Posts (page 2)

Coexist

The weather and the atmosphere were bright and sunny on that Sunday afternoon in Roseville, Michigan.  As we approached the Sacred Heart Catholic church, we witnessed a multitude of diverse people representing many faiths.  We greeted, and were greeted with salutations of peace as we entered.  The first several minutes included a barrage of smiles and handshakes.  Walking into the main seating area, we saw familiar faces and many that we had never seen.  We received our program agendas and right at 2:30, the program began.  “Hello, I am Father…”  “Asalaamu alaykum, I am Imam…”  “Shalom, I am Rabbi.”  “Good afternoon, I am Reverend…”  The respected clergy began to introduce themselves. 

“Where are you from?” I was asked.  “Lebanon,” I answered.  “I’m from Lebanon, he is from Iraq, and he is from Syria.”  The respectful Christian sister behind me addressed me again, “Where is your religious center?”  “I am from the mosque in …” I answered.  “Oh, so you are a Muslim?”  “Yes” I replied.  I was a bit worried at what response to expect from her after clarifying my religious affiliation.  Then she smiled and told me that she was happy to meet me and was glad I attended.  I smiled back and thanked her for her kindness.  She put out her hand to shake mine.  “Sorry my dear sister, please don’t take offense, but in Islam, we are prohibited to shake the hand of a woman unless she is a close relative, please understand.”  Then I put my hand on my heart and said, “You are in my heart.”  Once again she smiled and said, “I’m sorry, I was unaware.  God bless you.”  I replied in the likewise.  She asked, “Is your mosque open to non-Muslims as well?”  I said, “Yes.  We welcome people of all faiths and schools of thought.  In fact, our doors are always open.”  I then handed her the brochure of my mosque and the religious organization I direct.  She was very pleased.  The smile she ended our conversation with set the tone for what was to come.

The Emcee of the event was a Muslim girl wearing hijab (the traditional Islamic dress).  “To begin the event, we will recite Amazing Grace.”  I have never recited this song.  However, I quickly caught on with the rest of the congregation.  It was amazing sight.  All of us had come together, not seeing each other as Muslims, Christians, and Jews, but as human beings, united in peace as God had intended.  Certain words from the recitation lingered in my mind, “peace,” “love,” and “hope.”  The church echoed with the voices of the people, it was not the voice of the elderly man, it was not the voice of the young girl, it was the voice of all, synchronized in harmony which reverberated for all to hear.  I remember feeling like this was a revolution, a victory even, against those who harbor hatred for those of other faiths out their stubborn arrogance.

The Father approached the podium first.  He was the Archdiocese of our area.  He spoke about our common values.  “God loves the Palestinians and He loves the Israelis,” he so eminently declared, “God loves us all.”  He then paused for a moment because he wanted to read the mission statement of the newly created coalition of religious dialogue.  The group was called, “One People, Same Needs.”  However, he was not able to because he forgot his reading glasses.  The Imam who sat beside me, who is known for his enthusiasm and sense of humor offered the Father his reading glasses.  The Father was well pleased and perhaps even surprised.  “Thank you very much Imam,” he said.  The Imam responded, “No problem, you’re welcome.  I just hope that you don’t start reading in Arabic now.”  The entire congregation began laughing and it was a nice ice-breaker.  The Father began reading from the mission statement, “We all face the same problems.  We are all in this together.  Our aim is to use our common values to tackle the issues that we all face as members of this society.  Issues such as divorce, home foreclosure, financial counseling, drug abuse, bankruptcy, and unemployment.  You either have these problems or know someone who does.  We must work together on the basis of the common values our various religions share.”  Needless to stay, he received a riveting ovation from the audience. 

Then the panel began speaking, one by one.  The Rabbi began, “Shalom!” he exclaimed.  We responded in the likewise.  He spoke about our common link to Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him).  He spoke about the struggles Abraham faced to bring a positive change to mankind.  He spoke about the moral basis that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all share.  This was the first time I heard a Rabbi speak in person, and it was quite a learning experience. 

Then the Imam spoke.  He spoke about coping with problems and finding solutions.  He quoted a verse from the Qur’an that states, “Surely we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods, lives and the fruits (of your toil) but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. Those who, when misfortune strikes them, say: ‘Indeed we belong to God (Allah) and to Him is our return. Those are the ones upon whom are blessings and mercy from their Lord and it is those who are rightly guided.” (2:155). He also discussed our responsibility to help those in need, regardless of religion.  He advised that we must be patient and work to improve our society. 

