3.31.2008

Blessed by a Sufi !

I finally met a real Sufi! 
I had an honor to meet an inspiring Sufi, in an event called "One Light, different Windows" where a Jewish Rabbi, a Christian Reverend were also guests to this event.

Thanks to Sadiq, I had an opportunity to have a short conversation with this brave and courageous Sufi who is the world head of the Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi order, and who has been an outspoken leader against Muslim extremism for many many years.  Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani is the Chariman of Islamic Supreme Council of America and has been a controversial figure because he is not afraid to talk about what Muslim fanatics are doing to ruin the religion. He has been warning the world about Wahhabism and he alerted the State department about Bin Laden's danger way before 9/11.  

There was beautiful music and singing in this event ( which I've never seen before in a Muslim prayer event), and I found Shaykh not only inspirational but also someone with a great sense of humor, he was actually funny!
Here is a quote from  his speech,
"Religions' goal is to bring love, if a  religion does not do that, it isn't a religion. Religion must be like a musical instrument where the sole purpose is to bring joy and express love."
He called all religions to come together and become one.  He said, "we all are from the same tree with each of the religions representing a different branch." 

I hope and pray, for the world sake, that Shaykh Kabbani's message will win over the extremism.

Watch his complete speech to US State Department. Part1, Part2, part3, part4, part5, part6, part7