Documenting Muslim American History: No fuss, no muss — and thus, no news media that I could see. Meanwhile, dozens of representatives of the Muslim men and women who have served in our armed forces and/or in civilian capacities (such as police, fire chiefs and one of the first African-American paratroopers), were being recognized during Day 4 of The Mosque Cares 2010 Annual Muslim Convention & Ramadan Session, Sunday at the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, NJ.

Not far away,  The New York Times’ editors cluelessly were proclaiming, American Muslims Ask, Will We Ever Belong?, even as the largest community of Muslims in the United States of America was celebrating our existence here before Columbus, our service to our native country since, and our seamless, productive participation in the fabric of our nation.

Our news organizations’ promotion of ignorance is especially  shameful in a time when demagogues and political opportunists are exploiting the vacuum in which — again, aided by media culpability — most Americans know the stereotypes, but don’t know Muslims.

For decades, however, many others have come to know these All-American Muslims who are advancing the legacies of giants such as Imam W. Deen Mohammed, the Hon. Elijah Muhammad, the Blessed Lady Chiara Lubich, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., El Hajj Malik Shabazz and others, and upholding the standard of all the Bright Lights who — through the ages — have focused attention on, and  exemplified, the excellent human being that our Creator is making.

More Day 4 scenes (click to enlarge):

— C.B. Hanif

“We Cannot Stop Now” developing the ties of love, unity and mutual progress established by our dear leaders, the Blessed Lady Chiara Lubich and Imam W. Deen Mohammed. A look at our historic Muslims & Focolare workshop, and more Saturday afternoon scenes:

— C.B. Hanif

Given the choice between catching up on my Quran reading (as we try to cover 1/30 during each day of this fasting month), or, providing details regarding the start of things at the Garden State Exhibit Center here in Somerset, NJ — well quickly, here are some scenes. Ramadan Mubarak (Ramadan Blessings) All.

— C.B. Hanif

Islam, by defintion, rejects terrorism

By C.B. Hanif

The Palm Beach Post

October 15, 2006

As one who grew up rooting for Tarzan and Cheetah to whip up on my Afro-wigged cousins portraying Hollywood’s idea of Africans, I can understand how people buy into social myths of one sort or another. And having been as clueless as most folks regarding religious traditions beyond the ones with which we grew up, I am not surprised to hear certain perceptions some folks have of Muslims.

But it is curious to observe otherwise rational people defining Islam by those who behave opposite of what the faith prescribes. To confuse the lunatic fringe with Islam’s mainstream is where much of the discourse on significant current events gets off track.

So as a Muslim heading down the home stretch of our month of rededication and dawn-to-dusk fasting called Ramadan, it is heartening that despite the barrage of guilt by association of Muslims as terrorists, many people know better.

Newsweek reports (http://www.msnbc.msn.com) that thousands of members of the Roman Catholic peace group Pax Christi USA are fasting for Ramadan. And that especially since 9/11, “non-Muslims have fasted to express political solidarity with Muslims, to increase awareness of global hunger, as a spiritual discipline, or to strengthen interfaith friendship.”

Rather than campaigning for folks to change their religion, that sounds like encouraging more who claim one to live their religion.

It also suggests fewer folks are buying when a Tom, Dick or Hanif claims the cultural practices or politics of his native Egypt, Sudan or Brooklyn represent Islam. And that more people are correctly associating Muslims with the authentic sources of the faith: the Quran and true example of Mohammed the prophet.

Another take on fasting friends came in the letter my close friends in the Focolare lay Catholic community (www.focolare.org) just shared from their Center for Interreligious Dialogue in Rome. It announced that members of the movement, along with fellow Christians and folks of other religions and convictions who would like to do so, will “be united with you in a day of prayer and fasting for peace,” as proposed by other organizations, on Oct. 20, the last Friday of Ramadan.

The letter also conveyed the hopes of Focolare leader Chiara Lubich that, “as our spirituality suggests, every obstacle may become a springboard toward a much deeper brotherhood among us.”

The statement exemplifies how when I’m among members of that worldwide, multiethnic, multi-religious family that lives like the first Christians, I hear the articulation of my own spirituality as a Muslim coming back at me in different language. So much so that I realized days after a recent Focolare meeting in Hialeah that Pope Benedict XVI’s comments on Islam had not even come up.

I’m with the Muslims who join the pope in calling for an end to all religiously motivated violence and persecution in some so-called Muslim societies.

One interesting analysis, however, comes from journalist, peace activist, former member of the Israeli Knesset and self-described atheist Uri Avnery. On “Mohammed’s Sword” (http://world.mediamonitors.net/content/ view/full/35746), he wrote that:

“The story about ‘spreading the faith by the sword’ is an evil legend, one of the myths that grew up in Europe during the great wars against the Muslims — the reconquista of Spain by the Christians, the Crusades and the repulsion of the Turks, who almost conquered Vienna. I suspect that the German pope, too, honestly believes in these fables. That means that the leader of the Catholic world, who is a Christian theologian in his own right, did not make the effort to study the history of other religions.”