Next was the honorable Reverend.  He stated that God created us in a give and take, interdependent way.  For example, husband and wife, child and parent, boss and worker, etc.  He stated that God wanted us to give so that we may be blessed to receive.  He spoke about the universality of peace and the need for further dialogue between our religions.  He cited from a wonderful book which was a collection of verses from the holy books of all faiths.

And last, but not least, a spokeswoman from a local social organization called Focus: Hope spoke at length about the positive role her organization has had.  They have been active in the Detroit area since 1968 offering such benefits as counseling on various issues, job placement, technical training, and many other things.  She said that she was honored to be in the presence of the respected religious leaders and called on everyone to try to do their part, no matter how small, to ensure a bright future for all. 

At that point, the floor was open for questions and comments from the congregation.  One sincere Christian sister asked, “What I can do to help?”  The Father responded, “We will meet again Wednesday morning for future planning.  We would love for you to join us.”  Then the Imam from the panel said, “Whatever specialty you have we would welcome.  For anyone, if you are good at organizing, or writing, or if you can volunteer your time, we must get the word out to the public.” 

Then one gentleman from the audience stood up.  He has worked in the credit union business for over 50 years.  He discussed the credit crisis and spoke about the challenges he overcame.  He offered his help as well and urged everyone to work together, putting aside our differences and working for the greater good. 

Then the enthusiastic Imam who was seated beside me stood up and thanked all those who attended.  He spoke about the Qur’anic verse, “O mankind! We have created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is (he who is) most God-conscious. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).”  The Imam said that God has created us differently, so that we make the journey toward each other and develop as human beings.  Without progression, we cannot attain our goal of seeking perfection.  He said that we must value diversity and unite under the banner of peace and spirituality.  The congregation broke out in applause and it was very inspiring. 

Next, much of the audience went to the basement of the church for lunch and further discussion.  I was curious to speak to the Rabbi.  He had earlier blown through a horn to mark the ceremony and I wanted to take a closer look at it.  Then I noticed the Tallit, or prayer shawl he was wearing.  He explained its significance.  To my surprise, he said that he works with many Muslim Imams.  We began speaking further and the more we spoke, the more I found out we had in common.  He mentioned that the Jewish people are waiting for their Messiah and he asked me if we had that concept in Islam.  I replied with the affirmative.  I told him that we believe in the Mahdi (in Arabic, the Guide).  I told him that he has other names, “The Relief”, “The Proof (of God)”, and “The Hidden Imam.”  I told him that we believe he will return with Jesus (peace be upon him) to fill the earth with peace and justice after it was filled with tyranny and injustice. 

Soon, I was one of the only people left upstairs and I was approached by a kind, wonderful woman.  She said to me, “Are you so and so?”  I replied “yes.”  I realized she was the person with whom I had first spoken with about the event and she went out of her way to get me information and assist me.  I thanked her and we had a very nice discussion. 

Soon after, I joined the rest of the people in the basement and we had great dialogue over an array of ethnic dishes.  We discussed how we can work together to improve the quality of life of all, including issues such as unemployment, religious tolerance, and future plans.  We began an interfaith group that will meet regularly and support one another. 

I made a lot of friends and met some wonderful people.  This was a great experience.  I only wish that those who have prejudice against other faiths and people would have been there just to see how wrong they really were.  Unfortunately, such people often have a stubborn mentality that stems from arrogance, thinking that they are better than others.  In that church, on that Sunday, we proved that we were all equal and that religion can be a tool used to unite people of different backgrounds, not a tool of separation.  I also realized that what brought us together were the common problems that we face.  Therefore, in a way, the problems that we face can actually be a blessing in disguise.  May peace be upon the lovers of peace and may those who spread hate find nothing but frustration and failure.  Thanks for reading.

Pope

Pope: Qur'an a precious book

Thu, 01 May 2008 18:00:43

Pope Benedict XVI

Spiritual head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI, has paid reverence to the holy book of Qur'an and termed it as precious.

Issues discussed about faith and reason in Christianity and Islam were very important and need consideration, said the Pope in a meeting with Mahdi Mostafavi, the head of Iran's high-ranking visiting delegation to the Vatican.

Stressing the importance of faith and reason in today's world, he said no effort should be spared in this regard.

For his part, head of Iran's Islamic Culture and Relations Organization Mahdi Mostafavi responded that there is an overwhelming need for faith and reason now compared to the past.

Mostafavi also voiced Tehran's readiness to promote cultural and religious cooperation between Iran and the Vatican and offered the Holy See a copy of the Qur'an.

In a joint statement on Wednesday, both sides said they had drawn similar conclusions on several issues including 'the non-violent essence of faith'.

