Iftaar with non-Muslims (Note: Iftaar is Ramadan meal after fasting)

Note: The following text (minus the photo) is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=47684

Navy Muslim Chaplain to Help Lead White House Iftar Dinner

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 2007 – When Muslim U.S. servicemembers join other Muslim-American citizens and representatives of Washington’s diplomatic community at an iftar dinner tonight at the White House, one of just 10 Muslim chaplains serving in the U.S. military will have the honors of administering the call to prayer and leading prayers.

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Abuhena M. Saifulislam will lead the call to prayer at a White House iftar dinner Oct. 4, 2007, hosted by President Bush to commemorate the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Photo by Donna Miles

(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.
Navy Lt. Cmdr. Abuhena M. Saifulislam will lead the call to prayer at tonight’s iftar, hosted by President Bush to commemorate the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and encourage a renewal of friendly ties between the U.S. and the Muslim world.

An iftar is a meal served at the day’s end during Ramadan, which began Sept. 13 this year and continues through Oct. 12.

Ramadan is the Islamic faith’s holiest time and commemorates the revelation of the Koran to the prophet Muhammad, Bush noted in his presidential message issued Sept. 7. Through fasting, prayer and worship, Muslims reflect on their spiritual lives and their dependence on God as they strengthen family and community ties.

Tonight, as the president hosts his seventh iftar since taking office, he is expected to reiterate the words of his presidential message: “May the holy days of Ramadan remind us all to seek a culture of compassion and serve others in charity.”

Saifulislam said he considers it an honor to help share that message of sharing and understanding.

He led a similar celebration at the Pentagon Oct. 1 and called it an important way to open communication lines between Americans and Muslims. “It’s a privilege to work in these capacities, to help create an atmosphere where we can learn to live together,” he said. “It’s not a choice. It’s a necessity.”

A native of Bangladesh, Saifulislam had a lot of firsts in his 15-year Navy career, the last eight years served as a Muslim chaplain. He was the first Muslim chaplain to be assigned to the Marine Corps, at Camp Pendleton, Calif. He helped organize the Marines’ first iftar, in 2005. He was the first Muslim chaplain to be sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to administer to detainees there.

Sailfulislam said he works year-round to promote understanding and break down misconceptions that exist on both sides of the aisle. He educates Christians about Muslim beliefs and works to dispel views that “Islam is evil.”

Similarly, he works to erase some Muslims’ perception that “America is against Islam” and encourages Muslim-Americans to play a more active role in communicating to the Muslim world what America represents. “It’s a two-way process,” he said. “The more we learn about each other, the more understanding and acceptance there will be.”

Sailfulislam said he’s proud to be among an estimated 5,000 Muslim-Americans who serve in the U.S. military. “America Muslims are a part of America, and we have documentation that they have fought for this country since the Revolutionary War,” he said.

Muslims have served and died for the United States in every conflict it’s ever been involved in, including the war on terror, Sailfulislam said. He’s personally attended funerals at Arlington National Cemetery for several Muslim servicemembers killed in Iraq.

Sailfulislam said he sees no conflict between his Muslim faith and his military calling in the United States.

“I’m an American. My wife is an American. My daughter is an American, and my sister and my nieces and nephews,” he said. “If I am not willing to defend them, then who will be?”

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/10/20071004-9.html

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 4, 2007

Remarks by the President at Iftaar Dinner

White House News

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT IFTAAR DINNER

State Dining Room

7:16 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for coming. Please be seated. Ramadan Mubarak. Laura and I are pleased to have you here for our seventh Iftaar dinner. Tonight we celebrate traditions of Islamic faith, which brings hope and comfort to more than a billion people. For Muslims around the world, the holy month of Ramadan is a special time of prayer and fasting. It is a time for charity and service to those less fortunate. It’s a time to celebrate Islam’s learned and vibrant culture, which has enriched civilization for centuries.

Ramadan is also a good time for Americans of all faiths to reflect on the values we hold in common — including love of family, gratitude to the Almighty, devotion to community, and a commitment to religious liberty. The freedom of worship is central to the American character. It’s the first protection in the Bill of Rights. It holds together the fabric of American society — supporting every individual’s right to practice his or her beliefs without fear.

Today, our world is at war with violent extremists who seek to tear the fabric of our society — and stop the advance of freedom in Muslim societies around the world. They attack holy sites, destroy mosques and minarets, and kill innocent men, women and children — including Muslims who do not share their radical views. They believe that by spreading chaos and violence they can frustrate the desire of Muslims to live in freedom and peace. We say to them, you don’t represent Muslims, you do not represent Islam — and you will not succeed.

