5-5-17: Non-Muslim Students Visit and Attend the Friday Prayer!

Non-Muslim Students Attended Friday Prayer!

5-5-17: Professor Martyn Smith and some of his non-Muslim students from the Lawrence University of Appleton, Wisconsin attended Friday prayer at the Islamic House of Wisdom yesterday!

It was their passion for knowledge and understanding that promoted them to drive over 500 miles to be in Dearborn area and I commended them for this!
They told me, they had heard a lot about Islam in the media and also Sharia law in Dearborn and they decided to come and find facts face to face!
After listening to Friday sermons and even following the ritual prayer with us, they came to our office for some chatting and conversation!
We talked about the vision of three Abrahamic traditions about the future of the world and the concept of Mahdi and Messiahin Islam, Christianity and Judaism!
The responsibility of the faithful during the time of expectation was another subject of discussion!
Not enough just to sit down and pray for the appearance of the savior, we all must rise to our responsibility and act to promote peace, justice and piety.
Our duty in the absence of Al-Mahdi is to stay faithful, optimistic, patient, while supporting the truth and standing against evil, hypocrisy, arrogance and oppression nationally and globally!
Our guests left the IHW with a heart full of joy and unforgettable memories of friendship, respect and mutual understanding!
We thank God for all of these outreach opportunities and blessings!

5/4/17: Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi's Prayer on National Day of Prayer!

The National Day of Prayer Honored in Dearborn, Michigan!

I was so humbled and happy to stand with the Mayor, John O'Reilly of Dearborn, interfaith clergy, members of Dearborn's Police department and some community members to listen to their prayer and share with them my Islamic perspective of prayer! Please read the following words of grace and share your Ameen or Amin!

Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi's Prayer on National Day of Prayer!
Dearborn Administrative Center - 5/4/17

In the Name of God the Compassionate the Merciful.
Thank You God for guiding us to this gathering.
Please make every day of our nation, a day of prayer, a day of unity, a day of peace and a day of justice and generosity.
Bless our hearts with love, our minds with wisdom, our actions with compassion.
Lead us O Lord on the road of responsibility, so we can continue to raise our voice against the evil of ignorance, the sickness of extremism, the sin of segregation and racism, the hell of hypocrisy, injustice and oppression.
Bless our nation with the gift of health, happiness and prosperity and free us from any mental, moral, social and physical harms and evil.
Help our political leaders to be ambassadors of peace, rationality, rule of law and care for this country and the rest of humanity.
Bless O Lord our city and state and keep us all together, as one family during all times of sadness and happiness, tests and trials, tragedies and triumphs. Ameen!

5-1-17: Dinner with Dr. Sell Harris a Demonstration of Interfaith Promise and Power!

Dinner with Dr. Sell Harris a Demonstration of Interfaith Promise and Power!

Professor Harris was the keynote speaker of IHW dinner on the birthday of Imam Hussein (sa) last Sunday!

Talking about Imam Hussein from a Christian perspective was very inspiring and energizing!

He spoke about love and sacrifice of Al-Hussein (SA) for the sake of God and humanity!

He was our guest and spent last few days in our house , while I took him to the airport this morning, he wanted our community to know that in his 35 years of interfaith he never met a community as loving, understanding, kind and hospitable than the Dearborn community!

He told me about his unique and enjoyable experience in our town and said that his sermon in this Sunday will be entirely dedicated to his experience of meeting with Muslim community in Dearborn.

He said his message for Virginia this week would be this: to know the real Muslim people you don't need to spend thousands of dollars traveling overseas, just visit Dearborn and taste culture, faith, kindness and love of Muslim people!

In his last night of staying in Michigan we enjoyed a friendly dinner with the presence of some religious and community leaders and enjoyed a delicious dinner and dialogue!

IHW is blessed to continue its interfaith journey and fight Islamophobia with giving non Muslims opportunity to meet Muslims!
Seeing believing!

4/26/17: Shia-Sunni Imam's Meet

Tomorrow (Thursday) a Day of Fasting, Prayer and Sympathy with the Victims of Oppression and Injustice!

One Day of Fasting and Prayer in Sympathy with the Palestinians suffering from hunger strike in the Israeli jails, the prisoners in Bahrain and Saudi, the victims of terrorism in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Libya!
Based on the NGO Palestinian Prisoners' Club 1,500 people are taking part in this mass hunger strike. They ask for the most basic rights such as access to phones, better medical services and visiting rights for their families.
The Israeli government called the Palestinian prisoners terrorists and rejected any negotiation or compromise! They put Barghouti to solitary confinement for leading the hunger strike!
Let’s start our fasting and prayer from 5:13 in the morning (Thursday 4/26) till the Maghreb at 8:46 pm.
Today I asked the members of Shia and Sunni of Imams Council held at the Islamic House of Wisdom to participate in this practice and show sympathy and solidarity with the victims of injustice, occupation, oppression, war and terrorism from Palestine to everywhere in the Middle East and Africa!
I like to ask all the people of faith and consciousness in Muslim, Christian and Jewish community to show their spiritual support for this moral and humanitarian cause!

