Day Three of Ramadan 2008
I had my coffee this morning! I decided to drink my coffee, get to work really early and then go to bed early. Well...it's past midnight and I'm still up so I accomplished nearly everything I set out to do!
The Downtown Islamic Center in Chicago, Illinois is a lot busier during the Zuhr (early afternoon prayer) prayer than in other months. Since I haven't been able to make to Taraweeh Prayers yet it has been nice getting to pray in a congregation in the afternoon.
The fasting was notably easier today. I'm sure that is because I was really busy at work. I'm not looking forward to weekend fasting when I'm home and feeding the kids breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks throughout the day! That will be tough.
This evening I attended an annual interfaith Iftaar between Muslims and Catholics sponsored by the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago and Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago.
This evening's event was organized by the American Islamic Association in Frankfort, IL. Notable attendees were Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Sr. Joan McGuire, O.P. of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Abdul Malik Mujahid, Chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago and Mayor Jim Holland of the Village of Frankfort.
The theme of the event was the need to expand interfaith dialogue beyond the community leaders, religious leaders and committed interfaith organizers and into the ranks of everyday people.
Dr. Mujahid redirected the audience's focus to a concrete social justice issue during his brief comments: poverty. He discussed his meeting with the members of Congress on the issue of poverty and hunger. He noted that these issues were completely missing from all political speeches to date (in both parties).
I had a chance to speak briefly with the Cardinal. He wasn't much into small talk. His questions and comments to me were direct. He wanted to know all about the CIOGC.
One thing I really did not like was the translation of the Quran by the AIA resident scholar. He did not use the word "God", he did not translate the worl "Injeel." That's basic stuff when you're meeting with interaih partners. Unfortunately this Imam didn't get that memo.
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