Rumi Forum Organizes Ramadan Iftar Dinner for South Asian-Turkish American Communities

Members of the South Asian and Turkish American communities attended a Ramadan iftar dinner organized by the Rumi Forum and held at the American Turkish Friendship Association in Fairfax on July 1^st, 2015.

Shuja Nawaz, a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council started his remarks with the importance of Ramadan, which marks a precious holy month for all Muslims, or as Mr. Nawaz said, “God sent the Quran on this month and made it an exclamation point on the Muslim calendar.” He said that the things suggested by God must not only be confined to the one month of Ramadan but must be extended above and beyond. He stressed on the criticality of doing without on a daily basis. God chose Ramadan to make fasting and giving obligatory but the lesson that he wants to pass along to his children and grandchildren and onto others is that the lessons of life in moderation and sharing with others must not be restricted to this one month. “We assume too many things, we assume that because we have them we should eat well and take advantage of our riches on this earth but what God is reminding us in Ramadan is, I believe, living a life of moderation and then, looking after others.” For those who can afford it, weekly and monthly contributions to those in need must become a regular habit, he believes.

Another poignant remark made by Mr. Nawaz was the growing intolerance within the Muslim world towards accepting differences in points of view. He believes there seems to be a desire in the Muslim community not to compromise or not to recognize when others have a different way of observing religion. “Enforcement of religion is not religion. It is not the business of the state to impose religion or the business of fellow citizens to impose religion on you. It’s a contract between you and Allah. There shouldn’t be any other constraint or obstacle in this relationship”, he said expressing his personal views. He stressed on the vital importance for Muslims to recognize their own link with God far above reliance on official diktat and to observe the ritual rather than the real meaning of Islam, as the Prophet advised his followers. The questions he raises for himself and others during this holy month are: What kind of world do we want to create for ourselves, for the Muslims, for our children and grandchildren?

In closing Mr. Nawaz’s urged the wider audience to consider the inherent and intrinsic concepts of Islamic society, such as creating democracy instead of accepting rulers who impose their will upon the populace in the name of God. He said, “I think it is incumbent upon all Muslims, and I consider myself equally engaged in this fight, to try and speak up for the individual and the right to observe religion the way you believe it should be observed and how you interpret it from the Quran.”  

Dr. Sayyid Syeed, National Director for Interfaith and Community Alliances, one of the pioneers of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), reminded those present of the struggles and successes of the Muslim community in America. Fasting during Ramadan, the invisible act of worship that pays homage to Islamic practice, has become the most popular pillar among the new generation of Muslims in America. “It’s amazing how Muslims, men and women from coast to coast, have been able to create such a respectable, visible institution – from White House to different federal departments to governors and mayors of different cities – they are all holding Iftar parties.” Mr. Syeed says fasting enhances the spiritual aspect of ones being and every religion, by definition, has to have fasting as one of its components. Islam, particularly, elevated fasting to the status of one of the fundamental pillars of the faith. Fasting helps to build communal solidarity and provide for those in need. Ramadan has been instrumental in helping people understand the true essence of Islam.

Aisha Rahman, Executive Director of Karamah, shared a personal story that tied in with the evening’s theme of encouraging dialogue and celebrating diversity. Her father taught her the importance of recognizing her identity as a Muslim over other concerns whether it be of belonging to Sunni or Shia sect, being Urdu or Arabic speaking, or coming from different countries like Pakistan or Turkey. She takes heed to not simplify anybody’s faith, heritage or background but adds, This evening we are here to celebrate intra-cultural relationships. We may not all be Muslim. We may be coming from different nations and tribes. But God says in the Quran: “I created you unto nations and tribes so you can know one another.” And that is what we’re doing here this evening. We are knowing one another.” She believes that God’s message of creating bonds of harmony and dialogue is clear. So even if the world presents constant forces that try to divide and cause schisms between communities and within the Muslim community, it is always imperative to fight against that.

Tariq Shafi, addressing the guests on occasion of the South Asian-Turkish American Ramadan iftar, laid out the historical relationship between Pakistan and Turkey. There are several overlapping commonalities between the two communities that in culture, geopolitics, military, trade, religion, food and others. Former President Pervez Musharraf once said, ““Pakistanis have always occupied a special place in the hearts and minds of the people of Turkey.” Mr. Shafi believes that these common bonds are the building blocks to what the two countries can achieve together at the local grassroots level to promote good relations and cooperation. He presents his own ideas and hopes that Turkey and Pakistan may continue collaborating and expand, learn and reinforce ideals that make us all better citizens.