4-23-17: NAACP Dinner begins with Prayer- Highlights of Imam Elahi's Prayer

Thousands of people stood up and respectfully listened to Islamic, Christian and Jewish Opening Invocations in Today’s NAACP Fight for Freedom Dinner at the Cobo Center in Detroit Michigan!

Before addressing this amazing annual assembly, I had a chance of meeting and having short conversations with many political and religious leaders including:

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, Congressman John Conyers, Senator Stabenow, Senator Gary Peters, Mayor Mike Duggan of Detroit, Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony the president of NAACP, Donnell White the Executive Director, Eric Sabree of Wayne County Treasury, Rev. Greg Roberts, Rabbi Yisrael Pinson and many more.

It was an amazing day of outreach and engagement. Islamic House of Wisdom is blessed with all these opportunities and fulfillment.

I was happy to see Br. Osama Siblani and Br. Nasser Beydoun during the dinner.

This is the text of my humble Invocation. During the invocation I tried to take an extra step to point out the suffering of other nations, such as Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Bahrain!

Imam Elahi's opening prayer at NAACP dinner in Detroit 4/23/17

I am so humbled and happy to be part of 62nd Annual Fight For Freedom Dinner this evening, honoring the NAACP for over a century of services and sacrifices for the sake of people who suffer from poverty, racism and discrimination.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Salaam alaikum (peace be with you all)

In Your name, O Lord of love and justice, peace and endless possibilities.

O Lord You promised both in the Bible and the Quran to make the weak and the oppressed the examples and the inheritors of this earth.

Thank you, O Lord for giving NAACP and all of us an opportunity and determination to be part of this struggle, to try to make the miracle of Your mercy and justice shining for all.

O Lord help our entire nation to join this journey of justice, and speak up against the evil of hypocrisy, dishonesty, discrimination, war, extremism, terrorism, death and destruction.

O Lord, we have lost our hope and trust, on those who chose to worship money, might, domination and devil over the Divine, , but we would never lose our hope, faith and trust in You and the universal messages of justice, human dignity, unity and brotherhood, You sent us through Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammad (pbut).

O Lord, our world is thirsty of justice, freedom, peace, prosperity, reconciliation, forgiveness, friendship, solidarity, togetherness and cooperation!

Give us vision, courage and energy to replace racism with righteousness, discrimination with dignity, segregation with sympathy, hatred with love and empathy.

Please answer our prayers, provide protection, comfort, hope and healing for those who cry of pain, poverty, hunger and insecurity from the women and children in our neighborhoods to the suffering refugees, the victims of warmongering and terrorism in Africa and Middle East specially women and children in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya and Bahrain and Nigeria.

Tonight we ask You to Bless NAACP dinner, bless our community, our country and our humanity, Amen!

PS

I invited some of those officials to Islamic House of Wisdom Dinner for this coming Sunday at 2:00pm.

Check your chance, you may win ziyarat of Imam Hussein, Imam Reda and other holy shrines in Iraq and Iraq during this dinner. The raffle is just for $10 and you may win more than $4000 for all the trip expenses.

4-17-17: Visiting St. Mary's Orthodox Church in Livonia on Easter anniversary was an opportunity to enhance our interfaith understanding!

Visiting St. Mary's Orthodox Church in Livonia on Easter anniversary was an opportunity to enhance our interfaith understanding!

Ambassador Dr. Ali Ajami, our Khollan Al-Wafaa, Shaikh Hassan and I visited one of our best Interfath friend, Fr. Shalhoub the leader of St. Marry church in Livonia.

We did this after honoring the anniversary of Qana and also the victims of yesterday criminal terrorist tragedy in Syria in a memorial service in Dearborn!

Fr. Shalhoub is known as a great voice of wisdom, justice and human rights in our clergy community. Both the Fr. and his assistants and his congregation members warmly welcomed us and gave us an orientation about the artwork of their facility and the religious history behind it.

I told Fr. Shalhoub and his congregation that in this messy world, full of death, destruction, murder and corruption the concept of Easter is a reminder of life and resurrection, regardless of our theological differences on this Christian faith doctrine!

We need to promote the value of life and necessity of a global spiritual resurrection!

That should happen through fostering the culture of love, peace, forgiveness, friendship and reconciliation, not warmongering, fear, violence and hatred!

It's a blessing to be able to strengthen the gift of diversity in a world of division, darkness and destruction!

During the Islamic Hose of Wisdom dinner on April 30, we will listen to a great Christian pastor and professor who will fly all the way from Virginia to Detroit to speak about the love and sacrifice of imam Hussein for freedom, justice and peace in the world!

4-13-17: Muslim Mental Health Conference

Thank you Dr. Halim Naeem for another educational conference on Muslim Mental Health!

