Mirza Yawar Baig – Grace Episcopal Church Amherst Interfaith Thanksgiving
AI: Summary ©
A woman named Y reminded people of Jesus and his teachings during the Islam practice. She talks about the central theme of Islam, which is the beginning of Islam, and how it is the central theme of Islam. She also talks about the importance of praying for the well-being of others during the COVID-19 pandemic and talks about the importance of praying for the well-being of others.
AI: Summary ©
Good evening, my name is Yawar Raig.
I am the Imam of the Islam Center
at West Springfield and also at Hampshire Mosque.
I'm delighted to be here.
This is not my first time in the
Episcopal Church.
I think of all the Christian denominations, I'm
almost Episcopalian.
I'm very touched by the rabbi's message as
far as gratitude is concerned.
This is the central theme of Islam as
well.
And I don't take her word, she said
the Jewish people invented it.
I do not deny, I don't deny it's
a great idea.
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala expresses the beginning
with The
first
chapter which is called the Fatiha, the opening.
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says, It begins
in the name of God Almighty, who is
the most merciful, the most beneficent.
All praise and all thanks be to God
Almighty, the Lord of the worlds, the most
beneficent, the most merciful.
Guide us to the paths, the Lord of
the last day, the day of judgment, the
most beneficent, the most merciful.
Guide us to the paths of those who
are blessed and not to the path.
That's not the exact translation of all the
verses over there.
And this is the central theme of the
Quran, where Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, the
Glorious and Magnificent, reminds us of all His
blessings.
I remember in 2020, just at the beginning
of COVID, we had, I think, probably the
first interfaith Zoom session that I attended, of
the Greater Springfield Interfaith Council, of which I
am a member.
And in my turn to speak, I hope
I said to them, please take a deep
breath.
And I said to them, I say to
you, those who died of COVID could not
live, because they died of respiratory failure.
So when we talk about what we need
to be grateful for, we can perhaps start
from the fact that we can breathe.
For today, just this morning, I didn't get
the inspiration to write a poem for today.
And I wrote this.
We know you, O Allah, by your bounties
uncounted.
By the rays of the sun, by the
light of the moon, by the vast empty
space and the stars that live therein.
By the rain and the snow that help
our gardens grow, by the trees, by the
fruits, by joys and sorrows.
We know you, O Allah, by your bounties
uncounted.
By the flowers in the spring, by the
dew on the rose, by the summer, by
the colours of fall and the herald of
winter.
By the music of the brook as it
plays on the rocks, by dark skies, by
falling stars, by wisdom, by stability.
We know you, O Allah, by your bounties
uncounted.
By the rain to give life, by sunshine
likewise.
By the dew drop on the thorn in
the light of the dawn, by the fire
of sunset as it lights up another land.
By the bugle of the stag, by the
beating of my heart.
We know you, O Allah, by dreams that
came true, by dreams unfulfilled.
By prayers answered, sometimes in unexpected ways.
By prayers unanswered, for which we thank you
today.
By parents, by siblings, by children, especially teenagers.
We know you, O Allah, by your bounties
uncounted.
By the silence of the forest and the
grandeur of mountains.
By the depth of the ocean, hiding treasures
unknown.
By the fish, by the birds, by the
black-capped chickadee.
By the cardinal in the snow, by the
waiting blue heron.
By the marlin as he rises on his
tail and throws the hook.
By the song of the loon on the
night of the full moon.
By the storm, by the typhoon, by COVID
and still being alive.
By waking every morning, by sleeping every night.
We know you, O Allah, by your bounties
uncounted.
By a future that looks dark, promising a
dawn very bright.
By our values, our compassion, our courage, by
Islam.
By those who lift us when we fall,
and fight for us when we can.
By knowing you, loving you, thanking you, and
worshipping only you.
We know you, O Allah.