IMF’s Mumtaz Hussain spoke towards the critical value of interacting and engaging with other communities, learning different cultures and being part of each other’s lives. He addressed two main points: the importance of putting humanity over all other forms of identity and focusing on learning and education endeavors. He expressed his happiness and pride of being part of organizations like Rumi Forum and ATFA, which tirelessly promote inclusivity. Speaking of such kinds of organizations, he says, “It is shocking they don’t ask you - what’s your identity? They simply ask you: you are a human being. Not even Muslim. That’s the important thing. Their relationship is beyond that and that is humanity.” The Rumi Forum and ATFA have been organizing spaces that bring together different groups to unite and celebrate each other’s diversity. Mr. Hussain believes that this kind of inclusivity, that includes people from Muslim countries like Somalia and Azerbaijan, and also different religions, makes people feel part of a close-knit united community.

Rumi Forum and ATFA, with the help of sister organizations, runs schools in all parts of the world including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Africa etc. Their focus on learning, knowledge and education is tremendous and this is reflected in the quality of these learning institutions. Citing the personal example of his children going to one such school in Virginia, he says, “In a school where there are only 160 students, there are children representing 30 nationalities. It is a small globe within a small community of a school. The kids growing up are interacting constantly with many different cultures and communities. Imagine their learning when they grow up. They have all these assets and skills to deal and be part of the world - not part of a small group, but of the whole world. And that’s what really excites and amazes me.” In closing, Mr. Hussain reiterated the value of the work being done by inclusive societies that give precedence to human dignity, human culture and values.

Rumi Forum Hosts Truman National Security Project over Ramadan Iftar Dinner

Rumi Forum hosted guests from Truman National Security Project along with Turkish-American community leaders for Ramadan Iftar on 26^th June, 2015. President for Center for National Policy, Scott Bates, delivered a short speech, followed by Truman Fellows Joshua Walker and Jen Nedua.

President Scott Bates addressed the attendees of the Ramadan dinner, delivering a short message on the power of believing in hope and ultimate justice. “The arc of history bends slowly to justice”, he said, echoing the words of Martin Luther King. Despite the deep tragedies and sorrows of our time, in the United States and elsewhere in the world, there are always new opportunities for healing and new birth of freedom for our nations. 

Truman Fellow Joshua Walker touched upon the value of loyalty and friendship in the relationship between America and Turkey. Despite the “difficult” friendship, he considers Turkey their closest allies and puts his faith and hope in continuing a healthy partnership with the Turkish people at large. Citing his love for Turkish culture and hospitality and Ramadan as one of his favorite holiday periods, he says, “To just be embraced regardless of peoples’ political views - this shows us the real future of the relationship. Its’ going to be done by people like us, by future leaders, who can look past political differences, challenges of the situation, difficulties of geography and the bridging of worlds by doing it one person at a time, one meal at a time.”

Mr. Walker advises friends of Turkey to be both critical and skeptical of the euphoria and also skeptical and cautious of extreme pessimism, when dealing with news of the ever-changing political landscape of the country. The history of all countries has been to take one step forward and two steps back, and so it is with Turkey. He believes that the senseless violence pervading the Middle East, the ongoing conflicting wars in Syria and Iraq, the tendency towards authoritarianism in the region can only be countered when diverse groups of people come together to engage in dialogue and discussion. Even though the volatile political period in Turkey promises a difficult road ahead, it is a struggle that can be overcome if embracing diversity is marked as the way to move forward.

“Thinking about the future and where we go as a progressive community focused on national security, we have to speak to our own populations…Just like many of us in this [American] community, we don’t fit into a nice box.” Mr. Walker emphasizes the problem of categorizing people into boxes, instead urging the U.S. government and Turkey to move beyond bigotry and myopic visions and learn how to broaden perspectives and adapt to each other. Turkey’s great challenge in the current period is to move towards a truly people’s driven democracy. In a world that is deeply interconnected, Mr. Walker believes it is America’s responsibility to “reach out and be our brothers’ keepers” across the waters.

