Building Bridges of Hope

“EQUITABLE AND ETHICAL DEVELOPMENT”Adnan Durrani, American Halal Company, Inc

www.americanhalal.com

Pontifical Gregorian UniversityVatican City State

Rome, ItalyOctober 12, 2010

My Religion Commands Me To Build Bridges With The Abrahamic Faiths

“Allah commands you to sit down peacefully with the People of the Book (Al-Kitab) and follow the good example of earlier Prophets of the Kitab (Bible, Torah)” Koran, Surah 3:84

“I and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens, and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them… No one is to destroy a Christian house or church, to at all damage it… should anyone do any of this, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His prophet… No Muslim is to disobey this covenant till the Last Day of Judgment…” Prophet Mohammad, 628 CE

(PBUH)

Successful Tenants of Interfaith Bridges Don’t gloss over differences, celebrate and understand them.

Less about Political Correctness, more about Peaceful Co-Existence. Avoid dogmatic scriptures

Look for Common Ground and Establish Framework of Shared Values:• Caring for Creation & Humankind• Charity / Service – mercy, care for the needy / disenfranchised• Social, Economic, Racial Justice• Family Values• Environmental Responsibility

Don’t focus purely on formal religious or political views – must open up each other’s hearts with compassion, empathy for the “Other”

Three Guiding Lights (“Noor”) نور Engaging Islamic Communities with Interfaith Dialogue & Collaboration

1) TAARUF: Come To Know Each Other – Creating Alliances with each other“He created us as Nations and Tribes so that we may know each other”

Koran, 49:13

“Enemy is One Whose Story you haven’t yet heard” …. Imam Ali

2) TAALUF: Building Alliances“And He hath put affection between their hearts…” Koran, 8:63

Need to Bond with Brothers / Sisters in Faith to a shared enterprise for a common higher purpose, ethics, values

3) TAKAMUL: Complement Each Other, make whole, i.e.: Sum of the Parts >> Whole

Western Economics – Profit Motive solely in material & mortal dimension (“Benefit for the few at the expense of the majority”)

“There is one and only one social responsibility of business - to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits… and engage in open and free competition. The corporation is an

instrument of the stockholders who own it.” Milton Friedman 1970

Islamic Economic Principles: Based On Social & Economic Justice

Many Christian and Jewish leaders / philanthropists also had the same view: Cadburys, Roundtrees, Cannon, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Saint Augustine, Maimonides, Catholic Charities

All of them, like Islam/Shariah’s tenants, stressed: Egalitarianism, Wellbeing of Community, Social Justice, Advocacy for the Poor

Principles of Islamic Economics

Summary of Socially Responsible And Shariah Business EthicsShariah/Islamic Principles And SRB Values IDENTICAL

Justice: Both Economic and Social to Communities & Society(Diversity, Empowerment, Transparency)

Equity: to stakeholders (employees, communities, globally) – not just shareholders, i.e., Equitable & Living Wages (not minimum wages) or full healthcare to employees

Responsibility: (Environment, Society, Employees, Consumers)

New Breed of “Values Based” Enterprises – Led by Social EntrepreneursDevoted to More Dynamic, Spiritual, Sustainable Faith-Based Values

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT TRUMPS ANY OTHER DEVELOPMENT PARAMETER: EDUCATION, HEALTH/WELLNESS, COMMUNITY ENGAGMENT, CHARITY

BUSINESS/ENTERPRISE AS A “CHANGE AGENT”

WME’s = “WEAPONS OF MASS ENLIGHTENMENT”“Business IS the most powerful force on earth. Unlike governments, which are bound by politics, bureaucracy, conventions, businesses in America are free to lead.

Unlike Churches, Community Groups, and non profits, business has serious resources to back up its ideas. Business acts quickly, can get rules changed for its interests, and overcomes others special interests.” Gary Hirshberg, Stonyfield Farms

Socially Responsible Business As An Ethical Bridge Builder

2007-2008 Financial Crisis Calling for More Ethical & Equitable Business/ Finance:

“If I were to ask for a billion dollars for a good global cause, there would be a lot of uproar – but a TRILLION dollars down the drain, everyone is off still playing golf, and not a word spoken.”

“Usually, most businesses have someone in charge of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), who sponsors a cricket match or exhibition, “ said Yunus, “But if you create a social business out of CSR, then everyone can benefit.”

Dr. Mohammed YunusInternational Islamic Finance Forum

Dubai, 4/13/2010

Shariah Finance, CSR, Micro-finance try to nurture SUSTAINABLE, JUST ENTERPRISES

As in Greg Mortenson’s Three Cups of Tea:

Listen…Respect…

And Connect…With the “Other”

READ Globalwww.readglobal.org

Rural Education and Development

Clinton Global Initiative and Bill Clinton endorsedMelinda and Bill Gates Foundation Funded

READ Global’sSuccess in Conflict Zones Due to

Contract Directly with Communities – NOT via government, political, or religious institutions

Communities Come to READ and have to become committed Stakeholders (must contribute 15%-20%)

All religious, political power groups in community must sign a contract Build an Interfaith NGO within each village that belongs to the community Sustaining Project income, jobs, empowerment, education Collaboration health services, microcredit, literacy, etc READ serves as a safe, Interfaith “CONNECTOR,” linking diverse religious ,

faith-centered communities, diverse cultures & languages to much needed services

“Extremists might bomb a school, but they never targeted a library. The school belonged to the government, the library to the village.”

