Imam Feisal shares vision for Muslim, Western worlds
Noted Muslim religious leader and author Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf will speak about his vision for mending the relationship between the Muslim world and the West this evening at the Aspen Community Church.
The free public presentation is part of The Aspen Institute/Fortune Magazine "Brainstorm" conference being held in Aspen this week. His talk will focus on his new book, "What's Right about Islam - A New Vision for Muslims and the West," published by HarperCollins; a Q & A will follow.
A Columbia University graduate, Imam Feisal is an American Muslim who was born in Kuwait to Egyptian parents. As leader of the Masjid al-Farah mosque just 12 blocks north of the World Trade Center site, Imam Feisal's life was changed dramatically by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Since then, he has attempted to explain his faith to the greater American society and build bridges between Muslims and the West.
Since the attacks, Imam Feisal, 55, has appeared on radio and television shows, including ABC News, NBC's "The Today Show," CNN News, and CBS' "60 Minutes." He continues to act as a news commentator and meets regularly with senior Jewish and Christian leaders to forge stronger ties among the faiths.
He is promoting a plan, the Cordoba Initiative, which is a multifaith effort to mend the relationship between the United States and the Muslim world. John Bennett, co-founder of the Cordoba Initiative, is a former Aspen mayor.
The Christian Science Monitor wrote that Imam Feisal's new book "offers an encouraging vision and an ambitious blueprint for getting past the stereotypes and paralyzing myths."
The New York Times wrote that Imam Feisal "preaches a moderate Islam, one that embraces the values of Western democracy, carries within it a love of America and calls on Muslims to respect other faiths."
Imam Feisal speaks tonight at 5:30 p.m. at the Aspen Community Church, 200 E. Bleeker St. The event is free and open to the public.
The free public presentation is part of The Aspen Institute/Fortune Magazine "Brainstorm" conference being held in Aspen this week. His talk will focus on his new book, "What's Right about Islam - A New Vision for Muslims and the West," published by HarperCollins; a Q & A will follow.
A Columbia University graduate, Imam Feisal is an American Muslim who was born in Kuwait to Egyptian parents. As leader of the Masjid al-Farah mosque just 12 blocks north of the World Trade Center site, Imam Feisal's life was changed dramatically by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Since then, he has attempted to explain his faith to the greater American society and build bridges between Muslims and the West.
Since the attacks, Imam Feisal, 55, has appeared on radio and television shows, including ABC News, NBC's "The Today Show," CNN News, and CBS' "60 Minutes." He continues to act as a news commentator and meets regularly with senior Jewish and Christian leaders to forge stronger ties among the faiths.
He is promoting a plan, the Cordoba Initiative, which is a multifaith effort to mend the relationship between the United States and the Muslim world. John Bennett, co-founder of the Cordoba Initiative, is a former Aspen mayor.
The Christian Science Monitor wrote that Imam Feisal's new book "offers an encouraging vision and an ambitious blueprint for getting past the stereotypes and paralyzing myths."
The New York Times wrote that Imam Feisal "preaches a moderate Islam, one that embraces the values of Western democracy, carries within it a love of America and calls on Muslims to respect other faiths."
Imam Feisal speaks tonight at 5:30 p.m. at the Aspen Community Church, 200 E. Bleeker St. The event is free and open to the public.
