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The Luckiest Muslims in America

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In the dying days of the Mughal Empire, a little known Maulana helped launch Peace TV with more than 200 Million viewers across the world.

say whatI know Will, I’m just as shocked as you but stay with me here

As the Mughal Empire was collapsing, the subcontinent was flooded with missionaries trying to convert the population to Christianity.

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-Capture_of_the_King_of_Delhi_by_Captain_Hodson-Image of the last Mughal Emperor being arrested for “crimes against colonialism” 

Armed with convincing logic and technological superiority (i.e. guns… lots and lots of guns), there was a real threat that these missionaries would be able to convince many Muslims to convert.

preaching-at-hindu-festivalCan’t tell if that is noor on his face, or he’s just pale…

Added to this, there were only a few Islamic scholars who were trained enough in inter-faith issues to be able to debate with the missionaries convincingly.

mughal scholarExhibit A: Image of a Mughal scholar not engaged in inter-faith debates

What could be done?

One Mufti by the name of Maulana Kairanawi had the answer. He wrote down all his answers to the typical tactics used by the missionaries in a book called Izhaar Al Haq (translation: Revealing the Truth) to help ordinarily Muslims debate the missionaries even if there were no scholars around.

mughal scholar3Do not disturb: Legend at work

A moth-eaten copy of the book was found many decades later by a young Gujarati tailor half way across the world in South Africa. He had been struggling with missionaries himself who kept dropping into his shop and trying to convert him.

Bookworm_damage_on_Errata_pageWow – this was an incredible stroke of luck. Or was it?

After reading the book, an inspired Mr Deedat (the tailor) went on to become the greatest interfaith debater in modern history taking on missionaries in televised events at the Royal Albert Hall and Madison Square Garden like Muhammad Ali knocking out his prey in the boxing ring.

deedatThe only difference between Deedat and Muhammad Ali is that Deedat never lost

 Before Deedat became paralysed with a stroke, he educated students from around the globe to continue his work.

Dr Zakir Naik with Ahmed DeedatDeedat and one of his most famous students

One of those students was a young Indian doctor called Zakir Naik who went on to open a TV channel called Peace TV that last year crossed the 200 Million viewers mark.

peacetv

That’s a whole lot of peace

And it all started with a book written more than 150 years ago.

izharul haqIn other words this book has MORE than 200 Million likes

why didnt you just say thatSorry…

And every single second of knowledge or bit of information that those 200 Million viewers get will be (inshaAllah) recorded in the good deeds of that Mughal Mufti.

Hands holding sapling in soilThere’s no sadaqah quite like Sadaqah Jaariya eh?

But there are a small group of Muslims who may be just as lucky. Perhaps, the luckiest Muslims in all of America.

Who are they?

They are the first team to bring Charity Week to the USA.

superheroesOnly mutants and superheroes need apply… just kidding. Only mutants. 

Charity Week is one of the largest Muslim youth projects in the Western world. It started life in England in 2003 and in the last 12 years has spread to 3 continents, set up more than 30 projects, involved more than 150 MSAs, changed the lives of almost 100,000 children and raised more than $5 Million.

cw kidsGirls from just one of the many schools we helped rebuild in Gaza

 And now, it’s coming to America inshaAllah. And nothing will be the same again.

coming to americaIf you get this joke, you are an 80’s child. If you don’t, I feel sorry for you.

Within years (inshaAllah) Charity Week has the potential to become a fountain of unity, professionalism and activism for the Muslim youth in America.

Charity week collageImagine this much fun at every MSA in the country at the same time for 7 days straight

It has the potential be a game changer allowing Muslims to build bridges with each other and non-Muslims. It has the potential to raise Millions for poor children and orphans across the world as well as being the largest dawah project to date.

London Imperial Best Photo Aaniya AhmedOn the downside, selfie sticks may be involved…

Within a few years (inshaAllah) potentially every MSA in America could be taking part in this week long unity project and raising money whilst having more fun than they thought it was halal to have.

Inshallah-a

And it all starts with that first team.

The initiators.

The founders.

The trendsetters.

The sabiqoon.

So who are the luckiest Muslims in all of America?

finger_point-resized-600

Subtle hint: It could be you!

 They might be having a (halal) burger right now. Playing basketball. Praying in their local mosque. Studying at University or working in their office. Or maybe – just maybe – reading this article and getting inspired to send an email to info@onecharityweek.com

The race is on.

