Programs and Presentations 2023

• 1) The Book-Club/ Interfaith Study Group (via zoom) meeting of members of The Salaam Network and All Peoples Unitarian Universalist Congregation, as well as Invited Guests, was held on January 11, 2023. We completed the review of Chapters 5-9 of MUHAMMAD, THE WORLD-CHANGER: AN INTIMATE PORTRAIT, by MOHAMAD JEBARA.
• 2) Dr. Saleem Seyal, Core Member of The Saleem Network, an eminent interventional and clinical cardiologist of Louisville, made a presentation on Islamic Calligraphy at All Peoples’ Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 4938 Brownsboro Road, Louisville on January 17, 2023 (7.00 – 8.30 p.m.) The objectives of the presentation were: 1) To familiarize the audience with Islamic Calligraphy which is regarded as a supreme Art Form in Muslim culture; 2) To describe the origin, evolution and different styles and scripts that evolved and have continued to flourish over the centuries; 3) To highlight differences in Islamic Calligraphy including Chinese, Arabic, Persian, and Ottoman (Turkish), Mughal and Andalusian (Spanish) influence; 4) To discuss the increasing popularity of Islamic Calligraphy among Muslims, as well as Non-Muslims, from an aesthetic, artistic standpoint.
• 3) The Book-Club/ Interfaith Study Group (via zoom) meeting of members of The Salaam Network and All Peoples Unitarian Universalist Congregation, as well as Invited Guests, was held on February 1, 2023. We completed the review of Chapter 10 (Islam: Preserving Core Ideals for Posterity) and the Epilogue of MUHAMMAD, THE WORLD-CHANGER: AN INTIMATE PORTRAIT by MOHAMAD JEBARA. Following the review, we reflected on what we regarded as the positive/negative aspects of the book. Finally, we discussed how the book is to be characterized: a) as a biography; b) as an historical novel; c) as a novel; or d) as something else.
• 4) The Book-Club/ Interfaith Study Group (via zoom) meeting of members of The Salaam Network and All Peoples Unitarian Universalist Congregation, as well as Invited Guests, was held on February 21, 2023. We had a preliminary conversation on Salman Rushdie’s book THE SATANIC VERSES which has been a subject of intense controversy and debate since its first publication in September 1988. We discussed PART I (The Angel Gibreel) and PART II (Mahound). Dr. Riffat Hassan explained the symbolic, mythological, theological and historical references in the book.
• 5) The Book-Club/ Interfaith Study Group (via zoom) meeting of members of The Salaam Network and All Peoples Unitarian Universalist Congregation, as well as Invited Guests, was held on March 20, 2023. We discussed PART III (Ellowen Deeowen), PART IV (Ayesha), PART V (A City Visible but Unseen), and PART VI (Return to Jahilia) of THE SATANIC VERSES.
• 6) The Book-Club/ Interfaith Study Group (via zoom) meeting of members of The Salaam Network and All Peoples Unitarian Universalist Congregation, as well as Invited Guests, was held on May 17, 2023. We discussed PART VII (The Angel Azraeel), PART VIII (The Parting of the Arabian Sea), and PART IX (The Wonderful Lamp) of THE SATANIC VERSES.
• 7) The Book-Club/ Interfaith Study Group (via zoom) meeting of members of The Salaam Network and All Peoples Unitarian Universalist Congregation, as well as Invited Guests, was held on June 14, 2023. We completed our review of Salman Rushdie’s THE SATANIC VERSES and heard the comments of a special panel of our members Dr. Joe Brennan, Dr. Marcia Segal, Rev. Kathleen Owens, Azam Saeed, Rev. Walter Snowa and Dr. Dennis Neyman. Dr. Riffat Hassan made the concluding remarks.

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