America is standing with mainstream citizens across the broader Middle East. We stand with nearly 12 million Iraqis who voted for a democratic future for their children. We’re standing with Afghan people, as they defend their young democracy against the Taliban and al Qaeda. We’re standing with the Lebanese people, who raised the banner of a Cedar Revolution to reclaim their freedom and independence. We’re standing with all who seek the blessings of liberty — and the peace that freedom brings.

Americans have a history of standing with Muslims facing suffering and hardship — and it’s a proud history. Our country defended Muslims in Bosnia and Kosovo after the breakup of Yugoslavia. We supported Kuwait after it was invaded by Saddam Hussein. Americans came to the aid of victims of devastating earthquakes in Pakistan, India, and Iran. Americans responded with urgency and compassion to the wreckage of the tsunami in Indonesia and Sri Lanka and Thailand. We’re rallying the world to confront the genocide in Sudan, and deliver humanitarian aid for those in dire need. And we support the establishment of a Palestinian democracy to live side by side with Israel in peace.

As you break your Ramadan fast at this Iftaar dinner, let us renew our faith in the universality of freedom. Let us celebrate the millions of Muslims that we are proud to call American citizens. And let us honor the many Muslim nations that America is proud to call friends.

Laura and I are grateful you’re here. Thank you for coming. We wish you a blessed Ramadan. And now I ask the Imam to say the blessing.

END 7:20 P.M. EDT

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/10/20071004-9.html

Note: The following text (minus the photo) is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=47702

Bush Calls Ramadan Time to Unite in Confronting Extremism

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2007 – The United States stands with mainstream citizens across the Middle East in facing off with an enemy intent on destroying not just American society, but also the advance of freedom in Muslim societies around the world, President Bush said during a Ramadan dinner last night at the White House.

President Bush welcomes Muslim guests to the iftar dinner in the State Dining Room of the White House, Oct. 4, 2007. White House photo by Chris Greenberg
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.
Bush hosted American Muslim leaders and ambassadors and representatives from Muslim nations for the iftar dinner to mark the Muslim holy month. An iftar is a meal served after a day of fasting during Ramadan, which began Sept. 13 this year and continues through Oct. 12.

Noting that Ramadan is a time of prayer, fasting and reflection, Bush said it’s also a time for Americans of all faiths to reflect on values they share with Muslims: love of family, gratitude to God, devotion to community and a commitment to religious freedom.

Muslims and people of other faiths also share a common enemy in violent extremists seeking to “tear the fabric of our society” and stop the advance of freedom in Muslim societies, the president said.

“They attack holy sites, destroy mosques and minarets, and kill innocent men, women and children — including Muslims who do not share their radical views,” he said. “They believe that by spreading chaos and violence, they can frustrate the desire of Muslims to live in freedom and peace.

“We say to them: ‘You don’t represent Muslims. You do not represent Islam, and you will not succeed,’” Bush said.

The United States stands with citizens throughout the broader Middle East to oppose these enemies, the president said. Such citizens include nearly 12 million Iraqis who voted for a democratic future, Afghans defending their young democracy against the Taliban and al Qaeda, and Lebanese people who raised the banner of a Cedar Revolution to reclaim freedom and independence.

“We’re standing with all who seek the blessings of liberty and the peace that freedom brings,” the president said. “Americans have a history of standing with Muslims facing suffering and hardship, and it’s a proud history.”

Americans defended Muslims in Bosnia and Kosovo after Yugoslavia dissolved, he noted. They supported Kuwait after Saddam Hussein invaded it. They came to the aid of victims of devastating earthquakes in Pakistan, India and Iran. They responded with urgency and compassion after a tsunami devastated Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Meanwhile, Bush said, the United States is rallying the world to confront genocide and deliver aid in Sudan, while supporting a Palestinian democracy that lives side by side and at peace with Israel.

The president urged attendees at the iftar dinner to renew their faith in the universality of freedom. “Let us celebrate the millions of Muslims that we are proud to call American citizens,” he said. “And let us honor the many Muslim nations that America is proud to call friends.”

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Abuhena M. Saifulislam, one of just 10 Muslim chaplains serving in the U.S. military, offered the evening prayer before guests feasted on a traditional menu of squash soup with lavash flatbread, spiced rack of lamb, cucumber-tomato salad with minted yogurt dressing, and baklava with pomegranate.

“On this day and days to come, by all our differences, by all our aspiration, by fear by sorrow and joy in life and death, teach us and lead us nearer to you,” he said.

Saifulislam started his prayer by explaining that Mohammed said anyone who invites another to break the fast with him during Ramadan gets the same spiritual benefit. “Mr. President, we’ve got you covered,” Saifulislam told Bush.

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Navy Muslim Chaplain to Help Lead White House Iftar Dinner

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