1st National Shia-Sunni Dialogue in America on December 25th in Chicago

Abdul Malik Mujahid

Monday December 25, 2006 will be the first national Shia-Sunni dialogue in America held in Chicago Insha Allah. You don’t have to be an Imam or Muslim leader to attend. Just a Muslim horrified by the killing, terror and violence.

In the past, I have written and spoken about the need for Shias and Sunnis to start a dialog. Many people liked the article but no one actually did it. Therefore, I am giving this call with a specific date.

The need is more urgent now than ever, especially on the heels of some of the worst sectarian violence in Iraq since the beginning of the war almost four years ago. Hundreds of people are being killed on a and sometimes daily basis.

While the role of foreign occupation in the violence is undeniable, we must consider the part that sectarianism has and continues to play in worsening the situation.

I am calling for this dialog with words and a heavy heart. I have no funding for this project, nor anyone working with me at the moment. But I know many of you feel this way. Volunteers and donors will help push this move forward with the help of Allah. We cannot remain silent witnesses to these sinful deeds and crimes against humanity.

Let’s start the intra Muslim dialog which has not yet taken place. Let’s start here and take it to our cities and then maybe we can transplant it in countries where it is needed the most, like Iraq. The time is now. Acting today can Insha Allah save lives not only in Iraq, but also in parts of the world that have seen Shia-Sunni violence frequently, like Pakistan.

Most Shias and Sunnis deplore the situation and feel very bad about it, but we the silent majority must talk to each other; develop a voice; be witness to the middle path and plan to oppose the sectarian evil which first killed one million people in the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s and now probably accounts for half of the 650,000 people killed after the US invasion of Iraq.

Please join this much-needed initiative. Call me at 708-430-1255 ext. 405 or email me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and tell me that you plan to come. Tell me that you are sick and tired of this bloodshed. Tell me that you want to support this effort.

In Europe, nationalism led to fighting that lasted 100 years as well as two world wars killing more than 60 million people. But because of the POWER OF DIALOG, there are now no borders between most of these countries, The European Union, the Euro etc are signs that Europeans have been successful in leaving hundreds of years of conflicts behind. I don’t think Shias and Sunnis are as far apart as European sectarian and national cleavages were. Let’s start talking with Tawakkul and Dua. If we take one step towards God He will take ten steps towards us. There will be Barakah Insha Allah, and nothing but reward for those people who engage themselves in this noble cause.

It was sectarian warfare in Europe between Catholics and Protestants which essentially led people to hate religion itself. Shia-Sunni killings are repelling young people away from faith and at least one of my neighbors has wondered if Shias and Sunnis will start killing each other right here in the US.

While some Muslims in this conflict have been busy killing each other, the last few weeks have been real bad for Imams in America. Thirty-three were arrested on immigration charges and six others were handcuffed and thrown out of a plane. I will not travel on US Airways anymore. The charge against those imams was that they were praying and saying “Allah…Allah.”

Let me say Allahu Akbar as I pray that Allah opens our hearts towards our neighbors and their hearts towards us.