Imam Hassan Qazwini: Religions, people have few differences

The Earth Healing Initiative encourages interfaith projects because we are all basically the same. That's the message one of Islam's top Imams brought to Marquette, MI on Oct. 22, 2008 at the Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) Lothlórien House.

Imam Hassan Qazwini, head of the Islamic Center of America, says all religions, people are basically the same.

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

Imam Hassan Qazwini:

I was born in Iraq (1964) in a city called Karbala. Its 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.

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.

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, Im not going to covert to Christianity. Whats 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 hes 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 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.

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.
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Related Links:
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Imam Hassan Qazwini, head of the Islamic Center of America

http://www.icofa.com/aboutus/imam.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Al-Qazwini
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Imam Hassan Qazwini NPR interview May 12, 2005 New Islamic Center of America Mosque in Dearborn, largest in the U.S.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4650047
http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&isl...
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Mohey Mowafy, NMU Health & Nutrition Professor
http://glcyd.org/programs/diversity_bureau.php

Lutheran Campus Ministry Marquette, MI
http://www.nmulutherans.org/
http://www.lakesuperiorinterfaith.com/gardenblessing.html
Non-profit Cedar Tree Institute:
http://www.cedartreeinstitute.org

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[Metsada007]

Very good video, as a Muslim I love and respect all human beings, we should stop hating and fearing each other. There are good and bad people everywhere, the good ones of all faiths and ethnicities should come together and promote peace.

[JasonSS2585]

@Metsada007 DO NOT BE SO NAIVE!!!!! This not not a religion of peace! He is obviously not going to come out and reveal all the controversal teaching os his so called "holy book". Do not make assumptions that ALL religions teach peace and love. Islam only teaches peace and love toward those that follow islam. I have read the quaran, a book of hate. Find out for yourself ! please do your own research.

[YOOPERNEWSMAN]

@JasonSS2585

Its sad there is so much prejudice again muslims.

Maybe people who hate Islam in general - speak out more often than those who understand that all major religions share certain things:

Like do not commit murder or other horrible crimes, respect the environment and more.

You can't paint all Muslims with one brush just as you can't paint all Americans with one brush.

There are wonderful Muslims & Americans on the opposite end there are horrible people perverting their religion.

[YOOPERNEWSMAN]

@Metsada007

Thank you

[JasonSS2585]

@818TUCAN818 ....... the Quaran says .....that if you are outnumbered by your enemy, then make yourself as though you are like your enemy, embrace him and act like him, until you outnumber them and then attack. Dont believe me? READ THE QUARAN...I have. A book of hate and war. Islam is NOT a religion of peace. Dont make that assumption. Educate themselves. There are specific portions of the Quaran I have read promoting the killing of christians and jews. some "religion" huh?

[YOOPERNEWSMAN]

Wow that was fast - and Thank you !!

We wish all people felt like you do.

[818TUCAN818]

you too. hope all ur new year wishes are blessed by god and that your family and you remain in his grace

[YOOPERNEWSMAN]

@818TUCAN818

You are so right my friend - thank you and may 2010 be a year filled with happiness and fairness for you and yours.