How Religions can Heal Divisions and resolve conflict

 ( Note: Below is my presentation at the 2024 Interfaith forums, sponsored by the Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada. A video clip is also available below.)

Video clip here

For entire video, complete with Q and A session, click here

How Religions can Heal Division and resolve conflict

In the name of God, The Compassionate, The ever-merciful

Moving directly into the topic, we begin with the assertion that healing divisions and resolving conflict are among the very goals of the religion of Islam. Thus, the Qur’an says “ Hold firmly to the rope of God, and be not divided. Moreover, recall God’s blessing to you, you were enemies, then He united your hearts by His blessing and you became a brotherhood. You were on the brink of a pit of fire, He saved you from it. Thus, God clarifies for you His signs, so that perhaps you will be guided.” ( Q 3:103). The Qur’an also states “God calls towards the abode of peace.” (Q 10:25).

There is much more evidence, but the previously mentioned Quranic verses should be sufficient to show that healing and resolving divisions and conflicts are among the imperatives of Islam. In addition, the presence of qualities such as justice, mercy and broad understanding are necessary to resolve any sort of conflict, be it within family, marriage, business or political conflict. 

In Islam, we have the Qur’an as scripture, but also the examples of the Prophets in scripture, concluding with Muhammad the global messenger, as sources of information. The Qur’an mentions the story of Joseph, son of Jacob. His brothers-in a jealous rage- had arranged for him to be exiled from the family, and falsely reported him dead to his doting father. Yet, years later, after actually saving them from a famine situation, he shows himself as the party responsible for saving them, generating a recognition of truth, leading to a healing. (Q 12: 88-93).

The Prophet Muhammad, after nearly 11 years of conflict, was able to overcome his enemies, but when he did, in the opening of Makkah, he issued an amnesty which even extended to those who killed and mutilated the body of his beloved uncle (Hamza). For these examples, an awareness of justice, mercy and a broad understanding of the big picture are demonstrated, qualities needed for healing and resolving conflict.

As a religion, there are many ways that healing and resolution occur. Largely, they have to occur within a context of spiritual maturity. Even when that’s missing, there are practical ways in which the religion accomplishes its goals. The Prophet Muhammad taught a method that, when angry, if you are sitting, stand! If you are walking, run! Wash yourself with water, do ablution, offer prayer, i.e. remove yourself from that which is making you angry. The religion has communal prayers, in which the worshipers stand side by side, bowing, prostrating, all together for God, and the ritual prayer itself ending with the worshiper saying to the person next to him (as well as angels, as per our belief) “Peace be on you, and the mercy of God”. This practice has worked in making the foundation needed to solve problems between Muslims. 

Practical rules that limit conflict include the prohibition of intoxicants, which, when observed, limits the emotional outbursts which sustain conflicts and divisions. The Qur’an instructs us to be cognizant of our speech and behavior (Q 33:70-71, 4:1), these are real-life guidelines which, when implemented, goes a long way in fixing problems between people. In marriage conflict, the Qur’an (Q 4:35) advocates having an arbiter from the husband and the wife’s side, thus, limiting the scope of public involvement in a private issue, a needed step, as making such problems public makes things more difficult to resolve. 

I want to change the practical slightly,  to move into the theological. The fact is that Muslims believe in God as being the only being that deserves worship, and we also believe in the Prophets. Broadly speaking, we believe in the Biblical prophets, and we sincerely say “peace be upon them”. This fact should bring more healing between atleast the followers of the three Abrahamic religions because it shows how broad our religious understanding extends. While the three Abrahamic religions have different perspectives on important theological points, we also have similarities which, when acknowledged, can bring forth human respect and sincere understanding. 

The Qur’an consistently (Q 29:20, 30:9, etc) tells us to travel in the world, and the Prophet Muhammad’s statement is that getting an education is an obligation on every Muslim (Talabul ‘ilmi fareedatin ‘ala kulli Muslim), such things, travel and education, removes xenophobia, corrects misconceptions and allows people to see others as people, it humanizes those outside of our own comfort zones. These are among the ways Islam addresses the issue of healing division and conflict resolution. Thank you.

