Assalamu Alaikum reader's!
(Peace be upon you)
Last Thursday's speaker, Mohammad Sarhan*, discussed on multiculturalism was insightful! There were 30+ students and students left with more discussion after the meeting! Sarhan explored how Islam encourages faith & background (race/ethnicity) are forms of our identity to make one a sound human being. He touched on historical highlights from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on how he lived and dealt diversity in the Arabian Peninsula. The Prophet wore clothes that were gifted by the Christian Byzantine, Yemen, to name a few at that time, which are one of the confirmation of his respect and diverse being. Another, the Qur’an has different pronunciation from different parts of the world and still accepted by its sound. That is yet another conformation of respect of various dialects/languages.
Sarhan used references from:
-“Islam and Cultural Imperative” by Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah
http://www.nawawi.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Article3.pdf
-And “Living Islam with Purpose” (by the same author)
http://www.nawawi.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Article6.pdf
Thank you very much for those who listened and supports diversity! REPRESENT!
Peace,
-Noha
*Speaker: Studied abroad in Tarim, Yemen in a summer deen intensive program in 2004. Then went to continue my Islamic studies in Amman Jordan for a few months in 2006. Graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor's in computer science. Currently working at zillow as a development manager.
Week 7: Reflections on Diversity
Posted by Noha Thalib on February 25, 2013
O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. 49:13
