COMMUNITY OF DIVERSITY WORKSHOP

ByMohamed Ali Abukar, Ph. D.

SOMALI AMERICAN UNITED COUNCIL OF ARIZONA

All the pictures in this presentation are used only for Educational purposes

Promote equity, tolerance, respect, understanding and celebrate diversity for making the world a better place.

All Faith, teaches an absolute respect for the sacred rights of others

Islam: It is an American faith.Islam is for peace, love, and equity and forbids all kind of violence.

Masque in America

All Muslim are commanded to be humble, and not to be arrogant or disrespectful, and must show their best interest in the welfare of the human being and humanity in general, and prevents any kind of aggression against others.

Haj: Pilgrimage is a fundamental principle of Islam; the intension is to go to the sacredhouse of Mecca to worship God in a prescribedmanner.

Islam means peace and submission to the will of God.

Compassion and justice should guide Muslims.

Worship begins with the recognition of the existence of only one God.

Judaism, Christianity and Islamism are Abraham faith and classified as monotheistic.

Muslim worship the God of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus

Islam like Christianity teaches universal love,

benevolence, aimed at global fraternity.Every body has a moral responsibility and deserve a chance in the life development; but the best philosophy is that we should always help each other and care for each other.

Allah

Some of the misconception that non-Muslim have about Islam have to do with the word Allah; believing that Muslim worship a different God than Christians and Jews. Usually when we speak English it is appropriate to use GOD, like when we speak Italian we use DIO, and so on; and what we are going to be held accountable is not whether we prefer the word Allah over the word God/ Dios/ Dio/ Ilaah or Eebbe, but what our concept of GOD is.

Some non Muslim try to teach peoples that Allahis the God of the Muslims; it is not true and allArabic speaking people who are Christians areusing Allah and not God; Allah is simply theArabic word for God.

Believing in God

When peoples believe in GOD will learn to recognize andunderstand evil behavior and can choose to refrain fromit, because of the negative results, and will helps thehuman being to stay away from committing sin andcrime, and makes individuals always believe in doing thegood work to improve himself and his community.

Islam means peace and submission to the will ofGOD, Islam teaches peace, love and equality, andforbids all kind of violence. Islam is for peaceand does not promote terrorism or the killing ofinnocent people; and the people doing that in thename of Islam or any other religions are wrong.

Islam Encourage Equality

Islam encourage women’s education. Women in manyIslamic countries are in the policy makers, businessand key workers in many production and servicesorganization.

Prophet Muhammad’ wife Khadija was a wealthybusiness owner, and his daughter Fatima was a wellrespected political leader.

The use of the veil it was imposed by custom and not bythe QURA’AN, and in many countries Muslim’ womendo not have to wear veils.

Ramadan

Ramadan is a time of reflection when Muslims abstain from eating, drinking and other indulgences from sunrise to sunset. Ramadan commemorates when the Qura’an (Islamic holy book) was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad

The Islam calendar, which is lunar begins with Prophet Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to Medina, and now is in the year 1427. One of the pillars of Islam is the Siyam: fasting one month every year ( Ramadan), which teaches patience and enables the individual to monitor his/her verbal behavior and action. In the fasting period believers should give lot of charities and help all the people.

End of Ramadan celebrated at the “White House”

President Bush celebrated the end of the Ramadanwith two dozen of Muslim children at the White House,reading a short poem that began with the rhyme:GOD loves children who care for others , who do deedsof kindness to sisters and brothers.

End of Ramadan

Britain’s Prince Charles hosts a reception forsome British Islamic Community to celebrate theend of the Ramadan.

Islam is for Flexibility

Some people believe that all Muslims are primitive andfanatics; I believe that if all Muslim were able to presentIslam in the proper way to all people, it might make manypeople reconsider and re-evaluate their understanding.

Islam is for flexibility and has a long history ofdiversity, and always diversity brings openness,tolerance and flexibility

True Islam

America is focused on Islam as never beforeand its essential to promote public education,understanding and create that all people tobe acquainted and aware to what true Islamis; and strongly believe that what pull ustogether is much stronger than what maydivide us.

GOD BLESS AMERICA