Raza: Why I will always be a merry Muslim
By Raheel Raza
December 22, 2011
The Calgary Herald
December is a poignant month for us, as this is when my family landed in Canada 22 years ago. Christmas lights and the ambience of the season made our adjustment very cheerful, despite the challenges of the freezing weather and being new settlers.
However, this is not the only reason we hold the Christmas season near and dear to us. Our association with this celebration goes far back into our childhood, when political correctness wasn’t a word we were familiar with.
My husband studied in a boarding school in Pakistan and spent his winter holidays at the home of his best friend, Ahmed. Ahmed’s mother was Christian and celebrated her faith with gusto. On Christmas Eve, she would ask the boys to accompany her to church for midnight mass and Sohail remembers the beauty of the readings, the lilting music of the choir and, of course, the treats.
The next day, there would be visits and the exchange of gifts, and sometimes, a tree, because Christmas trees were hard to find in Rawalpindi. All this happened as naturally as celebrating Muslim festivals in the same house.
Similarly, I grew up in Pakistan studying in convent schools that were administered by Catholic nuns mostly from the United Kingdom. Some of my best friends were Catholics from Goa. Christmas was an exciting time because there were new and different traditions to learn from, different food to taste and gifts to give.
At the time we were growing up in Pakistan (the 1960s and early ’70s), there was no restriction on Christmas celebrations and churches thrived. Being a curious young person, I insisted on going to church with my friends and found the experience of prayer very heartwarming. It helped that we had learned the Lord’s Prayer in school and knew it by heart. I still remember helping my Christian friends make a nativity display and the persona of Mary has always fascinated me, doubly confirmed when I read the chapter on Mary in the Qur’an.
We knew then as we do now, that Jesus is revered as a prophet in the Qur’an and mentioned by name more times than our own Prophet Muhammad. What we have learned since then is that Jesus sets an example that we all need to learn from. We are told stories in the Qur’an of the virgin birth and of the miracles Jesus performed. So if Christmas is celebrated as the birth of this great messenger of God, then it’s incumbent on us to commemorate it as well.
Both my husband and I feel we should utilize these days to study the life of Jesus in more detail as he was a role model for humanity. His humility, compassion and healing are great lessons for us in this time of warfare and violence.
In our early years in Canada, when my sons were small, Christmas was still a celebration and I clearly recall going to their school to join in carol singing. However, it saddens me to see how the sanctity of Christmas has either become too commercialized or sidelined from the faith perspective due to political correctness and not being able to fully call Christmas what it is.
Today, Canada is home to a multitude of faiths making this the most diverse mosaic in the world. But we must be mindful not to put the celebrations of the host community on the back burner so that we can celebrate our own. I find it disturbing that some schools and institutions have taken the “Christ” and the “merry” out of Christmas.
So, I would like to take this opportunity to wish Canadians a very Merry Christmas.
Raheel Raza is a Toronto-based author and public speaker.
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
Source
Friday, December 23, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Upcoming Inter-Faith Network of Calgary meeting at Deer Park United Church
The next meeting of the Inter-Faith Network of Calgary (IFNC) will be hosted by Deer Park United Church, 77 Deerpoint Rd SE on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 7 pm.Our theme for this year is: 'Artistic Expressions of Our Faiths'
Our program for the evening: "Singing Our Story – A Journey Through the Christian Year”
IFNC is an informal and grassroots group of Calgarians, belonging to several faith traditions, who have come together to promote goodwill and mutual understanding.
We believe that this objective is best achieved by interaction and dialogue among the followers of different faiths. This belief is based on our conviction that while the general tendency is to highlight the differences among different faiths, a deeper study would reveal that we have more in common than is generally believed.
We hope that through these gatherings, we will encourage mutual respect and peace in our community.
We meet once a month to discuss questions related to our personal spirituality and religious practice.
The venues of the gatherings rotate among the places of worship.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Upcoming Inter-Faith Network of Calgary meeting at Beth Tzedec Syngagogue
The next meeting of the Inter-Faith Network of Calgary (IFNC) will be hosted by Beth Tzedec Syngagogue, 1325 Glenmore Trail SW on Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 3:40 pm.Our theme for this year is: 'Artistic Expressions of Our Faiths'
We will be a viewing and discussion of the movie DAVID: One boy, two faiths
Synopsis: As the son of the Imam of the local Brooklyn mosque, eleven year-old Daud has to juggle the high expectations of his Father (Maz Jobrani) and his feelings of isolation and difference– even from his peers in the Muslim community. Through an innocent act of good faith, Daud inadvertently befriends a group of Jewish boys who mistake him as a fellow classmate at their orthodox school, in the neighboring Jewish community. A genuine friendship grows between Daud and Yoav, one of the Jewish boys, and his family. Unable to resist the joy of a camaraderie that he has never felt before, David, as he is known to the kids, is drawn into a complicated dilemma inspired by youthful deceit and the best of intentions.
