Improving Faith Coexistence in Emerging Digital Space

Improving Faith Coexistence in Emerging Digital Space Mosques need to provide more informative websites

BY RASHEED RABBI

George Floyd’s death at the hands of Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis police officer who knelt on his neck for almost eight minutes, has rejuvenated the interfaith movement.

Once again, imams were walking alongside rabbis, priests, pastors and other conservative and mainstream religious leaders during the past year. This revived solidarity movement still has the same goal: to dismantle the reality of systemic discrimination in a divided nation that still debates the need to wear masks to stifle Covid-19, which has already killed over 187,000 Americans

Amidst this uncertainty and distrust, American religious leaders and organizations have pursued interfaith activities to advance unity through equality during the Covid-19 pandemic. One example of this occurred when Wisconsin’s faith leaders held a virtual assembly on June 2, 2019, to show their unanimity of feeling with the community (Jennifer Kliese, “Together in mourning and hope, interfaith religious leaders host virtual worship,” 27 ABC WKOW).

Writing for Reuters on June 9 in the aftermath of Floyd’s death, Andrea Shall stated that the approximately 1,000 religious leaders’ “spontaneous participation” in online conferences “marked a new breadth and depth of digital interfaith initiatives.”

THE FORESEEABLE SUCCESS This shift of platform was neither abrupt nor fleeting; rather, it was inherent and befitting for the 90% of the population that is already online (https://www. pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/04/22/some-americans-dont-use-the-internetwho-are-they), including 98% of the public school districts (https://www.telecompetitor.com/school-broadband-report-98-of-districts-have-high-speeds-but-2-3million-students-dont). While Pew Research noted on July 25, 2019, that 28% of this online population is constantly active, CNN’s Jacqueline Howard opined on June 30, 2016, that the average American spends at least 12 hours a day online.

More interestingly, in 2004 Pew Research reported that 64% of online users have a history of searching for religious content; their religious quest has been surging ever since. The record numbers of online ministry participants show their communities’ cyber-savvy aptitude, which enables religious leaders to resituate social movements in the virtual realm during the ongoing pandemic.

Activists participate in raw conversations on virtual podiums as they grapple with questions of equality and oppression. The internet’s ubiquity has overcome geographic boundaries, and its speed enables fast interconnection among leaders. Its users’ faith-driven motivation supplements additional rigor to make sure that this movement will remain ongoing and thereby ensure its recognition.

Despite the potential for conflict with antagonistic and often anonymous internet trolls, faith communities are trying to establish equality and enduring relationships that will defeat our current national disunity. Their renewed commitment to achieving a more equitable society for all offers healing, a sense of extended community and a cumulative hope. We are responsible for working together to realize that hope.

INCORPORATING INTERFAITH SOLIDARITY ON MOSQUE WEBSITES While faith leaders are on the frontline in terms of interfaith commitment at the national level, our communities must demonstrate this inclusiveness on the local level. However, current mosque websites do not represent the depth and breadth of their continuous interfaith engagements.

Most mosques only post notices about their activities and press releases. Nevertheless, explaining how such events leverage opportunities for collaboration can increase the breadth of interreligious bonding. For example: • Sharing the dates of religious holidays makes it easier to schedule events, classes and activities and avoid possible conflicts. This information connects all faith communities and fosters mutual compassion. • Discussing menus that accommodate halal, kosher, vegetarian and other types of meals shows sensitivity to others. • Personal stories offer a comfortable way to

partners despite hostile histories and current realities.

Providing at least a page or two of information for non-Muslims reflects the mosque’s desire to welcome, and depth of their interfaith maturity. I remember inviting a few non-Muslim colleagues to observe the Friday prayer in a local mosque after U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens was killed in Libya in 2012.

They were impressed by the website’s numerous interfaith activities, but found no explanation of what to expect while attending this event. For example, they didn’t know that Muslims remove their shoes before entering the prayer area. Such knowledge would have allowed them to prepare themselves by wearing clean socks and/or bringing bags to hold their shoes.

Contrary to other religions, Muslims observe gender separation when it comes to seating and often when entering the mosque and/or prayer area. To avoid any confusion and possible embarrassment, this tradition should be prominently displayed on the website.

Visitors also should be informed about certain features of the prayer ritual. Muslims pray while standing shoulder to shoulder in lines. Thus, clean clothes and good hygiene are highly recommended. In addition, there should be no talking, walking around or passing others from the front during the prayer.

While visitors aren’t expected to follow the Islamic dress code, the relevant information should be posted — women covering their hair and both men and women covering the area between their shoulders and knees. Female visitors should be encouraged to bring their own scarves, for not all mosques provide them.

Explaining the Friday congregational prayer as a series of optional and obligatory rituals performed in order and together — the adhan, the following two short khutbas, often in Arabic and English, and a short, formal prayer — would also be helpful. Before and after this final event, some people perform short individual prayers and others socialize. The purpose of these rituals should be explained

THE INTERNET’S UBIQUITY HAS OVERCOME in clear, simple English. Although photography or video recording

GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES, AND ITS SPEED is permissible, one should obtain the mosque

ENABLES FAST INTERCONNECTION AMONG LEADERS. ITS USERS’ FAITH-DRIVEN MOTIVATION authority’s approval so that the congregants can be informed. This also would enable those women and men who consider it un-Islamic SUPPLEMENTS ADDITIONAL RIGOR TO MAKE SURE or personally undesirable to get out of the way.

THAT THIS MOVEMENT WILL REMAIN ONGOING Guests need to know that visiting mosques is free, but that donations are highly

AND THEREBY ENSURE ITS RECOGNITION. appreciated. After their visit, I surveyed the websites deepen listeners’ values and motivations and allow mosques and 100 others nationwide, but failed to locate an organized page conus to come together around our commonalities while taining this information. Things haven’t improved much in the past eight years, appreciating our differences. Over time, these narra- even after I brought this to the administrations’ attention. tives blur our respective national, cultural, religious As houses of worship reopen, visitors will soon start attending physically and and other boundaries. looking for such pages. Or perhaps they will only browse the websites of other • Using everyday speech and acknowledging religious communities to learn about commonalities and leverage a stronger faith others’ rituals and symbols reveals our reciprocal connection. Hence, such carelessness on our part benefits no one. attitude and respect for others, which strengthens Since digital methods are often the primary means of communication amidst faith inclusiveness. current national division and turmoil, incorporating these ideas online would be

Showcasing such interfaith affinity prominently on very helpful and incur only a one-time nominal cost. They will not change over mosque websites is more effective than simply listing time; however, they will have a long-lasting impact. As Islam urges us to include events. For example, this set-apart section’s embrace of Jews, Christians, Sabaeans and other communities to be “nourished” (5:66) with diversity, common values and convictions can reflect divine provision to battle social evils, let’s use this divine nourishment to unify the local community’s acceptance of others as equal our nation and display that harmony digitally. ih of almost 20 Washington D.C. metro-area These instances of reconciliation in the face of such Rasheed Rabbi, an IT professional who earned an MA in religious studies (2016) and a graduate certificate larger crises as social division, national turmoil and doctrinal disagreement exemplify the cumulative in Islamic chaplaincy from Hartford Seminary, is also founder of e-Dawah (www.edawah.net); secretary of the Association of Muslim Scientists, Engineers & Technology Professionals; serves as a khateeb and leads the Friday prayers at ADAMS Center; and works as a chaplain at iNova Fairfax, iNovaLoudoun and Virginia’s hope that interfaith engagement upholds. Alexandria and Loudoun Adult Detention Centers.