Monday, October 27, 2008

U.S. Islamic Leader Imam Hassan Qazwini: Human race, religions have lots in common, few differences

Important Message from the Leader of Largest Mosque in North America - Imam Hassan Qazwini: Major world religions and people have more in common than differences

Imam Hassan Qazwini, leader of the Islamic Center of America

(Photo by Greg Peterson)

-------

The interfaith Earth Keeper Initiative in Michigan's Upper Peninsula has always promoted interfaith connections - and America's top Muslim Imam brought just that message to Marquette, MI.

Thies video is the first of several with excerpts from a heart-felt and candid conversaion between northern Michigan residents (most Christians) and U.S. Muslim leader Imam Hassan Qazwini, head of the Islamic Center of America on Oct. 22, 2008 at the Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) Lothlórien House in Marquette, Michigan.




Northern Michigan University (NMU) Health " Nutrition Professor Mohey Mowafy (above left) of Marquette introduced Imam Hassan Qazwini to an eager audience of mostly Christians for a living room chat.

Imam Qazwini answered a wide range of questions including the murder of many of his family members in Iraq, the War in Iraq, hunting, interfaith environment projects and common perceptions and misconceptions between religions. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

-------

Imam Hassan Qazwini:

"I was born in Iraq (1964) in a city called Karbala. It's a holy city in Iraq. After that I went to Kuwait and then to Iran. (studied in Iran). In 1992 I came to the United States."

"Up until I came to the United States in 1992, I knew there were Christians in Iraq but I never had any interaction with Christians. I never had any interaction with Jews in Iraq. I lived my own inner world. In Karbala, everybody is Muslim."

"There were Christians, there were Jews and obviously other denominations in Iraq, but I lived my own inner world. In Karbala, everybody is Muslim, so I really did not have any interaction beyond my little world."

"It was in the United States when I have my first encounter with non-Muslims."

Iman Hassan Qazwini spoke candidaly to about 25 people at the Lutheran Campus Ministry home in Marquette. In one of several lighter moments, Imam Qazwini urged everyone to see the new Oliver Stone movie "W" about President George W. Bush. (Photos by Greg Peterson)

-------

Imam Hassan Qazwini told a story about riding in a car with his brother in California and stopping into a busy Christian church - and discovering that all religions believe the concept of love:

He said to Muslims - Jesus is as respected and revered as Mohammad.
Imam Hassan Qazwini said all religions and peoples basically "hold the same values - the same beliefs.
"

"We passed by a church in a city called West Covina. So I see a church, it was Sunday, it was a church and the parking lot was full. Probably there was over 300 to 400 cars. So I asked my brother What was going on here?' He said the pastor is giving a sermon."

"I said Can we go?' He says What?' I said Can we go in?' He said you want to go in, really?' I said Yes really.' He says - he wanted to say, he didn't say - out of respect - he wanted to say: Are you out of your mind?' But he didn't say that." (Laughter from audience)

"He said Are you sure you really want to go inside the church?'
I said Yes.' He said "What do you do?' I said Come on, I'm not going to covert to Christianity. What's going on here?" (laughter) I said I have a chance to see what does the pastor have to say when he speaks to this congregation.'

"I know what I tell my, what I say to my congregation What I preach to my congregation. I want to see what he says. So we went in and it was a beautiful church and the pastor was speaking. There was at least 400 to 500 people listening."
"And I listened but at that time my English was not that good. My brother was occasionally translating."

"But, all I heard him talking about was love. Jesus loving you. You love Jesus. And about the concept of love. So as he's talking I am listening."

"I said to myself Look, in our religion we also talk about love."
"Muslims believe that God has 99 names. And one of his names is Al-Wadud. And Al-Wadud is "The Loving One."

"I said to myself Look almost everything he is talking about is there in my religion.' And how similar we look. And for every word he says quoting Jesus. I have a word to quote from Mohammad. As Muslims, Jesus to us - he is a prophet as well."

"He (Jesus Christ) is as respected as Mohammad and as revered as Mohammad because we Muslims believe there are five superior messengers - Mohammad, Jesus, Moses, Noah and Abraham."

"So we place Jesus almost in the same place - or status - as we place Mohammad."

"In my mind as I am listening (to the Christian pastor) These words he was uttering are resonating in my mind. And reflecting my own faith system."

An Iman of Many Gestures: However the biggest gesture from Imam Hassan Qazwini was a message of love, peace, respect and common ground to all the World's major religions. (Photos by Greg Peterson)

-------

"When we do not see each other, when we do not interact with each other. We think of each other - that we are weird. I think you are weird. You may think that I am weird."

"You may thing that I harbor some very weird thoughts. I could be a very weird person. I could be someone who does not think like you think. And probably I would have the same thought about you."

"But when we meet, and we mingle, and we exchange thoughts, we find how striking our similarities are."

