Muslims, Jews and Christians Break Bread Together
Thomas Ryan, CSP
Christians and Jews gathered with Muslims for the 2nd Annual Congressional Interfaith and Intercultural Ramadan Iftar Dinner held on 19th September at the Cannon House office building in Washington, D.C.
The event took place at the end of the first week of Ramadan (rom-a-don), the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar during which Muslims abstain from food, drink and other sensual pleasures from dawn to sunset. The fast is performed to exercise discipline, self-restraint and generosity, while obeying God's commandments. Fasting (along with the declaration of faith, daily prayers, charity, and pilgrimage to Mecca) is one of the "five pillars" of Islam.
In what is becoming an increasingly popular practice around North America, local mosques host interfaith iftars (fast-breaking meal) and other social activities. Mosques may also have special prayers, called taraweeh, after the daily nighttime prayer. In the last odd-numbered nights of Ramadan, Muslims mark Lailat ul-Qadr ("Night of Power" or "Night of Destiny"). The end of Ramadan is marked by communal prayers called "Eid ul-Fitr," or Feast of the Fast-Breaking, on October 12, 2007.
The Washington Congressional Iftar was sponsored by the Rumi Forum, a non-profit organization dedicated to interfaith and intercultural dialogue. The organization was named after the 13th century philosopher-poet Mawlana Jalaladdin Rumi, who spread a message of love and acceptance to all. The program included guest speakers and a live performance of traditional Sufi (the mystical branch of Islam) music.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), noted that Muslims did not suffer isolation in America as they did in other parts of the Western world, and that Islam is now a visible part of the North American landscape. “For many Muslims the world over,” he said, “America is the dreamland.”
Ihsanoglu, whose organization has 57 member-countries, made clear that “the OIC has denounced radical fringe elements of Islam. We see the same terrorist elements are working hard to drive a wedge between Islam and America. We are sure that they will fail,” he said.
Muslims share values with North Americans of respect for knowledge, justice, and compassion, Ihsanoglu said, observing that “historically Islam has demonstrated great tolerance to people of other faiths.”
“To portray Islam as hostile to dialogue and interfaith understanding is false. We consider interfaith dialogue as part of a wider intercultural exchange. Extremists exist in all religious traditions,” he said. “Their impact is disproportionate to their numbers.”
Ihsanoglu stated that the OIC is engaged in disseminating moderation as a characteristic of mainstream Islam. Quoting the poet Rumi, the 800th anniversary of whose birth is celebrated this year, he said, “The lamps are different, but the Light is the same.”
Rabbi Haberman, Rabbi emeritus of the Washington Hebrew Congregation, observed that 800 years ago when Rumi was born there were better relations among Jews, Christians, and Muslims than there are today. “His funeral was attended by people of all religions. We have forgotten the challenge of the prophet Malachi: ‘Have we not all one Father?’” The children of Abraham must realize that each is an extension of the other, he said after telling the story of a ring worm who, upon meeting another, asked, “Who are you?” To which the other responded, “I’m your other end!”
Fr. Thomas Michel, SJ, secretary for interreligious dialogue for the Society of Jesus in Rome, invited believers today to stand in the manner that a compass is used in geometry: with one foot planted in the center (of their own faith), and the other used to trace a wider circumference of spiritual friendship with people of other faiths.
“When believers remain focused on the core of their faith,” he said, “they find a compassion that opens them to all who seek God.” Michel, too, brought forward a Rumi quote: “Stay in the company of lovers. They have something to show you.”
But it was his eminence Archbishop Demitrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America who drew the most bemused and affirming response from the audience. The small, elderly churchman with a long white beard framed by his black robe and veil drew an IPhone from his pocket and held it up for all to see. He proceeded to recount how many thousands of hours of music it could hold, how many addresses and phone numbers, files and images it could contain.
“As human beings we can produce this,” the archbishop said. “It’s an amazing witness to what we can do. As religious leaders and people of faith, we have the vocation to compete with the IPhone in producing human connectedness and love.”
Fr. Thomas Ryan, CSP, directs the Paulist North American Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations in Washington, D.C.
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