"Neither reason nor faith should be used by violence; unfortunately, both of them have been sometimes misused to perpetrate violence," the statement read.

The two sides also conceded that religions should be interpreted according to a 'holistic view' and not by selective interpretations of texts taken from their holy books.

Tehran has agreed to host the next round of Iran-Vatican talks in 2010.

My opinion:  I think the Pope has proven that he had no bad intentions when he made his past comments.  I think it actually may have been a blessing in disguise.  Since that time, it has begun a dialogue of goodwill and respect between the heads of the respective religions.  Also, I am happy to say that such cooperation will anger the war-mongers.  : )

Candle

Often times, we as human beings, get caught up in the affairs of this complicated world.  We envision ourselves as a tiny drop in the ocean of life.  We may consider ourselves as insignificant.  When people of love and compassion witness the cruelty and oppression that exists in our world, we cannot help but feel saddened and at times frustrated.  At the same time, we may feel distress at the fact that we as individuals do not have the ability to intercede or help those who are less fortunate.  All the while, those in power who promote this idea, do so to keep the general population from speaking out against their evils.  They strategically send a negative message through the media while keeping the general population busy with entertainment (reality TV, movies, sports, MTV, alcohol, and even illegal drugs).  Don’t get me wrong, I like to watch movies and sports like anyone else.  However, I think there needs to be moderation in anything that we do.  We must be balanced and be vigilant of how the world around us works to ensure a safe environment for ourselves and our future generations. 

So the question arises… Can we as individuals make a difference?  Well, I will weigh-in and you decide. 

Firstly, this foundation should be established.  In Islam, we believe that God (in Arabic, Allah) offers his guidance to all of humanity.  It is the human being out of his ignorance and arrogance that rejects that guidance, and therefore is lost; not knowing the purpose of his existence, not knowing his role in this life, unsure of how to treat others and himself; and therefore, vices like hatred, intolerance, and arrogance become habitual in him. 

Evil does not exist as an entity.  God does not create evil.  Evil is simply the lack of goodness, caused by those who make the cognitive choice to commit acts void of goodness.  For example, does a lie exist in essence?  The answer is no.  A lie is simply something other than the truth.  Does darkness exist as an entity?  The answer is again no.  Darkness is the absence of light.  This is what we mean when we say that no one can extinguish the light of God because truth, light, and goodness are created entities that overcome falsehood and darkness.  He (God) provides us with light and truth; therefore these entities that He created for us are absolute.  To explain further…

When we work for peace, tolerance, and spirituality in this world we are like a candle in a dark room.  If we are in a sealed dark room with no light, we cannot even see our hands in front of our faces.  However, if even one photon of light is present, the human eyesight can locate it.  Similarly, that light, although all alone in the room of darkness, will serve as a Guide for all to follow.  That light, wherever it goes, easily overpowers and removes whatever darkness is present.  That light provides warmth and comfort for those who seek it and only cause anger to those who live in darkness. 

My dear brothers and sisters, we can be that light in the darkness.  Our efforts to promote peace & understanding, although small, humble actions, can make a huge difference.  And if we cannot do it alone, we can unite with each other to bring about positive change in the society in which we live.  Brother Malcolm X (may God rest his soul) said, “It is our duty as men, as human beings, to organize ourselves… It is our duty to our people.”  We have a saying in Islam which states that small acts of goodness done in moderation, is much better than good acts performed with over-exertion done rarely.  So dear friends, we can make a difference.  Let us not be bogged down by our daily affairs and materialistic desires which are never-ending.  Let us work to help each other and it all starts with us.  The Qur’an states, “God will never change the condition of a people until they first change that which is in their hearts.” 

The human being is the highest creation of God.  However, it is up to the human being to reflect that.  Islam teaches that the angels are beings created to serve God.  However, it is their honor to do so, since God is in need of nothing.  So the angels do not have the whims and desires that humans do.  Therefore, they do not have the ability commit acts of evil or aggression.  In contrast, animals rely solely on instinct.  For example, a snake kills its prey simply for survival.  So what about those who kill other people for political motives?  Or those who kill unjustly to ensure their grip on power?  With that said, we as human beings can be above the angels in rank, or can be lower than wild animals in status.  This depends on our actions since we have the intelligence like the angels and we have the carnal desires like the animals, both have been instilled in us.  We must remember that our prayers and good acts do not benefit God one iota.  He is free from any need.  He is the Creator of matter, energy, space, and time, therefore, He cannot be measured by these forms of relativity.  If He gained from our actions, that implies that at one point he was deficient, and a change took place, and if a change took place with God, that means He gained or lost something.  Thus if the case, this would not fall in the definition of God, who is Infinite and all Good.  We do good acts because we need Him and we need to train ourselves to make this world a better place. 