"Be Muslims, Christians, Jews or what else - non-denominational - basically we hold the same values - the same beliefs. And we worship God with different tongues and different languages and different styles - but the direction is the same."
-------
Related Links:
-------

Mosque photo courtesy the Islamic Center of America website

Imam Hassan Qazwini, head of the Islamic Center of America

---

Critic of Imam Hassan Qazwini:

---

Wikipedia article on Karbala, Iraq:


Wikipedia article on "People from Karbala" (Iraq):

---

Muslim 99 names for God: Al-Wadud is"The Loving One":

---

Articles about Muslims " Quran: Muslims believe there are five superior messengers - Mohammad, Jesus, Moses, Noah and Abraham:

http://www.shiatv.net/search_result.php?search_id=Blessing

---

Imam Hassan Qazwini NPR interview May 12, 2005 on opening of new Islamic Center of America Mosque in Dearborn - the largest in the U.S. (Recording of NPR interview)

---

Photo courtesy NMU website

Mohey Mowafy
NMU Health " Nutrition Professor
906-249-9133 (hm)
906-227-2366 (wk)
Professor of Health, Physical Education and Recreation
201C Physical Education Instructional Facility
Began teaching at NMU in 1976

mmowafy@nmu.edu

NMU Health " Nutrition Professor Mohey Mowafy is member of speakers bureau with talks on biodiversity:

Mohey Mowafy, a 63-year-old Northern Michigan University professor, brought 32 students to the Democratic Party rally with former Pres. Bill Clinton " an effort to recruit Rudy Giuliani into presidential bid:

Meet NMU Professors:

NMU President's Council " Prof. Mohey Mowafy:

Northern Michigan University Professor Mohey Mowafy on health and nutrion:
-------
Lutheran Campus Ministry - Marquette, MI
http://www.nmulutherans.org

Rev. Jon Magnuson, founder " executive director of the non-profit Cedar Tree Institute, welcomes Imam Hassan Qazwini to the Lutheran Campus Ministry house in Marquette, MI.


U.S. Muslim Leader Imam Hassan Qazwini: Selfish pollute environment; Don't hunt for fun

Northern Michigan University (NMU) Health & Nutrition Professor Mohey Mowafy (above left) of Marquette introduced Imam Hassan Qazwini (center) to an eager audience of mostly Christians for a living room chat.

Rev. Warren Geier (right) of Bethany Lutheran Church in Ishpeming, MI was among several Lutheran pastors on hand.

Imam Qazwini answered a wide range of questions including the murder of many of his family members in Iraq, the War in Iraq, hunting, interfaith environment projects and common perceptions and misconceptions between religions. (Photos by Greg Peterson)
---
Imam Hassan Qazwini: Humans are selfish and dont treat the environment with justice - its the responsibility of all humans and all religions to respect the environment

The Michigan Earth Keeper Initiative has always promoted interfaith connections - and America's top Muslim Imam brought just that message to Marquette, MI

Talk by Imam Hassan Qazwini, head of the Islamic Center of America on Oct. 22, 2008 at the Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) Lothlórien House in Marquette, Michigan

Northern Michigan University (NMU) Health & Nutrition Professor Mohey Mowafy of Marquette introduced Imam Hassan Qazwini:

Verbatim comments by Imam Hassan Qazwini:

In the Quran God says:

---

Thahara alfasadu feealbarri waalbahri bima kasabat aydee alnnasiliyutheeqahum baAAda allathee AAamiloolaAAallahum yarjiAAoona. Quran (Ar-Rum: verse 41)

---
Quran (Ar-Rum: verse 41) translated:

Corruption (Mischief) has appeared on land and sea because of (the meed) that the hands of men have earned, that (Allah) may give them a taste of some of their deeds: in order that they may turn back (from Evil). Quran (Ar-Rum: verse 41)

---
Corruption has appeared on the sea and on the land due to what the man did - or what the man does.

Meaning that God created this very beautiful, splendid planet. And he gave it to us as a gift. But he asked us not to corrupt it, not to ruin it, not to destroy it. Use it for our benefit.

Did you know that in this country, we only form five percent of the worlds population, but we consume 25 percent of the worlds energy. What does this mean? This means that I am taking my own share - yet I am taking the share of five other people in this world. I am using my own share plus the share that belongs to five other people - I am consuming.

It means that I am stepping over my limits. And I am doing such injustice to the environment. Why? Simply because I am selfish. I want to enjoy myself. I dont care about the environment. I dont care about others and I want to use everything for my own benefit only.


Artwork by Esteban Barahona of San José, Costa Rica and courtesy Wikipedia

---

I always remind my friend - I say many of you love hunting. How many of you hunt?
---
Answering the Imams question - news reporter Greg Peterson says I am growing my beard (for deer season) right now.
---
Imam Hassan Qazwini continues:

Hunting is a hobby that many people love to do.

In Islam, my religion, two people can hunt only.
A hunter - meaning whose career is hunting, someone who makes a living out of hunting.
And the second one: A man who is wandering the desert or the woods. And he got so hungry, and he could not find anything to eat, he went and he hunted something. He ate. Thats fine.

Photo by Greg Peterson

---

But for someone to do it as a hobby - its prohibited (in Islam).
Why?

