Greek Parliament Member: Glory of Islam

Source:  Enet.gr

by Pericles Korovesis, PM SYRIZA to the Greek Parliament.

(Διαβάστε στα Ελληνικά.  قراءة العربية)

“It needs one thousand sages to find a stone once thrown to the sea by an idiot.”  Old Chinese proverb.

But, it needs thousands of responsible citizens to protest in a much louder way than Greek Muslims have been doing for the last couple of weeks, after an idiot police officer in Athens, Greece had torn and stepped on a copy of the Noble Quraan.

At the end of the story, it seems convenient that we must stop the link of the Quraan with immigration: it’s time to accept that the truth of Islam embraces Greek citizens’ beliefs.

That poor cop didn’t know that Jesus and the Virgin Mary  are venerated in the Muslim world with the same honour as the Christians do so. How could he know that they are mentioned so many times in the Quranic text?

How might he explain to his parents that he had spat on Jesus and Virgin Mary? Islam is a religion and one of the great civilisations in the history of humanity. Thanks to the great philosophers and wise men of Islam, we have today important texts from the literature and science from the classic antiquity saved.  In plain words, no chance for modern science to exist without the Islamic contribution in mathematics (algebra), physics, medicine, geometry and astronomy.

Islam means submission to God: not so far from “obey to God” in Christian terms. Islam is one of the three monotheistic (Abrahamic)religions – Judaism and Christianity the other two.

The Noble Quraan appears during the 7th century as a text revealed from God to the Prophet Muhammad doesn’t bring any innovation; it reasserts what already existed as monotheistic values.

But it is focused on the issue of poverty, emphasizes on our responsibility to the poor and social solidarity, speaking the present tongue; this is a sine qua non for the Islamic faith.

Now we can understand why Islam had such a triumphant course in Pakistan and Indonesia, still on the move forward.

Islamic moral code includes these commandments: do not kill; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not tell lies. Everybody knows their origin in religion.

There are about 15 million Muslims in Europe (2002 statistics). Today, roughly estimated they approach 20 million. But what does it mean to us? Perhaps the person next door may be a Muslim and feeling Greek as we do.

Today the campaign against Islam is much the same as happened against communism at the cold war time. Let us recall what G.W. Bush said about the war of the good against the evil or Berlusconi’s statement about the superiority of Christianity over Islam, the theory about the clash of civilisations by S.Huddington since 2000, meaning the clash of the Christian vs. the Islamic world.

It is the Imperialism hidden behind anti-Islamism. This does not mean that corrupted and authoritarian governments and regimes do not exist on the name of the Prophet.  But, G.W. Bush wasn’t speaking on behalf of God? Or our Jesus Christ blocked black business in Vatopaidi monastery or bribes to come from Siemens?

Therefore, we as Greeks, have more reasons to come closer to our Muslim brothers.

Pericles Korovesis is an accomplished writer and journalist. His books are published in many languages and he is a regular columnist at various newspapers. He struggles for environmental, human rights, education, and immigrant causes.  He is member of the Greek Parliament at Syriza party (left). perikliskorovesis.wordpress.com

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Photo credits:   perikliskorovesis.wordpress.com,

If you want to learn Greek

 

There was a question about finding resources on how to learn Greek.  These are some free ones that I’ve come across online:

 

• Learning Greek Podcasts from the Hellenic American Union

          Includes 80 podcast lessons including pdf transcripts

• Greek Basic Course

          Includes 75 audio lessons along with student text

 

Does anyone know of any other good resources?

 

Note: For quick translation  try Google Translate (but not 100% accurate).  This can translate words, paragraphs or even entire websites.

