Learn to Know One Another

These are certainly interesting  and troubling times we live in today.  In a time when we should be turning toward each other, there are those who turn away from their neighbor.  At a time when we should extend a friendly hand toward our neighbor, there are those who offer nothing and rebuff any gesture of civility.  At a time, when we should band together to achieve solutions based upon equity, justice and love, there are those who blame the other for their problems and instead make hateful and untruthful statements.  It is in these times, that give all of us the opportunity to do something positive.

 To accomplish this, we must put forth the time, energy and effort to learn about our neighbor, the person that does not look like us, does not worship where we do or who thinks differently than we do.  One must educate oneself and not believe the hateful rhetoric that portrays Islam as anything but a just, peaceful and loving faith.

Let’s dispel the myth and malicious talk:

 Islam is a religion of peace, justice and love where all human beings are created equal regardless of their gender, race or color.  ( Qur’an, 3:195).

 It is a religion of charity committed to providing basic human needs and eradicating poverty.  Islam also is a religion of justice that commands us to act justly.  Witness the work of Zaman International under the leadership of Najah Bazzy.   Zaman is an organization dedicated to the many needs of humanity through time honored principles of social justice such as equity, equality, opportunity, education, economic relief and the continued enhancement and advancement of the human family.

 In my work I have seen nothing but examples of equality, charity and social responsibility by the Muslim community.  In Southwest Detroit it was the Yemeni community helping in a community outreach effort to bring all citizens together to work for a better neighborhood.  In St. Clair Shores it was the members of the mosque who opened their arms to the community to welcome and better know their neighbors.  In a recent meeting with Margo Schlanger of the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in the Department of Homeland Security, members from the Muslim, Chaldean, Hispanic and Indian community came together as one to express their collective concerns as to how each group is treated by Homeland Security.  While they may all worship at different places, they all expressed common ideals of fairness, justice and respect for each other.  After the attempted bombing in Detroit on Christmas Day 2009, a group of Detroit-area Imams held a press conference to speak out against violence and to pronounce that Islam is a faith a peace and love.

We all must commit ourselves to learn about those who don’t look like us or don’t pray as we do.  The Qur’an commands it when it states that we are created so that we may know one another.  When we do that, and then begin a dialogue with the other person, we will build a relationship of respect, trust and love. 

One cannot pray at her or his respective place of worship on the weekend and then prey on one’s fellow human beings the remainder of the week.

Because,  as reflected in the words of Edmund Burke, All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men and women do nothing.

 

 

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