In the Name of God, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Interfaith Statement on

Pursuing Collective Peace and Happiness

ICNA-MAS CONVENTION

INTERFAITH BANQUET

In co-sponsorship with Muslim Coalition of CT

July 4, 2008

“God calls to the abode of peace” (Qur’an 10:25)

“And a harvest of righteousness is grown from the seed of peace planted by peacemakers” (James 3:18)

“Do you want long life and happiness? Strive for peace with all your heart” (Psalms 34:12)

In these times of great conflict and war, we as people of faith—men and women, young and old, black and white, rich and poor--come together in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation to publicly declare our commitment to pursuing collective peace and happiness for all of humanity.

Our respective faiths make clear to us that devotion to God, love of neighbor, and social justice in all of its manifestations are the ingredients needed to make the world a better place to live. These ideals can only be achieved when we learn what it means to love each other. Our religious traditions are based on a common ethic of “Love your neighbor as yourself.” We dedicate ourselves to the highest values of our faiths in self and community.

In an age of globalization, technology, and mass transportation we are all neighbors of one another in an increasingly small world. We can no longer turn a blind eye to what is happening to others whether they live down the road from us or half way across the world. The Prophet Muhammad (s) said, “One is not a true believer if he eats his fill while his neighbor goes hungry.” Similarly, Martin Luther King said that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” On this day that celebrates the birth and independence of our nation, we affirm that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness must truly be for all people. War and violence cannot achieve these goals. Interfaith dialogue and cooperation is a religious obligation and vital to this end. We pledge ourselves to this cause of mutual understanding and desire to instill this responsibility in our youth who are the future leaders of the world we share.

As our world becomes ever more integrated and interdependent it is essential for us to live out our faith principles in cooperation with one another across religious lines. We acknowledge that we have differences within and between our faiths, but our commonness is so much more. There is need for forgiveness and reconciliation on all sides. Collectively we need to move to a model of dia-practice where our conversations bear actual fruit on the ground. We, therefore, commit ourselves to projects and good works that build bridges and give everyone the opportunity to pursue their unalienable rights.

In conclusion, by signing this letter we agree on three major principles as we pursue collective peace and happiness: A politics of justice, an economics of fairness, and a covenant of community.

Add your name to the ICNA-MAS-MCCT Interfaith Statement here .