NEW BOOK: Renewing Islam by Service, Pim Valkenberg, Catholic University of America

Renewing Islam by Service offers a theological account of the contemporary Turkish faith-based service movement started by Fethullah Gülen, and placed against the backdrop of changes in modern Turkish society. The life and works of Gülen are analyzed against the background of developments in Turkish society, and of spiritual Islamic tendencies in the transition from the Ottoman empire to the secular republic. Pim Valkenberg includes stories of his personal experiences with supporters of this movement, in a number of different countries, and analyzes the spiritual practices and the faith-based service of this movement that is also compared to some important Christian religious movements.

Available for purchase here.

Fethullah Gülen (born 1941 in Erzurum) is sometimes mentioned as one of the most influential Islamic scholars of the twenty-first century. During his work as a scholar-preacher in Izmir in the 1970s he started to provide learning opportunities for his students. He attracted many supporters and inspired them to form communities that put their Islamic faith into practice by serving others. When the political and economic situation of the Turkish republic improved, Gülen and the Hizmet (service) Movement began to take initiatives in order to overcome ignorance, disunity and poverty.

At the beginning of the 21­st century the Hizmet Movement ormed one of the most influential networks of Muslims, not only in Turkey but in Europe and the United States as well. Gulen now lives in the United States where he still inspires many groups to engage in dialogue initiatives, excellent schools, public media and service organizatons. However, these initiatives are often met with suspicion by a number of different groups - secularists as well as radical Muslims. While the Hizmet Movement has thus far mainly been studied from a social scientific perspective, this book claims that Gulen and the Hizmet can best be understood by researching the religious drive that empowers them. Since this book has been written by a Christian theologian, this is done in a comparative theological approach that not only shows how Gulen and the Hizmet Movement renew Islam by service, but also how Christians can be inspired by such a religious renewal movement.

Rumi Forum's Ramadan Iftar Dinner with Friends of Anatolia

The Iftar dinner with friends of Anatolia was attended by more than 60 people ranging from academics to NGO leaders. Most of the participants were previous attendees of Rumi Forum's Turkey trips.

Todd Theringer, part of the Harvard Club of DC, began the talks by sharing his experiences of the trip to Turkey. Explaining that “prior to the trip, if you had mentioned Turkey to me, I would have thought Thanksgiving”, Mr. Theringer described how his visit of the country significantly changed his perspective. He gave an example of this awareness through his eagerness to meet Kurds when traveling around Cappadocia, before realizing that everyone around him was Kurdish. As a result of these experiences, he explained that “my whole concept of Turkey vs. Kurdish and East vs. West started to blend together” and that his curiosity regarding the region has grown. He finished by thanking Rumi Forum for organizing the trip. 

Jennifer Cate followed upon Theringer and positively described her visit to the Middle-Eastern country. Although she “for years had a crush on Turkey”, it turned into “full-blown love” after the visit with the Rumi Forum. She praised the wide-range of Turkish individuals they were able to meet, from journalists to politicians, and the many activities they were able to embark on. Their trip coincided with the upcoming parliamentary elections, and Ms. Cate explained her resulting growth in knowledge of the political landscape of the country, even though she realized “with each meeting how little we know”. She applauded the Turkish sense of hospitality and the unforgettable experience she went through. 

Paul Wee, a lecturer at George Washington University, built on the remarks of the previous speakers. He began by explaining that he has learned that breaking bread with others “allows people to see things they did not see before.” Describing a pleasant meal with a family who welcomed him into their home in Ankara, Wee emphasized how important the value of sharing truly is. Mr. Wee also praised Mehmet’s ability to introduce the members of the trip to personalities of the Turkish parliament and media, providing a “great learning experience”. He then briefly addressed his concerns for “the direction of the country”, mentioning the detainment of journalists and the government’s shift towards more rightist policies. He emphasized his fears of the country’s changing politics, drawing a comparison with Germany in the 1930s which eventually turned to Hitler’s Nazism. Focusing on the Gulen movement, he congratulated “the fantastic work that is being done” while criticizing the pressure on Hizmet in Turkey.  Mr. Wee then discussed the theological aspect of his trip, highlighting the importance of values of love and forgiveness. Rather than contrasting faiths, Wee emphasized focusing on the common principles of these religions, therefore “transcending differences.” Having such discussions, he explains, created a closer personal relation between him and Islam. Paul Wee expressed his hope that “this dynamic may overcome the hostilities and bring us together in a world of peace” to conclude his remarks. 

Speaker Videos: 

Paul Wee, George Washington University

  

Todd Theringer, Harvard Club of DC

Jennifer Cate, HANDS

Photos: 

2015 Ramadan Iftars

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