I always knew the answer. The perpetrator was the husband. The victims had different faces but the crime remained the same — domestic violence — and was never reported. Victims went back to their spouses after healing their physical wounds, never knowing how long this cycle of abuse would continue or if it would ever end. Many times it did end with a death.

Does Islam allow wife beating? I have been asked this question many times. The core of the question comes from a particular verse in the Qur’an (An Nisa, Verse 34), which has been misinterpreted on its face to allow wife beating. That misunderstanding is based on a surface reading of the translation.

To determine the true meaning of the Qur’an, it must be read and interpreted in letter and spirit. According to the Qur’an, the relationship between the husband and the wife should be based on mutual love and kindness. Any excess, cruelty, family violence or abuse committed by any Muslim can never be traced to any revelatory text (Qur’an or Hadith).

Such excesses and violations are to be blamed on the person who commit the acts — acts which show they are only paying lip service to Islamic teachings and are failing to follow in the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad, who never hit any female. In fact, the Prophet used to say that the best of men are those who do not hit their wives. It is evident from many authentic traditions that the Prophet himself intensely detested the idea of beating ones wife. He forbade the beating of any woman with the words, “never beat God’s handmaidens.”

Don’t judge Islam by the ignorant or self-serving practices of Muslims like Muzammil Hassan, who has been charged with the heinous crime of beheading his wife Aasiya Hassan. Judge Islam by what the Qur’an and Sunnah say.

Living without violence is a right every woman should enjoy, regardless of age, race, economic status or religion. Religion can be a factor in some cases of domestic abuse but it’s never the cause. No religion permits or condones violence. Abuse is never God’s will. It’s always the responsibility of the perpetrator and that is who we must hold accountable.

Dr. Samina Ahmad is a scriptwriter, director, producer and most recently the host of a global wellness feature on downtowntv.com.

BY SAMINA AHMAD | MARCH 3, 2009; 9:19 AM ET

Maria Shriver, Rita Wilson, Melissa Etheridge Among Panelists Interacting With Users

WASHINGTON, November 19, 2008 – On Faith, the joint washingtonpost.com and Newsweek feature devoted to the intersection of religion and news, today launches an online reader discussion group on women and spirituality and values called “Women on Faith.”

“Women on Faith” will be moderated by On Faith co-founder and co-moderator Sally Quinn and Newsweek religion editor Lisa Miller, who have assembled a group of leading women of all faiths and no faith to participate and discuss how spirituality and values play into their lives. Each week, Quinn and Miller, along with the panelists, will pose and answer questions about faith impacting women, and will encourage people around the Web to join the conversation.

Main discussion participants include:

Award-winning journalist and First Lady of California Maria Shriver who, along with her family, attend mass each Sunday Actress and producer Rita Wilson and member of the Greek Orthodox Church whose Muslim Bulgarian father converted to Orthodoxy Melissa Etheridge, award-winning singer/songwriter who is also a champion for gay rights and breast cancer awareness Elsa Walsh, a journalist who explored the lives of women who attempt to balance family and career in her book Divided Lives TV journalist and author Janet Langhart Cohen who penned her memoir Love in Black and White which explores religion and race and the bonds in her interracial marriage Dr. Samina Ahmad, a scriptwriter, director, producer, and most recently the host of a global wellness feature on downtowntv.com CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour, an Iranian Christian raised by a Muslim father Susan Thistlethwaite, first woman head of the Chicago Theological Seminary Author and Vanity Fair contributor Maureen Orth, wife of the late Tim Russert and mother of NBC News Correspondent Luke Russert, plus more voices.

“Through our work with On Faith, it became clear to us that faith and values play critical roles in a woman’s life, especially when it comes to making decisions about family, relationships, careers as well as selecting the best presidential candidate,” said Quinn. “Creating ‘Women on Faith’ is an opportunity to have an honest, ongoing dialogue about these issues, and we’re delighted to have some of the most provocative women of our time participate.”

