June 18 began the final month of the Islamic calendar, Thu’l-Hijjah. In Islamic teachings, the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, informed the Muslim faithful that the performance of good deeds during the first ten days is the greatest and most beloved to Allah (God). The only thing more beloved is struggling for Allah’s cause and dying
June 18 began the final month of the Islamic calendar, Thu’l-Hijjah. In Islamic teachings, the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, informed the Muslim faithful that the performance of good deeds during the first ten days is the greatest and most beloved to Allah (God). The only thing more beloved is struggling for Allah’s cause and dying
When you enter the Interfaith Center you might be taken aback by the vastness of the chapel, the way the walls feel like they are floating, or you might find yourself feeling calm, swaddled in the warmth of sunlight and quiet of the space. For everyone on campus, I can imagine the Interfaith Center takes
We are delighted to invite you to Chapman’s Baccalaureate Service for graduating students, and their families, of all faiths or philosophies. Join us Thursday, May 19, 7:00 pm in the Fish Interfaith Center. This is a more intimate gathering than the weekend commencement ceremonies, including words from graduates themselves, and an personal message to each
The United States of America has many commemorations, including race and ethnicity, gender, people, and events. I want to ask you a question, but I would like to paint the scenario first. At one time, a man lived in a racist era. Hostility was the norm. His parents, however, fought against racism. Unfortunately, members of
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech is a masterpiece that’s well worth re-visiting. It’s like a diamond—created under enormous pressure and precious beyond expression. Each time I come back to it, I’m dazzled by a different facet and find myself speechless. That’s how I know it’s part of something bigger and
As I write this I am mindful, mad, and grateful on the heels of the hostage situation at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas. I am mindful that anti-Semitism continues to rear its ugly face in our country, a place that should be one of equality and justice, home to persons of all religions and
The Gathering Darkness Solstice will soon be with us. December 21 is the longest night of the year for those of us living in the northern hemisphere. As we grow closer, the sun sets earlier. Generally, I have ignored this season and just complained about driving home from work in the dark. This year I
We sometimes hear about the importance of gratitude and its benefits for our mental and spiritual health. And it seems like a really good idea. I, for one, could do more to be mindful of what I have in my life and truly appreciate it. But is giving thanks always a good thing? In the
For over a year, an Islamic center has invited me to an evening program entitled “Coffee with the Shaykh,” an opportunity for new and re-committed Muslims to ask questions to Islamic scholars. I have noticed two things: most are women, and many are Latine. Their participation, deep questions about Islam, and the presence of