Jakartass is ecumenicalOfficially, on paper, I'm a Muslim because 'Er Indoors is; outdated laws don't allow folk of different beliefs to plight their troths, so it was easier for me to transfer my allegiance from ....
Actually, I refuse to be pigeon-holed. As a Brit I was raised with Christian ethics, hope and charity perhaps having a greater significance than faith. I did get confirmed in the Church of England but I had an ulterior motive ~ Jemma Smith also went to the Friday night youth club in the parish hall.
I've dallied with different nuances of Christianity. I quite admire the Quakers for their early anti-slavery stance and the chocolate families, think, or google, Cadbury and Rowntree, who created model villages for their workers and their continued concern for social welfare.
In Ibiza, 30 odd years ago, I was invited to join the Hare Krishna crowd. I was tempted as they offered an abundant supply of their holy sacrament, ganja.
I've subsequently spent time with Tibetan Buddhists and Mentawai animists and, for the past nearly 18 years, in earshot of mosques.
All-in-all, I belong to a broad church, one that encompasses all religions which have the core hippy mantra of Love and Peace, preferably without dogma.
I received an email today from the
Jakarta International Moslem Society (Y-JIMS). About 15 years ago I worked and socialised with one its founders, Gregg William Landy, now known as
Luqman Hakim Landy.
Initially, this step (to found Y-JIMS)
was taken to strengthen the bounds friendship of silahturahiim amongst Moslem expatriates to deepen Islamic teachings with Islamic small-scale discussion whose topics were those about Islam and its way of life in line with Al Quran and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). As the time goes long, then we made an effort to help Moslem communities living under the line of disputation and marginalized through educational development, entrepreneurship, social and da'wah activity at remote villages southern Banten, Indonesia.
This is the email.
Assalamu Alaikum Wr. Wb.
Ramadan is a month full of blessing, forgiveness and multiplied rewards from Allah. In addition to hail this chaste month, Jakarta International Muslim Society (Y-JIMS) has the program ?DISTRIBUTING AND CONTRIBUTING ALMS GIVING? containing Wakaf, Aqiqah, Qurban, Zakat, Shodaqah and Humanitarian Funds (WAQZISK) to carry on the sustainable activities for the next generation. Some programs which are undergoing are mentioned bellow:
1.Providing scholarship for 1,000 needed children in the remote villages.
2.Distributing student health nutrients which are undertaken by ?Free Medical Check-Ups? in the remote villages.
3.Distributing school facilities (10,000 bags and other stationeries) every semester for student guided by Y-JIMS in the remote village.
4.Guiding foreign and domestic Muslim converts.
5. Holding volunteer remote consecration program.
Therefore, Y-JIMS invites all donators to distribute and share alms for increasing our worship towards Allah SWT. Also we invite parents to see our activities in the remote village directly. We should remind you that an activity which is undertaken for educational guidence, independent improvement in the remote village and utilization of ummah potention in case of da?wah, social and autonomy economic. Those carers are the concrete proof towards next generation of Indonesia.
If Allah bestows you plenty of risk and you have more wealth than you need, then you need to share. This will definitely bring more benefits for the next generation from the age of 15 until 20. And you get Allah's reward, Amen.
Here is our invitation for some programs that we can offer you. With your intrests you can join us in this ultimate chance for the worship actualisation in the month of Ramadan.
Thank for your attention and participant.
Wassalam. A caring community such as JIMS should help nullify the negative nihilism of the
Laskar Jihad mob or whoever is ultimately responsible for the suicidal mania here.
One question, Luqman.
I knew you as an English teacher. Are you too busy to proofread your missives?
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