I heart CAIR

CAIR (Council for American-Islamic Relations) has just announced that it has dedicated 2006 to an educational campaign in response to the controversial Danish cartoons … I know that in the past CAIR has been criticized, but I give huge kudos to this organization. As the most predominate Muslim organization in the United States – CAIR, in recent years especially, has responded to negative attacks on Islam by pushing forward, looking to educate, and motivate people to change their views of Islam through education, striving in the way of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings be upon him).

I urge anyone who reads this blog to go the CAIR website (link) and take advantage of this tremendous opportunity. CAIR is making two resources available to the American public … at NO cost to you - you have the choice between two highly acclaimed works about the Prophet, the PBS special, “Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet” or Yahya Emerick's Muhammad … Guys – this is ABSOLULTEY free … just go to this website and fill in the form – you’ll get either the book or the DVD as soon as they can get ‘em out.

And for all ya’ll Muslims – contribute to this campaign. This is the way to go … forward this link to your friends, coworkers … lets get this campaign going. Even if you don’t necessarily support CAIR – support this campaign. We all know how important it is.

Here's an excerpt from their press release:

CAIR DECLARES 2006 'YEAR OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD'

Year-long educational effort prompted by Danish cartoon controversy

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/14/06) - Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), CAIR today called on Muslims to support a major educational effort, called "Explore the Life of Muhammad," as a positive response to the worldwide controversy over caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.

The year-long initiative will begin by offering people of all faiths a free book or DVD about the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad. CAIR's campaign will also feature grass-roots educational activities in Muslim communities throughout North America. (The campaign was announced at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., and at CAIR's affiliated offices nationwide and in Canada by CAIR-CAN, an independent sister organization.)

Visitors to CAIR's campaign website, www.cair.com/Muhammad, will be able to choose either a DVD of the PBS documentary "Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet" or the book "Muhammad" by Yahiya Emerick. The website will also feature a 13-minute online clip from the DVD and excerpts from the book. (NOTE: Requests for free materials will initially be limited to the United States and Canada, but the campaign is designed to expand to Europe through cooperation with local Muslim communities.) Along with the DVD and the book, CAIR's website will also offer basic information about the Prophet Muhammad and a database of his sayings (hadith).

In the campaign, CAIR will offer materials to help local Muslim communities hold public screenings of the DVD, mosque open houses, panel discussions, essay contests, interfaith events, and other educational grass-roots activities focused on the legacy of the Prophet Muhammad. CAIR will also coordinate a speaker's bureau of its staff, board members and volunteers nationwide.

CAIR is suggesting that communities hold the first educational outreach activities on A "National Open House Day" February 24 at mosques and Islamic centers in the U.S. and Canada. A calendar of local activities will be available on CAIR's website. (Send notification of local events to: events@cair.com