VOICE OF GLOBAL UMMAH
Mehrun Yusuf Behavioral Health
Volume 15, Feb 17, 2008
Editor: Hajji. Mohamed Ziauddin
IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST BENEFICENT AND MERCIFUL
ONE OF THE KEYS TO ATTAIN GLOBAL PEACE AND HARMONY IS – “BUILDING ON INTERFAITH RELATIONS”:
VISUALIZE WORLD PEACE: VISUALIZE EACH OF BELOW TULIP REPRESENTATIVE OF ONE PARTICULAR RELIGION.
Below is from a wonderful brochure published by FOUNDATION FOR ISLAMIC KNOWLEDGE titled “LIVING TOGETHER”.
“O’ Mankind, Allah 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 YOU DESPISE EACH OTHER). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). Holy Quran: (49:13)
GENERAL:
How can we live together peacefully and happily? People may see things differently because they may have been taught and raised differently. The basic measures and standards with which people evaluate and assess things are different, and, as such, their approaches to life are different.
IGNORANCE:
In order to live peacefully among other people, one has to realize that it is the concept IGNORANCE about others which makes people to denounce one another. To be stubborn, arrogant, vicious or closed-minded does not help solve any problem. Remaining ignorant and unwilling to learn about others will augment the problem. IT IS ONLY THROUGH PROPER EDUCATION, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION THAT PEOPLE MAY COME TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER. THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL THEY APPRECIATE ONE ANOTHER. One should seek knowledge from every source available. GOD HAS CREATED ALL OF US FROM ADAM AND EVE. As far as Muslims are concerned, they were instructed to live in peace and harmony with the Creator, with themselves, their families, their relatives, their neighbors, the society, the environment and the universe.
PROPHETS OF GOD:
Muslims are instructed to believe in all the prophets and messengers of God (Allah) to mankind. The Quran mentions twenty five prophets. Of these, five are considered to be mighty and most influential prophets. These are Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammed (SAW).
Above illustrates that the prophets of Judaism and Christianity are also the prophets of Islam. In the Holy Quran it is stated: SAY: ‘WE BELIEVE IN ALLAH, AND THE REVELATION GIVEN TO US, AND TO ABRAHAM, ISMAIL, ISAAC, JACOB, AND THE TRIBES, AND THAT GIVEN TO MOSES AND JESUS, AND THAT GIVEN TO (ALL) PROPHETS FROM THEIR LORD: WE MAKE NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONE AND ANOTHER OF THEM: AND WE SUBMIT TO ALLAH”.
Holy Quran (2:136).
LIVING PEACEFULLY:
To live together in peace and harmony, one has to realize that others might be as good as you are if not even better. One cannot know what is in the hearts of other people, and one does not know the intention of others. It is Allah alone, the Creator Who knows everything. Muslims are told in the Quran that among the People of the Book there are those who are staunch believers and good practicing servants of God.
MUSLIMS SHOULD BE THE MOST TOLERANT PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TOWARDS NON-MUSLIMS.
Indeed, they have proven this to be throughout history. They have coexisted with Christians, Jews, Hindus, Persians, Sikhs and Buddhists regardless of whether the Muslims were in majority or minority. They have lived throughout most of their history on good terms with people of other faiths.
THE NEED OF THE HOUR IS FOR MUSLIMS TO CONTINUE TO OPEN THE DOOR FOR DIALOGUES AMONG PEOPLE OF OTHER FAITHS.
FINAL REMARKS:
In order to live peacefully and work together with integrity and honesty, one has to recognize the following:
- People should think of their duties and responsibilities before they ask for their rights and for their privileges.
- The God fearing people should recognize that their method to reach and/or approach God is not the only way. It is not only the method that counts, but also the GOOD INTENTION AND GOOD WILL.
- God has created people with a rainbow of colors, a rainbow of races, a rainbow of nationalities, a rainbow of languages, and a rainbow of creeds. They were put together on this planet to compose a coalition, to work together, to help one another, and to RESPECT ONE ANOTHER.
- PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN DIFFER FROM ONE ANOTHER, YET THEY SHOULD WORK TOGETHER DESPITE THEIR DIFFERENCES.
