A common prophet brings 3 religions together
Feb. 11 interfaith dinner commemorates “Abrahamic Traditions”
The Bosphorous Dialogue Association, a student organization currently registered with the University of Minnesota, and the Niagara Foundation of Minnesota, a Minnesota state/Twin Cities-based interfaith dialogue group — invite interested members of the public to be their guests at the 2nd Annual Dinner of Abrahamic Traditions at 6:30 pm on the 11th of February, 2010. This is a unique opportunity for members of the Christian, Islamic, and Jewish faiths to celebrate their shared roots and traditions derived from their common ancestor, the Prophet Abraham (Peace Be Upon Him).
Taking Heart, taking action: Interfaith gatherings look at civic engagement
Jan. 14/Feb. 4 interreligious workshops will look at getting engaged in solving civic problems
By Gail Anderson, Minnesota Council of Churches
Gail Anderson, unity and relationships organizer with the Minnesota Council of Churches, organizes the interfaith project “Taking Heart,” which brings Muslim and non-Muslim neighbors together over good meals and good conversation. This is Ms. Anderson’s recent letter announcing the next Taking Heart events January 14 and February 4, 2010.
Taking Heart participants,
I hope you are all coping well with our miserable weather, and are staring the New Year with joy. I want to remind you of the upcoming Taking Heart workshops. Please let me know if you will be able to attend. As with our regular Taking Heart gatherings, there will be a meal. Here’s the information:
We have contracted with Brian Rusche Executive Director of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC) to run two training sessions on civic engagement in early 2010. We will still have food and conversation, but the conversation will be directed toward learning about advocacy. JRLC is the largest and most inclusive interfaith public interest group in Minnesota—people of diverse faiths bringing vision and wisdom to the public realm for the well-being of Minnesotans. JRLC is authorized and governed by four sponsoring members: the Minnesota Catholic Conference, the Minnesota Council of Churches, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, and the Islamic Center of Minnesota.
Brian will help participants identify an issue of concern in their own community. Training modules include:
–Introduction to the concepts of civic life and civic leadership
–Life-work exercise to clarify one’s aspirations in civic life
–Power analysis exercise; to bring democratic standards to problem-solving
–Value-driven calendar; to help leaders prioritize their work for the good of the community
–Civic goals and standards for community work
Participants will help each other develop work products and also receive one-on-one mentoring from the trainer.
The workshops will be held on Thursday, January 14, and Thursday, February 4, 2010 from 6:00 – 7:45 p.m. We will meet at the Minnesota Church Center, 122 Franklin Avenue West in Minneapolis. There is free parking in the lot at the Church Center. A meal will be served. There is no charge for the workshop but we do require pre-registration and recommend that you be able to attend both sessions to get the full value.
Please respond via e-mail or phone to Gail Anderson, Director of Unity and Relationships at the Minnesota Council of Churches, Gail.anderson@mnchurches.org, or 612-230-3210. Please include your religious affiliation so that we can make this a true interfaith experience. I am excited about this new phase of the program. I hope to see many of you there.
–Gail Anderson,
Director of Unity and Relationships
Minnesota Council of Churches
Learn more:
- Taking Heart: Visit a Mosque, Share a Meal
- Information about the Taking Heart project from the Minnesota Council of Churches.
- A list of Minnesota interfaith resources.
Problems with Profiling
Aviation security overreaction is counterproductive
By Tamim Saidi, Engage Minnesota
Originally published in the Saint Paul, Minn., Pioneer Press, January 6, 2010
I fully sympathize with those who are sincerely concerned about terrorist attacks. As I heard of the attempted terrorist attack on the Northwest flight from Amsterdam to Detroit, I had flashbacks of my recent flight home to the United States from Amsterdam. I could only imagine how worried and frightened our family would have been in that plane.
But as I hear the calls for profiling people like me, an American Muslim with darker skin and an unfamiliar-sounding name, to prevent terrorist attacks, a few names and faces of terrorists come to mind: Timothy McVeigh, Terry Nichols, Richard Reid, Jose Padilla, Paul Hill and Adam Gadahn.
My God or Your Lord: Whom Should We Worship?
