Transcript 10062 Converts to Islam

10,062 Converts to Islam
1985-2015
Dr. A.S. Hashim
Con avance automático y audio
About this slide show:
1. This slide show is about:
a. A program dealing with Converts to Islam who are in
Prison
b. Mechanics of the Program
c. Analysis of converts in different States
d. The establishment of Quran Account as tax-exempt
organization
e. The supply to Prison Libraries of Qurans and Islamic
Books
f. The outreach that had extended over a 24 year period
g. The hope that this is an example to be emulated by others
Span of: 1984-2011
1984: Of 850,000 Prisoners in US: 34,000 Converts
2009: Of 2,000,000 Prisoners in US: 80,000 Converts
Of Total Prison Population 4% Convert to Islam
Their Needs have not changed:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Qurans
Books and Literature
Means of communications, and
Visitors
Faith of Converts in Prisons
Of the Authentic Islamic belief:
Shi'a, 12-16%
Sunni, 84-88%
Other forms of Islamic belief:
Nation of Islam
Moorish
Others, Tiny Variations
What they request?
Qurans
Books
Pamphlets,
Audio Cassettes, Video, or other Educational
Material
Prayer Rugs
Kufee
Quran Account Inc.
Founded 22nd Feb. 1985
Registered in MD, Tax-Exempt
Computer Set up Completed
Qurans and Books Ready
Storage Area Provided
Contract Agreement
The convert has to Sign a Contract to:
1. Study Islam Seriously
2. Share Islam with: Family, Friends, Acquaintance
3. Pay Back Cost of Books in Installments
The convert is notified if the books are rejected
by the Prison Authority
How it Spread in Prisons
Word of Mouth in Same Prison
To other Prisons when a prisoner is transferred
Through Groups
Recommendation during Jumu'ah Salat
Recommendation by Organizations
Yearly growth of the converts
Converts
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
1985 87
89
91
93
95
97
99
'1
'3
'5
'7
'9
10
13
15
Number of converts participating
1st Year:
300, Then
Each year Later:
>600
Total by 1998:
6,021
Lately much less:
225-350
Total by 2015:
10,262
Overflow to other organizations
Statistics: Period 1985-1998
Period:
In years:
Converts number:
States Reached:
Number of Prisons:
2-22-85 to 7-15-98
13 1/2 Yrs
6,012
31
More than 477
Statistics: Period 1985-1998
State Share:
New York:
Pennsylvania
California
Maryland
Michigan
Texas
N Carolina
Cities
Converts
66
36
51
14
24
38
51
1608
1497
494
461
277
274
259
Converts from 1985 to 1998
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
C o n ve r t s #
800
600
400
200
0
NY
PA
CA
MD
States
NC
MI
TX
New York: 1985 to 1998
Rome
Sonyea
Elmira
Malone
Dannemora
Comstock
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Pennsylvania: 1985 to 1998
Huntingdon
Bellfonte
Philadelphia
Camp Hill
Graterford
0
50
100
150
200
250
Michigan: 1985 to 1998
Carson Cty
Detroit
Baraga
Jackson
Kincheloe
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Texas: 1985 to 1998
Beaumont
Gatesville
Colorado City
Amarillo
Tenn Colony
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
California: 1985 to 1998
Tracy
Soledad
Vacaville
Ione
Tehachapi
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Converts from 1998 to 2010
160
140
120
100
C o n v e r t s # 80
60
40
20
0
TX
CA
NC
NY
MI
States
IL
GA
FL
AR
Breakdown: Parameters
Blacks:
Hispanic:
Chinese, Japanese:
Males:
Females:
Age: Roughly
95%
Occasional
Rare
97%
3%
18-45
Growth: 1985 to 2011
Period:
In years:
Converts’ Number:
States Reached:
Total Prisons:
2-22-85 to 9-18-2011
26 1/2 Yrs
8,4085
44
More than 650
Previous Religions
Claimed None
Christians
Catholics
Protestants
Muslims (rare)
Jews (Exceptional)
Educational Level
Low:
Fair:
High:
Majority by far
A Small %
Exception
Priest (Wrote Book: Life of Muhammad (pbuh)
One Wanted to go to Qum
One intends writing Maghazi of the Prophet
Income of Quran Account Inc.
Contributions:
Sales of the Qurans:
Sales of Books:
Prisoner Payments:
79%
10%
10%
1%
Income of Quran Account Inc.
Converts
1%
Quran Sale
10%
Contribution
79%
Book Sale
10%
Quran Sale
Book Sale
Contribution
Converts
Expense Nowadays
Per Convert:
Per Year (250 Converts):
All Work Voluntary
Cost includes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Books,
Quran,
Bulletin,
Mailing,
Supplies, and
Stationery.
