Haaretz: New York rabbi, imam denounce violence after bomb plot exposed
New York-area religious leaders, Muslim cleric Shamsi Ali and Orthodox Rabbi Marc Schneier held a press conference Thursday, issuing a joint condemnation of the recently uncovered plot to bomb New York Jewish centers.
Two New York-area religious leaders, Muslim cleric Shamsi Ali and Orthodox Rabbi Marc Schneier, issued a joint condemnation of violence Thursday after authorities arrested four men over a plot to bomb local Jewish centers.
If the bomb plot is true, then this press conference is a positive thing. Plus, one of my readers highlighted to me that Imam Shamsi Ali is regularly condemned by Salafist circles. Such condemnation is almost always a badge of honor, in my books.
I particularly like his stance on a pet interest of mine:
“Wahhabism and Salafism are often intolerant of other religions, even of other sects of Islam they don’t agree with, I interpret Islam as being open to many interpretations.”
What about you, dear reader? Do you know him personally? Have you visited his mosque? Talk to me…
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Brother Syamsi Ali often leads salaat (prayer) at a local Islamic Center near my house, and sometimes he gives lectures and speeches about the aspects of Islam in the modern era as well as the past, and explains the rights and wrongs. I have not known a more learned man that he. His knowledge never ceases to amaze me. But most inspirational is the prayer time. When reciting the verses of the Holy Qur’an out loud in Arabic, the ecstatic feeling inside is boundless. I find that all the harshness and problems of the world just melt away when such a great intelligent man with a beautiful voice like his recites the Holy Book in Arabic. As I’ve heard from someone before… the magic of the religion can truly be experienced when the Qur’an is read – not in english – but in the Language of the Prophet (pbuh). I ask that everyone just listen to him recite, because I can guarantee that you will feel amazing. Such a great, kind, intelligent and knowledgeable man is hard to find nowadays.
Peace be upon you all.