Το νόημα της Ζωής σε τρεις στίχους

 

 

 

*Αχμαντ Ελντιν

 

Είναι ποτέ δυνατόν  τρεις μόνο στίχοι να δίνουν το νόημα της ζωής για έναν άνθρωπο; Τρεις προτάσεις όπου θα καθοδηγούν τη ζωή του σε έναν ενάρετο βίο; Τρεις προτάσεις όπου θα τον κάνανε να αισθανθεί ολοκληρωμένος άνθρωπος; Και αν υπήρχαν τέτοιου είδους προτάσεις που θα προσέφεραν στον άνθρωπο αυτό το είδους την ολοκλήρωση που χρειάζεται, τότε μήπως προέρχονται από ένα υπερφυσικό Ον; Γιατί πως είναι δυνατόν τρεις προτάσεις να κλείνουν μέσα ένα κώδικα ενάρετης ζωής;

 

Το Ιερό Κοράνι, ο Κυριολεκτικός Λόγος του Θεού, προσφέρει αυτό ακριβώς που έχει ανάγκη ο άνθρωπος μέσα σε τρεις στίχους. Το Ιερό Κοράνι λέει:

 

            Μα το Χρόνο! (η Ισλαμική τρίτη
ημερήσια προσευχή λέγεται Ασρ (Χρόνος)

           

Πράγματι, ο Άνθρωπος είναι
χαμένος.

           

Εκτός απ’ εκείνους που πίστεψαν
κι έκαναν καλές πράξεις κι συνιστούν από
κοινού φροντίζοντας για την Αλήθεια, και
παροτρύνοντας με την Υπομονή και τη
Σταθερότητα. (Κοράνι 103:1-3)

 

 

Το παραπάνω αποσπάσιμα είναι το 103 κεφαλαίο του Κορανίου. Και όπως είπα στην εισαγωγή, κρύβει το νόημα της ζωής, το μυστικό για μια ενάρετη ζωή. Στην ουσία αυτό το μικρό κεφάλαιο του Κορανίου που ονομάζετε «Ασρ» δηλαδή « ο Χρόνος» βάζει την επιτυχία για μια ενάρετη ζωή και αποκαλύπτει το νόημα και την ουσία της μέσα σε 4 μικρές προτάσεις:

 

1)     Πίστη και καλές Πράξεις

2)     Να φροντίζουμε για την Αλήθεια

3)     Παρότρυνση στην υπομονή και την σταθερότητα.

 

 

Ποιος λοιπόν μπορεί να προσθέσει και να αφαιρέσει κάτι από τα παραπάνω; Πράγματι μέσα σε τρεις μικρές προτάσεις κρύβεται το νόημα μιας καλής και ενάρετης ζωής.

 

Δηλαδή:

Πίστη στο Θεό, και κάνοντας της καλές πράξεις σύμφωνα με τον Νόμο Του. Να λέμε πάντα την Αλήθεια. Και στις δύσκολες στιγμές μας να έχουμε υπομονή, και στις επιτυχίες μας σταθερότητα και όχι αλαζονεία.

 

 

 

Ας δούμε όμως πως το κεφάλαιο του Κορανίου που διαβάσαμε κρύβει και άλλα διδάγματα για την ζωή μας, και πράγματα που πρέπει να τα σκεφτούμε πιο σοβαρά.

 

Η πρώτη πρόταση ξεκινάει:

 

  Μα το Χρόνο! (η Ισλαμική τρίτη
ημερήσια προσευχή λέγεται Ασρ (Χρόνος)

 

 

Εδώ ο Θεός ορκίζεται δείχνοντας ότι αυτό που θα πει παρακάτω είναι πάρα πολύ σοβαρό για το δημιούργημα Του.

 

 

Πράγματι, ο Άνθρωπος είναι
χαμένος.

 

 

Εδώ βλέπουμε ότι ο όρκος αφορά το ότι ο άνθρωπος είναι χαμένος και καταδικασμένος.