$10.00
$2,500.00
Prison Libraries
Christian Chaplain has to sends us a Request
Chaplain is to sign the Contract of Agreement
26 Libraries per year participate, on the average
432 libraries, each received, since 1994-2009:
One box of Holy Quran (Yusuf Ali)
One box full set of Islamic Books for Beginners
Some prison libraries have applied more than
once a year
Prison Libraries Reached
Year
Libraries supplied
2001
32
2002
25
2003
30
2004
24
2005
29
2006
35
2007
35
2008
29
2009
36
2010
41
2011
33
2012
34
Supply to Prison Libraries
Supply Series of Islamic Books for Beginners
Quran (Commentary, Yusuf Ali)
Ghadeer Khutba or other available books
Previous Issues of Bulletin of Affiliation
Khutbas of Jumu’ah
Put on Mailing List
Analysis as of 1998
2,000,000 in Prisons be they:
Federal Prisons
State Prisons
County Jails
4% Convert to Islam (estimate)
Total: 80,000 Converts to Islam at any time
Status as of 1998
Sunni: Salafi (Wahhabi)
Shi’a: Devotees of Ahlul Bayt
Attraction to Shi'a:
First Individually
Then in Groups
Probably 10-15%
Contention Between the Two
Shi’a-Sunni Relationship
Often contentious relationship
Occasional threat of death by Salafi (Wahhabis)
Occasionally amicable relationship:
Worshiping Jumu’ah Prayer together
Salat together
Strong Wahhabi influence:
Paying Prison imams
Distributing prejudiced booklets
Mechanics of the workings
Applications processed daily
Transactions processed daily
Packages mailed weekly
Teenagers fill sets of books: once a year
Transactions kept in a database (computer)
Preparing the boxes: Circa 1994
Books are piled in
garage
Young and old work
Make a set of the
books
Put one set in one box
The boxes are stored
in the Book Shed
Preparing the boxes: Circa 1994
The work takes 2 hours
About 15-25 people
participate
Work is in an Assembly
Line
Each is assigned his/her
job
Pizza and watermelon is
served afterwards
Preparing the boxes: Circa 1994
Boxes are put in a cart
Transferred to the
Book Shed
Piled in a certain area
Will be shipped when
ordered by prison
libraries
Preparing the boxes: Circa 1994
A large Book Shed was
built for the purpose
Qurans on the right
Components of Islamic
Books for Beginners
are on the left
Passageway to reach
the boxes
Preparing the boxes: Circa 1994
The team has done it
Empty boxes behind
Once the job is finished, it is
time to rest then have lunch
Great feeling of
accomplishment
Working for the sake of Islam
by active participation
Preparing the packages: Circa 2009
Bulletins are piled
Young and old work
Make a set of 2 books
plus 5 bulletins
The packages are
stored in the Book
Shed
Shipping to converts
almost once a week
Preparing the packages: Circa 2009
Downsizing
Young and old work
Sets consist of 2 books
plus 5 bulletins
Downsizing due to
economics and the
ravages of age
Future Needs I
Organize Sending Paid Daa'i to Prisons
Locally
Regionally
State Wide
Training after Release:
Religious
Vocational
Future Needs II
Visitations by Daa'i
Organizations
To Train Released Converts
To Find Jobs for Released Converts
Released Converts to Form own Organizations
Job Training
Personal Support
Wahhabi Influence
Quite strong and successful
They pay Daa’i (local imam) and flood the prison
with their books
Relentless if not vicious attacks on Shi’a
Threats to Shi’a by other Sunni prisoners
Boycotting the Shi’a by other Sunni prisoners
Failure of Shi’a institutes to counteract
Looking Ahead
Da'wa in colleges
Da'wa through the internet
Da'wa by supplying books in Mosques
Da'wa by supplying pamphlets in Mosques
Da’wa through media
Da’wa through Internet
Website of Quran Account Inc. (Islamicbooks.info)
Website of Al-Islam Organization (al-islam.org)
DTA (Da’wa and Tableegh association)
Islamic books to libraries
Need for book contributions to DTA
Rules
No idea is a bad idea
Be creative
Take risks
No criticism allowed
In conclusion
1. A model to reach out for converts
2. Education had a remarkable effect
3. Mechanics of doing it is explained
4. Evolution and growth is highlighted
5. Finance is detailed
6. The hope is you do the same
Finally
Be in Allah’s Care
May Allah Bless you Abundantly