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