But those are points for dialogue among our responsible religious leaders. Down on our level, familiarity is breeding knowledge, respect and love. The talk is of family, cultivating the human spirit, building our communities and maybe a bit of World Cup soccer. Through the fog of old assumptions comes clarity and even agreement on what we believe. Such as that there should be no compulsion in matters of faith, as the Quran prescribes.

When others take such verses out of their historical context, I am reminded that both the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Ku Klux Klan taught from the Bible. And Mohammed of Arabia wasn’t the first prophet contradicted by alleged followers of the principles he taught. Moses stepped away for a talk with God and his followers, despite all the miracles they had seen, began worshipping a golden calf.

Anyone seen all-American icon Muhammad Ali rioting over the pope’s comments? With his annual appearance at our Muslim Convention, which took place last month in Chicago, the increasingly frail former heavyweight champ makes clear that he’s standing with Imam W. Deen Mohammed, the son of his former teacher the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, and sincere people of other faiths who are advancing these sentiments among Muslims and humanity.

This year, our scintillating banquet speaker, the Rev. Dr. Annie O. Oliver of Milwaukee, said well what applies to Muslims and anyone who claims a particular faith or philosophy: “If I was accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict me?”

C.B. Hanif is an editorial writer for The Palm Beach Post.

Copyright (c) 2006 Palm Beach Newspapers, Inc.

On the sign-in table was the Focolare’s Living City magazine edition proclaiming “Building blocks for world peace.” In the room, that’s what was happening. I’m not sure which was more inspiring: the enlightening DVD and discussion, or the wonderful human spirit with which folks connected after.

As we plan what’s next, while encouraging you and yours to do the same where you are (and/or join us next time), here are more scenes as Christian members of the Focolare in South Florida, Muslim members of New Africa of the Palm Beaches, and folks from other spiritual traditions joined for an examination of the late Blessed Lady Chiara Lubich‘s historic 1997 address at Harlem’s Malcolm Shabazz Mosque, at the invitation of the late eminent Imam Warith Deen Mohammed:

Thanks to the gracious United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches congregation for again hosting this excellent manifestation of model community life that UMCPB, and the other spiritual communities represented, embody and foster.

(And thanks to my sweetie, Aneesha, for all the photo work.)

— 30 —

Join Us As We Again Spotlight

“Model Interfaith Dialogue & Unity”

Featuring an examination of Focolare founder Chiara Lubich’s historic 1997 address to a gathering of 3,000 at Harlem’s Malcolm Shabazz Mosque. The event sparked a continuing upsurge in interfaith collaboration.

Sunday, July 25, 2-4 p.m.

United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches

900 Brandywine Road, West Palm Beach 33409

Former Palm Beach Post writer/editor C.B. Hanif moderates a video and discussion with Mercedes Mont and Martin Alfaro, Christian members of the Focolare Movement.

The Focolare’s “Spirituality of Unity” has resonated with members of other faiths and spiritual traditions in more than 180 countries. Particularly among our Muslim community here in the U.S., the dialogue has sparked a dynamic and devoted relationship and initiatives of collaboration.

This program follows on the heels of such activities as the Interfaith Clergy Committee’s annual Institute Day program (“Promoting Civil Discourse in a Polarized Nation: People of Faith Respond”); the Delray Beach Interfaith Clergy Association’s Interfaith First Harvest Dinner; the 9^th Annual Family Interfaith Picnic hosted by New Africa of the Palm Beaches; and last month’s “Muslims & Christians in Model Dialogue and Friendship” forum at the same location.

Journey with us as we again seek to learn about each other rather than define or convert each other, learn to be the first to love the other, and develop this exemplary model for Interreligious interaction and cooperation.

“Religions, with all their differences, are being called on to come together as never before.” — Cardinal Francis Arinze, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue

“The Principle of Love, taken from the message of Jesus Christ, is an idea we embrace totally, and anybody can embrace totally.” — Imam W. Deen Mohammed

No admission fee; donations accepted.

Organized by New Africa of the Palm Beaches and the Focolare of South Florida.

DIRECTIONS FROM I-95: Take Exit #71 west onto Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. Turn right at third traffic light and left at three-way stop sign. UMCPB is on left. For more information call 561-309-5476.

The gracious United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches was the scene of Sunday’s inspirational gathering that highlighted the exemplary interfaith unity among members of the international Focolare lay Catholic movement, founded by the late Lady Chiara Lubich, and students of the late Imam W. Deen Mohammed, internationally recognized leader of two million Muslim Americans organized locally as New Africa of the Palm Beaches.

The program continued these Christians’ and Muslims’ longstanding and dynamic involvement in building bridges across religious, ethic and cultural lines.

Friends and guests who helped expand the circle of what the Focolare call “the Spirituality of Unity” included active members of the Interfaith Clergy Committee of the Jewish Community Relations Council, the Delray Beach Interfaith Clergy Association, Vitas, Pax Christi, the Caribbean-American for Community Involvement, the First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Palm Beaches and several others.

