A faithful stance against the ravages of COVID-19

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Faith Communities Together: Global Prayer Day
“When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close to them: I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let them also with a will, listen to My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way.” Al-Qur’an, Chapter 2: Verse 186
“…Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…” Psalms 23:4
“”And Moses said to the people, ‘Fear not, stand firm, and see the Salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today’.” Exodus 14:13
“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.” Siddhartha Gautama Buddha (G-d’s mercy upon him)
Blessed is the spot, and the house, and the place, and the city, and the heart, and the mountain, and the refuge, and the cave, and the valley, and the land, and the sea, and the island, and the meadow where mention of God hath been made, and His praise glorified. From The Writings Of Bahá’u’lláh (G-d’s mercy upon him)
INTERNATIONAL — [POST EVENT UPDATE: CWSC and AM360 and our collaborating partner, Masjid Muhammad Washington, DC (the Nation’s Mosque), thank our Guest Presenters and listeners around the world for attending the Global Day of Prayer with us. View a special Letter of Thanks to the International President of the Focolare. To hear an encore presentation of the broadcast, click on the Listen button above. Share comments at info@cwsc.us or leave us a voicemail at (910) 317-0297. Together we can remake the world]
In a historic call to action, faith communities and leaders throughout the United States are responding to a global appeal made recently by the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity (HCHF) inviting fellow faith brethren throughout the world to join together in imploring G-d’s mercy, healing, forgiveness, and guidance through the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Across the globe, all sheltered in their homes, offices, sanctuaries, or wherever they may be are being asked to unite together spiritually while adhering to safe spatial distancing practices by taking a moment on the same day to pray, fast, and engage in charitable acts on May 14. The HCHF’s Appeal is being supported by Christian, Muslim, Jewish and other faith institutions and communities across the globe from the Vatican to Al-Azhar University.
In support of HCHF’s Appeal, the Community Wide Shuraa Conference™ (CWSC) and American Muslim 360® will co-sponsor Faith Communities Together on Thursday, May 14, 2020, beginning at 2 p.m. (EST), to take a moment and join fellow brethren throughout the world via a simulcast international radio broadcast featuring a succession of du’as offered by representatives of the world’s faithful.
The Event will air live on CWSC’s broadcasting network American Muslim 360® (AM360.org) and also by telephone at (701) 719-4197, followed by an interfaith panel discussion with audience call-in.
Read more here about the Appeal.
Helping lead the invitation and organizing effort is Masjid Muhammad, Washington D.C. (the Nation’s Mosque) working in tandem with CWSC, AM360 and a national network of other Islamic institutions and interfaith organizations across the country to help publicize the May 14 Event.
A global call to all the faithful reflects the times, states Dr. Talib Shareef, Imam of Masjid Muhammad, Washington, D.C., known as the Nation’s Mosque. Dr. Shareef is a recognized leader in interfaith relations and immediately upon learning of the Appeal, took steps to merge a similar effort that was underway to help bring all together in seeking the Creator’s Mercy and Guidance for every community on earth in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
While U.S. political officials were forecasting an Easter opening of the U.S. economy and initiation of the easing of spatial distancing policies instituted to “flatten the curve” or prevent what was quickly becoming a catastrophic loss of human lives, the easing and trepid re-opening is actually occurring during the Islamic Month of Ramadan in which nearly 25% of the world’s faithful are already fasting, engaging in charity and imploring G-d’s Help.
Among other holy days, the Jewish Passover, Christian Easter and Islamic periods of Ramadan occurring in close succession this year, have all been impacted by the pandemic that as of May 2, 2020, has claimed more than 240,000 lives globally with over 3.4 million cases. The U.S. leads the world in the number of infections with a dramatic rise occurring since the first week of March, and more than 64,000 have been lost to the coronavirus (COVID-19) with a disturbing disparate impact on the elderly, African Americans, and other historically disadvantaged communities of color.
With states and jurisdictions in debate and uncertain about when and how to re-open safely against the backdrop of a horrific public health crisis marked by devastating economic impacts, growing partisan infighting and pockets of civil unrest, the sentiment among a great many of the faithful is perhaps captured by Dr. Shareef: “It’s clear that leadership across the spectrum and at every level is facing a crisis and conundrum of Scriptural proportion, and we need God’s Help…the Creator of all systems of knowledge to influence and guide our leaders including those in science, economics and politics. We need the guidance of G-d in all our deliberations to ensure we think and act in the spirit of our universal kinship—our shared humanity.”