I spent big part of my today's time in Lansing, Capital of Michigan interacting with other imams, doctors and professionals discussing the best ways of dealing with the diseases such as depression, mental disorder, suicide and other social problems.
As Muslims, we all are responsible to interact effectively to help, protect and express empathy with the suffering members of our society.
Today's gathering was another important step in identifying the urgent community issues and find the best ways of helping those who are going through stressful experiences in their lives.
Every speaker recognized the role of committed imams and their spiritual support in providing peace and tranquility specially for those who suffer from mental issues.
To follow the resolutions of this annual conference, the Islamic House of Wisdom has been holding some follow up gatherings and discussions in the last couple of years.

4-5-17: Christian Nurses Interested to Know about the Islamic Values in serving their Muslim Patients!

Christian Nurses Interested to Know about the Islamic Values in serving their Muslim Patients!
A group of recent graduate students from the nursing department of EMU (Eastern Michigan University), who will start their job soon, visited the Islamic House of Wisdom today to learn more about the Islamic traditions in dealing with their Muslim patients in the hospitals.
The meeting this morning reminded me of almost 20 years ago when the late, M. Kay Siblani who herself originally was a nurse met with me to discuss some fundamentals about Islam in addition to issues like the impact of faith on healthcare delivery, clinical practices, tahara and cleanliness, modesty, terminal illness, hospice care and many other issues. The late, Key later wrote a book over 100 pages on the issues helpful for nurses to know about Islam and Muslims.
Today we had over an hour of conversation, question and answer, from sacredness of nursing career as an angelic service to people in pain to other related subjects. Also discussed general ignorance about Islam and the cancer of hatred, racism and Islamophobia to the concept of love, kindness, patience, peace and forgiveness both in Islam and Christianity.
I told the nurses that as you are helping and healing your patients with physical medicines in the hospitals, we try to turn our mosques in to spiritual hospitals and provide spiritual treatment.
The funny thing I told them, people get sick and come to the hospital because they get hurt by pain or scared of death but some of our attendees don’t always feel any urgency to come to the mosque because they don’t feel pain! Arrogance is an illness, greed is an illness, jealousy is an illness, selfishness is a sickness but instead of feeling pain, some may feel pleasure of these sicknesses and never feel the need to go to the emergency of spiritual hospitals. By the time they get the diagnoses, it might be too late to recover!
I concluded talking about the power of prayer even when doctors and nurses lose our hope!
Usually our office offers to our female guests to observe the scarf inside the mosque even if they are not Muslims, but today’s guests were welcomed by one of our new staff who was not aware that the scarves are kept in the prayer area, by the time they came up I had to welcome them with Islamic courtesy and hospitality. Till almost 40 years ago the ladies wouldn’t enter the Catholic Church without scarf. A lot to remember reflect and learn!

3/23/17: Iraqi Religious Delegation Visited Islamic House of Wisdom This Morning!

Iraqi Religious Delegation Visited Islamic House of Wisdom This Morning!

A Kurdistani delegation of a Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Zoroastrian representatives visited House of Wisdom this morning.
The State Department in DC and Human Rights Organization in MI had coordinated the visitation.

We had over two hours of conversation, questions and answers about the experience of religious diversity both in Iraq and the U.S.
The Kurdistani Director of Religious affairs Mr. Mariwan Naqshbandy, also Khalid Alber, Awat Taieb and Sherzad Mamsani, shared with us information about the suffering of over a million refugees of all religious background from isis attacked areas to Kurdistan and told us about the pains and fears of the terrorism victims.
Dr. Shaikh Ahmad Iravani a professor of philosophy in Washington Catholic university, sayyed Hassan Qazwini and I explained the history of Code of Honor signed by over 30 Shia and Sunni leaders at IHW in 2007 and also our interfaith interest and interactions.
So many questions related to using religious texts to justify violence and we did our best to clarify and cover our guests’ questions.
Some representatives asked the best Tafsirs for the Quran with rejecting extremism and we provided some references.
I mentioned to our guests that isis and other extremists are political projects, created to destroy Islam, they are the worse enemies of our religion. Bombardment can’t finish them, the sources of their support must be blocked.
Rev. Edwin Rowe spoke about the Al-Qaeda mentality among some Christines in America and the interfaith work to stop hatred and clashes of cultures and religions.
Rasha Amulaiki spoke about the challenges of human and civil rights in the US and answered some of the guests’ questions.
Finally, I asked our guests to do everything to be part of one united Iraq. It’s great to be one strong country with diversity than a week and divided land, destroyed with war and violence.

The delegation expressed their joy and appreciation of today’s experience and invited us to visit Kurdistan of Iraq!
Hopefully one day we will visit Kurdestan but also Baghdad, Najaf and Karbala. Enshaallah

3/20/17: Imam's Council Meeting with Delegation from Moscow Highlights Religious Diversity in US

3/20/17: Meeting at the Islamic House of Wisdom

The State Department in Washington DC had asked the Imams Council to host a religious delegation from Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, Tatarstan and Daghestan for an orientation on religious diversity in the US.

