The Book of Signs Foundation
The Book of Signs Foundation is a Chicago land based organization committed to the publishing, promotion, and widespread distribution of authentic literature and multi media products on Islam, the Qur’an, Muslim History, and Muslims in the English language.
The unique characteristic of Book of Signs Foundation is our wide variety, high quality, modern English (as compared to the classical English usually used), low prices and our commitment to steadily improve our publications by listening to our readers.
Since the tragic events of Sept. 11th the demand for English translations of the Qur’an have yet to be fulfilled. The desire to learn about Islam, Muslims, and Middle East is in almost every household. The only hurdle is making it easily available through trusted and reliable sources. We hope you are that source because we have the huge supply and authentic sources to meet the high demand for Qur’ans, books on Islam, and much more!
DIALOGUE
Communication Challenges
Have you ever thought of what people fight about? Generally, conflicts result from difference in age, gender, religion, education, culture, and so on, as well as difference in status and territorial rights.
The Prophet Muhammad faced very challenging situations filled with all reasons for conflict. To begin with, he faced an extremely diverse audience who were often negative, so he had to combat hostility and suspicion insistently while remaining positive rather than defensive.
Moreover, he didn't choose the timing; he often found himself in very pressuring confrontational situations, which forced him to migrate to other people's territory and start a new community there with minimal resources.
Yet, in the face of all this adversity, he successfully changed deep-rooted negative convictions, and actually managed to weave a beautiful tapestry out of people who were so conflicting that they were constantly at war with each other. How can we benefit from his success today?
Judging From First Impressions
Everybody deserves to know how The Holly Quran teaches tolerance and anger-management and conflict resolution
Islam strategy was to prevent conflict from occurring rather than wait for it to happen then start "fire fighting".
To do that, he gently and continuously educated about equality, tolerance and anger-management to downplay the exaggerated importance of status and territory versus equality and freedom.
He warned against the destructive effects of negative emotions, and promoted a calm rationale instead. He established the Islamic concept of freedom of expression by encouraging his companions to speak up if they thought someone was making a hasty emotional reaction, no one -including himself- was above being advised.
True Muslims never lingered on the negative feelings and never made generalized judgements based on single incidents. Instead, he focused on the lessons learnt and the new opportunities resulting from solving the problem. How many times do we allow one negative incident to pollute our thoughts about others forever?
DIVERSITY IN ISLAM
The word diversity is the true meaning of differences. Each of us is an individual with a unique way of believing and forming opinion, but the worth thing somebody can do is to judge others without knowing the bases of their case and more over make a pre existing judgment.
Consequently, it's unfair to expect others to copy our beliefs and opinion, and to forget that others have different hearts and mind. Unacceptable from everybody is to be unrealistic and expect the other is to act and believe the same way he or she does in life.
The thinking of people to act and react imitating others, eliminated the communication between different vices and point of views.
The Quran offers a golden rule for people of different backgrounds to communicate in the universal brotherhood, using diversity for enlightenment rather than conflict:
[O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may hate (each other). Surely the most honorable of you, in the Sight of Allah is (he, who is) the most righteous of you. Verily, Allah is all knowing and is Well Aware (of all things)] (49:13).
ISLAMOPHOBIA
Unfortunately there are people in this world who do not like others to live in peace. They do not fully or partly agree and understand the meaning of searching for accurate news. They've decided to stereotype one quarter of the world's population (the Muslims) against the rest of the world. They worked hard to distribute hate against Muslim and Islam.
There needs to be resistance towards this tendency to make collective, hasty judgments of others based on generalized negative ideas.
This is called stereotyping. For example, the stereotype that Muslim hate peoples of other beliefs is a completely wrong idea that was brought by a few extremists who decided to celebrate hate in the world.
Below are different cases of religious discrimination.
Religious discrimination can affect the person in employment. This includes not being offered a job because of a person's faith, or being asked to leave because of a person's faith.
There are so many examples of discrimination such as the burning and desecration of places of worships, i.e. churches, temples, synagogues and masjids as well as graveyards.
Islamophobia is fear or hate toward Islam and Muslims. This fear or hate can occur on different levels, and results in different kinds of negative actions and reactions.
Here are a few examples showing the misunderstandings that lead to negative actions:
- Some Muslims may choose like every body else in the world to wear clothing that display their faith in a way that makes them visible. For example, women may be wearing a headscarf or be fully covered up. Looking as a result of curiosity is natural; but children and young people should grow to understand and become sensitive to the fact that being stared at for whatever reason can make people feel very uncomfortable. There are plenty of parallel examples to draw upon.
- Verbal Abuse - includes saying, shouting or swearing derogatory terms to a person. These can refer to their faith or the way they are dressed.
