Showing posts with label Public Statements. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Public Statements. Show all posts
STANDING TOGETHER AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM
We categorically condemn the vandalism and hateful, antisemitic symbolism that sought to desecrate the Beth Tikvah Synagogue here in Toronto on August 4, 2011, and we are both shocked and appalled that the perpetrators seemed to have associated their hatred and desecration with the religion of Islam. As Muslims we unequivocally reject such attribution, and we bear clear witness that such behavior has no place within the religion of Islam. More, we applaud all those, including the Canadian Council of Imams (CCI), who immediately rose to stand with the victims against this criminal expression of ignorance and hate. To see the CCI statement, click here.
We further decry all those who seek to spread dissension, mistrust, fear, and hatred through the malicious misrepresentation of people belonging to any race or religion or gender or orientation, and we call upon all truly religious people to serve as conduits of the Divine light that dispels all darknesses.
May the Jewish community of Beth Tikvah take heart that they are not alone and that we stand with them, and may all maliciously maligned and oppressed people take heart. We are one human family, all, and we are all created in the Divine image. Let us then raise the call for universal respect, for universal reverence, and let us together stand as we uphold and defend the dignity of every human being.
We further decry all those who seek to spread dissension, mistrust, fear, and hatred through the malicious misrepresentation of people belonging to any race or religion or gender or orientation, and we call upon all truly religious people to serve as conduits of the Divine light that dispels all darknesses.
May the Jewish community of Beth Tikvah take heart that they are not alone and that we stand with them, and may all maliciously maligned and oppressed people take heart. We are one human family, all, and we are all created in the Divine image. Let us then raise the call for universal respect, for universal reverence, and let us together stand as we uphold and defend the dignity of every human being.
PUBLIC STATEMENT regarding the bombing of a Coptic Church in Alexandria, Egypt
We categorically condemn this cruel and vicious act, which has murdered innocent Coptic Christian worshipers and desecrated a sacred house in which God's name is remembered and celebrated. Prayerfully recalling the clear Qur'anic teaching that to kill a single soul unjustly is tantamount to killing all of humankind (5:32), we stand against all those who seek to justify such murderous behavior in the name of Islam or any other faith, and we pray for slain, the wounded, the bereaved, and all those who bear the scars of trauma resulting from this ungodly act.
Also, we call upon all believing and God-conscious people -- be they Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or of any other faith -- to exercise restraint in this raw moment of grief and outrage. Only goodness and the Divine Light can dispel the darknesses of evil deeds and intentions, and so we seek refuge in the Divine lights of mercy and forgiveness and loving kindness, even as we work for justice in the world. Remembering that God is one, that humanity was created from a single soul, and that it is to God's Blessed Unity that we are all returning, we call upon everyone to seek the unitive light of all prophetic teaching and to stand together in faith against all those who would divide us and seek to plant seeds of enmity between us.
Also, we call upon all believing and God-conscious people -- be they Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or of any other faith -- to exercise restraint in this raw moment of grief and outrage. Only goodness and the Divine Light can dispel the darknesses of evil deeds and intentions, and so we seek refuge in the Divine lights of mercy and forgiveness and loving kindness, even as we work for justice in the world. Remembering that God is one, that humanity was created from a single soul, and that it is to God's Blessed Unity that we are all returning, we call upon everyone to seek the unitive light of all prophetic teaching and to stand together in faith against all those who would divide us and seek to plant seeds of enmity between us.
PUBLIC STATEMENT condemning the massacre of Christians in Nigeria, the bombing of churches in Malaysia, the murder of Coptic Christians in Egypt
Affirming that the Prophet Muhammad was sent, in the words of the Qur'an, "as nothing but a mercy unto the worlds" (21:107), i.e., as a mercy unto everyone -- Muslim and non-Muslim alike -- and unto everything, we categorically condemn the recent waves of violence against Christians in Egypt, Malaysia, and now Nigeria. Understanding that the Qur'an commands us to uphold justice, even against ourselves and our kin (see the surah of women, 4:135), we call upon all Muslims to stand up and condemn the crimes perpetrated against humanity by persons who identify as Muslims, just as we condemn all crimes perpetrated by anyone against any and all members of the human family. More, we ask everyone to pray for the victims and their families and to seek ways by which we might reach out with assistance and support for those whose lives and security has been so viciously violated. May God's mercy prevail and be manifest among us; May God's justice prevail and be manifest in the world; and may God's compassion and grace and healing be with the murdered, the bereaved, the wounded, the violated, the shaken, the downtrodden, the forgotten.
PUBLIC STATEMENT
RE: Violence in Gaza & Israel
December 31, 2008
We are both disheartened and grieved by the latest episode of heightened strife, senseless destruction, bloodshed, and widespread suffering in the Israel/Palestine conflict. Once again, we are shown how vendetta, collective punishment, and desperate acts of indiscriminate violence do not move forward the cause of social justice and peace. Indeed, if ever a victory is declared, it will be a pyrrhic victory, coming at an unimaginably high cost of life, infrastructure and property. Moreover, the means by which a conflict is conducted fundamentally shape the type of resolution that is achieved post-bellum. And so we pray for all parties – Palestinian as well as Israeli – to halt hostilities and declare a truce so that medicine, food, water, and other essential forms of humanitarian aid can be brought to those in dire need while alternatives are sought for the calming of the violence and the eventual resolution of the conflict.