They traveled to the USA to meet with the imams and other faith traditions leaders to discuss and experience of how religious diversity works among the Muslim communities and other communities in the US.
Imam Mustafa el-Turk and Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi as co-chairs of the Council talked about the code of honor signed by over 30 imams at IHW in 2007. Based on that code we decided to stand against Takfiri mentality and to reject extremism in any form. Imam Mohammad Musa, Imam Ali Soliaman, Imam Eshagh, imam Saleh Ahmad and sheikh Hassan also shared their experience.

We also listened to the experiences of our guests and exchanged questions and answers.
Imam Elahi mentioned how developments in Iraq, Syria and Yemen have created controversy among some leaders in Muslim community. Even between the two Co-Chairs of the Council imam Mustafa and Imam Elahi, yet we try to deal with our disagreements through dialogue not destruction. We get upset over certain approaches yet we resume our working relationships and try to focus on the issues that unite us rather than divide us.
One of the issues that unites us all is the issue of Islamophobia. We work on this through the media, social networks and specially our interfaith relationships.
The meeting lasted over two hours and our guests appreciated the hospitality of House of Wisdom and the imams openness and honesty in answering their questions.
We were also grateful of that inspiring experience of meeting with our brothers and sisters who traveled almost 8000 km from Moscow to Detroit and made this meeting possible. These kind of meetings would bring some healing to the wounds created by hatred and division caused by the Saudi money and Takfiri theology and the policy of divide and rule!

3/18/17: Legacy and Leadership of Imam Musa Sadr Honored at Islamic House of Wisdom

Legacy and Leadership of Imam Musa Sadr Honored at Islamic House of Wisdom.

Dr. Raed Charafeddine the First Vice-Governor of Lebanon’s central bank, a lifelong activist in the areas of social justice and interfaith dialogue who has delivered lectures at many universities including Harvard, Yale, Tufts and Irvine stopped by in Dearborn for Sadr Foundation fundraising at the Islamic Center and visited the Islamic House of Wisdom yesterday.
Dr. Raed was accompanied by Sayyed Hameed Sadr the imam’s son and his brother Sayyed Nijad Charafeddine and the managers of Sadr Foundation in the US
Dr. Sayyed Raed spent couple of hours at the Islamic House of Wisdom yesterday morning, giving a spectacular presentation on the meaning of leadership in general and the leadership of Imam Musa Sadr in particular. The entire orientation was inspiring and educational.
I was impressed with Sayyed Raed’s powerful presentation specially his quotations from Imam Musa Sadr such as:
Social justice is a pre-requisite to national unity.
Serving the creature of God is the best deed of devotion.
God created science and religion as twins when He created human beings.
Faith in man is the earthy dimension of the faith in God.
All religions have the same root and purpose.
Congratulations to Sadr Foundation for their successful dinner yesterday!

3/16/17: Faith Based Safety Summit Orientation- Shared by Imam Elahi

Living in a crazy, chaotic, violent and hateful world, messed up with war and targeted by terrorism is extremely dangerous. Prayer is Protective but Preparation is Needed too!

Shared by Imam Elahi- "Thank You to the County Administration for Today's Faith Based Safety Summit Orientation!
Over one Hundred Christian and Muslim clergy attended a safety summit at Larry K. Lewis Education Center today.
Representatives from law enforcement and Intelligence Organizations provided a great amount of vital information, so the churches and mosques are better prepared to respond to security threats.
These serious threats are created by human greed, ignorance, mental disorder and many other criminal causes.
How religious leaders can play a role in protection of places of worship against all these internal and external warning signs and symbols?
Five hours of security orientation was a great gift for places of prayer, education and community centers. I hope the Dearborn clergy community takes these sessions seriously in the future. I didn't see any of our local clergy in such a serious summit."

3/15/17: Upcoming Presentation by Sayad Raed Charafeddine

Presentation by Dr. Raed Charafeddine on Leadership, Community and Service. This Saturday 11 AM at House of Wisdom!

When Sayed Hameed Sadr the honorable son of our beloved Imam Musa Sadr and Sayed Najat Charafeddine, Imam Musa nephew met with Imam Elahi yesterday, they had a lot to talk about. From the yet unknown destiny of the imam Musa which got worse following this unbelievable mess in Libya to the successful services of the Sadr Foundation in Lebanon despite of financial, social and cultural challenges.

No doubt the secret of the foundation success has been the leadership of hajja Sayyeda Robab and great managers such as sayyed Raed and sayyed Najat.
Dr. Raed will be at House of Wisdom this Saturday at 11:00 AM for a lecture under “Developing Leadership skills & Engagement in Community Service”
We would like to invite our community members and especially the youth to take advantage of this unique opportunity and enjoy this voluble presentation. The attendance will be free yet to get your seats be on time please!

