MWL Hosts Iftar Gathering at US Congress in Washington
The Makkah-based Muslim World League (MWL) has hosted an iftar gathering at the US Congress in Washington, according to Saudi Gazette.
The iftar brought together various members of the American Congress, representing both the Republican and Democratic parties.
In order to strengthen the values of understanding and coexistence in local communities, the gathering has invited Islamic figures and followers of other religions.
By bringing Muslims and non-Muslims together, the iftar stands as a testament to MWL's pivotal efforts in representing the Muslim Ummah.
Secretary General of MWL and Chairman of the Muslim Scholars Association Sheikh Muhammad Al-Issa welcomed the attendees through a video message.
Moreover, Al-Issa stated that MWL hosts such religious events to promote the values of coexistence and cooperation between Muslims and non-Muslims. Sheikh Muhammad Al-Issa
He noted that the iftar is the first of its kind in the US Congress in the holy month of Ramadan.
'Ramadan gives us an opportunity to appreciate Allah's blessings upon us and acknowledge the suffering of unfortunate people in this world. At the same time, it is a test of our piety, self-control, and commitment to obeying Allah during this month through fasting,' he said.
The iftar highlighted the participation of House Religious Leader Margaret Kipling, Republican Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina, Democratic Representative April McClain Delaney of Maryland, and Director of the White House Office of Interfaith Affairs Jennifer Korn.
Related Topics:
MWL to Organize 'Building Bridges between Islamic Sects' Conference
Ramadan Vibes Meet Sustainability at Indian Consulate Iftar in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia Shares Ramadan Spirit with Massive Iftars in Asia
Short link :
Post Views: 2
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leaders
2 hours ago
- Leaders
Syrian Christian Leader Embraces Islamic Roots to Promote Cohesion, Justice
In a Tiktok video that went viral, prominent Syrian Christian politician George Sabra has made a remarkable declaration, claiming foundational Islamic figures as his direct forefathers. Sabra passionately argued this shared lineage defines authentic Arab identity, transcending religious boundaries during an interview. Unveiling a Shared Ancestry 'I am a Christian, but Umar ibn al-Khattab is one of my ancestors. He is part of my history.' Sabra highlighted the importance of recognizing shared historical figures, especially when discussing ancestry with his children. He asked rhetorically, 'What should I tell them? Should I mention Alexander the Great or Richard the Lionheart?' Instead, he proudly claims Islamic figures like Omar ibn al-Khattab as his ancestors. 'My grandfathers are Umar ibn al-Khattab, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Sayf ibn Dhi Yazan, Ibn Khaldun, and Ibn Rushd. These are my ancestors.' Sabra emphasized that this belief is not merely a personal conviction; it serves as a message for education and politics. He expressed his deep conviction, drawing parallels to historical figures like Al-Hajjaj, who famously stated, 'If I told one of you to exit through this mosque door and you did not, I would cut off your neck.' Lessons from Islamic History Sabra elaborated on the teachings of Umar ibn al-Khattab, particularly his respect for the rights of non-Muslims. He quoted the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, saying, 'Whoever harms a dhimmi has harmed me,' noting that Prophet Muhammad's final recommendations included the powerful directive: 'I advise you concerning Ahl al-dhimma.' He then provided a detailed explanation of the traditional Arab 'al-dhimma' concept. 'The Arab understanding of 'al-dhimma' carries immense weight,' Sabra explained. 'When someone enters another man's or tribe's protection, they gain absolute immunity from aggression or oppression.' He underscored the resulting sacred obligation. 'An attack upon them becomes an attack upon the protector himself. Therefore, the protector must defend them as vigorously as he defends his own person, his family, and his honor. Neglecting this duty completely erodes his dignity and invites perpetual disgrace.' A Divine Mandate Sabra emphatically concludes, 'If this is the covenant of a man or a clan, then what about the covenant and protection of Allah and his Prophet that we granted you?' He warns forcefully, 'Whoever aggresses against you unjustly has violated Allah's covenant and his Prophet's protection. We will wage war relentlessly against those who wage war against Allah and his Prophet until we perish defending that.' George Sabra's powerful words paint a powerful picture of unity across religious divides. By honoring Islamic heritage and defending minority rights, he offers a blueprint for harmony. His vision echoes strongly in today's divided global landscape. Short link : Post Views: 9
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Al Arabiya
India accused of illegal deportations targeting Muslims
India has deported without trial to Bangladesh hundreds of people, officials from both sides said, drawing condemnation from activists and lawyers who call the recent expulsions illegal and based on ethnic profiling. New Delhi says the people deported are undocumented migrants. The Hindu nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has long taken a hardline stance on immigration -- particularly those from neighboring Muslim-majority Bangladesh -- with top officials referring to them as 'termites' and 'infiltrators.' It has also sparked fear among India's estimated 200 million Muslims, especially among speakers of Bengali, a widely spoken language in both eastern India and Bangladesh. 'Muslims, particularly from the eastern part of the country, are terrified,' said veteran Indian rights activist Harsh Mander. 'You have thrown millions into this existential fear.' Bangladesh, largely encircled by land by India, has seen relations with New Delhi turn icy since a mass uprising in 2024 toppled Dhaka's government, a former friend of India. But India also ramped up operations against migrants after a wider security crackdown in the wake of an attack in the west -- the April 22 killing of 26 people, mainly Hindu tourists, in Indian-administered Kashmir. New Delhi blamed that attack on Pakistan, claims Islamabad rejected, with arguments culminating in a four-day conflict that left more than 70 dead. Indian authorities launched an unprecedented countrywide security drive that has seen many thousands detained -- and many of them eventually pushed across the border to Bangladesh at gunpoint. 