New York Open Declaration
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Hizbus Salam (The Party of Peace)
“Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: They are the ones to attain felicity.” 3:104.
Preamble: The regrettable condition of the Muslim World is unacceptable as well as unsustainable. Internal and external conflicts within Islamic nations and the cooperation of Muslim leaders with others in waging attacks on innocent Muslims have caused irreparable harm to the unity of Muslims and hinder the progress of our societies. Chief among these genocidal relations are the existing proxy conflicts between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Muslims and Israel, and the intellectual stagnation of the Muslim populous. This is why we hereby calling on Muslims into actions that would help end this once and for all. We faithfully ask Muslims around the world who shared our commitment of moving the Muslim progress forward for the sake of Allah (SW) to be signers to this Declaration. This Declaration shall be delivered to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, when it reaches one million signatures. “The Believers are but a single Brotherhood: So make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers; and fear Allah, that ye may receive Mercy.”
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Addressing the conflicts From within:
Whereas the self-inflicted conflicts and Western intimidation within the Muslim World, and to the people that subscribe to Islam around the globe cannot be tolerated, accepted and continued. The innocent lives and the valuable global resources for the human good being lost from barbaric wars camouflaged in religion are too costly and can no longer be allowed to impinge the pursuit of peace among nations.
Whereas religious confrontations, ethnic isolationism, political brainwashing, and ideological manipulation, cannot continue defining the socioeconomic future of the Middle East Peace process and the Muslim world at large, the onus of responsive and responsible action rests on good and global citizenry.
Whereas natural freedoms such as freedom of choice, speech, assembly, expression, press, and religion, in accordance to the Holy Quran, must be guaranteed to all persons regardless of genders or affiliation to any faith based creed.
Whereas Holy Qur’an 3:103 must be part of all Muslim nations’ constitution. “And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah’s favor on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus doth Allah make His Signs clear to you: That ye may be guided.”
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Addressing religious sectarianism:
Whereas Muslims around the world are requested to temporarily suspend economic interests and investments, including all travels to Saudi Arabia, except the mandatory Hajj, and Iran until the two governments publicly declare the caseation of all political, religious and socioeconomic conflicts that are currently at variance with the moral ideals of the Muslim world.
Whereas Historically, this travel suspension remained until Saudi Arabia and Iran publicly affirmed their adherence to Holy Qur’an 6:159 “As for those who divide their religion and break up into sects, thou hast no part in them in the least: their affair is with Allah: He will in the end tell them the truth of all that they did.”
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Addressing OIC and Israel relationship:
Whereas The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to formally endorse the Independent Jewish State of Israel and welcome its membership to OIC
Whereas Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan work collaboratively with Israel, OIC and United Nations to realign their colonial laden borders with a view to creating an independent Palestine that will be an indispensable player in cooperating with Israel and the aforementioned neighbors in the region.
Whereas Masjid Aqsa and its environs remained the international sacred ground for Abrahamic faiths, under the United Nations supervision.
Whereas Holy Qur’an 5:20-21 be the bases for OIC’s official endorsement of Israel, “Remember Moses said to his people: “O my people! Call in remembrance the favor of Allah unto you, when He produced prophets among you, made you kings, and gave you what He had not given to any other among the peoples. O my people! Enter the holy land which Allah hath assigned unto you, and turn not back ignominiously, for then will ye be overthrown, to your own ruin.”
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Addressing intellectual stagnation:
Whereas Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to formally adopt STEMDUP: Science, technology, engineering, mathematics, diversity, unity, and peace school curricula for the era of 2017-2117.
STEMDUP ERA
By the grace of God, it is with great humility and honor that we are craving your indulgence in addressing the root causes of religious extremism, domestic and transnational terrorism, organized crime, human trafficking, abject poverty, growing refugee population and economic migration from the Muslim world.
Please allow us to introduce to OIC the collective solution to the aforementioned global challenges affecting the Muslim World’s development:
STEMDUP. ‘Science, technology, engineering, mathematics, democracy, unity, and peace.
