It is always with joy that the Silsilah Dialogue Movement sends a special message to the Christians during the time of Advent and Christmas and to the Muslims during the Month of Ramadan.
In this society where we are losing hold of spiritual values, Ramadan is a point of reference that tells all of us that fasting and prayer are important. Christianity, too, promotes the importance of fasting and prayer. Yes, we have to inspire each other in goodness. This year, Ramadan coincides with the Christian Lenten season which culminates in the celebration of the Holy Week, the most important liturgical time for the Church. Even if we have a different understanding of these two important times celebrated by Muslims and Christians, the commonality lies in giving time for penance and prayer, each one of us focusing on the beliefs of our own religion.
In this context, it is a great challenge for us in Silsilah to remind everyone of the importance of fasting and prayer. These practices also imply the importance of living a life close to God. This is, of course, despite the fact that Muslims and Christians differ in the faith and teachings about God. Indeed, we believe in the same God as the creator of all. This is a difficult time for humanity. Wars and calamities beset us. It is important to strengthen our common desire to help one another guided by the spirit of prayer and penance that is expressed also in mutual collaboration and solidarity.
Indeed, today’s problems are way bigger than what we can do. But we have to respond to this reality by doing what we can and to help one another, moving together as brothers and sisters. There is usually a strong feeling of solidarity among people of the same religion. We can say that it is normal just like how it is when members of the same family are closer. However, it is important to open the door of our hearts to people of other religions. We are part of the same Human family and we form together a “Human Fraternity.”
The Muslims during Ramadan are invited to give a special attention to “Almsgiving.” In fact, Sura 2: 172-3 gives a short code of true piety telling Muslims that giving alms to kinsmen, orphans, the needy, the traveller and beggars and ransoming a slave have an equivalent importance with prayer. The Qur’an uses two terms for almsgiving, Zakat and Sadaqa. The meaning of Zakat is taken to be the obligatory tithing whichevery Muslim must observe. Sadaqa means to be charitable in giving beyond what is legally required. This is a strong invitation that all of us, Muslims and Christians alike, have to emulate.
In Silsilah we believe that we, Christians and Muslims together with people of other faiths, have to remain faithful to our own faith and share our kindness and love to all. If this becomes a more visible practice, we can say that we enter in a deeper dialogue that helps us to build together a new society. This becomes a reality if we believe in it and start to do our part in building together the Culture of Dialogue that is built on the foundation of dialogue with God, with ourselves, with others and with creation.
We hope and pray that together we can build together a new society on the foundation of Harmony, Solidarity and Peace.
SILSILAH DIALOGUE MOVEMENT