'Do not dare' Rahima Begum, from India's eastern Assam state, said police detained her for several days in late May before taking her to the Bangladesh frontier. She said she and her family had spent their life in India. 'I have lived all my life here -- my parents, my grandparents, they are all from here,' she said. 'I don't know why they would do this to me.' Indian police took Begum, along with five other people, all Muslims, and forced them into swampland in the dark. 'They showed us a village in the distance and told us to crawl there,' she told AFP. 'They said: 'Do not dare to stand and walk, or we will shoot you.'' Bangladeshi locals who found the group then handed them to border police who 'thrashed' them and ordered they return to India, Begum said. 'As we approached the border, there was firing from the other side,' said the 50-year-old. 'We thought: 'This is the end. We are all going to die.'' She survived, and, a week after she was first picked up, she was dropped back home in Assam with a warning to keep quiet. 'Ideological hate campaign' Rights activists and lawyers criticized India's drive as 'lawless.' 'You cannot deport people unless there is a country to accept them,' said New Delhi-based civil rights lawyer Sanjay Hegde. Indian law does not allow for people to be deported without due process, he added. Bangladesh has said India has pushed more than 1,600 people across its border since May. Indian media suggests the number could be as high as 2,500. The Bangladesh Border Guards said it has sent back 100 of those pushed across -- because they were Indian citizens. India has been accused of forcibly deporting Muslim Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, with navy ships dropping them off the coast of the war-torn nation. Many of those targeted in the campaign are low-wage laborers in states governed by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), according to rights activists. Indian authorities did not respond to questions about the number of people detained and deported. But Assam state's chief minister has said that more than 300 people have been deported to Bangladesh. Separately, Gujarat's police chief said more than 6,500 people have been rounded up in the western state, home to both Modi and interior minister Amit Shah. Many of those were reported to be Bengali-speaking Indians and later released. 'People of Muslim identity who happen to be Bengali speaking are being targeted as part of an ideological hate campaign,' said Mander, the activist. Nazimuddin Mondal, a 35-year-old mason, said he was picked up by police in the financial hub of Mumbai, flown on a military aircraft to the border state of Tripura and pushed into Bangladesh. He managed to cross back, and is now back in India's West Bengal state, where he said he was born. 'The Indian security forces beat us with batons when we insisted we were Indians,' said Mondal, adding he is now scared to even go out to seek work. 'I showed them my government-issued ID, but they just would not listen.'
Saudi Gazette
2 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
CIA director says Iran's nuclear sites 'severely damaged'
WASHINGTON — The head of the CIA has said US strikes "severely damaged" Iran's nuclear facilities and set them back years, diverging from a leaked intelligence report that angered President Donald Trump by downplaying the raid's impact. John Ratcliffe, the US spy agency's director, said key sites had been destroyed, though he stopped short of declaring that Iran's nuclear programme had been eliminated outright. It comes a day after a leaked preliminary assessment from a Pentagon intelligence agency suggested core components of Iran's nuclear programme remained intact after the US bombings. Trump again maintained the raid had "obliterated" Iran's nuclear facilities. The Republican president took to social media on Wednesday to post that the "fake news" media had "lied and totally misrepresented the facts, none of which they had". He said US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and other military officials would hold an "interesting and irrefutable" news conference on Thursday at the Pentagon "in order to fight for the Dignity of our Great American Pilots".It came as Israel and Iran seemed for a second day to be honouring a fragile ceasefire that Trump helped negotiate this week on the 12th day of the at The Hague, where he attended a Nato summit on Wednesday, Trump said of the strikes: "It was very severe. It was obliteration."He also said he would probably seek a commitment from Iran to end its nuclear ambitions at talks next week. Iran has not acknowledged any such US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff told US network NBC there has been direct and indirect communication between the statement from Ratcliffe, who was appointed by Trump, said the CIA's information included "new intelligence from an historically reliable and accurate source/method that several key Iranian nuclear facilities were destroyed and would have to be rebuilt over the course of years".Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has also come out in support of Trump's assessment on the damage to Iranian nuclear facilities."If the Iranians chose to rebuild, they would have to rebuild all three facilities (Natanz, Fordo, Esfahan) entirely, which would likely take years to do," she wrote on US operation involved 125 military aircraft, targeting the three main Iranian nuclear facilities on satellite images show six craters clustered around two entry points at Fordo, with similar craters spotted at Isfahan - but it is unclear if the nuclear facilities located deep underground were wiped out.A report from the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency was leaked to US media on Tuesday, estimating that the US bombing had set back Iran's nuclear programme "only a few months".The US defence secretary said that assessment was made with "low confidence". — BBC
