To you, my dearest sister and brother in humanity,
At the end of the year, I think of those of you on this earth who have faced fear. Perhaps it is fear of death. Or maybe it is fear of war. Or even fear of the futuure.
But perhaps it is the fear of the other which today consumes our hearts and our minds. We are in a world of global communication but we talk less and less to each other, we listen very little and we shut ourselves away in our intellectual, cultural or religious ghettos. Those fears, you know, make me fear for our common future.
What are you doing, you, to relieve those fears? What are you doing to step outside of your mental ghetto? How many women and men from a different culture or religion have you shared time with or worked with during the last week or even during this last year?
If we speak of respect and openness but remain isolated in our virtual prisons, we will not change our daily lives, our society or the world. We need to start with ourselves. We need to free ourselves from the prisons of our fears and try to understand more about people from other religions and gain mutual trust and understanding.
To do this, you don’t need money or a university degree. You just need good will, commitment and some courage to take the risk to go and meet the unusual. To share moments with people from another culture, from another religion.
And it becomes a beautiful mirror, you know, when you learn that you have yourself multiple identities and that humility is your dignity.
We need to establish a link with common folks on both sides – Muslims and nonMuslims. Perhaps through a TV program (like Doha Debates) where main public is drawn into a discussion in a larger effort to promote a dialogue.
faraz khan
new york,
Dear Tariq,
The hope for the future is in the hearts and minds of the people. I heard your essay (“End of the Year – One Thought”) on National Public Radio. THANK YOU for your encouraging voice.
Tariq, are you aware of Rotary? Rotary is one of the largest volunteer service organizations. Rotary is in 160 countries. Rotary is a mosaic of religions and cultures, rather than a melting pot. Through Rotary, I have become best friends, … no, brothers, with Muslims in Pakistan. Rotary empowers us to take on projects including school supplies, village computer labs, an ambulance. Tomorrow, January 3, 2007, a volunteer teacher-trainer arrives from Brazil. Later this month, another arrives from India. Later this year, an exchange of 5 non-Rotarians will occur between Pakistan and the USA, all expenses paid. As we speak, a Village “Rotary Community Corps” is selecting the 25 or so needy families who will receive a water buffalo, that not only provide sustenance, but will provide the Rotary Community Corp with $10,000 annually. They can use these funds to benefit the entire village, from water purification to clinics to sewing machines. This will be our first village. But then we plan to do 100 villages, and more. But as you have indicated, the real fruits of our labor are the friendships, the peace, and understanding.
Rotarians meet once a week to network and share a meal together, and listen to a speaker, and carry out our service projects. I have been speaking to as many Rotary clubs as I can, to difuse the West’s misconceptions of Islam. I describe Zagat, Umma, etc.
Your audience is already much larger. But I know you would enjoy being surrounded by service-minded, forward-thinking, world-changing Rotarians. To locate Rotary clubs near you, hit the “Club locator” tab at Rotary.org.
THANK YOU again,
Lon Penna
President – Rotary Club of Glenville NY
Dear Tariq
It has been nice to know about you: The people like you who possess a heart of love are indubitably true hope for the Humanity. The basic problem of Humanity is that we humans don’t share ourselves with others as per the commitment and devotion that we keep either for our very ownselves or at maximum to our such dear and near ones with whom we are associated through family etc.
It is without doubt that every human is endowed with the compassion. This is different a matter that how he/she disposes as per his aleady built in compassion. It is the time that we all must learn that it is only Love that can become a true bond among whole of Humanity.
Keep up the good work!
love!
muhammad ali lashari
asalam-u-alaykum Tariq Ramadan
now at this time our young Muslim brothers and sisters really need to hear to what you say and with Allah’s will it will be easy to be practical about it too. thank you
Assalam Tariq,
c’est vraiment un plaisir a t’ecouter mais je me demande comment tu fais pour avoir tant de sagesse et de patience dans notre monde comme tu le dis toi meme. avec tant de detracteurs a tes trousses. tout ce que tu dis est analise et discute surtout ici a l’ile maurice ou il y a tant de divergences d’idee. quand a moi je pense qu’il y aurai du y avoir plus de personnes de ta calibre pour que les jeunes puisse assainir leur deen.
Dear all, effectively, it is almost impossible to do a step toward the unknown. For any reason, our Mind, ou Ego is blocking ourselves to meet the other one, who is our brother, our sister on this planet. The fear of beeing rejected is the first problem, the fear of not being understood the second one. Some of us, have had the chance to travel, to meet new people, to exchange ideas with them, but I do recognize, we have to work first on ourselves, to reduce these fears. Finally, a fear exists by itself only if we believe on it. Strangely, it has been much more easier for me to meet Muslims and enjoy the time spent together, than Christians. (I am Christian) May be us, as Christians have lost that good will to open our arms to the others. May be you, as Muslims, could do that steps that we dont know anymore to do, and to show us, that we all are brothers and sisters.
Peace for everyone. Michel.
Salam brother
Tanks for sharing you thoughts may Allah guide you more and more .Itis good for the soul to hear good words and i agree that we should not fear one another but be able to live with one another dispit our difference let’s get rid of this negatif thoughts and live together because this part of the wisdom of Allah but the truth is that should learn how to live .
Salaam to all brothers and sisters
Happy Eid to all