By: Imam Shamsi Ali
Every fourth Friday, I have the honor of delivering the monthly Friday sermon at the United Nations headquarters in New York, a privilege I've had since 1998. The sermon is attended by UN officials, staff, and diplomats from Muslim countries.
I typically choose a theme related to current international issues, and recently, I addressed the fundamental problems facing humanity.
Despite advancements in material progress, education, and modern civilization, humans are struggling with critical challenges that threaten their very existence. These challenges include various forms of disasters, both natural and man-made, as well as deep divisions and frictions among humans.
Interfaith Dialogue: A Path to Peace
In Islam, interfaith dialogue is not a new concept. The Quran and Hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasize the importance of dialogue and understanding between people of different faiths.
One verse that highlights this is Surah Al-Hujurat, verse 13: "O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another."
Before moving to America, I understood the phrase "know one another" (ta'aruf) as an effort for Muslims from different backgrounds to get to know each other.
However, after arriving in America, I realized that this verse addresses all of humanity, as indicated by the beginning of Surah Al-Hujurat, which addresses "O Mankind" (يا ايها الناس).
As a Muslim living in America, I felt it essential to engage in interfaith dialogue, not only with Muslims from different backgrounds but also with people of other faiths.
This effort was motivated by the reality of the Muslim community being a minority in this country and the need to build bridges of understanding.
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Challenge to Interfaith Dialogue
One of the most significant challenges in interfaith dialogue is the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The conflict has created a deep divide between Muslims and Jews, making it difficult to engage in meaningful dialogue.
My first interaction with the Jewish community was in 2001, shortly after the 9/11 attacks. I was invited by the Mayor's office to participate in various interfaith and intercommunity events in response to the attack. It was during these events that I interacted and built relationships with some Jewish Rabbis.