Interfaith Gathering at Portsmouth Cathedral on the Occassion of Christmas 2013
ADDRESS BY SHEIKH FAZLE ABBAS DATOO
Resident Alim / Imam
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat – Al Mahdi Centre
21st January, 2014
Salamun alaykum / May peace be upon you all,
This evening is the 19th year for this joint Muslim Christian event when we all, as neighbours, have come together. This is truly a blessed gift for our communities. Subhaanallah - Glory to God.
I would like you to imagine seated in a transport medium: coach, train, ferry or aeroplane with a number of other passengers. What has brought you together under one travel roof is the journey to a common destination.
I share this because the thought tonight is: What brings us together. Then the question I pose is: What shapes our lives?
Is it not the celebration of birth of AL MASIH ISA IBN MARYAM AL MUQADDASAH RASULULLAHI WA KALIMATUHU the Messiah, Isa son of Maryam the chaste lady, the Apostle of God and the word of God that has brought us together?
On the Islamic Calendar, this is the month of Rabi ul Awwal. During these days muslims around the world celebrate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him.)
Prince of peace and mercy for the universe (rahmatu lil ‘aalamin) is how Christians describe Jesus and Muslims the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon them). Both Christians and Muslims claim to be followers of Abraham, the man who would not dine without a guest.
Both Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them), they all teach love of God and to be good to your neighbour. They remain an example, a teacher, to all of us in all our walks of life. Their behaviour, their examples, their works, all have an imprint on our souls.
We see in them the epitome of what has meaning for all. There are many experiences of faith in this Cathedral tonight.
Christians and Muslims all come together. And we share a belief. The belief that has an element of reciprocity: we are loved and are called to love.
We have choices and those choices matter.
We have purposes deeper than ambitions and hopes greater than success.
It is these beliefs that shape our lives. They help sustain the life in our families, in our communities and in our nation.
Men and women can be good without faith, but faith is a force for goodness.
Men and women can be compassionate without faith, but faith often inspires compassion.
Men and women can love without faith, but faith is a great teacher of love.
Men and women can nurture others without faith, but faith is a great catalyst for nurturing others.
Human beings can love without faith, but faith is a great teacher of love.
And that is the message of God that has come through to us by Jesus (peace be upon him).
So the celebration of togetherness tonight is not only about Jesus, but his message of love. Not only of Jesus, but his message of compassion. Nor only of Jesus, but his message of goodness.
Now that we know we have come together to celebrate Jesus Birthday, may I now ask you to take a moment to give him a gift from you to him so that he receives these and is able to show others what people of faiths have given him.
So what shape does our life take by coming together?
Together we show humility. Humility to each other and others that our communities can co-exist as His servants doing His work in His presence
Together we show love. Love that, though our faiths separate us and our practices are different, the enduring human spirit that is in each of us remains a ray of hope in the chaos of busyness
Together we show gratitude. Gratitude that, through Prophet Isa (Jesus) who unites us we celebrate our work for our communities.
In this blessed gathering let us now mention our prayers:
Almighty God, the Beneficent, He who takes away grief, removes sadness, disposes of sorrow, answers the prayers of the needy, O the Merciful of this world and the hereafter
You are merciful to me and to all things, so be merciful to me....
O Lord Grant good health and swift recovery to the ill persons, bless the soul of the departed members of our community, grant strength and relief to the distressed, persons affected by various calamities round the globe, protect our scholars whose prayers protect us, continue to abundantly shower upon us your blessings and bounties upon us....AAMIN
On behalf of my Shia Ithna Asheri Muslim Community of Wessex, the muslims in Portsmouth and on my own behalf, I offer our heartiest felicitations, greetings and best wishes to all our Christian brethren and a prosperous Year 2014!
Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat