Zia ul Hassanain - Urdu
 

Masumeen Islamic Center - Brampton

Sayyid Aqib Jaffry
http://www.masumeen.org/live/

 

During the month of Muharram, as the adults of the Jaffari Community Centre in Toronto absorbed themselves in the Azadari of Imam Hussain (as), the children of the community attended the Children's Majalis Program (CMP) organized by the Ladies' Committee.

 

 

 

The CMP held the Majalis for children during the evening lecture time. The program followed the structure of a regular Majlis starting with Hadith-e-Kisa, followed by Quran recitation and understanding, a talk about the events of Karbala, Maatam and Ziyarat. The CMP sessions were interactive and use various visual aids. Children also learned the etiquette of paying respect to the Alam and Taziya.

 

You can view a video clip of the program here.

 

The Mu'minah Seminars Team of Toronto organized an event for the ladies and girls of the community, just before Muharram, which included cooking demos and interactive discussions. After the discussions, the team introduced a new challenge called "The 30/30 Challenge" which involves doing any activity for 30 minutes everyday for 30 days with the intent of becoming a better person.

Round 1 has been very successful, and they are, InshaAllah, working on organizing the next round.

"We too often say, we'll do this and that...but the 30/30 challenge encourages you to take action! I saw the difference in myself, and I was actively thinking of different ways I could  spend 30 minutes of my day to become a better me! I strongly suggest people try it out...you can simply set up this system with a bunch of friends/family or members from your own Jamaat."

View the video for a quick overview "The 30/30 Challenge"

"By Time, Indeed mankind is in loss, Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience." Sura Al-Asr
 

Ahlulbayt TV (ABTV) recently launched the MyMuharram Campaign and looks forward to seeing your participation. Youu can do so by sending them your videos of processions, lectures and Islamic activities as they relate to Muharram.

They will then create a video combining the videos sent from around the world, showcasing the global commemoration of Muharram and peaceful nature of Islam. The channel has received several submissions from Calgary, Dar es Salaam, Bahrain, North Carolina, and are looking forward to more contributions, including yours.

 

For more information about the campaign and uploading your video link on their website please contact Sr. Sukeina Bhimji.