Day 29: Peace, knowledge and understanding

with Dr. Azizah al-HibriI met Dr. Azizah al-Hibri on the first day of my Law and Leadership Summer Program with Karamah, the organization she founded 20 years ago to support Muslim women's human rights.  I have immense respect and admiration for her as a teacher, mentor, friend.  We had the pleasure of being together on Eid morning, and I think her reflections and dua are a beautiful way to round out our Ramadan duas. Dr. al-Hibri  talked about how each one of us has a responsibility to truly understand what Islam is, and particularly to help young people understand, so we can clearly articulate this, especially when our faith is being attacked.  She talked about how in the Muslim world, brother is killing brother and sister, and about the serious mistreatment of women and children in the name of Islam.  "We are a religion of love, and justice and affection for each other and human dignity," she said, and reminded us how the Quran says, he who kills a life kills all of humanity, and he who saves a life saves all of humanity.She told us about the covenant (al-‘uhda al-nabawiyyah) made by Prophet Muhammad to all Christians in a letter to the Monks of St. Catherine Monastery in the Sinai Peninsula when he visited them. It stated that Christians will be protected, and that their monasteries, their icons, and their churches will be safe; it concluded that this covenant is binding till Judgment Day and that any Muslim who violates this is cursed until the end of time.  So why are some Christians fleeing Muslim lands when they have always been there and when the Prophet Muhammad guaranteed their safety, she asked. "Who knows about this covenant, why are we not teaching our children about this."Dr. Azizah asked us to say a dua together: May God bring peace and understanding amongst Muslims, and among Muslims and the world.  May God bring knowledge about what Islam truly is to Muslims and to the world. May He put in our hearts love and cooperation and understanding for all of humanity. May God bring peace to the whole world, and may He make us instruments in realizing this peace.Ameen.Day 29, Dua 29: Peace, knowledge and understanding