A Vision of Peace and Unity at the Minnesota Prayer Breakfast

A Vision of Peace and Unity at the Minnesota Prayer Breakfast

Zafar Siddiqui

A few days ago, I got a message from my friend Jay Perske of Sarreen Ministries, an organization dedicated to building relationships between Muslims and Christians. He invited me to attend the annual Minnesota Prayer Breakfast.

This morning, as my clock called out the fajr (pre-sunrise) prayer adhan, I woke up and remembered the invite was for today. After my morning prayers, I left for the State Fairgrounds to make it in time for the event, which was set to start at 7 AM.

A massive stretch of cars greeted me as I tried to park. In the early morning light, it was a great sight to behold, with hundreds of folks streaming into the building, picking up light breakfast items and coffee on their way to their tables. The environment inside the huge hall was spiritually electric. Christians from various backgrounds were all assembled for the prayer breakfast, a beautiful showcase of faith and how it influences people’s lives.

I was pleasantly surprised to see close to 25-30 Muslim religious leaders, men and women, sitting with their Christian colleagues across several tables.

Muslims and Christians have long worked together based on their love for God and their neighbors. In fact, the seminal project between Catholics and Muslims—an outcome of dialogue between Muslim scholars and Pope Benedict—resulted in the 'A Common Word Between You and Us' initiative. Another important factor—the love for Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him)—is shared by Muslims and Christians alike. Known in Islamic tradition as “the word of God”, "son of Mary" and the “Messiah,” Muslims are entirely at ease in a setting where Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) is central to the conversation. Believing in Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) and other messengers of God is, after all, an article of faith in Islam.

As I sat through the program, I could see how deeply Jesus’ example plays a role in the lives of my Christian brothers and sisters. The program included an impactful video featuring a local artist of Palestinian origin, with her stunning paintings as the backdrop. This was a moving moment for many, I’m sure, given the current situation in Gaza. The theme of this year’s breakfast, “Division Hurts – Prayer Helps,” resonated deeply. I envisioned a world where 4.5 billion believers in God—Christians and Muslims—become a massive force for good, pursuing the peace taught by Jesus and standing with the oppressed, just as he always did.

As the Emcee bid the attendees blessings, I knew this event had brought hearts together.

I spent some time reconnecting with my interfaith colleagues, whom I hadn’t seen in a while. I was greatly pleased to meet Fr. Rutten and Archbishop Hebda. Given my schooling in Catholic institutions, we ended up talking about my 170-year-old Catholic school in India, which equipped me with the ability to engage with Christian audiences at a much deeper level—mirroring the idea of One Humanity that Islam teaches.

In this spirit of mutual appreciation, I also look forward to the upcoming IRG’s Building Bridges Awards Dinner, a remarkable event that celebrates key bridge builders from various fields such as education, media, interfaith work, community leadership, and law enforcement. It’s a powerful example of recognizing individuals from different backgrounds, including non-Muslims, who are making significant contributions to promoting dialogue and understanding.

As we returned to our work after the breakfast, I felt that tangible relationships had been built, and it’s my hope that we expand on those bonds to guide the conscience of our country as a promoter of peace and harmony. Ameen!