Rumi Forum Organized 2nd Annual Ramadan Suhoor

The 2^nd Annual Ramadan Suhoor, organized by the Rumi Forum took place on the 11^th of July, 2015. Various ambassadors, members of the media, intellectuals from think tanks, scholars, NGO leaders and other professions all shared a meal together, forming a crowd of more than 80 people. 

Laurie Fulton, former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, and Earl Rasmussen, from the Eurasia center gave a few remarks regarding Ramadan and addressed the concept of sharing meals. Although she hosted many Iftars as Ambassador, Mrs. Fulton explained that this was her first Suhoor. She discussed the importance of shared meals in the 3 Abrahamic religions, explaining that more than religious events, “they are now part of our culture.” In fact, she emphasized their positive aspects by describing a study that found a correlation between sharing meals and traits of “generosity, altruism and the ability to interact.” She therefore concluded that communal meals are significant because they allow us to “get acquainted, to know more about each other and to enjoy life.”

Additionally, Earl Rasmussen explained that sharing a meal is indeed “much more than preparing your body to go on for the rest of the day.” Sharing a meal gives the opportunity to share thoughts, ideas and feelings. More than a biological necessity, sharing a meal builds relationships. He emphasized that “we are not just nourishing our bodies, but our minds and souls.” This is particularly important in today’s society where working days have become “so busy”. Rasmussen ended his remarks by citing a quote from the prophet, “Eat together, and not separately, for the blessing is associated with the company.”

Speaker Videos:

Ambassador Laurie Fulton

Earl Rasmussen, Eurasia Center

See Photos of the event here:

2015 Ramadan Iftars

LUNCHEON : Living Where You Don’t Make the Rules - Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool

Living Where You Don’t Make the Rules (Part I)

Faith and cultural change in the age of globalization.

By Ebrahim Rasool, November 28, 2013

This is part one of a three-part series on Muslims, faith and cultural change in the age of globalization.

One of the touchiest issues in the world today is the Muslim disquiet, especially in countries where Muslims are minorities. We often miss it and call it all kinds of names.

We call it Islamism. We call it radicalism, we call it extremism, we call it fundamentalism and we call it violence. We claim it springs from conflict-driven communities.

Those labels have a semblance of truth in them, because on any given day, some Muslims may display some of those characteristics.

But those labels don’t tell the story about what the causes of the disquiet really are. They don’t even begin to describe how to deal with it and how to manage it. In particular, they don’t tell how to bring peace to the soul of a community that is often uncomfortable in the context of the disquiet.

The existing disquiet, in turn, invites fear, suspicion and often hostility among non-Muslims. In some way, we have to tackle the issue head on. How do we deal with this problem? The way in which I have come to understand it is that the key lies in the theological assumptions of the Muslim community that were formed in times of dominance.

When Islam was an empire, when Muslims were the rulers and when they moved into Spain, they made theological assumptions about how they could live. They created the rules for how to engage with those who are non-Muslim (and how those others could live). That set the tone of the lifestyle that they could lead....

READ FULL ARTICLE:  http://bit.ly/globalistERasool

2012 Rumi Peace and Dialogue Awards

2012 Rumi Peace and Dialogue Awards

FINANCIAL TIMES Op-ed by Fethullah Gulen: Violence is not in the tradition of the Prophet

By M. Fethullah Gülen

Muslims pray each day: “O Lord! Keep us on the straight path.” It is a prayer to help us move away from the extremes and maintain balance in our lives. We must neither be hostage to our reactionary instincts, nor must we remain completely silent in the face of the systematic defamation of our values and beliefs. This balance has been upset by the violent response to the insults targeting the legacy of beloved Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him). The violent response was wrong and strayed from the straight path.

Other op-eds and articles on Hizmet and Fethullah Gulen here

Muslims should not be indifferent with respect to the attacks on the Prophet (PBUH). On the contrary, they must show the utmost sensitivity and caution. Those insulting Islam might be seeking to depict a negative image of Muslims, and hence justify discrimination, isolation, persecution or deportation. The deliberate instigation and creation of turmoil in the Muslim world is not new. Our sacred values were attacked in the past through cartoons, today it is done through a movie and cartoons in a French magazine, and tomorrow other means may be used. Muslims must not be beguiled or enticed but instead must speak out to prevent those who are more easily provoked from resorting to violence.

