Note:
Below is a link as well as timestamps for the Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada's forum, in which I was a presenter. In addition to the video and timestamps, the entirety of my intended presentation (cut short because of time restrictions) is shared within this post.
Timestamps:
0:33 Marvin Gowryn remarks
3:20 Moderator's welcome (Ellie Rouhani)
10:50 Scientology center introduction
15:00 Moderator's instructions
Presentations
18:44 Donna Mead (Pagan)
26:46 Deacon John Nixon (Greek Orthodox)
34:06 Imam Shamsuddin Waheed (Islam)
42:05 Dr. Thomas Selover (Unification church)
49:51 Rev. Laura Hallett (Religious science)
57:42 Rev. Joan Roeschke (Scientology)
103:35- Q and A session
Click here to view forum video
Open forum presentation 11/12/23 Las Vegas, Nevada
Good evening! I am honored to be here for the Interfaith
council of Southern Nevada’s annual panel discussion. WE are to share a bit of
our faith that may not be properly understood or widely known, and to
accomplish this, we have to understand that “Islam” is nothing more than an
Arabic word which means to submit or surrender to God’s will. The one who does
this action of submission is called a “Muslim”.
Thus, it is appropriate to call Jesus a Muslim, to call
Abraham a Muslim, to call Moses a Muslim. Yes, the format of their rituals,
their expression and their laws differed from the Muslims of today, but they
nonetheless submitted to God’s will. Our belief is that the process of prophet
and scripture sending finds its conclusion with the Qur’an coming forth to
Muhammad, who is called “The seal of the Prophets”.
The laws and doctrines of that which came to Muhammad are
rational, logical, and fit within any environment or context. A summary of all
of this is as follows. (five pillars) (1) Belief in the One and Only God, and
that Muhammad was a messenger of God. (2) daily prayers. (3) Regular charity.
(4) Fasting in Ramadan, if health conditions allow. (5) Pilgrimage to Makkah,
if health and financial conditions allow.
The beliefs are summarized in “articles of faith” (1) God
(2) Angels (3) Scriptures: signifying Divine communication. (4) Messengers. (5)
Judgement day. (6) That the limitations of existence, both good and bad,
emanate within God’s rules.
These actions and beliefs give Muslims strength. Islam is
the fastest growing religion in the world, and
a Pew Research Centre report
asserts that by 2070, it will be the largest religion in the world. The strengths of Islam include an easily
understood theological foundation, firm morals yet flexibility in its
application. It values marriage, family, care for the poor, education, and
clean living. For examples of flexibility, we can look at the dietary code and
daily worship. Pork is famously not allowed on the dinner-plate, yet the Qur’an
itself allows it if under starving conditions. Similarly, we are to offer
prayers five times daily, preceded with a washing, and the prayer itself having
standing, bowing and prostration, yet the washing can be dispended with if
water is unavailable by simply a rubbing of soil, and the prayers can be
shortened in length and combined with other prayers when conditions such as
traveling and combat are present.
Some fun facts include the following: Jesus is revered in
Islam; he is mentioned by name 25 times in the Qur’an. However, we don’t follow
the idea that he was in fact God or part of a trinity. Only God can be God, God
has no partner. Moses is also in the Qur’an, details on his life and mission
form a great deal of the Quranic content, even more than the life of Muhammad
the Prophet. Our custom is to say “peace be upon him” after the names of all of
the prophets, not just the Prophet Muhammad.
Another fun fact is that Muslims can overcome cultural and racial
divisions and form healthy communities with ease. Our mosque, Masjid Ibrahim of
Las Vegas, proudly has a minimum of 9 different ethnic groups forming the
community. It is the Prophet Muhammad
who said that there is no virtue in being white as opposed to black or arab as
opposed to not being an Arab. He said the only criteria for virtue is one’s
awareness of God. All of the Islamic
guidelines are present for human safety and happiness.
Islam is very practical, yet widely misunderstood. One issue
is that of Jihad. It is true that
Islam is not a pacifist faith, yet jihad does not mean “holy war”.
Rather it means “struggle” and the term is used in both military and non-
military context within the Islamic texts. The Islamic rules of war are very
clear, it forbids the targeting of civilians, and war itself is deemed a last
resort.
Islam also delivers the ultimate liberation of women, both
sexes have natural and cultural functions. The 4th chapter of the
Qur’an is entitled “women”, and, contrary to popular assertion, gives
inheritance rights and freedom of marriage choice. I am proud to note that our
mosque founder is the 1st woman to initiate construction of a mosque
in the USA, her name is Sharaf Haseebullah, who is present this evening.
The primary sources of Islam are the Qur’an, God’s words, as
delivered over a 23 year period, something which happened over 1400 years ago,
and the words, actions of the Prophet Muhammad. His words are recorded in
sources called the hadeeth literature.
This literature is NOT considered sacred, but it is nonetheless important. The
format for matters such as the daily prayers come to us from Muhammad, as
recorded in that literature.
I would like to share one more relevant teaching from the
Qur’an. It tells us to respect our parents, even if they are not believers. It
says not to follow them if they attempt to impose on us incorrect notions. Yet
we are still to be with them in this world. Wa
Saahib-humaa fid dunya Ma’roofa. This fact alone should be sufficient to
prove that Islam is not some violent force out to destroy everything. It
teaches respect, love and compassion.