- PEOPLE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT THEIR FUTURE WILL NOT BE BETTER UNLESS THEY CAN BENEFIT FROM ONE ANOTHER’S BACKGROUND, FAITH, CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION. (Ed note: For example, instead of playing with words describing CLASH BETWEEN ISLAM AND THE WEST, it can be reframed as BLENDING BETWEEN ISLAM AND THE WEST).
- Those who claim to be God-fearing have to realize that NONE OF THEM HAS BEEN GIVEN THE AUTHORITY TO JUDGE PEOPLE. THERE WILL BE A DAY OF JUDGEMENT AND IT IS GOD ALMIGHTY WHO IS THE SOLE AUTHORITY IN JUDGING PEOPLE.
- People should be equal in the eyes of the law. No one is better than the other. No one should be considered superior and no one group is better than the other due to their biological composition or appearance.
- People have to understand that they should render their services to others without exploitation, coercion, or conversion or proselytization.
- Leadership is not bestowed on anyone and it will never be offered freely to anyone and that it has to be earned.
- Might should not be considered to be right, rather RIGHT IS MIGHT.
Part II:
MUSLIMS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO VISIT THE BLOG:
“muslimpositive.blogspot.com from which below information has been obtained to PRACTICALLY APPLY ABOVE CONCEPT OF LIVING TOGETHER AND BUILDING ON INTERFAITH WORK.
- MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN, JEWISH LEADERS SEEK PEACE BETWEEN U.S AND IRAN: Des Moines – A coalition of Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders is calling for American and Iranian authorities to open negotiations and stop planning for war.
- MUSLIM SCHOLARS SEND CHRISTMAS GREETINGS, CALL FOR PEACE, RECONCILIATION AND DIALOGUE: Paris: Leading Muslim Scholars have addressed warm Christmas greetings to Christians around the world, a message notable both for what it said and the fact that it was sent to all:
- The greetings sent by a group of 138 Sunni, Shiite, Sufi and other scholars who recently proposed a dialogue with Christian leaders, called for peace on earth and thanked Church leaders who have responded positively to their invitation. THE MESSAGE WAS UNPRECEDENTED BECAUSE THERE HAS NOT BEEN UNTIL NOW SUCH A LARGE GROUP OF ISLAMIC SCHOLARS THAT COULD DRAFT A COMMON LETTER”. Islam is a decentralized faith, with no Pope or Archbishop who can speak for believers as a group. While individual Muslim clerics have exchanged holiday greetings with Christians in the past, nothing on this scale has been possible before.
- MUSLIM STUDENT DEFENDS JEWISH RIDERS UNDER ATTACK IN NY SUBWAY: New York: A suspected bias attack on four Jewish subway riders has resulted in a friendship between the Jewish victims and the Muslim college student who came to their aid. Walter Adler is calling Hassan Askari a HERO for intervening when Adler and three friends were assaulted on a subway train in lower
- MUSLIM CONTRACTOR BUILDS JEWISH TEMPLE FOR FREE IN ARKANSAS: Fayetteville, Arkansas: Br. Fadil Bayyari a general contractor, will build the first permanent temple for the REFORM JEWISH CONGREGATION in Fayetteville, of which Bill Feldman is President. Br. Bayyari, a Palestinian-American Muslim, is doing the job AT NO CHARGE. Without his sacrifice, the congregation probably could not afford the project at all. “TO ME, IT’S
SUGGESTIONS:
Whether you are a student or employee, have an open mind when it comes to understanding the perspective of your friend or colleague of a different faith. Keep the torch of human curiosity ON. The more you want to understand the other; there is increased probability that he or she would like to reciprocate by wanting to know more about you and Islam.
Check with your local Masjid if they have any interfaith activity, if they don’t, then it does not hurt to make a suggestion of exploring such a possibility in the form an “INTERFAITH INITIATIVE”. There is always a first time.
WE AT MEHRUN-YUSUF BEHAVIORAL CARE STRONGLY BELIEVE IN ADVOCATING FOR INCREASED INTERFAITH ACTIVITIES AND BELIEVE THAT TO COME CLOSER TO THE VISION OF GLOBAL PEACE, WE MUST GO BEYOND OUR UMMAH AND LITERALLY EMBRACE ALL OF MANKIND WITH ALLAH AS OUR WITNESS.
As usual, feel free to e-mail your valuable suggestions and comments to info@mehrunyusuficds.com.
2 comments:
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