 

 

Εκτός απ’ εκείνους που πίστεψαν
κι έκαναν καλές πράξεις κι συνιστούν από
κοινού φροντίζοντας για την Αλήθεια, και
παροτρύνοντας με την Υπομονή και τη
Σταθερότητα

 

 

Εδώ όμως κάνει μια εξαίρεση ανάμεσα στους ανθρώπους που είναι καταδικασμένοι και χαμένοι, και η εξαίρεση είναι για αυτούς που πίστεψαν στη καρδιά τους και έπραξαν σωστά με τα μέλη του σώματος τους ( πράξεις). Λέγοντας την αλήθεια με υπακοή, και αποφεύγοντας το κακό και το απαγορευμένο. Και τέλος έχοντας υπομονή στα δύσκολα και σταθερότητα στα εύκολα.

 

Ένας από τους κορυφαίους επιστήμονες της Ισλαμικής Θεολογίας, ο Σαφιη είπε:

 

«Όποιος μελετά και αναλογίζεται το Κεφάλαιο του Κορανίου «ασρ» τότε του είναι αρκετό για την ζωή του»

 

Τι λοιπόν ποιο υπέροχο να έχεις πίστη στον Δημιουργό σου; Να πράττεις το καλό. Να φροντίζεις για την αλήθεια. Και να έχεις υπομονή και σταθερότητα;

 

Το Κοράνι αποκαλύπτει την σωστή πίστη στον Δημιουργό σου, και τον σωστό όρο να πράττεις το καλό. Αν δεν είσαι Μουσουλμάνος, δώσε μια ευκαιρία στον εαυτό σου να το διαβάσεις, αν είσαι τότε αναλογίσου τα λόγια του Δημιουργού σου.

 

*(Tikaras.wordpress.com – Islamic Informative and Apologetic – Ισλαμική ενημερωτική και Απολογητική)

 

Need to translate?

 

Muslim madness: what no one is talking about but everyone is thinking about

 

 

 

You know people are thinking about it because you can see subtle (or not-so-subtle!) hints in people’s messages and e-mails but everyone is afraid to let it out of the bag for fear of embarrassment or rejection.

What is that topic?  You figure it out:

What she says: Wow, ma sha Allah, great idea to gather all the Greek Muslims together.

What she means: I wonder if I can meet a really awesome Greek Muslim brother that will fall in love with me.

What he says:  Wow, ma sha Allah, great idea to gather all the Greek Muslims together.

What he means: I wonder if there are any beautiful Greek Muslim sisters I can hook up with?

The topic?  “I wanna get married!”  

(Haha, I know you’re smiling right now.   )

 

Ok, so let’s let the cat out of the bag.  How do brothers or sisters approach each other without feeling utterly embarrassed?!  How do we go about hooking marriages up, keeping in mind everything has to be halal?  We need to go through a wali but many of us here don’t have a father wali but most likely an imam wali that is probably busy with a thousand other things.

Ok, so don’t get shy on me now.  I don’t want to be the only one talking about this – then that will be uncomfortable .  Post your ideas, even if you are married or if you are not looking for marriage.  We’re just in “general beating around the bush” type conversation right now.  No need for utter embarrassment … yet! 

And the winner is…

Muhammad Humza from Toronto, Canada.

Congratulations!  May Allah reward you.  Our website’s new name:  

 

 

Greeks Rethink

 

Connecting rethinkers of life

 

 May Allah reward all who entered the contest.  There were some great suggestions, even sent by email.  Hope everyone LOVES the new name as much as I do.  I wanted something totally unique that is not used elsewhere.  Something that can connect us as the first online global Greek Muslim community.

 

 

Now for more good news:

I bought the new domain, www.greeksrethink.com and our new website design (which will be much better than this insha Allah) and new logo is in process!  (www.greekmuslims.com will still be in effect as well insha Allah)

Who speaks for European Muslims online?

 

We do!

(at least for Greek Muslims)

I was surprised to see www.IslamOnline.net posting this article about the lack of online websites representing European Muslims online and I was also delighted to know that we here at our website are doing just that!

I remember when I first starting searching for European Muslim websites and found next to nothing.  I was devestated but determined to create something and alhamdulillah, after only four months, I am so happy to see such a great community of people joining us and discussing important issues in our lives.

