Dr. Shaykh Ibrahim Adbul-Malik, who teaches religion courses at Fairleigh Dickinson University, presented to the Unity Program students on comparing sacred texts from Judaism and Islam. He discussed the similarities and differences between the Muslim and Jewish views about the figures of Sarah and Hagar, Ishmael and Isaac. Shaykh Ibrahim also explained how Islam relates to other figures who preceded Muhammad, including many Hebrew prophets, as prophets of Islam.

After meeting with the Al-Iman students a couple more times since our initial introduction, I feel differently about who I represent. I initially felt that I would first be perceived as a “member of the other religion”, rather than as an individual, and I still feel that they initially thought of me in that sense. At that point, they simply did not know me well enough to think otherwise. I thought that once they got past that they would see me as a Jew of a certain sort (a tallit- and tefillin-wearing Conservative, Ashkenazi Jew), and after that they would see me just as a unique Jew who practices in a way that feels comfortable. I don’t think that the last two steps really happened in our relationship. I simply went from being “a Jewish kid” to “Sarielle, who knows a lot about Judaism because she practices it”.

The biggest barrier between the two groups during the meetings was the cultural divide. I couldn’t understand how they could be so sheltered, how they could have opinions (specifically about their practice of religion) that were unadulterated by western culture, or how they could live only within their community. Mostly, I was confused by the fact that two similar religious groups in the same culture would end up being so different from each other. During the classes that followed our initial meeting, we learned more about the Muslim-American population, mostly from various guest speakers. I discovered that the reason for the differences in the cultures of the communities could be traced back to the fact that the immigrant-based Muslim population (as opposed to the African-American Muslim community) was still relatively young. My Muslim peers were first- or second-generation Americans at most, as opposed to a fourth generation American Jew (like me). When I learned that, it was as if everything suddenly made sense, and I was able to see past the cultural differences and to better understand my Muslim peers.

Sarielle Luger

The Ka’aba is the black-draped block of granite in the center of Mecca where Ibrahim is believed to have tried to sacrifice Ismail. It is supposed to be where the aspirations and loyalties of all Muslims come together and the final destination on the traditional Islamic journey to Mecca. It is covered with a black cloth with gold embroidery and represents the holiest place in Islam.

If I was a Muslim and undertook the Hajj, I think the most meaningful part of the experience would be the ihram because it would be very peaceful and calming to be equal in the eyes of God. Furthermore, I think the power in numbers and the fact that we all would be wearing the same thing and there for the same purpose would have an extremely unifying effect on my being. I would feel as though I was a part of a bigger whole, which would give me great comfort in the questions I have about my existence. After all, we all exist on this earth together and are struggling to get by despite our differences.

-Robyn Spector

Muhammad became initiated into the new religion that he helped to build when the angel Gabriel asked him to recite and he couldn’t. The textbook also talks about the feelings that motivated Muhammad to continue studying and devoting time to his new goal. The origin of the Qur’an is important as a collection of the recitations that Muhammad had in his lifetime. The poetic style of the Qur'an is as important as its content, which includes religious doctrine, law, social values, morality and history. The range of topics varies so much that it seems unlikely that an illiterate man like Muhammad would be so bright, therefore Muslims believe a supernatural or divine power told him to write it.

The first Sura in the Qur’an talks about Allah, who is believed to be compassionate and merciful. He helps and rewards people who worship him by guiding them on a straight path. This idea is very similar to Jewish beliefs of God, especially in the paragraphs of the Shma prayer, which also praises God and implies that by worshiping him the people will be rewarded. The similarity is apparent, in part because all monotheistic religions want to make sure their followers are obedient and because of the need for a higher power to enforce their laws.

The judgment day, on which the evil will be punished and the kind rewarded, is a crucial idea in a theocratic society because it ensures order and sets consequences for breaking the society’s code. Judaism has a similar idea for the judgment day, which we experience annually on Yom Kippur. As in Islam, Judaism promises its followers' the reward of being listed in the book of life or the punishment in exclusion from this book.

-Timur Meyster

Hebrew Union College rabbinical student Joseph Skloot spoke to the Al-Iman students about being a fourth-generation Reform Jewish rabbinical student and about his family's experience being a part of the denomination. He also taught a lesson on the various other Denominations/Movements within Judaism, giving an introduction to the similarities and differences between them. The students enjoyed hearing him read from the Talmud and his perspective on interfaith dialogue.