Some topics likely to be discussed include marrying someone of another faith, children choosing a different religion, spiritual inspiration and the true meaning of life.

At launch, “Women on Faith” will discuss whether the past U.S. presidential election was good for women or bad for women. For more information or to visit “Women on Faith”, go to http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2009/03/domestic_abuse_is_never_gods_w.html.

About On Faith As a global interactive online feature on washingtonpost.com and Newsweek.com, On Faith tackles one of the world’s most pervasive yet least understood topics by offering varied perspectives and open dialogue. Each week moderators Sally Quinn of The Washington Post and Newsweek Editor Jon Meacham post a question for On Faith’s more than one hundred panelists of varying faiths from around the world. The result is a global multi-denominational conversation that readers can join by offering their own opinions and by posting comments and questions at any time. On Faith is published by Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive, the online publishing subsidiary of The Washington Post (NYSE: WPO).

India Currents Report 2012

http://www.indiacurrents.com/articles/2012/08/23/fashion-eid-and-junoons-salman-ahmad

Desi Hungama 2012 report by Ras Siddiqui

http://www.siliconeer.com/past_issues/2012/october-2012/oct12-community-DesiHungama2012.html

Desihungama 2012 Fashion Show – Eid Dinner

It gives us all at SSGWI the greatest pleasure in sharing the following eclectic selection of 10 songs from Junoon20 (vol 1)!

SSGWI’s mission is to promote cultural understanding , dialogue, girls education, health & wellness through soul stirring music , poetry, film & literature. The language of music transcends all barriers and after listening to the following diverse & beautiful “trailer” of 10 songs, i’m sure you will agree with Maulana Rumi’s couplet ” when you follow the music, it will show you the way” .

To attend please visit: http://www.facebook.com/events/425946594085804/

Dr.Rajinder Pachauri, Nobel peace prize winner for climate change invited Junoon to perform at his annual fundraiser for ”TERI”, his non-profit organization, event was held at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Delhi, India in 2010.

Skoll Foundation Annual Award Gala at Oxford inm 2010. Samina and Salman Ahmad represented SSGWI, along with Salman Ahmad’s performance.

SSGWI (Salman & Samina Global Wellness Initiative ) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization registered in the state of new york ,the organization uses art and culture to promote interfaith dialogue, ssgwi recently adopted two projects in pakistan, ”build a model village” in sajawal ,thatta for the flood affected villagers of suleman mallah,and ”womens wellness initiative” in mansehra,where their focus is to educate and empower young pakistani girls to raise healthy families.

This New York-based NGO focuses on three main areas: interfaith and cross-cultural dialogue; global health and wellness; and music education. Throughout their lives, Salman and Samina Ahmad have worked on raising social awareness and bringing people together, through music, media and advocacy.

SSGWI further enables them to draw a worldwide network of partners into their efforts to connect East and West in life-affirming ways.

Please visit the website at: http://ssgwi.org/index.html

Includes 20 one hour sessions

Cost of each session is $150

Cost of complete course is $3,000

Flexible payment plan offered.

Samina Ahmad is a certified Perfect Health teacher from the Chopra Center. In addition she is a compassionate knowledgeable healer and doctor. I would more than enthusiastically refer my friends and patients to her care for healing and well being.
Deepak Chopra

http://www.downtowntv.com/whats-wellness

Experience wellness on youtube by watching, ”whats wellness with Dr.Samina” ……a series of health podcasts which include an interview with Dr. Deepak Chopra.

Dr. Samina welcomes Deepak Chopra, the first guest in her new series, What’s Wellness?, with the first part of a 4-part interview, in which Deepak defines wellness, discusses peace and begins one his most revelatory conversations.

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqS3TowL-kk&feature=relmfu

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JEbZIiv0fM&feature=relmfu

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fJuyXdpPJU&feature=relmfu

Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2yZW5zUtiY&feature=relmfu

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