3/15/17: Mr. Warren Evans the County Executive and his religious and community assistant, Rev. Gregory Roberts Visit IHW

Voice of Unity, Diversity, Dialogue and Developments in County Executive Meeting with Community Activists!

Mr. Warren Evans the County Executive and his religious and community assistant, Rev. Gregory Roberts Visited the Islamic House of Wisdom and met with a group of imams, community leaders and activists this morning.

Imam Elahi welcomed Mr. Evans and Rev. Roberts and appreciated their community outreach and interactions with citizens of our county.

Following the introduction of the audience, Mr. Evans addressed the gathering by identifying his priorities in all economic, social and cultural areas and briefed us on his State of the County address.

During the meeting, Councilman hajj Dave Abdallah, Imam Saleh, Dr. Abdallah Harb, Hajja Nawal Hamada, Walid Fidma, hajj Zohair Abdolhak, and some other attendees raised questions on some fundamental cultural, business, security and city issues. Mr. Evans addressed their questions and comments and in some cases promised to check the references and get back to related individuals.

It was an example of good communication, honesty and openness between the county officials and community activists.

We thank God for blessing House of Wisdom to be an instrument of connection, creativity and contribution.

3/12/17: Breakfast with Community Brother's & Sister's

Thank You Khollan al-Wafa for Your Beautiful, Brotherly Breakfast last Saturday!

I really enjoyed sharing a beautiful breakfast with a group of my community brothers and sisters last Saturday morning in Dearborn Heights.

Special thanks to hajj Abuali Bazzi for the invitation and Br. Zohair Alawiya for his great words and introduction.

Though my head was still heavy with jet lag following a long trip,  I shared a few words about my recent participation in an international conference in Tehran related to the Middle East turmoil and transitions in the last 70 years, in particular the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the continuation of crises on the Holy Land and other suffering areas in that region.
Before providing a brief report of the trip experience and meeting with some speakers of the world parliaments including Ostad Nabih Berry of Lebanon, I honored yesterday's victims of criminal terrorists and suicide bombers in a Syrian shrine where hundreds of innocent pilgrims were painfully killed or wounded.
I also mentioned that as we enjoyed our beautiful breakfast in this safe environment, let's look at recent report of UN regarding the humanitarian disaster in Yemen and some other Middle East and African countries. Based on yesterday's UN report, 2/3 of the Yemeni population are in danger of death out of hunger caused by the criminal war imposed on that poor nation by the corrupt Saudi Royal Family.
Let's find and help humanitarian organizations that are helping the hungry in those war zones.
The speakers of that conference reminded us to continue to constantly listen to the call of our conscience and to what the commander of the faithful Imam Ali (as) taught us: Stand for the victims of injustice and oppression and against the wrong doers who cause pain, poverty, death and destruction to humanity anywhere. Since as Martin Luther King said:
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere".

3/8/17: Imam Elahi begins the State of the County Address with Prayer

Watch- Beginning at Minute: 11:10 - https://www.facebook.com/wxyzdetroit/videos/10154241913726135/?pnref=story

Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi begins the State of the County Address with Prayer.

Over 1000 guests from State officials, members of clergy, community leaders and activists filled the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center to hear the State of the County speech of the honorable Executive, Warren Evans.

Please read, say Ameen and send your comments!
The text of the prayer-
Salaam Alaikum
Peace be upon you all
It’s so beautiful and a blessing to share a prayer while standing with such an esteemed assembly of religious leaders, Rev. Roberts and other honorable interfaith colleagues on this stage this evening!
Thank you Lord for this companionship, celebrating the unity of our county and community.
We start this State of the County communication in Your name, since Your name is the source of every meaning, motivation and mobilization.
You are the Lord of light and love, beauty and benevolence, glory and grace, power and perfection, hope and healing. Your greatness and sovereignty is beyond our comprehension.
You created this cosmos with Your limitless power and created man to be Your deputy on this Earth with so many Divine duties.
You sent Abraham to teach us sincerity and submission, Moses for justice and freedom, Jesus for love and sacrifice, Mohammad for mercy and wisdom and so many other heavenly ambassadors for guidance and direction.
Please help us to appreciate Your miraculous manifestations of mercy and blessings, so we remember our responsibilities and overcome our imperfections, insecurities, sins and selfishness.
You are the Lord of all times and all places created us with diversity not to divide and destroy but to understand and respect! Please color our character with kindness and compassion and save our souls from falling in the fire of forgetfulness and the sin of hatred, hypocrisy, racism and revenge.
O Lord , O Healer of the hearts, at this time of turmoil, trial and transition heal our hearts, our houses, country, country and the world with peace, tranquility, brotherhood and unity and save us from wars, tensions, terrorists and tragedies!
Cure this world from the cancer of war, poverty, hunger, homelessness with the medicine of justice, love, humbleness and hospitality.
Thank You God for our County Executive, Mr. Warren Evans. Man of integrity, hard work, outreach and accomplishments.
Bless him O Lord with confidence, courage, compassion and determination to continue to make our county a place where all people have the opportunity of protection, health, wealth, freedom and fairness.
Please Help us to be part of the solution and help our County Administration to defeat not only the financial deficits but any deficits in our spiritual values, families, youth and our county social life.
Bless our County and country and make us truly one nation under Your Kingdom with liberty, love and loyalty!
إِنَّ هَـٰذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَأَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُونِ
[21:92]
“Your community, a single community, and I am your Lord, So worship Me
O Compassionate and Merciful Lord please forgive us for our shortcomings and lead us to the strait path of success and salvation. Ameen!