Understanding about God, from an Islamic Perspective
By Tamim Saidi, Engage Minnesota
Tamim Saidi
Immediately after the teacher introduced me and before I had finished my first sentence, I noticed a hand raised high from a young man who asked, “Why is your God better than my God?”
The Kool-Aid Syndrome and Somalia’s Fading Hope
Naari meel qabow ma leh.
–A Somali adage that says there are no cool corners in hell
By Sadia Ali Aden
Approximately nine months ago, the UN-sponsored peace conference in Djibouti produced the current president of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. President Ahmed’s internationally supported unity government continues to be mired down in internal conflict; a conflict rooted in the 4.5 clan system formula. It is a system that remains the most persistent impediment to peace, justice and equality, because it promotes, legitimizes and generously rewards the warlords (and their militias) who for nearly two decades perpetuated violence and chaos, and tarnished the credibility of the Somali people and the state.
Within this volatile mix are the President’s former colleagues who feel profound contempt and a sense of betrayal towards him and his current allies; allies accused of running with the glory of having defeated Ethiopia’s brutal forces, which occupied Somalia from December 2006 to January 2009 and humiliated the Somali public. They accuse the President’s camp signing agreements without consultation and the consent of all of the Alliance for Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) stakeholders.
The Asmara-based alliance, composed of exiled parliamentarians, Islamic Courts Union (ICU), and members of the Diaspora is an alliance that, while it lasted, was a beacon of hope.
The agreement, while applauded by the international community, has left other groups within the Alliance feeling alienated – especially the ICU’s military wing (Al-Shabab) who played a crucial role in liberating Somalia—and through their resilience afforded the ARS the credibility to negotiate with the world.
Sadly, the ARS has now broken up into multiple groups; Hisbul Islam, Al-Shabaab, and a third group led by Sheikh Ahmed, president of the current “unity government.” The breakup has dashed the hope for a peaceful and truly stable Somalia, for it has multiplied the chaos.
Muslims’ pilgrimage and Eid: Celebrations of Abraham
By Tamim Saidi
EID MUBARAK (BLESSED EID)
Muslims’ Pilgrimage and Eid are celebrations of Abraham’s life and his struggles. Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice), which is the second of Muslims’ major annual celebrations, will be celebrated around the world, including Minnesota, around November 27, 2009 (and about 10 days earlier each year thereafter).
The two eids, Eid of Sacrifice and Eid of Ramadan, are joyous celebrations for the 1.5 billion Muslims around the world, and are as significant to the Muslims as Christmas is to Christians.
The Eid of Sacrifice and the pilgrimage (Hajj) are both celebrations and commemorations of the incredible sacrifices made by Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him, as his way of submitting to God, including his willingness to sacrifice his young son for the sake of God. Both of Abraham’s sons, Ishmael and Isaac, are considered prophets of God, and Muslims believe Prophet Muhammad is a descendant of Prophet Abraham through his son, Ishmael. Muslims also revere Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) and Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) as prophets and messengers of God, and descendants of Prophet Abraham through his son Isaac (peace be upon him).
Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story
Chimamanda Adichie gave a wonderful talk about how we humans stereotype each other and see the other through our negative single stories or negative personal experiences which not only rob people of their dignity, but also create walls that separate us from each other.
Some excerpts of the talk to reflect on:
“I wrote exactly the kind of stories I was reading. All my characters were white and blue eyed.”
“I realized that people like me, girls with chocolate skin and kinky hair that could not be formed into a pony tail could exist in literature.”
“Their poverty was my single story of them[Nigerian family].”
“She felt sorry for me even before She saw me.”
A Peace of My Mind
By John Noltner, A Peace of My Mind
John Noltner
“A Peace of My Mind” is a documentary project I have been working on for the past half year. It was born out of a desire to give a voice to people who believe in peace. It is easy to become discouraged and even angry when we listen to the shrill rhetoric that can be found in the mainstream media. Complex issues are boiled down to talking points and black and white answers while the true answers are found in the subtle nuances in between.
