Dawn.com, Washington :
US President Barack Obama addressed the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, urging followers of all religions to overcome the fear that divides people in the name of faith.
A team of Pakistani politicians, including PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sherry Rehman and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal – also attended the annual event, which brings people from across the globe to pray for religious harmony and peace.
“Fear can lead us to lash out against those who are different or lead us to try to get some sinister ‘other’ under control,” said Mr Obama, making a veiled reference to anti-Muslim sentiments in the Western world.
“Alternatively, fear can lead us to succumb to despair or paralysis or cynicism,” he said. “Fear can feed our most selfish impulses and erode the bonds of community.”
Mr Obama, who describes himself as a man of faith, told more than 3000 people
who attended the prayer session how to overcome fear. “Faith is the great cure for fear,” he said. The prayer breakfast, although organised by a Christian group and co-chaired by members of Congress, brings together people of all faiths. During their three-day stay in Washington, the participants attend a series of lectures and seminars aimed at promoting interfaith dialogue.
This year, one of the hosts, and former speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi quoted Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in her prayers. “We know that this message, this command of love, is not confined to New Testament,” she said. “The same message stands at the centre of the Torah and the teachings of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) too.”
Congresswoman Pelosi then quoted a Hadith saying, “None of you has faith until he loves for his brother or his neighbour what he loves for himself.” Every US president since Dwight Eisenhower has attended these prayers. President Obama had spoken at the National Prayer Breakfast every year since he took office in 2009. This was his last address.
Last year, Mr Obama annoyed Christian faith groups for depicting the Crusades as an example of violence committed in the name of Christ, making the case that religious violence isn’t limited to any one religion or time. This year, he had a different message, religious inclusivity.
US President Barack Obama addressed the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, urging followers of all religions to overcome the fear that divides people in the name of faith.
A team of Pakistani politicians, including PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sherry Rehman and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal – also attended the annual event, which brings people from across the globe to pray for religious harmony and peace.
“Fear can lead us to lash out against those who are different or lead us to try to get some sinister ‘other’ under control,” said Mr Obama, making a veiled reference to anti-Muslim sentiments in the Western world.
“Alternatively, fear can lead us to succumb to despair or paralysis or cynicism,” he said. “Fear can feed our most selfish impulses and erode the bonds of community.”
Mr Obama, who describes himself as a man of faith, told more than 3000 people
who attended the prayer session how to overcome fear. “Faith is the great cure for fear,” he said. The prayer breakfast, although organised by a Christian group and co-chaired by members of Congress, brings together people of all faiths. During their three-day stay in Washington, the participants attend a series of lectures and seminars aimed at promoting interfaith dialogue.
This year, one of the hosts, and former speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi quoted Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in her prayers. “We know that this message, this command of love, is not confined to New Testament,” she said. “The same message stands at the centre of the Torah and the teachings of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) too.”
Congresswoman Pelosi then quoted a Hadith saying, “None of you has faith until he loves for his brother or his neighbour what he loves for himself.” Every US president since Dwight Eisenhower has attended these prayers. President Obama had spoken at the National Prayer Breakfast every year since he took office in 2009. This was his last address.
Last year, Mr Obama annoyed Christian faith groups for depicting the Crusades as an example of violence committed in the name of Christ, making the case that religious violence isn’t limited to any one religion or time. This year, he had a different message, religious inclusivity.
