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Interfaith Thanksgiving service held at the Ajab
Complex in Boston
November 19th, 2007
Sunday (18
Nov), on a beautiful New England fall evening, took place
a gathering of over 200 people and group leaders from
several local religious congregations from communities
that dot the 495 belt. This gathering was hosted by the
Muslim Dawoodi Bohra community (Anjumane Ezzi) under the
auspices of their resident priest (Amil) Janab Mustaali
Mohyuddin and the focus was to provide a forum to share in
the spirit of thanksgiving. Among those present were the
Aldersgate United Methodists, the All Saints
Episcopalians, Anjuman-e-ezzi (Dawoodi Bohra
Congregation), the Baha'i Community of Chelmsford, Central
Congregationals, Congregation Shalom, St. John the
Evangelist congregation, Trinity Lutherans and the West
Chelmsford United Methodists. Prior to the service,
several members of the host congregation provided tours of
Qutbi masjid and explained its layout and functions as
well as the many arhitectural features that drew from
Mughal Indian and Egyptian Fatemid motifs.
In the spirit of thanksgiving, the service began with a
Bah'ai call to prayer, followed by welcoming address and
an introduction to the theme of thanksgiving. The was
followed by individual short prayer offerings of gratitude
from all of the represented congregations, each with their
own unique flavor and each expression was interspersed
with a joint chanting of thankfulness by all those
present. The Bah'ai diversity choir provided the music and
lyrics that touched on the notions of simplicity, freedom,
love and gratitude and was enthusiastically joined by all
present.
Subsequently, a young teenage jamaat member (Behen Asma
Bhindarwala), spoke about her experience growing up as a
Muslim in Westford, her decision to ear the dress (rida)
that identified her faith and background, and the
acceptance and confidence that she found in this process.
The service continued with a joint gratefulness meditation
session led by Rabbi Shoshanna Perry which triggered
spontaneous expressions of gratitude by several of those
present.
In
conclusion, Janab Mustaali Mohyuddin spoke about the
necessity of gratitude that was incumbent upon all and
which is all to often forgotten and insufficient.
Bhaisaheb then thanked the members and leaders of all
congregations for their participation.
Finally, the
evening ended on the theme and call for peace in the
world. At a microcosmic level, local level, national and
global level. A Bah'ai member recited a Bah'ai prayer of
peace and Rabbi Perry led a joint singing of a song
written by young Israelis and Palestinians that called for
peace in Hebrew and Arabic. Before leaving, the attendees
spent some time sharing and chatting and partaking of some
sumptuous delicacies and hot beverages.
The
extraordinary and heartwarming spectacle provided a
glimpse into the varied mosaic of the many faiths that
happily thrive in American society Each carrying with them
their unique backgrounds, beliefs, languages and culture.
Each bound through the common fabric of humanity. All
those present appeared to leave with a renewed validation
that what united them far exceeded that which made them
different.
The evening was a celebration of the bonds that they all
shared and if anything, was a heartfelt expression of the
universal and oft elusive themes of love, peace and
gratitude and those simple and timeless yearnings that
beat in the breast of all human beings.
We offer
Shukr in Hazrat Imamiyah that we are the recipient of
beshumaar ne'mat that Maula (TUS) showers upon us. It is
with Maula's (TUS) dua that everything is possible. We
also would like to express that the raza and initiative of
Janab Mustaali Bhaisaheb is instrumental in making events
such as this take place at Ajab complex.
Above
Article By:
Murtaza bhai Doctor
On a crispy
fall New England evening, myself, my wife and our two
young children attended a beautiful interfaith service at
our mosque. As you entered, you could not help but be
impressed to see members of so many different
congregations in the Chelmsford area all greeting each
other. The feeling inside was indescribable. The messages
from the Muslim leaders, the Rabbi, the representatives of
the Baha'i Faith, and the Ministers from various Christian
denominations were essentially the same. The auditorium
was packed with standing room only.
For myself on a personal level, I felt as close to God as
I did during the holy nights of Ramadan. The ceremony
rejuvenated my faith like no other event in the past year.
Growing up in North America, for me, was a great
privilege. Celebrating diversity is something I have
always been used to, for as long as I can remember. Even
in my 1st grade class, my parents were able to talk about
Islam on "Multicultural Night" in my elementary school.
Through the years, I've attended many church ceremonies,
Christmas dinners, Bar-Mitzvahs, interfaith weddings, and
have always felt just as comfortable as I would in my own
Masjid. Having friends from all faiths and backgrounds
while growing up is definitely something I treasure. The
more we celebrate our diversity, the more we realize how
much we really are all the same.
However, in over thirty years of interfaith and
intercultural experiences, I can honestly say that the
ceremony at our Masjid this Thanksgiving stood out as the
one that has touched me the most. At this time in our
world, when the messages of hate and intolerance by
certain members of all faiths are stronger than any other
time that I can remember, this event gives us hope that
the future can hold peace. After the service, all of us
commented on how we really are the same. I'm hoping this
ceremony lasts in the memory of my children as they grow
up.
My sincerest and heartfelt gratitude to the organizers of
this event. In particular, to our own Amil Saheb (the
leader of our Masjid), to Moiz Bhindarwala (who organized
the event), to Rabbi Shoshanna Perry for her enthusiasm
and kind words, to the Baha'i Diversity Choir, and to all
of the Reverends for their sharing their prayers and words
of inspiration with us.
Above
Article By:
Safdar bhai
Medina
Akhbar /
Photos send By: Aamil Saheb Mustaali bs Mohyuddin-Anjumane
Ezzi |
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