Pope’s visit sparks interfaith discussions

D. Ashley Campbell

Pope Francis’ visit to Washington has attracted interest from religious groups other than Catholics, including four local Muslims who view the pope as a respected international leader.

“When I think of Pope Francis, I think of a very highly regarded religious figure,” member of the George Washington University Muslim Students Association Taha Ahsin, 23, said in a phone interview. Ahsin said he views the pope as “a reminder of moral conscience for the masses.”

Director of national communications for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Ibrahim Hooper said the pope is an influential figure beyond the Catholic world.

Hooper, Ahsin and two other local members of the Muslim faith named issues they hope the pope will address, including Islamophobia and humanitarian concerns. They pointed to the continuing Syrian refugee crisis, income inequality and the recent arrest of 14-year-old Ahmed Mohamed for bringing a homemade clock to school to illustrate why they see urgency for this discussion.

Islamophobia as an interfaith issue

Muslims make up two percent of the Washington population and less than one percent nationally, according to the 2014 Religious Landscape Survey by the Pew Forum. Yet Muslim Americans continue to face distrust and misrepresentation.

Half of American Muslims reported that life is still difficult in the U.S. 10 years after 9/11 in a 2011 Pew Forum study. Some feel they are under constant suspicion according to the Pew Forum.

“People need to realize the rising level of Islamophobia in our society,” Ibrahim Hooper, communications director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations said in an interview.

Howard University doctoral student of African Studies Muhammad Fraser-Rahim, 36, appreciates Pope Francis’ “authentic spirit of religious inclusion” embodied in part by his visit to Turkey to meet with the Grand Mufti and various speeches.

Pope Francis has reached out to the international Muslim community on multiple occasions. In a 2013 message to Muslims at the end of Ramadan, Pope Francis emphasized the need to “respect the religion of each other.”

“I think in many respects he’s been at least trying to offer a balanced approach of saying we have to work together but also being very firm in telling Islamic religious leaders you have to do something,” Fraser-Rahim said about the pope’s efforts to promote religious respect and combat Islamic extremism.

Humanitarian need for compassion

Earlier this month the pope called upon Catholic parishes to provide shelter for refugee families flooding into Europe.

Compassion for those suffering was a major reason Washington area Muslims hope Pope Francis continues to speak about the Syrian refugee crisis.

“When you see someone struggle you help them regardless of religion,” said Sayyid Syeed, national director of the Islamic Society of North America’s Office of Interfaith and Community Alliances based in Washington.

The four local Muslims interviewed also said they hope Pope Francis addresses human suffering in the U.S. and not just abroad.

For Ahsin, income inequality in the U.S. was of primary concern.

“The U.S. has ridiculous inequality at this point in its time,” Ahsin said.

Income disparity has increased since 1994, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2014 report on income and poverty. Ahsin viewed inequality as also leading to other issues, such as violence and a lack of compassion.

A national opportunity

The pope’s visit to Washington this week offers a national opportunity for cooperation and betterment some local Muslims believe. Francis’ pro-justice and anti-consumerism stances have attracted broad approval by Muslims in the U.S., said Hooper, the Council for American-Islamic Relations spokesperson.  

Some Washington area Muslims look forward to the pope’s visit and the message he will bring. Syeed said that he and the Islamic Society of North America are thrilled for the pope’s arrival.

“The Vatican is our friend,” said Syeed. 

Fraser-Rahim, the Howard University student, sees the pope’s visit as an exciting opportunity for all Americans. He also recognizes the particular importance of the papal presence for Catholics having spoken to priests on his recent flight back from London.

“I’m happy for my brothers of the Christian tradition and certainly those who are catholic as well,” Fraser-Rahim said.