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9,106 Converts to Islam 1985-2013

9,106 Converts to Islam 1985-2013. Dr. A.S. Hashim. Con avance automático y audio. About this slide show:. This slide show is about: A program dealing with Converts to Islam who are in Prison Mechanics of the Program Analysis of converts in different States

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9,106 Converts to Islam 1985-2013

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  1. 9,106 Converts to Islam 1985-2013 Dr. A.S. Hashim

  2. Con avance automático y audio

  3. About this slide show: • This slide show is about: • A program dealing with Converts to Islam who are in Prison • Mechanics of the Program • Analysis of converts in different States • The establishment of Quran Account as tax-exempt organization • The supply to Prison Libraries of Qurans and Islamic Books • The outreach that had extended over a 24 year period • The hope that this is an example to be emulated by others

  4. 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: • Qurans • Books and Literature • Means of communications, and • Visitors

  5. 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

  6. What they request? • Qurans • Books • Pamphlets, • Audio Cassettes, Video, or other Educational Material • Prayer Rugs • Kufee

  7. Quran Account Inc. • Founded 22nd Feb. 1985 • Registered in MD, Tax-Exempt • Computer Set up Completed • Qurans and Books Ready • Storage Area Provided

  8. Contract Agreement • The convert has to Sign a Contract to: • Study Islam Seriously • Share Islam with: Family, Friends, Acquaintance • Pay Back Cost of Books in Installments • The convert is notified if the books are rejected by the Prison Authority

  9. 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

  10. Yearly growth of the converts

  11. Number of converts participating • 1st Year: 300, Then • Each year Later: >600 • Total by 1998: 6,021 • Lately much less: 225-350 • Total by 2011: 8,4085 • Overflow to other organizations

  12. Statistics: Period 1985-1998 • Period: 2-22-85 to 7-15-98 • In years: 13 1/2 Yrs • Converts number: 6,012 • States Reached: 31 • Number of Prisons: More than 477

  13. Statistics: Period 1985-1998 • State Share: Cities Converts • New York: 66 1608 • Pennsylvania 36 1497 • California 51 494 • Maryland 14 461 • Michigan 24 277 • Texas 38 274 • N Carolina 51 259

  14. Converts from 1985 to 1998

  15. New York: 1985 to 1998

  16. Pennsylvania: 1985 to 1998

  17. Michigan: 1985 to 1998

  18. Texas: 1985 to 1998

  19. California: 1985 to 1998

  20. Converts from 1998 to 2010

  21. Breakdown: Parameters • Blacks: 95% • Hispanic: Occasional • Chinese, Japanese: Rare • Males: 97% • Females: 3% • Age: Roughly 18-45

  22. Growth: 1985 to 2011 • Period: 2-22-85 to 9-18-2011 • In years: 26 1/2 Yrs • Converts’ Number: 8,4085 • States Reached: 44 • Total Prisons: More than 650

  23. Previous Religions • Claimed None • Christians • Catholics • Protestants • Muslims (rare) • Jews (Exceptional)

  24. Educational Level • Low: Majority by far • Fair: A Small % • High: Exception • Priest (Wrote Book: Life of Muhammad (pbuh) • One Wanted to go to Qum • One intends writing Maghazi of the Prophet

  25. Income of Quran Account Inc. • Contributions: 79% • Sales of the Qurans: 10% • Sales of Books: 10% • Prisoner Payments: 1%

  26. Income of Quran Account Inc.

  27. Expense Nowadays • Per Convert: $10.00 • Per Year (250 Converts): $2,500.00 • All Work Voluntary • Cost includes: • Books, • Quran, • Bulletin, • Mailing, • Supplies, and • Stationery.

  28. 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

  29. Prison Libraries Reached

  30. 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

  31. 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

  32. 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

  33. 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

  34. 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)

  35. 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

  36. 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

  37. 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

  38. 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

  39. 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

  40. 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

  41. 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

  42. Future Needs I • Organize Sending Paid Daa'i to Prisons • Locally • Regionally • State Wide • Training after Release: • Religious • Vocational

  43. 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

  44. 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

  45. 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

  46. 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

  47. Rules • No idea is a bad idea • Be creative • Take risks • No criticism allowed

  48. 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

  49. Finally Be in Allah’s Care May Allah Bless you Abundantly

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