www.readglobal.org

READ GlobalWhat if ONE IDEA could meet the challenges of global poverty?

www.readglobal.org

READ Global’s Success Based On Celebrate Tradition of different faiths, without proselyting or

sanctioning any

Position as an NGO, a-political, and non-religious organization = Honest Broker

Create “Zones of Peace”

Has 100% success rate in war torn conflict regions like India, Nepal, which are multi-denominational: Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist

Over 45 libraries/community centers (40 more planned)

1.5 million rural poor impacted out of poverty and into education & employment

www.readglobal.org

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“RELIGIOSITY” is Gaining Momentum

#1 Websites = Beliefnet.com & Christian Broadcasting Network (700 Club)

Record Conversions to both Islam and Evangelical Christianity

Zabihah.com: 22 Million page views, 6 Million Unique Visitors

Shariah Finance – now handling 1.5 Trillion US Dollars!

“Islamic Identity” Burgeoning: 37% of U.K. Muslims under age of 40 follow

Shariah customs. Re-emergence of the Hijab Renaissance of Islamic based Music (Sami Yusuf) Huge Demand for Islamic Deen Forums & Scholars (Hamza Yusuf & Zaytuna)

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zabihah.com

Islamaphobia At An All Time HighCurrent Environment of Polarized Fear & Hate Compel Us to Urgently Build Bridges of Hope

We need to deploy Smart Bombs – WME’s, exercising compassion, understanding, and faith based leadership (engagement)

Park 51 Islamic Center

USA: IslamaphobiaBuilding Bridges Over Troubled Waters

Timing for Interfaith Dialogue no longer just a social need – U.S. is in a crisis that needs community & faith based engagement, at every level:

Religious, business, civic, political

Our Socially Responsible Business: “Prophets for Peace” American Halal Co, Inc / Saffron Road

We seek to build bridges of peace and understanding, using a consumer branded enterprise as our vehicle

www.saffronroadfood.com www.facebook.com/SaffronRoadFood

Empowerment & Education 1.5 million rural poorUp to 80 librariesWomen's Empowerment

Environment 50,000 homes, 1,000 churches,synagogues, mosques

Renewable Energy Over 40 million consumers, $12

and Organic Agriculture million in philanthropy, 100,000 acres of organic farms

Health & Nutrition 100 million consumers eatinghealthy, including 2,000 schools

Charity / Philanthropy $300 million to NGO's / Charities(eg. International Rescue Committee)

Cultural Validation Outreach to 50,000 schools in Islamic Countries

Distribution of Wealth to Poor Over 30 million in poverty benefitted,Grameen Dannon Yogurt, Grameen Hospitals 95% Muslims in poor villages

Equitable & Ethical DevelopmentExamples of Quantifiable SRB Impact

Impact

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SAFFRON ROAD -A SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE SHARIAH BUSINESS

Establish Sustainable Foundation: “Prophets for Peace”• Nourish moderate Muslim voices and advocate podium for youth engagement• Donate % of profits of Saffron Road Brand into PFP Foundation

Promote, Facilitate and Lead Community to embrace American Muslims via Interfaith dialogues

Foster Holistic Muslim Business Model: Halal, Shariah Compliant, SRB

Cultivate Muslim Luminaries to Champion Saffron Road’s Peace Building Activism

From Muslim Nobel Peace Prize Winners, to Scholars, to Sports Stars, to Musicians

Obtain Endorsement of Non Muslim illuminarys and Businesses for pluralistic outreach

The first “SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE” AMERICAN MUSLIM BRAND

www.saffronroadfood.comwww.facebook.com/SaffronRoadFood

EQUITABLE & ETHICAL DEVELOPMENTCurrent Challenges For Future Sustainable Interfaith Development

Current Total Shut Down of Ethical Charitable giving for bonafide American Islamic CharitiesGags the Moderate Voices, Spooks Top Donors, Halts All Educational Progress

Muslim leaders and Moderate Muslim Majority Need To Take Leadership in Civic Engagement on local, state, federal levels.

Non-Muslim religious leaders, civic leaders, politicians, business & community leaders need to Build Bridges with American Muslims, publically supporting American Muslim initiatives

Need to Establish “Peace Initiatives:” Prophets for Peace (American Halal Company) Rabbi Jack Bemporad’s “Institute of Islamic and Jewish Understanding” Saleem Ali’s Peace Parks READ’s Zones of Peace

• To Drown Out Voices of Hate Driving Islamaphobia and Anti-Semitism• To Have A Unified Bridge for Peacemakers of Faith to Stand On• To Lead Media Outreach To Be Informed And Just To the “OTHER”

Hope DOES Spring Eternal Among Our YouthInterest & Engagement in Interfaith forums at all time high

Survey: 67% of college freshmen in U.S. committed to do social service /

volunteer work (highest in over 25 years)

During Hurricane Katrina – 220,000 college students did 2.2 million hours of

volunteering

Pakistan Floods: Over 500,000 teenagers volunteering service for the crisis

THE RESPONSIBILITY IS WITH US AS FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY LEADERS TO CONTINUE TO BUILD THE

BRIDGES OF HOPE

In Conclusion…

As Alexander Solzhenitsyn put it:

“The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between religious ideologies, nor between political parties either – but right through every human heart.”

Thank You!Gratzie!Todah!

Shukran!