The premise of “A Peace of My Mind” is simple. To interview individuals from a wide range of backgrounds about their thoughts on peace and what it means to them in their lives, what they do to work toward it and what obstacles stand in their way. Their peace can be a spiritual peace, political peace, inner peace and it is about what moves them. The idea is that the more we can talk about peace and the more we can keep it in the public dialog, the more likely we can achieve it.
Speaking of Faith: Revealing Ramadan
Filed under: Guest | Tags: Revealing Ramadan; Speaking of Faith; Islam; Muslims
Leave a Comment By Brad Robideau, American Public Media
I’m writing to alert you to a groundbreaking special project from American Public Media’s Speaking of Faith unfolding in and beyond Ramadan.
Several months ago, Speaking of Faith extended an invitation to Muslims to reflect on their lived experience of Islam, of what it means—in a daily, particular way—to be part of what is often referred to in the abstract as “the Muslim world.” Responses continue to flow in from people all over the world. They range in age from their teens to their 70s. They are Iraqi-American Californian, but also Mexican-American and Russian-American converts from other faiths. They’ve come from Indonesia, Turkey, England, and from robust Muslim communities in places like Dallas.
Pride Is Source of All Problems
By Engage Minnesota
We need to purify our hearts before we solve the world’s problems.
Ramadan: Beyond Abstaining from Food and Drink
Filed under: Tamim Saidi | Tags: fasting, holy month, hunger, Muslims, Ramadan, Tamim Saidi, thirst
Comments (1) Tamim Saidi
By Tamim Saidi, Engage Minnesota.
I vividly recall the first couple of years that I fasted as a young teenager. All I could think about was food. Even when I took a daytime nap, I dreamt of food. Ramadan follows a lunar calendar, and when it falls in long summer days like this year, abstaining from food and water becomes more challenging, but Ramadan is not merely about food and water. For practicing Muslims, it is about righteousness and God-consciousness. It is about making one a better person and a better Muslim. Read more »
Ramadan: Photo Story
Breaking Fast with Milk and Dates.
Time to Pray and Thank God.
Focusing on God
Time to Eat and Connect with Family and Friends :)
Ramadan Mubarak (Blessed Ramadan)
Filed under: Engage Minnesota, Fedwa Wazwaz, Guest | Tags: Fedwa Wazwaz, Muslims, Ramadan;Islam
Leave a Comment By Fedwa Wazwaz, Engage Minnesota
Ramadan Mubarak (Blessed Ramadan)
…
“The month of Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down, a guidance for the people, and clear verses of guidance and criterion.”
Quran: Chapter 2, 183]
The fourth pillar of Islam is Sawm, or fasting in the month of Ramadan. Fasting is also practiced in many other religions and is mentioned in the Torah and Bible as well as in Hindu scriptures. Observant Christians fast during Lent by giving up a particular food. Hindus fast on certain days of the week or on holidays, and for Jews, the most important day of fasting is on Yom Kippur, which lasts a little over a day.
Ramadan is the 9th month in the Islamic Calendar. Because Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, it rotates through the seasons, moving back around eleven days each year. Last year, Ramadan started in September 1st and this year, the Islamic Society of North America, declared Ramadan to begin on August 22nd, 2009.
Minneapolis and Najaf become Sister Cities
By Luke Wilcox, Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project
On July 31st, 2009 the Minneapolis City Council passed a resolution by unanimous vote establishing Minneapolis, USA and Najaf, Iraq as official Sister Cities. The resolution came after more than a year of work to build support in the two city councils by the Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project (IARP) and its partner organization in Iraq the Muslim Peacemaker Teams (MPT). Najaf is now the tenth Sister City for Minneapolis and the first in the Middle East.
Soon after the resolution passed, IARP received the following note from Malka ali Kadhim al-Haddad, Assistant Professor of Arabic Language and Literature at the University of Kufa in Najaf: Read more »
“A Small Kindness”
Filed under: Guest | Tags: ayisha yahya, building blocks, hunger, Islam, Minnesota
Comments (3) Feeding the Hungry in the Twin Cities
By Ayisha Yahya.
