The Living Faith- online formation program is a new program prepared by the SIlsilah Dialogue Movement. It substitutes the traditional Summer Course program of Silsilah. It is presented in 20 weeks, 1 episode every Friday, you can view it here: https://www.facebook.com/silsilahdialogue .
In the first 10 episodes, the host of this program, Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME invited different Muslim leaders to share on the 99 Beautiful Names of Allah, their insights and living experiences as a Muslim, follows the 10 episodes where the host invites Christian leaders to share their Living Faith based on the Beatitudes and the teachings of Jesus.
We started this program, two weeks ago and those who are still interested to attend in this program can apply: https://form.jotform.com/201701202639444 . They will be invited every Saturday for a ZOOM discussion and sharing and they can receive a certificate after this online program. The participants of this course will also receive a Talk Show presentation to know more about the spirit of Interreligious Dialogue.
In this Oasis News, we are happy to present the reflection done by Hja. Zenaida Tan-Lim, the President of Sarangbangun foundation and the Vice-President of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement. In her presentation, she focused the discussion on two (2) of the 99 Beautiful names of Allah, which are Al-Hayy (Ever-Living) and Al-Qayyum (The Sustainer: The self-subsisting).
In Islam, Allah SWT is attributed with ninety-nine names, each of which explains and describes the qualities and virtues Muslims must recognize, remember and set as the guide in their lives. The virtues most exemplified are found in the life of our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW, a model to Muslims. In ways that we are commanded to do, we do so as the pillars of our religion; in other ways that we express our obeisance to worship and good conduct, we look at the ways of the Prophet for our examples. In our worship of Allah, we surrender as slaves to Him, our Master, granting nothing else as worthy of worship.
Let me highlight one name of Allah that bears on me as a daily reminder of my being a Muslimah, consciously striving to fulfill my obligation and duty as such Muslimah, even if I know that once I avow to be a Muslimah, the proof of my being such is in the act of worship, Allah has commanded me to do.
When I wake up in the morning for my dawn prayer, I first realize that I am alive, back from a slumber that has taken me to the realm of the yonder world. This realization is at least an awareness of myself, conscious now to face the day ahead, and to start the day with an obligatory prayer. Alhamdulillah, this is the act of obeisance of a slave to her Master, Allah subhana wa taala.
Being alive and being aware that I am alive gives me a good reason to thank Allah for what I am. This world has given me every chance and opportunity to grow, to be born into my family, into my religion of Islam, to enjoy the breath of life that has kept me from the day I was born. Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum. I have become a part of the breath of life from the Source of All That Is, from the Source of Life and the Source of Sustenance. I realize I have become part of the immense universe of creation that beats with immeasurable harmony, in precise order and continuing perfection. I realize I have a part to participate in nature, and its history of humankind, at this time and in this place.
I have gone through many trials and faced many perils that accompany my years as a daughter, wife and mother. The days of living dangerously with the present Covid19 have added the risk to life. And yet, every moment of imminent danger brings me to a firmer belief that only Allah can take my life away, to end on this earth and begin in the hereafter.
I have endured the lack of food and exposure to the presence of the Grim Reaper: in Jolo in February of 1974, we never expected to come out alive from the atrocities that marked the attack on the town and the fierce battle between the Moro group and the AFP. I was an expectant mother, due to give birth any day of that month. We might call it a miracle that we survived, but in the end, the Will of Allah is the source of that miracle that rescued us and sustained us after that.
I received life as much as I became a channel of life for my children. In no small measure, I have become a chain of life started by the First Act in Allah’s Creation. I have become part of nature, that nature of things that have beginnings and ends. Our end leads to a new dimension of life that we expect to enter, and as a Muslimah, I am guided by this injunction to:
“Look for your worldly benefits as if you will live forever; work for your heavenly gains as if you will die tomorrow.”
I am aware of my borrowed existence on this earth. Only Allah is the Ever Living, the Ever Sustaining, Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum.
“Allah! There is no deity save Him, the Alive, the Eternal. Neither slumber nor sleep overtaketh Him. Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that intercedeth with Him save by His leave? He knoweth that which is in front of them and that which is behind them, while they encompass nothing of His knowledge save what He wills. His throne includeth the heavens and the earth, and He is never weary of preserving them. He is the Sublime, the Tremendous. ” (Sura Al Baqara Verse 255)
Hja. Zenaida Tan-Lim
We hope that this Living Faith-online formation program can be an inspiration to many to live in the real spirit of dialogue to be able to see the goodness of people of other cultures and religions and work together for the common good.
Join us in this program!
(https://www.facebook.com/events/710160226403872/permalink/713003926119502/).