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Dear Islamic Leader:

Assalamu Alaykum,

Once again the month of Ramadan, the month of fasting is coming with all the blessings and favors from Allah Almighty. Particularly, around Oct 8, we will be looking for the Night of Power that opens the doors of Allah’s mercy, forgiveness and spiritual enhancement, praying during that one night is equal to praying for a thousand months.

The good news is that this year we are not going to fast alone. A large number of our friends from other faiths have decided to fast with us on Oct 8 and pray that evening for the end of Iraq war. They will be joining us in our prayers for peace and justice. This will be a unique experience for America to see Muslims joined by peace loving People of the Book, fasting, praying for the end of suffering and humiliation of the weak and the oppressed.

The initiative called “From Conquest to Community, From Violence to Reverence: An Interfaith Fast to End the War in Iraq” has been endorsed by many senior religious leaders. The events will begin on the night of Oct. 7th when religious people will gather together for such as candlelight vigils and prayers. On Oct. 8th, they will join us in fasting during the day, and will have peace events in public locations that include both religious and community leaders and elected officials. That evening, they will gather for iftar to break the fast in celebration for what has already occurred and in anticipation of what will happen because of these actions.

We would like to request you to fully cooperate with this initiative. Please take the initiative to contact other religious leaders in your neighborhood and help organize events in your community. Where appropriate and possible, I encourage you to open your mosque and invite your neighbors of other religious traditions for prayer on the Night of Power. I also encourage you to invite them to iftar on that day. We would like to see that your community plans and implements this initiative together.

You are also welcome to participate in the organizing of this national event. Please write to Rev Dr. Shanta Premawardhana, Associate General Secretary of the National council of Churches who is coordinating with other national and local organizations. His email address is: Shanta@ncccusa.org

For more information please visit http://www.interfaithfast.org.

With dua and sincere salaams,

Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed

National Director
Islamic Society of North America
110 Maryland Ave NE, Suite 304
Washington DC 20002