President Marks Jewish, Islamic Holy Days
President Obama recently marked both Eid-ul-Fitr, the Islamic celebration of the end of Ramadan, and Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
From his message on the Eid: Read more
Tag Archives: Islam
Man of the Cloth and Uniform
A short Washington Post article describes Chaplain (Lt.) Ray F. Rivers, a 45 year old Marine Lieutenant and Chaplain from South Carolina. The Chaplain is growing a beard to facilitate his meetings with local Islamic and political leaders, leading one Marine to say he “looks like Sting.”
As he demonstrates, Chaplains serve servicemembers, but they also serve the mission.
Islamic US Soldiers Balance Religion, Duty
Islamic US Army soldiers in Iraq, including Spc. Linda Boyed and Spc. Fatima Benasser, two Arabic interpreters, note the challenges in exercising their faith during Ramadan while still executing their mission.
Finding time to pray in a high op tempo can be difficult, Read more
Military Religion Question Answered: Brooks
Previously, a question was posed about the propriety of a photo that showed Maj. Gen. Vincent Brooks and a flag with a Christian cross. The photo and initial post can be seen here. The accusation said that a regulation had been violated because it was
a photo of an Army officer giving a briefing while standing in front of a Christian flag.
So, did the General, as the accusers assert, violate military regulations?
The shortest, most accurate answer: Read more
Mother of Fallen Soldier at White House Iftar
President Barack Obama hosted an iftar at the White House Tuesday night, celebrating the end of Ramadan. Among the guests were Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Navy Chaplain (Lt. Cmdr.) Abuhena Saifulislam, the second Islamic Chaplain in the US Navy, and Elsheba Khan, whose 20-year-old son, Army Spc. Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, was killed in Iraq on 6 August 2007.
Chaplain Saif, a Bangladeshi immigrant, was one of two Chaplains Read more
President Sends Ramadan Greetings
President Barack Obama delivered the annual American Ramadan message this past week.
Ramadan is the month in which Muslims believe the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, beginning with a simple word – iqra. It is therefore a time when Muslims reflect upon the wisdom and guidance that comes with faith, and the responsibility that human beings have to one another, and to God.
Muslim Chaplains Impact US Military
In June, two Muslim military Chaplains from France and the United States met in Paris for a religious diversity conference. The American Chaplain, Lt Commander Abuhena Saifulislam, is a US Navy Chaplain who emigrated from Bangladesh in 1989, becoming a Navy Imam in 1999. He is endorsed by the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). He was reportedly assigned to the Marines, making him the first Muslim Chaplain Read more
Rick Warren to Address Muslim Group
Pastor Rick Warren is being criticized for his decision to speak at the annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) over the fourth of July weekend. The ISNA was an “unindicted co-conspirator” in a terror trial in 2007. The trial ultimately resulted in the conviction of the Holy Land Foundation and its leaders for funneling funds to Hamas.
The convention is expected to draw 30,000 people, and is apparently still holding out hope that President Obama will make an appearance. ISNA leader Sayyid Syeed participated in Warren’s Saddleback Civil Forum on Public Health last December.
There have been reports that the ISNA has replaced CAIR, another unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation trial, as the FBI’s primary contact with the Islamic community.
The ISNA remains one of the few Islamic endorsing agencies for US military Chaplains.