Tag Archives: unity

Santorum and the God of Abraham

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In the Name of the Kind and Beautiful Precious Beloved Lord

It seems that former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum’s presidential run is running out of steam. According to the Huffington Post, Santorum is “taking a pause from Florida campaigning just days before the Tuesday primary that even he expects to deal him a third consecutive loss.” Yet, despite the fact that he is likely not going to become President of the United States, there is something he said while campaigning in South Carolina that intrigued (and amused) me.

At a town hall meeting before the South Carolina vote, Santorum asked a crowd: “Where do you think this concept of equality comes from? It doesn’t come from Islam. It doesn’t come from the East and Eastern religions…It comes from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that’s where it comes from.” He meant that, if people want equality, then they must live by God’s rules since the concept of equality “doesn’t come from Islam” but from “the God of Abraham.” This begs the question: which rules are God’s rules and who is say what those rules are? But, I digress…

Still, his statement was quite telling because it is painfully obvious that Santorum has absolutely no idea that the God of Islam is the very same God of Abraham. Islam has always maintained that Muslims worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the Hebrew Prophets. In fact, Islam is nothing less than the religion of Abraham himself, as outlined numerous times in the Quran: “And lastly, we have inspired thee [O Muhammad, with this message,] “Follow the creed of Abraham, who turned away from all that is false and was not of those who ascribe divinity to aught besides God.” (16:123).
Yes, many Muslims call God by His Arabic name “Allah,” but so do Arab Christians. In fact, open up an Arabic Bible, and the name for God is none other than “Allah.” Why, even Jesus Christ himself called God “Allah.” If someone wants to become “Leader of the Free World,” I would expect that he or she would know that Muslims worship the same God as Christians and Jews. That’s pretty basic information.

I take Mr. Santorum at his word that he loves and worships the God of Abraham. So do I. That should be our point of reference; that should be our point of convergence. No, we don’t worship the same way, but that is totally irrelevant. The fact that we both call upon the God of Abraham makes us brothers, and as brothers, it should move to bring us together to help make our country better. Presumably, that is why is running for President: to make our country better. So why the divisiveness over the God of Abraham, Who should always be a force for unity and brotherhood.

The same should go for all Americans of faith (and it should extend to those who do not profess an “official faith” or any faith at all). Our common love and worship of the God of Abraham should bring us together. It is what the Lord our God wanted for us. Why not heed Him?

Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/commonwordcommonlord/2012/01/santorum-and-the-god-of-abraham.html#ixzz1khkCcRlH

Let Us This Day Never Forget

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In the Name of the Kind and Beautiful Precious Beloved LORD

On this Day, sunny and bright, warm as it was then
And the people gather to remember and pray
Let us this day never forget
The carnage and terror of that fateful day.

And as the nation marks the darkness of those hours
And the fallen are glorified after the Lord
Let us this day never forget
That we stand together as a patriotic horde

Now as the time will pass from this moment
And the screams of the ignorant may grow in screech
Let us this day never forget
Our unity is our strength, and hatred will never be our speech.

Middle East Online: Hopes and Fears Ten Years After

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In the Name of the Kind and Beautiful Precious Beloved LORD

This was published in Middle East Online.

I was a bit sleepy as I walked into the resident physician lounge. I was just finishing up my overnight duties, and I was preparing to discuss the patients with the morning team when I saw it. On the TV screen, I beheld smoke billowing from the second tower and asked, “What idiot would fly a plane into a building in New York?” “They’re saying it’s deliberate,” was the reply, and the dread fell over me like a ton of bricks. As I drove home, I listened on National Public Radio as the chaos of those initial hours unfolded, with my fear growing by the minute. When I went home, I watched the towers fall and prayed that I was going to wake up from a terrible dream. Tragically, I was not dreaming.

My eldest daughter was enrolled in an Islamic parochial school, and it closed that day and remained closed for several days out of fear of reprisal attacks. The hospital actually called me back to stay the night, in case of another attack in Chicago, as medical back up. Thankfully, I was not needed. But the shock and awe of that day and what had happened remained with me for many, many months.

As it became clear that so-called Muslims were behind the attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, it hurt me on multiple levels. As an American, I was horrified at the evil manifested on that day; I was horrified that any human being would have the gall and depravity to kill almost 3,000 innocent people at one time. It was unconscionable that such horror could ever be committed in my name as a Muslim. Further, however, it hurt to be lumped together with such criminals in a cloud of suspicion and hatred. Although, thankfully, not widespread, there was a backlash against innocent American Muslims (and even non-Muslims) by some fellow Americans, in revenge for the attacks. The fear of attack at our homes, places of work, and houses of worship was palpable for a long time.

