Post on 18-Dec-2015
10,062 Converts to Islam 1985-2015
Dr. A.S. Hashim
Con avance automático y audioCon 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 Programc. Analysis of converts in different Statesd. The establishment of Quran Account as tax-exempt
organizatione. The supply to Prison Libraries of Qurans and Islamic
Booksf. The outreach that had extended over a 24 year periodg. 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. Qurans
2. Books and Literature
3. Means of communications, and
4. 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
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
10000
1985 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 '1 '3 '5 '7 '9 10 13 15
C o
n v
e r t s
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: 10,062
Overflow to other organizations
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
Statistics: Period 1985-1998
State Share: Cities ConvertsNew York: 66 1608
Pennsylvania 36 1497
California 51 494
Maryland 14 461
Michigan 24 277
Texas 38 274
N Carolina 51 259
Converts from 1985 to 1998
0200400600800
10001200140016001800
C o n v e r t s #
NY PA C A M D N C M I T X
S t a t e s
New York: 1985 to 1998
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Comstock
Dannemora
Malone
Elmira
Sonyea
Rome
Pennsylvania: 1985 to 1998
0 50 100 150 200 250
Graterford
Camp Hill
Philadelphia
Bellfonte
Huntingdon
Michigan: 1985 to 1998
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Kincheloe
Jackson
Baraga
Detroit
Carson Cty
Texas: 1985 to 1998
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Tenn Colony
Amarillo
Colorado City
Gatesville
Beaumont
California: 1985 to 1998
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Tehachapi
Ione
Vacaville
Soledad
Tracy
Converts from 1998 to 2010
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
C o n v e r t s #
T X C A N C N Y M I I L G A F L A R
S t a t e s
Breakdown: Parameters
Blacks: 95%
Hispanic: Occasional
Chinese, Japanese: Rare
Males: 97%
Females: 3%
Age: Roughly 18-45
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
Previous Religions
Claimed None
ChristiansCatholics
Protestants
Muslims (rare)
Jews (Exceptional)
Educational Level
Low: Majority by far
Fair: A Small %
High: ExceptionPriest (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: 79%
Sales of the Qurans: 10%
Sales of Books: 10%
Prisoner Payments: 1%
Income of Quran Account Inc.Income of Quran Account Inc.
Book Sale10%
Converts1%
Contribution79%
Quran Sale10% Quran Sale
Book Sale
Contribution
Converts
Expense Nowadays
Per Convert: $10.00Per Year (250 Converts): $2,500.00All Work VoluntaryCost includes:1. Books, 2. Quran, 3. Bulletin, 4. Mailing, 5. Supplies, and 6. Stationery.
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
YearYear Libraries suppliedLibraries supplied
20012001 3232
20022002 2525
20032003 3030
20042004 2424
20052005 2929
20062006 3535
20072007 3535
20082008 2929
20092009 3636
20102010 4141
20112011 3333
20122012 3434
Prison Libraries Reached
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 relationshipOccasional 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 PrisonsLocally
Regionally
State Wide
Training after Release:Religious
Vocational
Future Needs II
Visitations by Daa'i
OrganizationsTo Train Released Converts
To Find Jobs for Released Converts
Released Converts to Form own OrganizationsJob 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 conclusion1. A model to reach out for converts2. Education had a remarkable effect3. Mechanics of doing it is explained4. Evolution and growth is highlighted5. Finance is detailed6. The hope is you do the same
Finally
Be in Allah’s Care
May Allah Bless you Abundantly