From: Mahmudul Hasan
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 2:09 PM
Subject: Qur'an Brings Smile to Chechen Refugees in Austria
Qur'an Brings Smile to Chechen Refugees in Austria
A Chechen woman carries a copy of Qur'an.
By Ahmed Al-Matboli, IOL Correspondent
VIENNA, January 18, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) - Austrian Muslims have brought a
smile to dozens of Chechen faces who sought refuge in the European country with
the distribution of much-needed Russian translations of the meanings of the
Noble Qur'an.
"We aim to closely knit Chechen families to their faith and to educate them
about Shari`ah and teach them Arabic to protect them from a ferocious
proselytizing campaign in the country," Fareed Soliman, who supervises the
distribution of the copies, told IslamOnline.net Tuesday, January 17.
Soliman, a physician, said 100 copies have been handed to 20 Chechen families
in a refugee camp outside the capital city of Vienna.
A Chechen woman refugee, who requested anonymity, said that her peers are
vulnerable to Christian proselytizers.
"Church representatives are visiting us on a weekly basis, but we give them a
rowdy reception because we know their real intentions," she told IOL, adding
that they were trying their best to protect young generations.
Each mosque in Vienna also has now a copy to meet the needs of Chechen
worshippers.
"I was approached by a Chechen the other day and at first glance I though he
was seeking shelter or cash, but I found out that he needed a Qur'an, which
moved me greatly," said Mohsen Ali, an engineer based in Vienna.
Sheikh Othman, a Chechen researcher in Shari`ah, said an Al-Azhar institute in
Vienna will assign Chechen tutors to teach children Arabic and help them
memorize the Noble Qur'an thanks to Austrian Muslims.
Muslims are estimated at 400,000 in Austria of the country's eight million
population. Islam, which was officially recognized in Austria in 1912 during
the reign of Czar Franz Joseph, is considered the second religion in the
country after Catholicism.
Chechen Mosque
An Austrian Muslim volunteer distributes copies of Qur'an in a Chechen
refugee camp.
But the most pressing demand by Chechens is to have a mosque in which sermons
and lectures are delivered in Russian, the mother tongue of the vast majority
of Chechen refugees.
Austrian Muslims had already raised funds for the mosque, but still need much
more to get basic amenities like electricity and heating systems.
There are between 18 and 20 thousand Chechen refugees in Austria's nine states.
Vienna alone is home to six thousands.
"Only three Chechens have been granted Austrian citizenship so far," Sheikh
Othman noted.
Refugees are grateful to the Austrian government for the kind treatment. The
Refugees Authority provides Chechens with halal food and alcohol-free drinks.
The government body already pays each refugee in the country, whether Chechen
or not, a monthly sum of 40 euros in addition to a makeshift shelter and daily
hot meals.
The small mountainous republic of Chechnya has been ravaged by conflict since
1994, with just three years of relative peace after the first Russian invasion
of the region ended in August 1996 and the second began in October 1999.
At least 100,000 Chechen civilians and 10,000 Russian troops are estimated to
have been killed in both invasions, but human rights groups have said the real
numbers could be much higher.
The wars have forced up to half a million Chechens to flee the country to
neighboring and European countries. Women, who lost their husbands to the wars,
make up most of the refugees.
http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2006-01/18/article01.shtml (19 Jan 06)
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(Holy Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in
His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites
(men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I
am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if
Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of
camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever
calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who
follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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