That is when the beauty of the American people became manifest. An overwhelming number of fellow Americans came through for their Muslim neighbors, making them feel safe and at home. Everyone at work was making sure I was all right. When some people marched on a suburban mosque here in Chicago, the police response was prompt, peacekeeping and protective, sending the message that they are committed to keeping us safe. All across the country, non-Muslims formed human chains around mosques, in a show of brotherhood and solidarity. The whole country came together in those days and weeks after 9/11, and for the most part, American Muslims were welcomed into the fold.

That togetherness, that sense of unity — I am afraid — has been seriously eroded ten years after September 11. There is a concerted effort on the part of a small, but very well-funded, cadre of people that seeks to marginalize and even criminalize the American Muslim presence in our country. Some of their efforts, it seems, may have worked, as polls show an increasing discomfort with Muslims, even though misunderstanding about even the basic tenets of Islam abounds. This despite the fact that American Muslims are quite mainstream and very similar to other faith groups, according to a recent Pew poll. And despite perceptions to the contrary, the poll showed negligible support for extremism in American Muslim community.

As the weeks and months pass after the tenth anniversary of 9/11, the calls for hatred and division will only increase. Many of the Republican candidates for President have outwardly declared “Sharia law” as an existential threat to the United States, and I suspect this will only get worse as the campaign for the nomination heats up. I am sure that many will recall the horrible events of 9/11 to smear American Muslims. Let us not wait for another tragedy to come together and reject this sentiment. In the Pew survey, most American Muslims (80%) say other Americans were either friendly or neutral towards them. That is true, and I hope and pray the goodness inherent in our people will always win the day and drown out the hate of the extremists.

AGENCE GLOBAL

Shiite, Sunni, and “Sushi” Muslims: Middle East Online

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In the Name of God, the Kind, the Beautiful

Thanks be to the Precious Beloved, this was published today on Middle East Online.

 

The entrance of Saudi troops into Bahrain in support of the government there was a disturbing escalation for me. The protests in Bahrain are an internal, local issue, and what Saudi Arabia has to do with another country’s internal dispute is beyond me. If it were to intervene anywhere, why not do something about the ongoing massacre in Libya? Yes, Bahrain is right next door while Libya is hundreds of miles away, but — from this Muslim’s perspective — it doesn’t add up.

That is until you realize that, in Bahrain, it is Shiites protesting against a Sunni ruling elite. About Saudi Arabia’s move, (Beirut) Daily Star editor-at-large Rami Khouri says, “It accelerates the long-simmering ideological war between some Arab leaders and the Iranian government, with an unspoken but strong undertone of Shiite-Sunni tensions.” There is a considerable Shiite minority in Eastern Saudi Arabia — right next to Bahrain — and perhaps the Saudi troops are a signal that they will not tolerate the same uprising on its own soil by Shiites. Perhaps, as some see it, the Saudi move is a signal to Iran that it is ready to resist further encroachment of Persian influence in the region. Only time will tell.

Yet, a persistent undercurrent to the conflict in Bahrain and between most Arab governments and Iran is the Sunni-Shiite “divide.” I place this word in quotations on purpose, because, at its essence, the difference between Sunni and Shiite Islam is quite minor.

At its core, the “divide” between Sunnis and Shiites is a dispute over religious leadership. At the time of the death of the Prophet Muhammad (632 AD), there was a disagreement over who should rightly succeed the Prophet’s leadership. Some felt it should have stayed in the House of the Prophet, and specifically, pass to his cousin and son-in-law, Ali. The majority of the people, however, elected the Prophet’s close friend and companion Abu Bakr. Indeed, even Ali briefly did not accept the leadership of Abu Bakr, but he eventually gave Abu Bakr his full allegiance. In the reign of the first three Caliphs, in fact, there was no such thing as the Sunni and Shiite “divide.”

It was only during the civil war in the reign of Ali that the term “Shiite” even came into being, coming from the Arabic “Shi’at Ali,” or “partisan of Ali.” Essentially, Shiite Muslims assert that religious (and political) authority stems from and resides in the House of the Prophet. Over the years, Shiite Islam evolved and developed a number of offshoots, but this is its core belief. Sunni Islam, on the other hand, is more “democratic,” in that religious (and political) leadership can reside with anyone in the larger community, as long as the community accepts that person’s qualifications.

Another important distinction between Sunnis and Shiites is the issue of the probity, or upright character, of all of the Prophet Muhammad’s Companions. It is a fundamental part of Sunni doctrine, whereas some Shiites do not necessarily ascribe to it.

Yet, the core beliefs of Sunnis and Shiites are the same: They both worship the One God of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus; they both believe in the Prophethood of Muhammad; they both accept the Qur’an as holy scripture. Over time, differences in political philosophy developed into distinct schools of thought, especially with respect to matters of Islamic law, but this took centuries to develop. Many people associate with Shiites an intense love for the House of the Prophet, but this is also an essential aspect of Sunni belief: One cannot be truly Muslim and not love the family of the Prophet. In fact, two stalwarts of the Sunni community — Imam Malik and Imam Abu Hanifah — were ardent supporters of the House of the Prophet. They could be called “Political Shiites” because of this support.