Next up in the ongoing effort: tentatively scheduled for July 25, an examination of the historic May 18,1997 meeting during which Chiara Lubich spoke at the Malcolm Shabazz Mosque in Harlem. The event helped spark a surge of interfaith collaboration here in the U.S. that deserves more attention. Details to come.

— 30 —

“Hi CB,

“I thought of sharing this short ‘Diary of a Buddhist,’ written by people from Japan (i.e. Cinto and Niwano)  that I know personally.  I was struck by its simplicity and profundity.  You will see that it  reflects with transparency how unity among believers of such diverse cultures and mindsets is possible because the Almighty has planted the seeds of truth everywhere and has inserted divine Love into our very DNA, as Chiara taught us.  I hope you like it.”

1, Mercedes

Diary of a Buddhist – 1

by Munehiro Niwano, doyen of the Risshō Kōsei-kai Gakurin Institute
Spirituality: “In every person the same life of the Buddha”

Next stop: Japan, from the 11th to the 16th of January. Today we begin to publish some excerpts from a talk by Munehiro Niwano, who can help us enter more deeply into dialogue with the Buddhist world, that characterizes this stage of the journey.

As is known, Buddhism draws its origin from the experience of the enlightenment of Siddharta Gautama, which happened in India 2500 years ago. Seated in meditation under the tree of enlightenment, while the morning star was shining in the clear sky, Siddharta reached the state of perfect awareness that, in Buddhist tradition, is called “enlightenment” or “awakening.” Siddharta became the Buddha, the Enlightened One. In that moment, he understood profoundly that, beyond the attachments and the illusions that block us from seeing the true nature of reality, all human beings are provided with the wisdom and the virtue of the Buddha. In other words, he understood that all human beings possess in themselves the same life of the Buddha, that all human beings have in themselves this precious gift that is the “Buddha nature.”

We members of the Risshō Kōsei-kai make an effort to discover and honor the Buddha nature in every neighbor. This is rather easy toward those with whom we agree and toward those whom we like, but becomes more difficult toward people with whom we feel uncomfortable or who we find unpleasant. It isn’t an exaggeration to say that an important element of our religious practice is really that of being able to honor the Buddha nature in everyone, beyond some possible affinities or some possible differences also connected to religious belief. It is truly this approach that constitutes the foundation of the interreligious dialogue of the Risshō Kōsei-kai, or to say it more precisely, of the dialogue among religious people.

From the speech for the presentation of the book “Incontrarsi nell’Amore. Una lettura cristiana di Nikkio Niwano” by Cinto Busquet, Rome, December 2009

At our monthly Focolare gathering in South Florida, in September.

“Jesus in the Midst” is how our dear friends of the Focolare Movement say it. That’s not necessarily the language of dear friends outside the movement (for the record, count me in). But we understand and embrace it among other expressions for the transcendent Spirituality of Unity.

“We were born for these words, for unity,” the late Focolare foundress Chiara Lubich once said, “to give a contribution for its realization in the world.”

Her recognition that such concepts are shared by so many of varied faith traditions — or claiming no particular faith tradition — is one reason we’re so thankful for this wonderful Catholic woman, and for the Focolare’s consistent efforts to give expression to what Jesus talked and walked.

Real Muslims, for example, revere Christ Jesus as a Word from our Creator. We pray G-d’s Peace always upon him, as upon the prophets Abraham, Moses and Muhammad, and all others before them and between.

And thanks to the late Imam W. Deen Mohammed, many of us have come to recognize the Focolare as true followers of the path of Jesus. “She’s a gift from God, to us,” America’s pre-eminent Imam once said, ” to help this world heal itself and come together so we can survive.”

That may help explain why it was such a great blessing, during one of our recent monthly Focolare meetings in South Florida, to learn of the presence of the Chiara Lubich Center.

Established before her death last year, to keep alive her memory, the center includes an online document archive, including many handwritten, plus downloadable audio, and video.

The Chiara Lubich Center is more than a tribute to one of the most influential spiritual figures of the 20th century.

It is an invaluable asset for those of us who want to pay more attention, in our daily lives, to living the Spirituality of Unity.

We thank the Almighty always for the woman Imam Mohammed called “the Blessed Lady Chiara Lubich.”

And for her witness, in her oft-spoken words from John 17:21:

“That all may be one.”

“He loved his own in the world, and he loved them to the end” (John 13:1). “Dearest, here’s the Word of Life for August 2009,” said my friend Mercedes’ email. “Let’s always keep God alive among us by living mutual love.”

Here are insights on that Word of Life from the late  Chiara Lubich, Blessed Lady of the Focolare Movement — which in more than 180 nations is promoting the Gospel of Unity and “the Work of Mary” among Catholics, other Christians, people of goodwill among other faiths and non-religious denominations.

That all may be one: Ladies chat as the Focolare hosted Muslim friends in October 2008 in their center at the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, Italy.

The graciousness of the Focolare often is manifested in a Muslim prayer room at their centers, seen here as the Salatul Jummah, or Friday congregational prayer, is offered in Castel Gandolfo.

The tour of the Vatican during the October 2008 international meeting of Muslim friends of the Focolare was another contribution to constructive dialogue and positive interraction that promotes universal solidarity.