The American Society for Muslim Advancement and Cordoba Initiative joined Karen Armstrong and the Council of Conscience in launching the Charter for Compassion on November 12, 2009. The culmination of more than a year's work, the Charter for Compassion is a document that brings attention back to the principles of universal justice and respect that are central to all the world's great religions. On the occasion of the launch, Daisy Khan, ASMA Executive Director, said, "Compassion is a Divine Attribute. Through it, God has granted us the ability and responsibility to transform selfish disregard, judgmentalism, and violence into empathy, understanding, and service to the other."
"And what will explain to you what the steep path is? It is the freeing of a (slave) from bondage; or the giving of food in a day of famine to an orphan relative, or to a needy in distress. Then will he be of those who believe, enjoin fortitude and encourage kindness and compassion." (The Holy Qur'an, 90: 12-1)
"We sent thee [Muhammad] not, but as a Mercy for all creatures." (The Holy Qur'an, 21:107)
The Charter for Compassion
"The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect." Read the Entire Charter.
Lose your ego, find your compassion: Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf on Compassion
Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, Chairman of the Cordoba Initiative, recent talked about compassion in Islam at a TED Salon. The talk, entitled "Lose your ego, find your compassion," Imam Feisal combines the teachings of the Qur'an, the stories of Rumi, and the examples of Muhammad and Jesus, to demonstrate that only one obstacle stands between each of us and absolute compassion -- ourselves.
Powerful quotes from the Charter of Compassion Launch
Describing the charter as a cooperative effort to restore compassionate thinking and action, Malaysia's former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said its global launch was a noble initiative to understanding compassion among people of different faiths and providing help to the needy. Other memorable quotes from the Charter for Compassion's launch include:
"Compassion is a dangerous dream because it rocks the foundations of old interests and gives us new ground to stand on." Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell
"In this room, we have words that make a difference between death and life. Words can bring life and words can kill." Rev. Peter Storey
"This is the most collaborative undertaking of religious communities in history." Rabbi David Saperstein
"We often talk about one corner of the world as the holy land. The whole world is the holy land." Rev. Peter Storey
"The Charter is a hit song. Melody, rhythm, groove." Salman Ahmad, Pakistani Musician
You are invited to learn more about the Charter and its history, participate in events and help spread the word. The Charter also and invites you to share your own stories of compassion to inspire the world.
WISE women on Compassion
"Compassion is one of the pillars of every religion without it we would be lost in a sea of violence." Mehnaz Mona-Afridi, Professor of Religious Studies, Antioch University and National University
"Compassion is to practice the Golden Rule. Practicing the Golden Rule, having Compassion, prevents wars, oppression, persecution, despotism, and subjugation of women." Laleh Bakhtiar, the first American woman to translate the Quran
"Compassion is at the core of our belief. Each time I recite Bismillah, I begin 'In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful' and invoke God's attribute of compassion." Sabeeha Rehman, Director of Interfaith Programs, American Society for Muslim Advancement
"Compassion is the treasure of the human heart, unlocked by concern, caring, and cooperation." Tayyibah Taylor, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, Azzizah Magazine
"Compassion means a genuine attempt to walk for awhile in others' shoes, with a desire to understand their worldviews, even if -- or perhaps especially when -- such an attempt challenges our own worldview. Lacking compassion, we cannot achieve true pluralism, particularly in today's shrinking world." Sumbul Ali Karamali, author of "The Muslim Next Door: the Qur'an, the Media, and that Veil Thing"
Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow on Compassion
"Compassion means being sensitive to the struggles all disadvantaged peoples go through, and to use this struggle to further empower not just yourself, but others around you. Compassion is, therefore, a means to the empowerment of all of humanity." Zeeshan Suhail, board member of Americans for Informed Democracy and the Muslim Consultative Network
"One day, after giving a sermon, a new face approached me and thanked me for what I had said. He noted it was the first time he'd been to a sermon where the Imam had not yelled at him. God is the Merciful and Loving, the One whose compassion surrounds and sustains the universe as a womb protects and nurtures a child. If we have lost this, if we have forgotten this, then what have we kept of our Islam?" Haroon Mogul, Director of Communications, Islamic Center of New York University
"For me, compassion begins in the home. To borrow from Eleanor Roosevelt, compassion, like human rights, starts with our individual relationships, the people we live with, the schools we attend, the places where we work; we should nourish and protect it in our individual lives if we want to see it grow in the larger world." Asim Rehman, President, Muslim Bar Association of New York
"Compassion means relating to another human being from your deepest spiritual core." Asma T. Uddin, International Legal Fellow, The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
"Compassion means digging deep down within ones soul and truly giving others a bit of yourself in everything you do; as my father used to tell us when I was young, "in this world of give and take one must learn what it takes to give". It is about learning to separate sympathy from empathy-- you can be empathetic to someone's cause and understand where they are coming from without being sympathetic to them or their cause. It is about learning about the plight of marginalized, neglected and desperate peoples, communities, and groups and sharing that knowledge with people who can advocate for the voiceless. Compassion is about caring-- caring for a better, brighter and safer world that we each long for." Hazami Barmada, Independent Consultant, Public and Cultural Diplomacy