Throughout Islamic history, Shiites have been oppressed and mistreated by the Sunni majority. And there have been members of both communities that maligned the other, and fanned the flames of sectarianism. Some Sunnis deem all Shiites as “heretics” and “infidels.” Some Shiite extremists have maligned some of the Prophet’s closest companions. But these are deviations of each tradition. The vast majority of Sunnis and Shiites have been living together in peace and harmony for centuries. The disputes that are raging today between Iran and the Sunni Arab states are all about politics; religion is merely a garb to hide the true nature of the conflict.

While technically I am a Sunni Muslim, there are many aspects of Shiite philosophy with which I have no problem. In fact, I have frequently called my self a “Sushi,” a Sunni-Shiite hybrid, using a term coined by American Muslim leader Salam Al Marayati. I am completely against any stoking of Sunni-Shiite tension; it is completely sinister, and it only leads to division and discord at a time when Muslims need love and unity.

I may not participate in a Shiite religious ceremony, such as that on Ashura, but I will stand next to a Shiite Muslim in prayer any day. I am proud to call myself “Sushi.” And I don’t even like fish.

The Inter-Faith Revolution: Middle East Online

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Thanks be to the Precious Beloved, this article was published on Middle East Online.

 

The events and images coming out of Egypt in the last two weeks have been nothing short of extraordinary. I have never been more inspired by seeing ordinary Egyptians – young and old, rich and poor, man and woman — finally stand up to the brutality of a dictator who has ruled for over three decades. Despite the vicious crackdown by police, the letting loose of criminals to wreak havoc, the attack of paid “Rent-A-Thugs” on innocent and peaceful protesters, and the attempt to silence the international media, the people of Egypt have not backed down. I have never been more proud to share their ancestry.

Yet, perhaps the most awe-inspiring images to come out of Egypt occurred on February 4, dubbed the “Day of Departure” by Egyptian protesters. In Alexandria, Christian Egyptians stood together — hand in hand — and formed a human chain to protect their fellow Muslim Egyptians as they prayed their weekly Friday prayers in the street. This in the very same city — about a month before — where a Christian church was viciously bombed by terrorists seeking to foment sectarian strife and violence in Egypt. It seemed that they returned the favor of the Muslims who came out on the Coptic Christmas and formed human chains to protect their Christian brethren as they celebrated.

On February 6, dubbed the “Day of the Martyrs,” Egyptian Muslims and Christians each performed prayers for those who have been killed during the uprising in Cairo. According to Al Jazeera, people were chanting, “Muslims and Copts [Christians] hand in hand for a new dawn to rise” in Tahrir [Liberation] Square, the center of the protests. A woman named Nadia tweeted, “Off to Tahrir to attend Christian mass. My father — a 73-yr-old ill, bearded conservative Muslim — is with me.”

These extraordinary images and events belie the contention of some who claim that Muslims and Christians cannot live and work together in peace in the Muslim world. Yes, there have been truly horrific attacks on Christians in the Middle East, such as the brutal attack in Iraq. Yes, there is no denying that there has been tension between Muslims and Christians in Egypt. But, as recent events have shown, their unity as Egyptians in the face of a brutal dictatorial regime far outweighs any differences in faith. When all is said and done, they are all Egyptians, Muslim and Christian alike.

Such events have also occurred here in the United States. In the aftermath of the attacks of September 11, local Christians in the Chicago area formed a human chain around a mosque, so that the Muslims on their way to Friday prayers were safe from reprisal attacks. It was a powerful moment of heart-warming unity that has, sadly, faded as the years passed after September 11. Indeed, it is natural for people to come together in times of crisis, such as the attacks of 9/11, the uprising in Egypt, and the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona.

Yet, we do not need to wait until after a crisis to come together. It is my hope and prayer that the images of interfaith unity that are coming out of Egypt inspire us to come together as a people, regardless of our faith traditions. All across this country, mosques have been attacked and even firebombed, just as churches were during the civil rights struggle. In countless communities where plans for mosques have been drawn up, there has been fierce resistance by some in the community, sometimes going so far as setting fire to construction equipment.

But, if Christian Egyptians can come together and form a human chain around their Muslim neighbors to protect them, we can do the same here. If Muslim Egyptians can show up on Christmas Eve and form human chains around churches to show their Christian neighbors that they are there for them, then we can do the same here. In fact, we should form our own “human chains” around all our communities, to protect them from the forces of hatred and bigotry that are working hard to divide this country and tear it apart. In Egypt, they are saying, “We are all Egyptians.” We must never forget that, each and every day, no matter what our background, we are all Americans.