The question that we should ask ourselves as Muslims is whether we have introduced Islam and its Prophet properly to the world. Have we followed his example in such a way as to instil admiration? We must do so, not with words, but with our actions.When any negative comment is made about the Prophet, however slight it may be, a Muslim should feel deep sorrow. Yet expressing that sorrow is a different matter. Irresponsible actions by individuals damage the image of Islam and destroy the very tradition they are claiming to defend.

Since the rights of every Muslim, as well as God, the Koran and the Prophet are at stake in such a circumstance, one cannot act recklessly. One should scrutinise the possible ramifications of each and every action, and seek the wisdom of the collective judgment.

If suicide bombers are the first things that come to people’s minds, how could they have a positive opinion of Islam? How is killing innocent civilians indiscriminately different from the barbarity suffered by Muslims in history? What is the rationale behind attacking an American consulate in Libya, killing an ambassador and consulate officers, who have nothing to do with this wretched movie? If it is Muslims who are carrying out these attacks, it means that they are entirely unaware of what Islam is all about and are committing the biggest crime in the name of Islam.

A Muslim must always be straightforward and consistent in his actions and words. He should respect the sacred values of Christians, Jews, Buddhists and others as he expects his own religion and values to be respected. In reacting, a Muslim should not sway from the proper middle path. Many correct forms of response can be found by appealing to the collective conscience of society and to the international community.

Hate speech designed to incite violence is an abuse of the freedom of expression. It violates the rights, dignity and freedoms of others while pushing humanity towards conflict in an age of horrifying weapons. Instead of falling victim to the instigation of others, we should appeal to the relevant international institutions, such as the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation or the UN, to intervene, expose and condemn instances of hate speech. We can do whatever it takes within the law to prevent any disrespect to all revered religious figure, not only to the Prophet Mohammed.

The attacks on the Prophet we have repeatedly experienced are to be condemned, but the correct response is not violence. Instead, we must pursue a relentless campaign to promote respect for the sacred values of all religions.

The writer is a Muslim scholar in the Sunni tradition and honorary chairman of the Istanbul-based Journalists and Writers Foundation

Original article here:http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6ac625c0-07c6-11e2-9df2-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz27jNH2YIH

See also:STATEMENT BY FETHULLAH GULEN on attack on US embassy in Libya
http://rumiforum.blogspot.com/2012/09/statement-from-fethullah-gulen.html#axzz28XEVfPZs

Suggested web sites - MEDIA, ARTICLES, CONFERENCES

STATEMENT FROM FETHULLAH GULEN CONDEMNING VIOLENCE FOLLOWING ATTACK ON U.S. CONSULATE IN LIBYA

SEE ALSO FINANCIAL TIMES OP-ED:
http://rumiforum.blogspot.com/2012/09/financial-times-opinion-by-fethullah.html#axzz28XEVfPZs

Suggested web sites - MEDIA, ARTICLES, CONFERENCES

"I have learned with sadness about the attack on the United States Consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi which resulted in the deaths of U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens, consulate personnel and several others.

I strongly condemn this heinous attack which targeted public servants representing their country in Libya and thus were guests of Libyan government and people. On this sad occasion I reiterate my condemnation of all forms of terror regardless of its perpetrators and the purposes for which it is carried out.

“As we witness other violent protests in Cairo, Yemen and elsewhere, my message is that lasting change will only result from peaceful expressions of reaction and open dialogue. Consorting to violence and targeting human life for protest constitute a betrayal of the soul of the very Islamic tradition that many of these protestors seemingly claim to defend. What suits Muslims is to express their reactions in a peaceful and calm manner that befits the dignity of their faith.

“I send my sincere condolences to those who lost loved ones in the tragedy, to the United States Government, to American people and especially to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton under whom the ambassador and his staff have been serving. I share their pain in my heart and I pray for the fast recovery of those who were injured.”

Read also Rumi Forum's Statement:
 http://www.rumiforum.org/announcements/condemns-attack-libya.html


Other links:

http://www.rumiforum.org, http://rumiforum.blogspot.com,

http://www.youtube.com/user/RumiForum, http://twitter.com/#!/rumiforum

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rumi-Forum/270743316210

http://picasaweb.google.com/110222538312634006729

Ethnic Diversity and Ethnic Tolerance in Montenegro - His Excellency, Ambassador Srdjan Darmanović

Cynthia P. Schneider-Repairing, Cultural Diplomacy in the Middle East and Southeast Asia

Culture and politics are inextricably linked in Muslim majority regions around the world. Cultural diplomacy

MEDIA - Interfaith dialog advocated at iftar dinner in Washington

Interfaith dialog advocated at iftar dinner in Washington



23 August 2011, Tuesday / TODAY’S ZAMAN, İSTANBUL


Guests from different countries, cultures and religions gathered around the same iftar table Monday night in Washington, D.C., for the special Muslim tradition of the daily fast-breaking during the holy Islamic month of Ramadan.