When humankind has advanced so impressively in technological and material terms, the persistence and primitive nature of violence as a mode of self-assertion and as a means to resolve conflict can only be seen as a shameful backwardness that continues to plague our progress. We urge all people to seek more humane ways to address injustice, oppression, grievance, and fear; more promising paths to societal transformation and to the security and well-being that all people naturally crave. A willingness to imagine the position from the other’s point of view and a readiness to treat the other as you would wish to be treated yourself are necessary first steps to realizing just and sustainable solutions.
May God’s mercy be with the victims of the current violence, destruction, and the deprivation of basic essentials. May we find the wisdom and strength in our hearts and traditions to better promote understanding, real justice, enduring peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation in Israel/Palestine and everywhere.
Timothy J. Gianotti, Ph.D.
December 31, 2008
We are both disheartened and grieved by the latest episode of heightened strife, senseless destruction, bloodshed, and widespread suffering in the Israel/Palestine conflict. Once again, we are shown how vendetta, collective punishment, and desperate acts of indiscriminate violence do not move forward the cause of social justice and peace. Indeed, if ever a victory is declared, it will be a pyrrhic victory, coming at an unimaginably high cost of life, infrastructure and property. Moreover, the means by which a conflict is conducted fundamentally shape the type of resolution that is achieved post-bellum. And so we pray for all parties – Palestinian as well as Israeli – to halt hostilities and declare a truce so that medicine, food, water, and other essential forms of humanitarian aid can be brought to those in dire need while alternatives are sought for the calming of the violence and the eventual resolution of the conflict.
When humankind has advanced so impressively in technological and material terms, the persistence and primitive nature of violence as a mode of self-assertion and as a means to resolve conflict can only be seen as a shameful backwardness that continues to plague our progress. We urge all people to seek more humane ways to address injustice, oppression, grievance, and fear; more promising paths to societal transformation and to the security and well-being that all people naturally crave. A willingness to imagine the position from the other’s point of view and a readiness to treat the other as you would wish to be treated yourself are necessary first steps to realizing just and sustainable solutions.
May God’s mercy be with the victims of the current violence, destruction, and the deprivation of basic essentials. May we find the wisdom and strength in our hearts and traditions to better promote understanding, real justice, enduring peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation in Israel/Palestine and everywhere.
Timothy J. Gianotti, Ph.D.
PUBLIC STATEMENT
November 27, 2008
RE: MUMBAI ATROCITIES
We condemn these and all acts of viciousness, inhumanity, and terror, and we categorically affirm that such behavior violates Islam and all Divinely inspired religious and spiritual systems.
We pray for all those innocents whose lives have been lost and whose sense of security has been shattered by these evil acts; and we pledge to stand up against the ideologies and twisted theologies that rationalize and condone the indiscriminate killing of innocent people and the targeted persecution of anyone because of race, creed, nationality, or gender.
Even as we pledge our support in the tracking down of those who planned and carried out these abominations, we counsel all peoples of faith to practice restraint, lest more innocent people die in the grief and anger arising from the wounds.
May the light of God's mercy envelop those whose lives were so viciously and unjustly taken, and may the lights of His healing and peace fill the hearts of those who are left behind to mourn and to pick of the pieces of shattered hopes and dreams.
Timothy J. Gianotti, Ph.D.
Toronto
RE: MUMBAI ATROCITIES
We condemn these and all acts of viciousness, inhumanity, and terror, and we categorically affirm that such behavior violates Islam and all Divinely inspired religious and spiritual systems.
We pray for all those innocents whose lives have been lost and whose sense of security has been shattered by these evil acts; and we pledge to stand up against the ideologies and twisted theologies that rationalize and condone the indiscriminate killing of innocent people and the targeted persecution of anyone because of race, creed, nationality, or gender.
Even as we pledge our support in the tracking down of those who planned and carried out these abominations, we counsel all peoples of faith to practice restraint, lest more innocent people die in the grief and anger arising from the wounds.
May the light of God's mercy envelop those whose lives were so viciously and unjustly taken, and may the lights of His healing and peace fill the hearts of those who are left behind to mourn and to pick of the pieces of shattered hopes and dreams.
Timothy J. Gianotti, Ph.D.
Toronto
Eid Mubarak!
We wish a blessed 'Id al-Fitr (feast of breaking fast) to all our friends everywhere. May God accept your prayers, fasting of all kinds, all your good deeds, and all your noble intentions! As we embark upon a new chapter of life from this moment, may the path before us be better than what is behind, and may we better reflect the Divine qualities of mercy, love, justice, forgiveness, and unity throughout this troubled world.
Our warm greetings and heart-felt prayers go out to the Jewish community as they celebrate the "Days of Awe" or "High Holidays" that began with Rosh Hashanah, signalled by the same new moon that marked the Islamic feast we are celebrating. May you have a good, happy and wholesome new year, and may you be inscribed in the Book of Life!
Warm greetings and heart-felt prayers of peace, God's mercy and blessings go out to each and every one of you.
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Our warm greetings and heart-felt prayers go out to the Jewish community as they celebrate the "Days of Awe" or "High Holidays" that began with Rosh Hashanah, signalled by the same new moon that marked the Islamic feast we are celebrating. May you have a good, happy and wholesome new year, and may you be inscribed in the Book of Life!
Warm greetings and heart-felt prayers of peace, God's mercy and blessings go out to each and every one of you.
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