3/5/17: Recent Interfaith Event - Annual World Sabbath

Recent Interfaith Event - Annual World Sabbath: At this time of darkness and ignorance of Islamophobia, outreach more than any other time matters!  

Despite, Imam Elahi's recent arrival from his overseas outreach and busy weekend schedule, he felt that it was necessary to be present from the Muslim community in the Annual Interfaith World Sabbath Occasion. Upon organizing alongside of the clergy of various faiths at the start of the event, one of the event organizers, Gail Katz asked Imam Elahi to call the audience to prayer on behalf of the Islamic Faith. Following the program, Imam had a chance to dialogue with participants including answering some brief questions. He was humbled by the encouraging words and feedback of those that he met.

Two parts of the program were shared by Imam Elahi- both impressed him the most about the program!

  Follow More from Imam Elahi on Facebook: HERE!

" 1- When we clergy community of many faith traditions stood together and read this Interfaith Pledge:
We pledge ourselves this day in the name of all we hold holy, to raise our voices in the cause of peace. No longer shall we remain silent when armies march and children die, while dictators lay the blame on God. No longer shall we remain silent when religious and political leaders use religion as an excuse for bloodshed or claim faith as a reason for war. We shall raise our voices when prejudice and persecution are blamed on God. We shall raise our voices when scriptures are twisted. We shall build a world of tolerance, justice, faithfulness, and peace. We shall build a world where all may know that our faith calls us to be builders of peace, not makers of war. And this we pledge: Shalom, Salaam, Shanti, Peace
2- The other part that really impressed Imam a lot was the Selection performed by Children of Peace! So beautiful:
We are children of peace. We are the children of the world.
We are children of friendship. We are the children of the world.
We don't want war anymore. We are the children of the world.
We are children of justice. We are the children of the world.
We are children of compassion. We are the children of the world.
We are children of love. We are the children of the world."

3/1/17: Report of International-Interfaith Outreach Assembly on Solidarity with Suffering People!

Meeting with President Khatami- One of the Most Joyful of Moments of my Recent Trip to Iran!

While in Iran to attend an International- Interfaith Conference, I was honored to be able to visit the former Iranian President, his excellency Sayyed Mohammad Khatami.

I arrived in his office Tuesday and saw him talking to a huge group of University students who like majority of Iranians love president Khatami's character, courtesy, compassion, leadership and commitment!

Soon we heard the Adan and made the noon prayer with the president.

Following the prayer, when i shook hands and hugged Sayyed Khatami I felt an explosion of energy, integrity, love and glory of hugging a son of our prophet (pbuh) who represents the moral model of his grandfather.

Then president Khatami took me to his office for an extremely friendly conversation.

We talked about so many subjects, from the time before the revolution and his observations and memories with Imam Khomainie in Paris to his polices during his 8 years of presidency to the controversial issues during 2010 presidential election in Iran!

We talked about some details related to the nuclear agreement between the Islamic Republic and other parties including the U.S.A and also dialogue among the civilizations initiated by president Khatami in 2001.

President Khatami mentioned that the Founding father of Islamic Revolution's desire was to establish a Republic based on democracy, rationality, justice, morality and spirituality!

I knew that I had promised to do my best to to be at the headquarter of Press TV for their 2:30 pm live show but the gravity of talking with President Khatami had occupied my heart so much that I couldn't leave on time for the TV talk and I missed it facing the heavy traffic on the north of Tehran!

Last time I had met with President Khatami was almost 12 years ago during his lecture at the UN General Assembly in NYC and then the ISNA conference in Chicago!

I wish the president time was flexible and my flight wasn't later that evening so we could have continued longer through many other points of interest in our almost 30 years of friendship and so many social and political developments in Iran and the world during the last three decades.

It really broke my heart to see this great man has gone through so many stages of pains, sufferings, intimidation, jealousy, injustice and ungratefulness.

While victim of so much unfairness, he never lost his patience, love, courtesy, dignity and devotion.

Former President Khatami's beautiful handwriting in the book he gave me as a gift.

I told Sayyed Khatami of his popularity in everyone's heart and I said that I think this verse in the Quran was about him and people like him!

"May God's peace and blessing be upon you for your dignified patience"

While leaving his office, the president gave me two volumes of a book called, "Tazkeratol Awliaa" from Attar Neyshaburi.
In his most beautiful hand writing he showed his generosity to me in an expression that I don't deserve, he wished me greater success in serving humanity with promoting beauty, grace and moral values!