The Rumi Forum and the Turkic American Alliance (TAA) of Washington, D.C., organizations in the Washington metropolitan area promoting interfaith dialog and peace, organized the Annual Intercultural İftar Dinner.

Turkish Ambassador Namık Tan was in attendance along with ambassadors and embassy officials from various countries such as South Africa, Mozambique, Norway, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Bahrain, Senegal, Fiji, Indonesia and Sweden. White House and State Department officials and some business leaders gathered around the iftar table as well.

Guests from a myriad of religious and cultural backgrounds sat down to share iftar, during which they had the opportunity to taste the unique flavors of Turkish cuisine prepared by skilled hands.

The dinner commenced with the traditional evening call to prayer, which was accompanied by the English translation projected on a screen.

Following the iftar, the evening’s speakers called for dialog and cooperation to combat religious and cultural discrimination.

Ambassador Tan, noting the shrinking of the world through globalization, said, “Everyone should work together to cooperate and understand one another.”

Merely talking is not enough, Tan said. To achieve true dialog, everyone must be able to love, respect, aid, forgive and apologize, he said. Referring to the “smart power” approach put forward by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Tan added that Turkey has found an alternative strategy to solving problems, called “soft power.”

Tan said that Turkey considers “soft power” to be the best tool in conflicts because of its central geographic location.

The Rumi Forum was founded in 1999 with the mission to promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue and to provide a common platform for education and information exchange. The Rumi Forum endeavors to foster the noble ideals of Rumi, bringing people and ideas together for a more peaceful coexistence.

The TAA is established as a broader umbrella organization for federations, councils and similar entities which bear the qualities and share the objectives of establishing closer relations with the Turkic American community and the community at large and also with the members of other ethnic communities in the US.

SOURCE: http://www.todayszaman.com/news-254713-interfaith-dialog-advocated-at-iftar-dinner-in-washington.html

Full Video of our 2010 Rumi Peace and Dialogue Awards ready for viewing

 2010 RUMI Peace and Dialogue Awards

The Rumi Forum presented its 2010 RUMI Peace and Dialogue Awards at the dinner and ceremony held in the National Press Club. At the ceremony, extraordinary individuals and organizations who have greatly contributed their time, energy, leadership and dedication to the cause of dialogue, peace, community service and understanding were
awarded.

VIDEOS
Part 1
Part 2

Tuesday, 26th October 2010

at 6:30 p.m.

National Press Club
Washington, DC

Former US ambassador praises Gülen at MARTI-Rockville iftar

http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-220666-154-marti-rockville-holds-annual-ramadan-iftar-dinner.htmlRumi Forum Maryland partnered with MARTI to organize an Iftar Dinner in which numerous guests spoke at, an article in Todays Zaman in regards to Ambassador David Newton's talk is below.

Former US ambassador praises Gülen at MARTI-Rockville iftar  CLICK FOR FULL ARTICLE

and a followup article: MARTI-Rockville holds annual Ramadan iftar dinner

A former US ambassador has said he wishes Turkish intellectual Fethullah Gülen’s ideas will spread to the Arab world. David Newton, former US ambassador to Iraq and Yemen, said last week at an iftar (fast-breaking dinner) hosted by Maryland Turkish-American Inhabitants (MARTI), a non-profit organization established in December 2003, that “the mother of all values is tolerance.” “Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi is a great example of this [promoting tolerance], and he lived at a time when the world was not known for tolerance. Today, we need Fethullah Gülen’s ideas of tolerance, and I hope his ideas will spread to the Arab world,” he said about Gülen, one of the world’s most influential Islamic scholars. At the same dinner, County Executive Isiah Leggett noted that Maryland’s Montgomery county is unique in its great diversity, with students in their school district speaking 150 languages and coming from “literally all over the world.” ..CONTINUED.. please click on title above (referenced from Todays Zaman)