With Allah’s help, our website will become the most dynamic Greek Muslim global community and we can work together as a team to really make a difference.  Think of the possibilities in connecing with each other and spreading the meaning of Islam to our community at large: translation, resources, media alerts and just making a MASSIVE impact.

Not only that but I hope that other European Muslims can take our model and copy it for their projects.  Why not have www.romanianmuslims.com, www.albanianmuslims.com, www.macedonianmuslims.com and so on? 

Think of the possibilities! 

 

Note:  These projects are not to promote nationalism but rather to create communities to represent themselves as a minority in their country and around the world.

Cool website tools

 

1.  Google Tranlsate – www.google.com/translate

For those who want to switch back and forth from Greek to English (or any language), you can easily to it through using this tool. It’s not the best translation but it’s really powerful for some quick checking, especially if you want to get the idea of an article. You can either translate a paragraph or even an entire website. You can even set it on your favorites so you can translate a web page with one click!

 

2.  Islamic-Dictionary  – www.islamic-dictionary.com  

This one is kinda neat for those Arabic sayings or words you read in an article and don’t know exactly what they mean.  I just saw it today but it looks pretty good for a quick tool.

Ramadan unites Balkan Muslims

 

 

BALKAN CAPITALS — In a show of unity, Muslim religious authorities in Bosnian, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Slovenia have agreed to observe the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan on September 1.

“We follow astronomical calculations to determine the beginning of the lunar months,” Subhi Wassim, an official with the Islamic Sheikdom of Bosnia, told IslamOnline.net.

“Therefore, the first day of Ramadan will be observed in Bosnia on September 1,” he added.

More…

Source:  IslamOnline.net

“Arab Islam” seeps into the Balkans

 

Surprise, surprise.  Another heavily distorted article on Islam and Muslims but this time it’s about Muslims living in the Balkans.  Sometimes, a feeling of disgust sweeps over me as I read these articles, but at least this one gave us some facts.

Here’s a summary:

Kosovo:

A Muslim majority but the author said it was very rare to see people wearing hijab.  According to the author, it is secular there.

Macedonia:

A good number of hijabis and people wearing abayas even.  About 1/3 of Macedonia are Muslims, mostly of Albanian origin.  According to the author’s interviewee, they are becoming more secular as well and “modern” and the minority is becoming more “radical”.  ( <– what a distorted viewpoint)

(If anyone has anymore facts about these countries, please post in the comment section.)

What was so distorted about the article was the misuse of labels he threw in like Sufis, Ismailis, Wahabi, etc.  Subhan Allah, just because a sister wears an abayah like this one in the photo or someone talks against saint worship and saints’ graves, people are labeled wahabis?

What I don’t like is that the author tries to show that there are two different kinds of Islam: regular/secular and Arab import Islam. Actually, some Muslims also seem to have this viewpoint.  I remember meeting some older Pakistani Muslims who were trying to say there is “Arab Islam” and ”Pakistani Islam”.  I also remember talking to a black lady before I converted to Islam and she told me there is “Arab Islam” and “Black Islam”.

Subhan Allah, this is all truly because of lack of knowledge in Islam. Just a few days ago, our teacher was telling us of many major scholars in Islam were not only Arabic, but Abysinian or from other areas.  After becoming prisoners of war, because of the excellent treatment they were given, many of them converted to Islam and their descendents became scholars.  Did you know that Imam Al-Bukhari, the Ameer Al-Mumineen of hadith, was from the city of Bukhara located in Uzbekistan?

When people start learning the deen, all of these misconceptions will go away.   The only Islam there is, is the Qur’an and Sunnah.

“O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything amongst yourselves refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day.” (Qur’an: An-Nisaa’ 4:59)

Note: Ameer Al-Mumineen = the leader of the believers

Quick reminder

Just a quick reminder that the contest is due in two days.  Please submit your entries to info@greekmuslims.com.  I’ll announce the winner after that insha Allah.  Can’t wait!

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