I also wished him a long life with great health so he would continue his shining light in loving hearts all over the world. I invited the President to visit us in Michigan in the time he would have ability and flexibility to travel.

---

The Voice of Truth Can't be Silenced-

Solidarity with the Suffering!

Shared by Imam Elahi-

Delegations from 80 countries of the world mainly speakers and members of the parliaments and some individuals known for their support for justice in Palestine met in Tehran last week! I am not a parliament speaker but IHW is a humble religious parliament when it comes to social outreaches and defense of the truth and good causes domestically and globally!

The leader of Iran ayatollah Khamanei opened the international assembly followed with tens of the world parliamentary leaders who shared their views on issues related to justice and in particular, the Israeli- Palestinian conflict!

It was a unique opportunity to talk with so many diplomatic delegations! When I met with the speaker of Lebanon, speaker Ostad Nabi Berry he said " please pass my salaams to my Dearborn community, to my أبناء العم" - another word for my uncle's children.

After listening and talking with many delegations who had attended the Interfaith and International conference of solidarity with the cause of Palestine, I came to this conclusion: The story of the Palestinian people and their 70 years of occupation, oppression, pain and suffering won't be forgotten despite of Netanyahu and his party's propaganda.

There must be a resolution for this tragic tension! Israel shouldn't fool itself on this issue just because it has friends in Riyadh and some other Arab capitals! Now that President Trump irresponsibly freed his shoulder from taking an active role in ending the crises, it's up to all parties to sit down and find a resolution!

Listening to all Palestinian groups during the conference, I realized they don't need anything less than to stop the building of settlements and ending the occupation, hatred, racism and violation of the Palestinian human rights!

I saw some rabbis from NYC in the conference with so many Christian activists!

Since America can better help, more than any other country to solve this complicated crises, I hope we as people of interfaith can work together, listening to one another and inspire our political leaders to become part of the solution. 

It  was very interesting to see Dr. Hadiyeh al-Abbas,  Syria's parliament speaker during this conference. It's an honor to see in an Arab-Muslim country, a woman has a chance to be the head of the nation's parliament.

It's shame to see our American government choosing a country like Saudi Arabia where women have no right even to drive a car over a country where women can advance as far as leading their countries parliament. Yes, it's embarrassing to talk against the terrorism but side with so called Jihadists in Syria!!

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Inviting the Minister to Visit Our Community

When I met with the Lebanon Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Dr. Adnan Mansour during this recent international and interfaith assembly, l invited his excellency to visit our community in Dearborn. He welcomed the idea and showed interest to do so!

I also expressed to him our gratitude for the services of his ministry's representative in MI Dr. Bilal Kabalan and thanked him for his great services to our community. The minister was very happy of this conversation and sharing information!

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Hajj Pilgrimage Must be a Platform for All the People!

When I met with ayatollah Sayyed Ali Qazi Askar, who is my friend from the time we used to study in Seminary almost 45 years ago and currently he is the head of hajj organization at Islamic Republic Of Iran, I expressed my condolences to him for 2015 Mina tragedy in which thousands of pilgrims lost their lives in the most painful way!

While we were meeting, his representatives were in Saudi Arabia to negotiate an agreement to resume the hajj and Omra pilgrimages again!

Let's wish his delegation success in reaching an honorable package so all people of faith can do their religious duties without discrimination, intimidation and harassment!

Mecca and Medina are two holiest sites in Islam and must be safe for all pilgrims regardless of their nationalities or schools of thought.

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Meeting with Ayatollah Akhtari, the head of International Ahlol-Bait Institution, Discussing the Destiny of Sheikh, Ibrahim El-Zakazaky!

In a meeting with Ayatollah Akhtari and his deputies- Sheikh Mohammad Salar and Mr. Mostafa Mostafavi, we spoke about the values we learn from the Prophet (pbuh) and his honorable family and our duty to share the light of their teachings with the people of this world, especially in the darkness of this deep ignorance and while the Ahlol-Bait still victims of injustice and intimidation!

One of the main issues in this meeting was the situation of the most sacrificing sheikh in Africa, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky!  

Sheikh El-Zakzaky and his wife were arrested by the Nigerian military on December 14, 2015, after at least 350 innocent members of their movement were slaughtered by the Nigerian army according to Amnesty International documents.

On December 2nd 2016 the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that El Zakzaky and Malama Zeenah Ibraheem should be released within 45 days. The court described their detention, as illegal and unconstitutional. The deadline for the court order expired on Monday 16 January 2017, yet the Nigerian government refuses to release these two faithful parents whose sons were also killed by the Nigerian army and the Takfiri Boko Haram terrorist groups.

Obviously, the Nigerian government is ignoring not only the order of its own court but also the urgent call of the Amnesty International.

