Detroit's Muslim community joins Jewish groups to help with Mitzvah Day

[...]

For several of the past 18 years, Metro Detroit’s Jewish community has provided hundreds of volunteers to make sure clients are served, while giving many Christians a chance to enjoy all or part of Christmas with their families.

This year, nearly 900 Jewish volunteers plan to pitch in.

[...]

This year, for the first time, the region’s Muslim community is collaborating with the Jewish groups.

“There is a mandate from our holy book, the Quran, that speaks of encouraging cooperation in doing good,” said Victor Ghalib Begg, chairman of the Warren-based Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan.

“Taking the religious mandate, it doesn’t matter who we work with.”

By working with the Jewish Community on their Mitzvah or “good deed” Day, “we achieve dual objectives: to help the Christians on Christmas, and at the same time, build friendships with our Jewish cousins,” Begg said.

Read the whole article at:
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20091218/FREE/912189992#

Muslim social worker & philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi wins top UN prize for tolerance and non-violence

UNITED NATIONS: Abdul Sattar Edhi of Pakistan and a Belgian human rights defender were Tuesday awarded a prestigious United Nations prize for their work in promoting tolerance and non-violence.

Edhi, the philanthropist, and Franois Houtart of Belgium were awarded the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)-Madanjeet Singh Prize on the unanimous recommendation of an international jury to UNESCO Director-General Koochiro Matsuura, according to an announcement in Paris.

[...]

Dedicated to advancing tolerance in the arts, education, culture, science and communications, the prize was created in 1995 on the 125th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, with the help of Indian writer and diplomat Madanjeet Singh, who is also a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. It is awarded every two years to individuals or institutions for outstanding contributions towards its goals.

Edhi, one of the most active philanthropists in Pakistan through his Edhi Foundation, a non-profit social welfare programme with over 300 centres, received the accolade for life-long efforts to improve the conditions of the most disadvantaged groups in Pakistan and South Asia, and promote human dignity, human rights, mutual respect and tolerance, according to UNESCO press release.

Read the whole article at:
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/art-culture/09-edhi-wins-top-un-prize-for-non-violence---szh-04

Muslim doctors save life of Indian anti-Muslim party leader

For years, the Shiv Sena has earned notoriety for spreading hatred against Muslims, but on Thursday when its chief Bal Thackeray was gasping for
breath, two Muslims doctors from Lilavati Hospital-Dr Jaleel Parkar and Dr Samad Ansari-rushed to his house. The duo administered him medical help
at Matoshri and then brought him to the hospital's ICU in an ambulance.

Ever since Thackeray's health started failing, he is under constant medical supervision. Dr Parkar said, "I examine him daily and sometimes I make two visits to Matoshri. On Thursday, I had examined him in the afternoon along with Dr Prakash Jiandani and he was absolutely fine. At around 8.30 pm, I had called and I was told that he was sitting with some guests.

Read the whole article at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Muslim-doctors-come-to-Bal-Thackerays-rescue/articleshow/4678225.cms

Muslim leader wins Chicago Norman Bobins Leadership Award

Salam/Peace:

(Feb. 11, 2009)-Rami Nashashibi, executive Director of Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN), was honored with the Norman Bobins Leadership Award Monday at the 15th Annual Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards (CNDA).

Distributed for the first time in 2008, the Norman Bobins Leadership Award was established by LaSalle Bank to honor the leadership, innovation and long-time commitment to Chicago communities embodied by Norman Bobins, retired chief executive officer of LaSalle.

This award recognizes an emerging leader at a non-profit community development organization who has enhanced his or her own organization and demonstrated the potential to become an innovative and instrumental leader in the field of community development.

As a founder and now executive director of IMAN, 2744 W. 63rd St., Nashashibi has been a leader in Chicago Lawn and beyond, according to the presenters of the award. He has fought for social justice and broken down cultural, religious and racial barriers through an inspiring range of projects and programs.

Read the whole article at:
http://swnewsherald.com/news_frontpage/2009/02/021109c_iman.php

Muslim, Christian leaders vow to combat terror

Salam/Peace:

Catholic and Muslim leaders at unprecedented Vatican meetings vowed on Thursday to work together to combat violence and terrorism, especially when carried out in God's name.

At the end of three days of meetings, the 58 scholars and leaders -- 29 from each side -- issued a 15-point final joint declaration which also included an appeal for the defence of minority religions.

[...]

"We profess that Catholics and Muslims are called to be instruments of love and harmony among believers, and for humanity as a whole, renouncing any oppression, aggressive violence and terrorism, especially that committed in the name of religion, and upholding the principle of justice for all," the declaration said.

Read the whole article at:
http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-36367120081106

First Muslim Congressman Excels in Foreign Outreach

Salam/Peace:

The first Muslim member of the U.S. Congress has become a de facto American emissary, meeting with foreign policy makers both here and abroad to preach peace and democracy.

Rep. Keith Ellison, a Democrat, had already developed an international reputation when he took his oath of office on the Quran last year. In his first term in office, he has built on that with congressional trips, State Department functions and internationally themed town hall meetings in his district.

"Peace is a key component of what I'm here to do," he said in a recent interview. "The overarching idea is that the world is safer if America has more friends, more understanding, more basis for communication.

Read the whole article at:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,411781,00.html