Interfaith fall forums 2024- The Open Forum

 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

My full presentation

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 4^th 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 1^st 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. 

Coffee and Converts

( Note: below you will find our recent presentation at "Coffee and Converts" program, held at Masjid Ibrahim Las Vegas. In it, we share thoughts on navigating the challenges, both from inside and outside Muslim circles, and developing a healthy Islamic foundation. A brief Q and A session follows. This video is highly recommended to all viewers, regardless of their backround.)


COFFEE AND CONVERTS

Making Faith Make Sense: Presentation

( Note: The video below is a presentation in which we explore the questions regarding the place of faith in the modern world, in an age when faith can be viewed as irrational and unscientific. )


MAKING FAITH MAKE SENSE

Some of our activities, scheduling a lecture/presentation

It has come to my attention that it is important to document activities in the wider community. To that end, below please see some of the pictures below.

January 2014 Clergy breakfast

Presentation at Park United Church on Prophet Muhammad

Park United Church: Muslims and Christians discussing Prophet Muhammad.

Lecture at Lourdes University

Catholic-Islamic dialogue at Islamic Center Perrysburg, Ohio

Spirituality session at Toledo Masjid Al-Islam

UMAT 2016 Iftar, explaining Ramadan to a packed room of politicians and community leaders.

2014 Fundraising banquet with the other Toledo Imams

Invocation at funeral of Toledo Mayor Michael Collins


How to request a presentation

Our focus is interfaith discussion, Islamic propagation [Da'wah], social reform, as well as academic presentations.

Email us at Waheed79@yahoo.com for dates and honorariums.

Islam is part of the communal hope for peace: remarks at the United Park Church

[ Note: below is the edited version of my remarks given in context of  the Compassion games, see flyer for program, held at the Park United Church in Toledo, Ohio. Clergy from Christian, Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu and Baha'i were invited to give brief presentations. If there is a video of the speeches made available we will post it.]


In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. The idea of community building is something that all the prophets, teachers and messengers that we read about in scripture emphasized.

It's especially important in today's world, noting that Toledo itself has been officially declared a city of compassion, largely due to the efforts of Judy and Woody Trautman [ see /Toledo declared compassionate city] .
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One of Pastor Heilman's[ft.1] favorite Biblical verses is "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". Another one he often cites "Love your neighbor as yourself". Powerful words, especially the last passage, To love your neighbor the same way you love yourself, to be for their welfare as you are for your own, that's dynamic, something that tears down divisions and borders, where people are able to see others in the same light as themselves.

Prophet Muhammad [upon whom be peace and blessings]  said: " None of you are believers till you LOVE for your brother what you LOVE for yourself." He also said "you are not a believer when you go to sleep full while your neighbor is hungry." Indeed, in our tradition we have it that the Prophet was instructed so much about neighbors that he thought that it would become a Divine commandment to include the neighbor in the wills.

So "community" means to be an organized body, joined together for the common good, especially in issues such as hunger, for peoples of all types to see themselves as family, to build bonds in a way that blood families do.

I'm specifically asked to address how and why Islam is part of the communal hope for peace. To accomplish that, we must look at the Prophet Muhammad [d.632 C.E.]. Upon becoming established in Madinah, he set about establishing ties of brotherhood, where two different men were paired as brothers, to the point where they would include each others in their wills. It was very successful. He also established what we can call the world's first constitution, which included clauses for mutual defense and freedom of religion.  This was something agreed upon by Muslims, Jews and other Non Muslim parties.

There are many other examples from the teachings and history of the Prophet we could cite, nonetheless our main point is that to establish peace, there must be universal security, economic and political justice. These are values integral to the message of Islam. They are connected to the worship of God, and to stand for these values are themselves acts of worship. Thank you.

Ft.1 Ed Heilman is Pastor of Park United Church.

Qur'anic Arabic sessions and lectures: May 16, 17 Saginaw, Michigan