CWSC is honored to welcome the following organizations as endorsing institutions for Faith Communities Together: American Muslim Health Professionals; Focolare Movement – North America; and Islamic Relief USA.
For more information, please contact:
Imam Chaplain Abdul Azeez, New York, N.Y., Dir. CWSC National Leadership Advisory and Ambassador Programs at info@cwsc.us or (910) 317-0297.
Fitrah Muhammad, International Relations / Program Development, Masjid Muhammad, The Nation’s Mosque, Washington, D.C., info@thenationsmosque.org or (202) 425-5815.
Visit cwsc.us. Stay tuned to AM360.org.
Download / Print PDF Press Release | Online Sharing Flyer PDF | Issuewire Media Release | Public Service Announcement
PSA Click here to be an endorsing institution. Visit the CWSC Office of International Relations.
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More Ramadan Blessings: Share in the AM360 Food Drive!
“All creatures are Allah’s dependents and the most beloved to Him, among them, is he who does good to His dependents.” Prophet Muhammad (prayers and peace be upon him)
NATIONAL — Dear Faith Communities, As Salaamu Alaikum! (His Peace be upon you).
For Muslims, Ramadan especially is the month in which we sacrifice and temper our appetites in order that we may learn self-discipline and a higher regard for our obligations to our Lord and to our neighbors who may be near or far.
The Blessed Month also affords those who can, the opportunity to share even more with persons less fortunate. This year because of the pandemic, our neighbors are in need now more than ever, with many facing circumstances not seen in this country since the Great Depression.
Please join us in helping share the AM360 Food Drive across America now through July 24, 2020. It’s easy to participate.
We’re encouraging all who can, to collect your items weekly and donate them to your favorite shelter or food pantry. Then complete this form to tell us how and where you were able to help feed someone in need. We may share your gift on air at AM360.org to thank you, encourage another believer to give, and to help identify available pantry resources for families in your town.
You’re invited to leave us a voice message too at (910) 317-0297, and we may even include your voice on air to help promote the AM360 Food Drive. Want to go a step further? Then click here to print out CWSC information and enclose with your nonperishable items to introduce your local pantry to our nonprofit resource center and the services we provide nationally to assist non-profits.
Lastly, we ask you to share the Drive with others offline and online or by email just by clicking on the links below.
Stay tuned to AM360.org for a special July 31st CWSC Friday Roundtable edition In Service to Humanity when we’ll help welcome the Hajj and feature some very special guests who helped make the Food Drive successful. Who knows, you may even be asked to be one of our guests!
Thank you for Taking the Drive here to CWSC. Stay safe, stay faithful, and enjoy a Most Blessed Ramadan!
As-Salaam-Alaikum.
The AM360 Senior Management Team
Blessed Mother’s Day Greetings…
Abu Usaid Saidi said: We were once sitting with Rasulullah when a man from the tribe of Salmah came and said to him: O Messenger of Allah! do my parents have rights over me even after they have died? And Rasulullah said: Yes. You must pray to Allah to bless them with His Forgiveness and Mercy, fulfill the promises they made to anyone, and respect their relations and their friends (Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah).
From the Life Example of Prophet Muhammed (prayers and peace be upon him)
CWSC wishes all our Mothers a Blessed Mother’s Day. Enjoy this day set aside to honor the one who deserves our greatest respect. Click here and tune in AM360.org to hear a special greeting.
“And We have enjoined upon man kindness toward parents. His mother bears him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and the bearing of him and the weaning of him is thirty months, till, when he attaineth full strength and reacheth forty years, he saith: My Lord! Arouse me that I may give thanks for the favour wherewith Thou hast favoured me and my parents, and that I may do right acceptable unto Thee. And be gracious unto me in the matter of my seed. Lo! I have turned unto Thee repentant, and lo! I am of those who surrender unto Thee.” Al-Qur’an, 46:15
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Community Wide Shuraa Conference, Inc. (CWSC) is a faith-based national conference bringing together diverse human resources with the desire, knowledge and experience to help achieve the highest level of excellence in community life. Through its programs and intelligentsia components including think tank, speakers bureau, broadcasting center, office of international relations, and volunteer resource network, CWSC is unleashing and harnessing the full capacity inherent in the group intellect. Together we can remake the world.
CWSC is a non-partisan tax-exempt IRS Section 501(c)(3) public charity and does not discriminate on the basis of color, race, religion, ethnic or national origin in its community outreach. For more information, email info@cwsc.us or call (910) 317-0297. Visit cwsc.us and tune in daily to live and podcast programming at AM360.org.