Bob Collins
Hesham Hussein died over the weekend in a car crash in Saudi Arabia.
He founded two Islamic schools and was a frequent voice for the Twin Cities’ Muslim community.
He had occasional appearances in MPR stories, most recently one about the refusal of some Muslims who work checkout counters to handle pork, and the controversy a year ago in Minneapolis when some Muslim cab drivers refused certain fares on religious principles.
Back in 2004, he talked with MPR’s Brandt Williams for a series on Islamic life.
“And the same is when you are growing up in a Muslim country and it’s occupied and there’s poverty and there is no chance for receiving a good education, there is no chance of getting good jobs there is no hope and for a lot of these families and these youth growing up for the future, then you start seeing these things.”
Last April he was invited to give the opening prayer at a session of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
· In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
· Praise be to God, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds;
· Most Gracious, Most Merciful; · Master of the day of judgment.
· We worship you, and seek your help
· Guide us to the straight path,
· The path of those whom you blessed, not those who deserve wrath, nor those who went astray.
· God, show us the truth as it is true and give us the ability to follow it
· And Show us falsehood as it is false and give us the ability to avoid falsehood
· And not confuse it with truth
· God you are Just.
· We seek refuge in you from injustice; whether suffering injustice or causing injustice to others, we seek refuge in you
· God, join our hearts in all goodness and give us the ability to understand those who have different opinions than us. Make our debate a way through which you guide us to what is best for us.
· God, our knowledge is limited and your knowledge is not
· Bless our time and our efforts and help us speak for those who can not speak for them selves,
· Help us provide a shelter for everyone who needs a shelter, Help us provide care for everyone who needs care, Help us take care of our elders and provide education for our children
· God increase our resources and bless them for us
· Bless our budget and guide us to the best way to spend it for the benefit of every resident of our state.
· God, You are the peace, the source of peace, enable us to live in peace and resolve our differences in peace.
· God Bless our hearts, our souls, our bodies and our minds. Protect us from all evil, Protect us from Greed, from arrogance, ignorance, from violence, from fear.
· Bless our time, our effort, our people and our state.
· Ameen.
You can view his appearance at about a minute into the video here.
(H/T Online Rilha)