A quick glance at your grocery bill is evidence that a dollar just doesn’t go as far as it used to – the cost of food is rising. But while some people can still afford to stock up the fridge and pantry, for others, hunger is a persistent problem. Read more »
‘Crusaders of Justice’ Tells Minnesota’s Civil Rights History
Filed under: Guest | Tags: African Americans, Arthur McWatt, civil rights, NAACP
Leave a Comment 
Crusaders for Justice book cover courtesy Papyrus Publishing
“Crusaders for Justice: A Chronicle of Protest by Agitators, Advocates and Activists in their Struggle for Civil and Human Rights in St. Paul, Minnesota” will be the subject of book-signing events with the author from 11:30 a.m – 1:00 p.m. Friday, June 5, 2009, at Rondo Community Outreach Library, 461 N. Dale St., St. Paul; and from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Friday, June 19, 2009, at Golden Thyme Coffee & Cafe, 921 Selby Ave.
By Ann Cader
Papyrus Publishing
…In 1946, the 14th Annual St. Paul Open Golf Tournament barred African American competitors Solomon Hughes and Ted Rhodes…
…In 1968, vandals set fire to the St. Paul house that John McKinney and his family had saved up for 17 years to buy. Friends and neighbors helped the McKinneys repair their house….
A new book by retired Johnson High School history teacher Arthur C. McWatt relates hundreds of such incidents, big and small. They reveal the dangers, obstacles and humiliations that faced St. Paul’s African Americans over the past two centuries.
Curiosity Camp offers Insight Into Islam
By Lara Roy
Curiosity Camp
Curiosity Camp, a series of one day learning adventures for adults offered by the College of Continuing Education at the University of Minnesota, will feature a program titled Insight Into Islam on June 23 at the Islamic Center of Minnesota. The day’s program will feature speakers from the Islamic Resource Group, the University of Minnesota, and Mizna, a journal of Arab-American poetry and prose. Here is a full description:
Islam is the predominant religion in much of Africa and the Middle East, as well as in major parts of Asia and eastern Europe, with more than one billion adherents worldwide. However, misperceptions about Islamic religious, cultural, and social practices abound. During this Camp, which is offered in partnership with the Islamic Center of Minnesota, you will spend time at the Center and learn about Islam from a variety of perspectives.
During an introductory talk, you will be introduced to Muslim culture, practices, and beliefs. You also will learn about the earliest Muslims in this country, the development of conversion movements in the African American community, and the impact of West African Muslim culture during a presentation on the roots of Islam in America. Read more »
Obama’s Message to the World’s Muslims
By Dr. Ghulam M. Haniff
Dr. Ghulam Haniff of St. Cloud State University
In recent months President Barack Hussein Obama has delivered two messages, one after another, aimed at Muslims, designed to indicate that the U. S. foreign policy towards them is changing. The first one took place through an interview with correspondent Hisham Melham of TV Al-Arabiya and broadcast to the countries in the Middle East. The second one, carried by many television networks throughout the world, was a speech on the floor of the Grand National Assembly, the Turkish parliament.
Each one conveyed almost identical messages. The gist of each message was that America is reaching out to the Muslims and that the current administration would take concrete actions to engage the followers of Islam in building bridges of understanding and partnership.
Islam Awareness Week 2009 – “Islam Contributing to U.S. National Interests”
Filed under: Guest | Tags: Islam, islam awareness, national interest
Comments (2) By Lolla Mohammed Nur, Engage Minnesota
Every year, Muslim students at the University of Minnesota organize Islam Awareness Week, one of the largest events held by the Muslim community on campus for non-Muslim Minnesotans. Sponsored annually by the Muslim Students Association and Al-Madinah Cultural Center, Islam Awareness Week (IAW) has become a vibrant tradition usually filled with various events such as lectures, seminars, and featured entertainment. All are aimed at spreading awareness of Islam as a dynamic religion by presenting several contemporary issues from an Islamic perspective. Read more »
President Obama is Creating History in International Relations
President Obama’s speech in Turkey might as well go down in history as the speech that changed the course of history in modern times. I feel a thrill run down my spine as I remember casting my first ever vote for our President. In fact, I feel honored to be a contributing factor of this history-making President who, during his first foreign trip, showed the humane, considerate, respectful, engaging, compassionate, honorable, and truly positive side of our country. He showed the world something that has been missing for the past decade. Read more »