Because God allowed me, permitted me as a human being, he gave me the right to take the life of an innocent animal only when I need it. When I need to fill my stomach. When I am hungry. Or when I need to make a living because I have to make a living.

But for me to go out and enjoy myself with the cost of killing an innocent animal - God says: Here your freedom is over. You can not take the life of an innocent animal simply because you wanted to enjoy yourself. Simply because you wanted to have some fun.

But obviously, you may tell me: I am not going to waste it. I will take it.

I know, but what was my incentive when I hunted this animal. My incentive was to enjoy myself not because I was hungry.

My point that I am trying to say is this: That God want this equilibrium to be kept and to be preserved.
We Muslims refrain from eating so many kind of fish - the kind of fish that does not have scale on the skin - we cannot eat. Why?

Because we know that if we are allowed to eat everything in the ocean then the balance the equilibrium in the ocean will be upset.
Therefor - not only my well-being - the well-being of the environment will be in danger.

Photo by Greg Peterson

---

So the bottom line is - that Islam is one of the religions that emphasizes protecting the environment.

You can use from the environment as much as you need - not as much as you enjoy.
You can use the environment as much as you need - not as much as you enjoy.

-------
Related Links:
-------

Mosque photo courtesy the Islamic Center of America website

Imam Hassan Qazwini, head of the Islamic Center of America

---

Critic of Imam Hassan Qazwini:

---

Quran and the environment:

http://www.blogtoplist.com/religion/blogdetails-17864-3.html

http://theislamicscience.blogspot.com/2007/04/man-and-pollution.html

http://Quran.al-islam.com/Targama/DispTargam.asp?nType=1&nSora=30&nAya=41&nSeg=1&l=eng&t=eng

http://www.Quranexplorer.com/?gclid=CISVuKeYw5YCFSMeDQodMnDFKw

http://uniqueislam.com/MAN%20AND%20POLLUTION.htm

http://www.islamforall.net/qur%27an.htm

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/Qur'an/scislam.html

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1157962482299&pagename=Zone-English-HealthScience%2FHSELayout

---

Saddam Hussein:

http://www.answers.com/topic/saddam-hussein

---

Movie "W" by Oliver Stone:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/02/georgebush.usa

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1175491

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg7vwicPx98

---

Imam Hassan Qazwini taped NPR interview May 12, 2005 on opening of new Islamic Center of America Mosque in Dearborn - the largest in the U.S.

---

Quran explained by Wikipedia:

---

Wikipedia Islam, Quran & Allah related artwork by Esteban Barahona of San José, Costa Rica:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Allah-eser2.png

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Esteban.barahona

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:IslamSymbolAllah.PNG

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Dcp7323-Edirne-Eski_Camii_Allah.jpg

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Allah

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Allah-eser2.png

http://anagami.deviantart.com

---

Quran photos new & old:

http://www.bornrich.org/entry/13th-century-quran-sold-for-a-world-record-at-christies

http://foreninger.uio.no/mss/bilder/quran%20001.jpg

http://foreninger.uio.no/mss/bilder/quran%20002.jpg

http://foreninger.uio.no/mss/bilder/quran%20004.jpg

http://foreninger.uio.no/mss/bilder/quran%20006.jpg

http://foreninger.uio.no/

---

Mohammad photos on the University of North Florida website:

http://www.unf.edu/classes/freshmancore/core1images/muhammad-westernimage.jpg

---

Prophet Muhammad & Other Islamic Prophets on Wikipedia:

---

Wikipedia article on Karbala, Iraq:


Wikipedia article on "People from Karbala" (Iraq):

---

Muslim 99 names for God: Al-Wadud isThe Loving One:

---

Articles about Muslims & Quran: Muslims believe there are five superior messengers - Mohamad, Jesus, Moses, Noah and Abraham:

http://www.shiatv.net/search_result.php?search_id=Blessing

---

Imam Hassan Qazwini NPR interview May 12, 2005 on opening of new Islamic Center of America Mosque in Dearborn - the largest in the U.S. (Recording of NPR interview)

---

Photo courtesy NMU website

Mohey Mowafy
NMU Health & Nutrition Professor
906-249-9133 (hm)
906-227-2366 (wk)
Professor of Health, Physical Education and Recreation
201C Physical Education Instructional Facility
Began teaching at NMU in 1976

mmowafy@nmu.edu

NMU Health & Nutrition Professor Mohey Mowafy is member of speakers bureau with talks on biodiversity:

Mohey Mowafy, a 63-year-old Northern Michigan University professor, brought 32 students to the Democratic Party rally with former Pres. Bill Clinton & an effort to recruit Rudy Giuliani into presidential bid:

Meet NMU Professors:

NMU Presidents Council & Prof. Mohey Mowafy:

Northern Michigan University Professor Mohey Mowafy on health and nutrion:
-------
Lutheran Campus Ministry - Marquette, MI
http://www.nmulutherans.org

Rev. Jon Magnuson, founder & executive director of the non-profit Cedar Tree Institute, welcomes Imam Hassan Qazwini to the Lutheran Campus Ministry house in Marquette, MI.