- Physical Abuse - this includes physical assaults such as pushing, shoving, being spat at, (refering to some accidents prior to September 11, 2001, women having their headscarves torn off, being chased and threatened with violence to assaults requiring medical treatment. In addition to physical and verbal abuse, there has also been example of criminal damage such as attacks to private property as well as centers associated with Islam such as masjids and Islamic community centers.
MUSLIM PRACTISES
In the Quran the reader will find a very valuable information about Islam's basic beliefs and practices, and real focus on some of the outward aspects of the belief. For example:
Fasting
Using the information in the Quran, teach raeders how Muslims fast. Show practically that they fast from dawn till dusk and do not eat or drink during this time. Teach the whole world to be aware of this and to be sensitive to their Muslim friends who may be fasting, i.e. not offering them food.
Praying
Teaches readers that Muslim pray five times a day, and show the manner in which they pray. Some the Muslim may pray during school hours. The raeders should be aware of why they are praying and that it is a normal part of Muslim life.
Eid
There are two Eids in Islam. Teach the readers how and why Muslims celebrate Eid. Both days have a special meaning, and are a time of celebration and reflection.
Some of the visible markers of faith that may be a cause for discrimination should be highlighted. These include the hijab, other forms of dress, skullcap, etc.
Mainly tackle stereotypes and mis-information arising from negative images from media reporting.
Our goal is to teach the readers the correct understanding of Islam, and to celebrate the contribution of Islam and Muslims in history as well as in the US today.
We will find all those meaning are fully explained in between the final word of Allah (SWT) in what we believed is a final Book sent to the world.
MUSLIM VIEWS
Educating Others
Today, the world needs to be educated more than anytime before.
Modern psychology tells us that a person trying to adapt to a new environment suffers some intense symptoms including depression, loneliness, loss of sleep and appetite, and ultimately, inability to relate to others.
The problem is intensified if the original inhabitants treat the newcomers as "invaders to their territory" both literally and figuratively when it comes to accepting their new ideas and adapting to a new way of life.
Today, the integration of immigrants is a major problem in the West. Perhaps things may improve if this is seen as a communication situation that should be handled as an opportunity rather than a threat.
Particularly if the immigrants hadn't forcefully occupied someone's land, but merely accepted an invitation to join a new home. In such a situation, both guest and host are responsible for facilitating a healthy interaction and using it as a learning experience for both sides.
Prophet Muhammad faced a similar situation after leaving his home in Makkah to migrate to Madinah upon the invitation of its citizens. When he got there, some of his Companions — from the immigrants — were so homesick that they got physically ill.
The unity of society was at risk and needed an urgent solution, so he skillfully turned the painful longing into energy of hope through a set of social rules designed to forge solid bonds between citizens and immigrants. Perhaps we need to explore those precious lessons today.
Overcoming Status Barriers
Money, power, possessions, and physical beauty are the plagues of our materialistic world today. Because of them conflict occurs.
When we compare ourselves to glossy images on billboards and fail to acquire those exaggerated "status symbols" we start consciously envying and hating those who have them, and we even hate ourselves as unworthy failures. Such psychologically troubled individuals are not fit for healthy communication.
Quran Teaches people equality and communicating with their hearts and mindes
In contrast, Islam stresses equality, and teaches that preference is only based on good qualities in the heart, which only God can see.
Consequently we have no means and no rights to judge or evaluate ourselves, let alone others. So, we must deal justly and equally with all people and in all situations.
This golden rule is reflected in the behavior of the Prophet who taught that a smile is charity, even to strangers, and always used a person's favorite name to address him, even with enemies.
He sat anywhere in a gathering not in the center, he didn't select a status title, and refused that people stand up for him. He always allowed personal direct contact for both friends and foes. He used to clear a place opposite him for the guest and never pulled away from the conversation first, even when it got aggressive.
He respected even the youngest or poorest until each one thought himself the most favored:
Today we notice an increased rudeness and lack of tact in social relationships, particularly towards strangers. People often do what is best for themselves instead of doing what is right. All good communication starts with truly respecting the other by treating them politely and equally.
If we genuinely seek to know others, we must educate, allow ourselves to be educated, and stop the destructive hate. That is why we are willing to give an opportunity to every home in America to read the Quran and learn more about it.
Within anti-sectarian education, expand the discussions beyond Catholic and Protestant forms of sectarianism
Aim: To teach the whole wold about the different forms of sectarianism and to take responsibility for countering any form of sectarianism and religious intolerance
Follow many of the exercises within the anti-sectarian education resource, to ensure that the concentration is not just on Catholic/Protestant issues but also examining sectarianism in Islam. Such discussions should be balanced with teaching about Islamophobia.