Muslim Convention Hosts Minister and Rabbi at Interfaith Panel

During the convention's ''Nurturing Compassionate Communities through Interfaith Partnerships and Cooperation'' session, these religious leaders discussed how people of faith can work together to overcome the divisions that weaken communities.

Session moderator Sayyid M. Syeed, director for the Office of Interfaith & Community Alliances for ISNA, said Muslim Americans succeed when they are active in society and create dialogues with people with shared religious experiences.

''Solidifying the Muslim community in America has been derived from a pluralist democracy, where our strength has also been derived from people of other faiths who have been in the same struggle over centuries,'' Syeed said. ''We are particularly thankful to God, that he has given us this unique opportunity of establishing alliances, brotherhood and sisterhood, with people of Abrahamic faiths that has facilitated our work in America.''

Michael Kinnamon, general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, discussed three ways to build a compassionate community.

''What does it mean to be a compassionate community? R30; Feeling the sorrows and joys of one another, welcoming strangers even as we too have been welcomed and caring together for the most vulnerable in our society and all of these are things that we can do as interfaith partners,'' Kinnamon said.

To stress the personal impact of interfaith dialogue, Kinnamon talked about the recent death of his father. Connecting with others, to understand their sadness, and their joy, are integral parts of a nurturing community, he said.

''I have to admit that 10 years ago I likely would not have shared with you this news about my father because I wouldn't have had the sense of connection, the sense of community to make it meaningful. R30; I wouldn't have thought to ask Muslim neighbors to share my sorrow and my remembrance, but thanks be to God and thanks be to a decade of dialogue and partnership, including most particularly with ISNA, I now recognize that we are a community of children of the same, sovereign creator,'' Kinnamon said.

The act of welcoming strangers is shared by the religious traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. After reading a passage from the Quran to make this point, Kinnamon said a religious and historical precedent exists for Christians to welcome Muslims into their communities.

''If your Muslim neighbors are not welcomed, then we are not welcomed. If you are threatened, then we are threatened. In this sense, how we welcome Muslim neighbors is a litmus test of whether we Christians are living as compassionate communities,'' he said.

Rabbi Jeremy Schneider, of Temple Shalom in Dallas, is familiar with the concept of welcoming wayfarers. In fact, Muslims welcomed him in Cairo and in Damascus, Syria, on an interfaith mission from America to the region, he said.


Abdul-Malik Mujahid is chairman of the board of trustees of the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions.Three years ago, Jewish and Muslim leaders at the ISNA convention chose 10 mosques and 10 synagogues that would build a dialogue. Schneider's congregation was among of those chosen.

Working with the Muslim community has challenged him both professionally and personally.

''And for that I say, I am grateful,'' he said.

When speaking at his synagogue, Schneider said, he has challenged notions of ''Islamaphobia'' that exist in his community and in others.

''I told my community that we must face our fears. Acknowledge our ignorance and our stereotypes,'' Schneider said. ''We must learn what Islam truly stands for not from politicians, not from e-mail forwards, not from the media, but from Muslims themselves by engaging in dialogue.''

Facing each other in dialogue, even when it is uncomfortable, is a key for building a strong society, he said.

''To see more friends in our communities, we must be willing to step out of our comfort zones,'' Schneider said. ''Dialogue is not about winning an argument or changing one's belief, it is a disciplined act of communicating and listening.''

Abdul-Malik Mujahid, chairman of the board of trustees of the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions, stressed the importance of interfaith efforts in connecting people.

''Faith is about interconnectedness, not just between an individual and God, but also between others and ourselves,'' Mujahid said. ''Today, more than ever, people of faith must implement the tradition of interconnectedness at a much broader level.''

Mujahid said forging dialogue with Muslims on a personal level will change American perceptions of Islam. Referring to surveys about American views of Islam and Muslims, he said survey workers wanted to know why more than a quarter of Americans hold a favorable view of the religion.

''So they asked them what was the reason. The most common thing that they found is that they knew someone who is a Muslim,'' Mujahid said. ''Human connectedness is an extraordinarily important thing, and that is what interfaith does.''

As a way to build communities based on peace and justice, Mujahid called on Muslims, Christians and Jews to gather their resources to fight the challenges of poverty, torture and violence.

Representative Keith Ellison, a Democrat from Minnesota and the first Muslim elected to the United States Congress, offered his thoughts on the importance of interfaith activities. His son, Isaiah Ellison, read his father's message at the panel session.

''Our faith traditions are different and when we are called to worship, it is important to us. As human beings, our manner of seeking the face of the divine is precious to us but the call to serve humanity is not unique, the divine presence calls all of us to his service,'' Ellison said. ''We already know the differences but through direct interaction, we can get to know one another and not dispute each other anymore. We get a chance to learn from the best among us who offers sincere devotion through the service of others.''

(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://www.america.gov)

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