Monday, July 30, 2007

Masjid Annoor

Masjid Annoor, the Mosque of Light, otherwise known as the Fort Smith Islamic Center, got denied by the city directors through an unanimous vote to build a school on their property. The school they were going to build was a 4,900 sq. ft. building, smaller than some of homes than surround the mosque. Reasons for why this was denied is because neighbors were complaining of water leak problems or the lowering of property values if this school is built. I read in the local paper that these problems would be addressed during the construction process, but this was turned down and now we will never know how to solve these problems. There is a hidden reason why this building project was rejected. The neighbors did not want it there. Islamophobia may have something to do with it, fearing what the Muslim children will learn in this school. I am afraid the city has goofed and a writer to the editorial page of the local paper, whose name is withheld, believes the city could face a discrimination lawsuit; a lawsuit the city may not be able to afford.
I understand the concern that the neighbors may have over this school, but if it were a Christian school instead of a Muslim one, they would be in favor of this school and the city directors would be voting unanimously for it to construct it. We hear so much about Islam, but it is distorted information coming from Fox News. To know more about Islam, visit your public library, download software of the Qur'an and the Hadiths, look up Muslim websites that will share what their religion is really all about like islamtomorrow.com, buy Islamic books if you can find them at a local bookstore. You may find that the terrorists who say they are Muslim are practicing and doing things are not Islam. They are hijackers of this religion.
So, when the city directors voted the way they did about this school, it was based on poor information they received on a daily basis from Fox News and CNN and they didn't take the time to really get to know the leaders and some of the members of the only mosque in town, which is a small mosque, a building that used to be a church of Christian Science. That's my take on it. It appears to be that way. And that's my two cents.

"Make a joyful noise to Yahvah, all the earth. Serve Yahvah with rejoicing, enter before Him with shouts of triumph." (Psalm 100:1-2, Restoration of Original Sacred Name Bible)

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Sura 64, Ayat 13, and reflections

Allahu la ilaha illa huwa waAAala Allahi falyatawakkali almu/minoona

Allah, there is no god but He: and on Allah, therefore, let the believers put their trust.
(Yusuf Ali translation)

This week has passed by so fast since last Saturday when I attended my high school reunion for the 25th.
For any of you fellow classmates who are reading and have attended it, I want you to know I had a great time
and I hope to see you again real soon. If not soon, hopefully I will see you when we all have the 30th.

It has been a long week and I am glad it is over. Betsy, you might need to let your home town, Tyler, Texas, remain as Tyler, Texas. It is no longer like Fort Smith. Fort Smith felt more like Compton last week. A young Asian man shot another young Asian man execution-style at a Wal-Mart parking lot this week. Keep me and everyone who still lives here in your prayers. This has gotten fellow co-workers I work with concerned because they live out of town and they wonder if it is safe to shop here after all. Well, a day after this happened, I continue to shop at this particular Wal-Mart and I came out of there unharmed. By the way, the guy who did this was arrested and apprehended. I guess that is all for now and I hope to write from time to time in the future.

Peace be unto you-all.

"To Yahvah, belongeth the earth and the fulness thereof, the world, and they who dwell therein; for He, upon the seas hath founded it, and upon the currents doth make it firm." Psalm 24:1-2, Restoration of Original Sacred Name Bible.