The movie is 80 min long and will be followed by refreshments and discussion.
Time: 3:40pm - 5:45pm (approx)
Cost: $6 individual ticket available at the door,
or a Calgary Jewish Film Festival Pass
IFNC is an informal and grassroots group of Calgarians, belonging to several faith traditions, who have come together to promote goodwill and mutual understanding.
We believe that this objective is best achieved by interaction and dialogue among the followers of different faiths. This belief is based on our conviction that while the general tendency is to highlight the differences among different faiths, a deeper study would reveal that we have more in common than is generally believed.
We hope that through these gatherings, we will encourage mutual respect and peace in our community.
We meet once a month to discuss questions related to our personal spirituality and religious practice.
The venues of the gatherings rotate among the places of worship.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Calgary Muslim and Jewish scholars to hold dialogue
Muslim and Jewish scholars to hold dialogue
Meeting believed to be first of its kind in Calgary
By Mario Toneguzzi
Calgary Herald
October 15, 2011
Rabbis and Islamic scholars in Calgary are meeting to discuss their views on the meaning and relevance of their religion's holiest scriptures.
They will be presenting their views on their holy books and what makes them holy and what the holy books say about peace and interfaith relations.
The Word of God for Divine Guidance will be held Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 6: 30 p.m. at the Beth Tzedec Congregation, 1325 Glenmore Tr. S.W., and is free and open to the public.
Rabbi Shaul Osadchey, of the Beth Tzedec Congregation, said the idea came following an Ahmadiyya conference last spring of Christian, Jewish and Muslim scholars.
He extended an invitation to have the next conference at his synagogue.
"It will be the first such conference at a Jewish house of worship and is intended to draw a large number of Jews and Muslims into a constructive dialogue about their respective traditions," he says.
The topic of the conference will explore questions about the nature of the sacred texts of the two religions - the Torah and the Qur'an.
Osadchey and Rabbi Howard Voss-Altman of Temple B'nai Tikvah will discuss this topic with Islamic scholars Maulana Mahmood Butt and Mualana Mukhtar Cheema.
There will also be time for questions following the panel presentation.
Conference organizers Mohammed Atif and Osadchey say this is a step forward in Jewish-Muslim relations by noting "that education and dialogue offer the best opportunities for Jews and Muslims to better understand each other and to eliminate myths and stereotypes."
For further information and registration, visit www.islamevents.ca/ calgary or contact info.calgary@ ahmadiyya.ca or info@bethtzedec.ca.
"The intensity of the conflict in the Middle East emanates from a variety of complex historical, political, economic, social and religious factors," says Osadchey. "The heat from that strife fans out globally until the embers land in local communities. However, Jewish and Muslim communities in Calgary, for example, lead lives in which the political and economic issues in the Middle East are not directly pertinent to their daily lives. Only the social and religious aspects remain as potential obstacles for interfaith co-operation.
"The goal of the Ahmadiyya-Jewish conference is to douse stereotypes and misinformation about our respective religions to find common ground to forge a peaceful relationship. In turn, the local level can serve too as a type of interfaith model that can be emulated in the Middle East.
"To date, I am unaware that such a Muslim-Jewish dialogue in Calgary has taken place, let alone in a synagogue. Members of the host congregation Beth Tzedec and members of B'nai Tikvah will have the opportunity to welcome Muslims into a Jewish institution and within the comfort of their sacred space hear about the values and teachings of Muslims. The Ahmadiyya Muslim community will similarly be exposed to a Jewish house of worship and to thereby demythologize their perceptions."
A special tour of the synagogue is planned by Osadchey for the Muslim guests. A followup conference is being planned at the Ahmadiyya mosque to bring the Jewish community into their Muslim holy space.
mtoneguzzi@calgaryherald.com
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
Source
Meeting believed to be first of its kind in Calgary
By Mario Toneguzzi
Calgary Herald
October 15, 2011
Rabbis and Islamic scholars in Calgary are meeting to discuss their views on the meaning and relevance of their religion's holiest scriptures.
They will be presenting their views on their holy books and what makes them holy and what the holy books say about peace and interfaith relations.
The Word of God for Divine Guidance will be held Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 6: 30 p.m. at the Beth Tzedec Congregation, 1325 Glenmore Tr. S.W., and is free and open to the public.
