From: Curtis Sharif <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Invitation to Houston Masjid Imams to Stop Forbidding Prayer To: "Houston Masjid Imams" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Thursday, August 7, 2008, 5:49 PM
l-Imran (The Family of Imran) 3:104 Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: They are the ones to attain felicity. Bismillah, As Salaam Alaikum, Brother Imams, This is an invitation to the Houston Masjid of Al-Islam / Mercy Community Center Imams to start respecting the Islamic Human Right , and the United States Constituional rights of Freedom of Religion.Your continuing practice of forbidding prayer at, and denying equal access to, worship in Allah's House of Worship is an ongoing oppression of those rights. These are inalienable rights that have been endowed by our Creator, Allah. Allah Guarantees every individual the right to fully and freely practice their religion, free of any barriers or obstacles. The universal principles and practices of Islam throughout the centuries reflect this, as evidenced by the Call to Prayer, an open, public invitation to all to join the congregational prayer. What then is your Islamic justification for repeatedly giving the Call to prayer, and then, contrary to the Commands of Allah, blocking worshippers access to that very same prayer service? This is an invitation to you to permit equal access to the Worship of Allah, in the same way it is permitted in Masjid Haram, The Prophet's Mosque, and other masajids all over the world. With tomorrow's Jummah, you have the opportunity for you to end, or extend, according to your will, the Houston Masjid's continuing, decades long practices, of dictatorial punishment, banishment and oppression of the worship of Allah. It would be a Mercy for you to relieve the ummah, of the unnecessary burdens of these practices. These are the same practices used against Prophet Muhammad and his ummah (PBUT), by those who oppressed them, and their efforts to Worship Allah in Peace, at the Kabbah. Allah Gives the oppressed the Right to publically protest their oppression, when private efforts to end it have been fruitless. Allah, in the Holy Quran says that "Oppression is worst than slaughter". And the oppression of the Worship of Allah is the worst kind of oppression, and a major sin in Islam. The Commands of Allah in the Holy Quran are clear, the choice of whose path you choose to follow is yours. I pray for Allah to Guide you on the Right Path. Sura 96 6-19 "Nay! Indeed, man transgresses all bounds, considers himself to be self-sufficient, although, surely towards your Rabb is his return. Have you seen the one who forbids Our servant from offering Salah (prayer)? Have you considered, if he was on right guidance, or was enjoining true piety, why he would forbid someone from prayer? Have you considered, if he denies the truth and turns away, what will happen? Does he not know that Allah is observing all things? Nay! Let him know that if he does not stop, we will drag him by the forelock, a lying, sinful forelock. So let him call his supporters for help, We too shall call the guards of hell to deal with him. Nay! Do not obey him! Prostrate yourself and bring yourself closer to your Rabb." Sura 2-217 " They ask thee concerning fighting in the Prohibited Month. Say: "Fighting therein is a grave (offence); but graver is it in the sight of Allah to prevent access to the path of Allah, to deny Him, to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque, and drive out its members." Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter. Peace, Brother Curtis Sharif