Imam Elahi is the Voice of Wisdom and Compassion on the ICA-Qazwini Saga

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Imam Elahi of the Islamic House of Wisdom

Islamic House of Wisdom of Dearborn Heights, MI



The dispute between imam Qazwini and the Islamic Center of America's board has divided the members, friends and supporters of the Islamic Center of America (ICA). Harsh, sometimes nasty and almost always unholy language has been used to comment on the dispute. The most troubling aspect of the Islamic Center of America saga is some of the tactics used and the vulgar language used by some of the supporters of imam Qazwini. Qazwini himself inflamed the situation further when he used inflammatory rhetoric- referring to his opponents as cancer, ISIS and Yazeed. 
Recently imam Elahi of the Islamic House of Wisdom spoke words of peace, compassion and wisdom. using language of reconciliation and genuine concern in a posting on the Dearborn Area Community Members Facebook page. That Facebook page, whose administrator is Dearborn attorney Majid Moghnieh, had seen many exchanges of harsh and nasty rhetoric between supporters and opponents of imam Qazwini. Some of the comments make you wonder how can such language be used when the issue is an imam and an Islamic center. 

Imam Elahi, troubled by the divisiveness, posted the following:

وَلَا تَنَازَعُوا فَتَفْشَلُوا وَتَذْهَبَ رِ‌يحُكُمْ وَاصْبِرُ‌وا إِنَّ اللَّـهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِ‌ينَ
Do not quarrel with each other lest you fail or lose honor. Exercise patience; God is with those who have patience. The Holy Quran 8/46
My beloved brothers and sisters,
Please read and reflect on the above verse! I say this with a heart full of wound and sadness. It is not about imam Qazwini, IC board, and our community anymore! The forces of Islamophobia who use any opportunity to damage the image of our faith are making so many comments irrelevant to this subject, yet so harmful to our entire identity as Arab and Muslim community. Let’s stop fueling this devastating fire which would eventually burn both sides of this crisis. Let’s be part of a solution; let’s work for some reconciliation between Sayyed Qazwini and certain board members of IC. Even if reconciliation was impossible, let’s find a peaceful end.
Please don’t post the stuff that creates more division and animosity among our community. Our faith is about respect for human dignity, rights and responsibility. Only God is perfect, let Him be our God not our ego and arrogance. Let’s speak with the language of love, forgiveness and appreciation.
Let’s end this war of words that has no victory for anyone and show more humility for the sake of healing and harmony among our brothers and sisters.
I already sent messages to the Sayyed and the Center expressing the willingness of the humble House of Wisdom to help reconciliation or peaceful end to this sad situation. We need everyone prayer and help in this direction!
وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّـهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّ‌قُوا
Hold fast, all together, to God’s cord, and do not be divided ( Quran 3-103)
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْ‌حَمُونَ
The faithful are indeed brothers. Therefore, make peace between your brothers and be wary of God, so that you may receive [His] mercy.( the Quran 49-10)
Your humble servant
Mohammad Ali Elahi
1/26/15
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