Our primary mission is for OIC to adopt STEMDUP Curriculum’ in all grade schools throughout the Muslim World as a collective solution to these increasing global challenges emanating from Muslim Nations. Muslim nations have to be producing consumers, not merely importing consumers. STEMDUP is a bedrock for growing generations that will rewrite that status quo and create proprietary, organic, and sustainable socioeconomic development from a diverse national labor force in addition to engaging diversity, unity and peace as indispensable variables to Islam and education as a whole.
While we acknowledge the existence of the STEM program in both the US and Canada, it does not bode well with our moral ideology because it lacks the unity, peace and peace governance rubric. It is for this reason that we engaged the New York City government in hosting a historic press conference in December 2017 that sought to create the nexus between STEM, Diversity, Unity and Peace.
It is envisioned that this Declaration and its planned campaign throughout the Muslim World shall inspire OIC members to address the current intellectual stagnation. It is our position that STEMDUP Curriculum is the panacea for religious extremism, abject poverty, human trafficking and violent crimes in the Muslim World and an antidote to radicalization, refugees, and problem of economic migration to the West.
New York Open Declaration which garnered an overwhelming endorsements and support from religious, political, academic, business, community leaders and people of goodwill, shall insha Allah bring back innovativeness and socioeconomic progress that is informed by the intentional rubric of peace and other values that affirm the Islamic faith among OIC members – a dawn of new era of transformation from intellectual stagnation back to 7th century type Islamic progress.
STEMDUP STANDARDS:
Read! In the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created- Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood: Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,- He Who taught (the use of) the pen,- Taught man that which he knew not. 96:1-5
Say: “Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know? It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition. 39:9
STEMDUP ERA CAMPAIGN:
Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: They are the ones to attain felicity. 3:104
Whoever recommends and helps a good cause becomes a partner therein: And whoever recommends and helps an evil cause, shares in its burden: And Allah hath power over all things.4:85
He granteth wisdom to whom He pleaseth; and he to whom wisdom is granted receiveth indeed a benefit overflowing; but none will grasp the Message but men of understanding. 2:269
Human Unity:
O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). 49:13
If it had been thy Lord’s will, they would all have believed,- all who are on earth! wilt thou then compel mankind, against their will, to believe! No soul can believe, except by the will of Allah, and He will place doubt (or obscurity) on those who will not understand. 10:99-100
Interfaith Unity:
Those who believe (in the Qur’an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. 2:62
Muslim Unity:
The Believers are but a single Brotherhood: So make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers; and fear Allah, that ye may receive Mercy. 49:10
As for those who divide their religion and break up into sects, thou hast no part in them in the least: their affair is with Allah: He will in the end tell them the truth of all that they did. 6:159
Middle East Unity:
And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah’s favour on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus doth Allah make His Signs clear to you: That ye may be guided. 3:103
Religious Unity:
To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee. To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute; 5:48
Religious Freedom:
Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things. 2:256
O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do. 4:135
O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination. 4:59
Peace:
And the servants of (Allah) Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, “Peace!”; 25:63
And when they hear vain talk, they turn away therefrom and say: “To us our deeds, and to you yours; peace be to you: we seek not the ignorant.” It is true thou wilt not be able to guide every one, whom thou lovest; but Allah guides those whom He will and He knows best those who receive guidance. 28:55-56
INVESTING IN PEACE & PROSPERITY OR SPENDING FOR DEATH & DESTRUCTION
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20,000 STEMDUP Schools in 57 OIC members. $10,000,000 average cost per schools would total $200 billion dollars.
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Iraq war costs U.S. more than $2 trillion: study. NEW YORK (Reuters) – The U.S. war in Iraq has cost $1.7 trillion with an additional $490 billion in benefits owed to war veterans, expenses that could grow to more than $6 trillion over the next four decades counting interest, a study released on Thursday said. March 14, 2013.
