> It was a mid-May day in 2005, and while I was home from journeys to, and consulting in, the Middle East, subjects about the Middle East were very much on my mind. The Chicago Tribune does a fine job of covering a melange of issues that speak to the racial and religious diversity of Chicagoans. One of its writer, in particular, is a physician and freelancer - Hesham Hassaballa - and I took note of these two articles: The Hajj - Father's Pilgrimage Eases Pain and A Deliverance - A Muslim for Moses. Invariably I learn something about Islam and about Muslims from his articles. He writes in an intelligent but down-to-earth manner. <
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| Dr. Hesham Hassaballa, pictured against the Chicago skyline (image credit) |
Things that stood out for me
Besides Muhammad (PBUH), Jesus, Noah, Abraham and Moses are among the five mightiest prophets in Islam.
Apparently the Prophet Muhammad had journeyed to Jerusalem and the Heavens, and God ordained upon him and his followers 50 prayers to be said on a daily basis. The Prophet Muhammad readily obliged. But apparently Moses was the one who urged the prophet to push back on God, and get it reduced to what it actually is now for Muslims – which is five prayers a day.
Muslims have their Passover. It’s called Ashura, and it falls on the 10th day of the first month of the Islamic calendar. On this day, the Prophet Muhammad urged his followers to fast to commemorate the Exodus of Israeli children from the awful shackles of Egyptian slavery.
On a different note, Ashura is also an important day for Shiite Muslims. They commemorate the murder of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson in the Iraqi city of Karbala about 1400 years ago. The first time I heard about this holiday was last Fall, I believe, when Joe mentioned it. I didn’t know what it signified, but apparently it was celebrated in a self-punishing but ultimately self-ennobling way by symbolically lashing oneself.
Hassaballa noted that many Jews don’t know how much Muslims honor and respect Moses and Abraham. Many Christians, too, don’t know how much Muslims honor and respect Jesus. In a previous article, I learned that Muslims also revere the Virgin Mary. She is apparently the one woman who’s referred to the most frequently in the Islamic holy book Qur'an.
It is humanity that binds us all. It is knowing more about how each of us lives, relates, works and prays, which helps us feel empathy for each other. It isn’t just about intellectual knowing, but more about experiential knowing.
I have no excuse for not taking more humane actions, yet, to help children, the poor, the devastated. But it’s part of my vision and calling. There’s Humanitarian City in Dubai, and I even e-mailed them and left a voice mail message for them. (They didn't respond.)
My vision and calling for the Middle East is about impacting leaders, building wealth, and helping the less-fortunate.
Besides Muhammad (PBUH), Jesus, Noah, Abraham and Moses are among the five mightiest prophets in Islam.
Apparently the Prophet Muhammad had journeyed to Jerusalem and the Heavens, and God ordained upon him and his followers 50 prayers to be said on a daily basis. The Prophet Muhammad readily obliged. But apparently Moses was the one who urged the prophet to push back on God, and get it reduced to what it actually is now for Muslims – which is five prayers a day.
Muslims have their Passover. It’s called Ashura, and it falls on the 10th day of the first month of the Islamic calendar. On this day, the Prophet Muhammad urged his followers to fast to commemorate the Exodus of Israeli children from the awful shackles of Egyptian slavery.
On a different note, Ashura is also an important day for Shiite Muslims. They commemorate the murder of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson in the Iraqi city of Karbala about 1400 years ago. The first time I heard about this holiday was last Fall, I believe, when Joe mentioned it. I didn’t know what it signified, but apparently it was celebrated in a self-punishing but ultimately self-ennobling way by symbolically lashing oneself.
Hassaballa noted that many Jews don’t know how much Muslims honor and respect Moses and Abraham. Many Christians, too, don’t know how much Muslims honor and respect Jesus. In a previous article, I learned that Muslims also revere the Virgin Mary. She is apparently the one woman who’s referred to the most frequently in the Islamic holy book Qur'an.
It is humanity that binds us all. It is knowing more about how each of us lives, relates, works and prays, which helps us feel empathy for each other. It isn’t just about intellectual knowing, but more about experiential knowing.
I have no excuse for not taking more humane actions, yet, to help children, the poor, the devastated. But it’s part of my vision and calling. There’s Humanitarian City in Dubai, and I even e-mailed them and left a voice mail message for them. (They didn't respond.)
My vision and calling for the Middle East is about impacting leaders, building wealth, and helping the less-fortunate.
> I moved to Dubai in August 2006, and actively involved myself with charitable organizations and activities, such as Gulf for Good, Foresight and the Emirates Association for the Blind, and the Philippine Business Council. Just this past month, I finally crystallized my aims and concept for Dr. Ron Philanthropy, so stay tuned for its launch in the next few months!
Notes
Ron Villejo, PhD
March 2013 <
Notes
Ron Villejo, PhD
March 2013 <
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