(No musical instruments used in the making of this video)

Keep supporting MuslimMatters for the sake of Allah

Alhamdulillah, we're at over 850 supporters. Help us get to 900 supporters this month. All it takes is a small gift from a reader like you to keep us going, for just $2 / month.

The Prophet (SAW) has taught us the best of deeds are those that done consistently, even if they are small. Click here to support MuslimMatters with a monthly donation of $2 per month. Set it and collect blessings from Allah (swt) for the khayr you're supporting without thinking about it.

Dr. Muhammad Wajid Akhter - National Council Member, Muslim Council of Britain | mcb.org.uk - Lead, National Muslim Covid Response Group | covid@mcb.org.uk - Council Member, British Islamic Medical Association | britishima.org - Founder, Charity Week for Orphans and children in need | charityweek.com - Co-Founder, Islamic History Channel | islamichistorychannel.org - International Director, FIMA Lifesavers

9 Comments

9 Comments

  1. Mohammed

    May 5, 2015 at 1:11 PM

    Exhibit A is hilarious :)

  2. Usman

    May 5, 2015 at 4:00 PM

    Hilarious!!! I can testify to the absolutely awesomeness of the project mashaAllah, so I’d definitely encourage y’all to check it out! http://www.facebook.com/CharityWeekUSA

  3. Aamir

    May 6, 2015 at 3:36 PM

    What is life without CW?
    Hands down the best initiative I have had the blessing of joining.
    Lucky? Yes. Blessed? Definitely. Happy? Without a doubt.

  4. Mariam

    May 6, 2015 at 5:28 PM

    The beauty of Charity Week is that you literally cannot count the scope of reward in it when done with the right intentions Alhamdullilah!

    One of the best sources of Sadaqah Jaariyah going for Muslim youth :)

  5. Osama

    May 15, 2015 at 2:25 PM

    Assalamo alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatoho, doing charity work is encouraged. One suggestion, please. I do not like to use the word “lucky.” There is no such thing as luck. Let’s give credit where it’s due. To Allah. Not some imaginary thing like luck. Everything happens by the permission of Allah. Why not use the word “blessed?”

  6. Mustahsin Mir

    May 16, 2015 at 5:52 AM

    Amazing articles

  7. Kristy

    May 20, 2015 at 6:33 PM

    What would islamics do without Christians to both make fun of as well as take advantage of in the country founded upon Biblical, not quranic, principles?

    Having just returned from volunteering at a Christian organization which assembles and ships specialized food packs for starving babies and young children in war-torn muslim countries, it is disheartening that any “doctor” would find the need to make digs at fair-skinned Christians and Christian missionaries when seeking muslim charitable funding.

    I know he does not work at an islamic affiliated hospital in America- because there aren’t any.

  8. Myself

    May 24, 2015 at 4:46 PM

    Assalamualaikum. Just randomly clicked this article about Charity Week and did not expect to find a picture of my uni (and me, albeit being out-of-focus) to be here haha. Bdw, go for it, America…I’m surprised you guys don’t have CW already…

  9. Karpy Kate

    August 6, 2015 at 3:10 PM

    Ibn Maajah (4245) narrated from Thawbaan (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “I certainly know people of my ummah who will come on the Day of Resurrection with good deeds like the mountains of Tihaamah, but Allaah will make them like scattered dust.” Thawbaan said: O Messenger of Allaah, describe them to us and tell us more, so that we will not become of them unknowingly. He said: “They are your brothers and from your race, worshipping at night as you do, but they will be people who, when they are alone, transgress the sacred limits of Allaah.”

    This is a saheeh hadeeth; it was classed as such by al-Buwaysari in Misbaah al-Zujaajah (4/246) and al-Albaani in al-Saheehah. Al-Mundhiri said in al-Targheeb wa’l-Tarheeb (3/170): Its narrators are thiqaat (trustworthy).

    Ibn Hajar al-Haythami (may Allah have mercy on him) in al-Zawaajir (3/49) regarded it as pretending to be righteous outwardly and transgressing the sacred limits; even committing minor sins when one is alone is regarded as something major, and he quoted this hadeeth as evidence, and said: The one whose habit is to make a show of being good and concealing his evil ways causes more harm and misguidance to the Muslims, because he has no piety and no fear of Allah.

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