So dear friends, will we work for peace?  Will we treat people of other religions with respect, goodwill, and love?  Will we return anger with anger, or will we return it with peace?  Will we accept the guidance and follow the light, or will we reject and destroy our humanity?  It is in our hands.  What we should remember is that we can make a difference in this world and this is our duty.  May peace be upon you.

-Uniter

Butterfly

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared in it. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through the little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and could go no farther. Then the man decided to help the butterfly.

He took a pair of scissors and snipped the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. Something was strange. The butterfly had a swollen body and shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that the wings would enlarge and the body would contract any moment. The wings would then support the body in flight. Neither happened. In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and deformed wings. It was never able to fly.

The man in his kindness and haste did not understand the process. The butterfly needed some struggle to come out of the small opening of the cocoon. This was the God‘s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it became free. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go through all our life without any obstacles, that would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been and without bad times, we could not appreciate the good times. Not only that, we could never fly.

Capitol

From: www.unitedforpeace.org

April 7th, 2008

What You Can Do

* Sign the open letter to Rep. John Murtha

* Thursday, April 10th: Join the nationwide congressional call-in day

* Participate in a town hall meeting in your area

* Call radio talk shows and write letters to the editor

This week General Petraeus, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker will testify before the House Armed Services Committee and both the Senate Armed Services and the Senate Foreign Relations Committees. What can we expect to hear? More falsely optimistic accounts about the "success" of the surge in Iraq and arguments for why it is important for the U.S. to stay in Iraq.

As if this isn't bad enough, in a few weeks Congress will take up a White House request for $110 billion more to keep the war and occupation going.

It is long past time for Congress to take action and use its power to end this nightmare. It can provide funds needed for the safe and orderly withdrawal of our troops -- by some calculations those funds have already been appropriated -- but it must stop paying for war.

Fear and excuses -- "we don't have the votes," "the Republicans are too stubborn," "the Democratic leadership will cave," "nothing can happen before the election" -- are the only things standing between our representatives and senators voting their conscience and following their constituents' wishes.

Too many members of Congress have learned to camouflage their actions with critical rhetoric, but in the end they capitulate to the White House. This will happen again unless anti-war activists step up the pressure immediately and make this $110 billion request a contested issue that legislators cannot ignore.

We must not allow Congress to sleepwalk until the next election. If congressional representatives and senators continue to support the war and keep our troops needlessly in Iraq, then we must publicize their record and hold them accountable in November.

Here's what you can do:

1) Sign on to a letter to Rep. John Murtha, who chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. This letter, initiated by our friends at Win Without War, will be sent to every member of Congress, calling on them to:

Stop funding the war: Give the Pentagon only enough money for the safe and orderly redeployment of US troops out of Iraq;

Support a diplomatic offensive -- as recommended by the Iraq Study Group -- to build a comprehensive solution involving many countries;

Stop funding the construction of permanent military bases in Iraq and military contractors;

Refuse to fund any permanent "security agreement" between President Bush and Iraqi President Maliki unless first approved by Congress and the Iraqi parliament.

2) On Thursday, April 10th, join the nationwide congressional call-in day. Let your representative and senators know that you don't buy the Petraeus line, and they shouldn't either. Tell them to vote no on more funding for the war and occupation in Iraq.

3) Participate in Town Hall meetings that are being organized in congressional districts all around the country. To find out what's happening in your area, or to learn how you can organize one, click here.

4) Throughout this week, call radio talk shows and write letters to the editor explaining why you want the war and occupation in Iraq to end, and why you don't want Congress to allocate more funds.

We are at a critical moment in our efforts to force Congress to act on the will of the people and use its power to end this war and occupation. For all of the hard work we've all been doing, now is the time to re-double our efforts. We cannot quietly sit by and watch another $110 billion be allocated for this war!

Yours, for peace and justice,

John Bruhns, Legislative Action Coordinator, UFPJ

My opinion: This administration (In America it’s called an Administration, in the Middle East, it’s called a regime) has abused and plundered whatever rights are left in the constitution.  Their lies, deceit, bribery, human rights abuses, and blackmail are publicly evident.  To top it all off, they want more money to continue to further their agenda which is oblivious to the demands of the American people and serves to cater to the lobby groups in regard to foreign policy.  May God help this country from the chaos this regime has caused which will affect us for generations to come.