Rabbi Shaul Osadchey, of the Beth Tzedec Congregation, said the idea came following an Ahmadiyya conference last spring of Christian, Jewish and Muslim scholars.
He extended an invitation to have the next conference at his synagogue.
"It will be the first such conference at a Jewish house of worship and is intended to draw a large number of Jews and Muslims into a constructive dialogue about their respective traditions," he says.
The topic of the conference will explore questions about the nature of the sacred texts of the two religions - the Torah and the Qur'an.
Osadchey and Rabbi Howard Voss-Altman of Temple B'nai Tikvah will discuss this topic with Islamic scholars Maulana Mahmood Butt and Mualana Mukhtar Cheema.
There will also be time for questions following the panel presentation.
Conference organizers Mohammed Atif and Osadchey say this is a step forward in Jewish-Muslim relations by noting "that education and dialogue offer the best opportunities for Jews and Muslims to better understand each other and to eliminate myths and stereotypes."
For further information and registration, visit www.islamevents.ca/ calgary or contact info.calgary@ ahmadiyya.ca or info@bethtzedec.ca.
"The intensity of the conflict in the Middle East emanates from a variety of complex historical, political, economic, social and religious factors," says Osadchey. "The heat from that strife fans out globally until the embers land in local communities. However, Jewish and Muslim communities in Calgary, for example, lead lives in which the political and economic issues in the Middle East are not directly pertinent to their daily lives. Only the social and religious aspects remain as potential obstacles for interfaith co-operation.
"The goal of the Ahmadiyya-Jewish conference is to douse stereotypes and misinformation about our respective religions to find common ground to forge a peaceful relationship. In turn, the local level can serve too as a type of interfaith model that can be emulated in the Middle East.
"To date, I am unaware that such a Muslim-Jewish dialogue in Calgary has taken place, let alone in a synagogue. Members of the host congregation Beth Tzedec and members of B'nai Tikvah will have the opportunity to welcome Muslims into a Jewish institution and within the comfort of their sacred space hear about the values and teachings of Muslims. The Ahmadiyya Muslim community will similarly be exposed to a Jewish house of worship and to thereby demythologize their perceptions."
A special tour of the synagogue is planned by Osadchey for the Muslim guests. A followup conference is being planned at the Ahmadiyya mosque to bring the Jewish community into their Muslim holy space.
mtoneguzzi@calgaryherald.com
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
Source
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Upcoming Inter-Faith Network of Calgary meeting at Calgary Buddhist Temple
The next meeting of the Inter-Faith Network of Calgary (IFNC) will be hosted by Calgary Buddhist Temple, 207 6th St. NE on Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 7:30 pm.Our theme for this year is: 'Artistic Expressions of Our Faiths'
IFNC is an informal and grassroots group of Calgarians, belonging to several faith traditions, who have come together to promote goodwill and mutual understanding.
We believe that this objective is best achieved by interaction and dialogue among the followers of different faiths. This belief is based on our conviction that while the general tendency is to highlight the differences among different faiths, a deeper study would reveal that we have more in common than is generally believed.
We hope that through these gatherings, we will encourage mutual respect and peace in our community.
We meet once a month to discuss questions related to our personal spirituality and religious practice.
The venues of the gatherings rotate among the places of worship.
Friday, September 16, 2011
International Day of Peace Celebration - September 21, 2011
Peace in our Communities
International Day of Peace Celebration
Wednesday September 21, 2011
Noon - 1:00 pm
Calgary Community Peace Pole
International Day of Peace Celebration
Wednesday September 21, 2011
Noon - 1:00 pm
Calgary Community Peace Pole
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Arthur Clark
Professor - Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary
Founder - Calgary Centre for Global Community
Dr. Arthur Clark
Professor - Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary
Founder - Calgary Centre for Global Community
Monday, April 18, 2011
Upcoming Inter-Faith Network of Calgary meeting at Deerpark United Church
The next meeting of the Inter-Faith Network of Calgary (IFNC) will be hosted by Deerpark United Church, 77 Deerpoint Road SE on Sunday, April 24, 2011 from 10 am to 12 Noon (Easter Sunday worship).Our theme for this year is: 'The Ways We Worship'
IFNC is an informal and grassroots group of Calgarians, belonging to several faith traditions, who have come together to promote goodwill and mutual understanding.
We believe that this objective is best achieved by interaction and dialogue among the followers of different faiths. This belief is based on our conviction that while the general tendency is to highlight the differences among different faiths, a deeper study would reveal that we have more in common than is generally believed.
We hope that through these gatherings, we will encourage mutual respect and peace in our community.
We meet once a month to discuss questions related to our personal spirituality and religious practice.
The venues of the gatherings rotate among the places of worship.
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