I mentioned to Ayatollah Akhtari that after arriving home, I will ask all peace loving individuals and all human rights organizations to call the Nigerian embassy in Washington DC. at 1-202-986-8400 and put pressure on the Nigerian government to end this illegal detention and free thisoppressed, wounded and innocent servant of God and the poor in Africa!

Please be a voice of justice and call for freedom of Sheikh, Ibrahim El-Zakazaky and his wife Malama Zeenah!

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Meeting With Ayatollah Mohsen Gheraati!
 

While in Tehran, I was invited to attend a wedding ceremony for a son of my dear friend, Hojjatol-Islam Wa-Al-Moslemeen Sayyed Mosawi.

It was my great pleasure to meet with a teacher of mine, Ayatollah Mohsen Gheraati who has been teaching lessons from the Quran nationwide every Thursday night for the last 4 decades!
 

I had attended some of Ayatollah's classes when he was invited to Esfahan seminary by another teacher of mine, the late Ayatollah Sayyed Hasan Imami (May God Bless his soul). This was almost 47 years ago when I was only 13 years old!!

Mr. Gheraati made a beautiful point during that wedding ceremony. He compared our relationship with God and His Prophet with our families!

He said based on the Quran our relationship with God is based on "Rahmah" or mercy!

Our relationship with God's prophet is based on "Mawadah" or love, but the relationship between husband and wife is the combination of both Rahmah and Mawaddah, mercy and love. So for any marriage to enjoy the basic Quranic standards, it must be based on the foundation of love and mercy!

2/28/17: Meeting with President Khatami

Meeting with President Khatami- One of the Most Joyful of Moments of my Recent Trip to Iran!

While in Iran to attend an International- Interfaith Conference, I was honored to be able to visit the former Iranian President, his excellency Sayyed Mohammad Khatami.

I arrived in his office Tuesday and saw him talking to a huge group of University students who like majority of Iranians love president Khatami's character, courtesy, compassion, leadership and commitment!

Soon we heard the Adan and made the noon prayer with the president.

Following the prayer, when i shook hands and hugged Sayyed Khatami I felt an explosion of energy, integrity, love and glory of hugging a son of our prophet (pbuh) who represents the moral model of his grandfather.

Then president Khatami took me to his office for an extremely friendly conversation.

We talked about so many subjects, from the time before the revolution and his observations and memories with Imam Khomainie in Paris to his polices during his 8 years of presidency to the controversial issues during 2010 presidential election in Iran!

We talked about some details related to the nuclear agreement between the Islamic Republic and other parties including the U.S.A and also dialogue among the civilizations initiated by president Khatami in 2001.
 

President Khatami mentioned that the Founding father of Islamic Revolution's desire was to establish a Republic based on democracy, rationality, justice, morality and spirituality!
 

I knew that I had promised to do my best to to be at the headquarter of Press TV for their 2:30 pm live show but the gravity of talking with President Khatami had occupied my heart so much that I couldn't leave on time for the TV talk and I missed it facing the heavy traffic on the north of Tehran!
 

Last time I had met with President Khatami was almost 12 years ago during his lecture at the UN General Assembly in NYC and then the ISNA conference in Chicago!

I wish the president time was flexible and my flight wasn't later that evening so we could have continued longer through many other points of interest in our almost 30 years of friendship and so many social and political developments in Iran and the world during the last three decades.
 

It really broke my heart to see this great man has gone through so many stages of pains, sufferings, intimidation, jealousy, injustice and ungratefulness.

While victim of so much unfairness, he never lost his patience, love, courtesy, dignity and devotion.

Former President Khatami's beautiful handwriting in the book he gave me as a gift.

I told Sayyed Khatami of his popularity in everyone's heart and I said that I think this verse in the Quran was about him and people like him!

"May God's peace and blessing be upon you for your dignified patience"

While leaving his office, the president gave me two volumes of a book called, "Tazkeratol Awliaa" from Attar Neyshaburi.

In his most beautiful hand writing he showed his generosity to me in an expression that I don't deserve, he wished me greater success in serving humanity with promoting beauty, grace and moral values!

I also wished him a long life with great health so he would continue his shining light in loving hearts all over the world. I invited the President to visit us in Michigan in the time he would have ability and flexibility to travel.

2/28/17 : Hajj Pilgrimage Must be a Platform for All the People!

Hajj Pilgrimage Must be a Platform for All the People!

Shared by Imam Elahi-

"When I met with ayatollah Sayyed Ali Qazi Askar who is my friend from the time we used to study in Seminary, almost 45 years ago and currently he is the head of hajj organization at Islamic Republic Of Iran, I expressed my condolences to him for the 2015 Mina tragedy in which thousands of pilgrims lost their lives in the most painful way!
While we were meeting, his representatives were in Saudi Arabia to negotiate an agreement to resume the hajj and Omra pilgrimages again!

Let's wish his delegation success in reaching an honorable package so all people of faith can do their religious duties without discrimination, intimidation and harassment!

Mecca and Medina are two holiest sites in Islam and must be safe for all pilgrims regardless of their nationalities or schools of thoughts