By Julia Bruck
CARBONDALE, IL (KFVS) – A speech from President Obama drew much attention on Thursday. It came from both Muslims and non-Muslims. The president spoke Thursday morning at Cairo University in Egypt saying Americans and Muslims must work together to confront violent extremism across the globe and advance the search for peace in the Middle East.
Many Muslims say they feel the president’s words were genuine. Others say they want the president to turn his words into action.
From the Middle East to the Heartland, the president’s speech caught the eyes and ears of many. For some in southern Illinois it also brought new hope of peace.
At the Islamic Center of Carbondale, a call to prayer is heard five times a day. A traditional greeting is also heard, the same one President Obama used to start his speech in Cairo.
“Assalaamu alaykum,” President Obama said.
It is a Muslim greeting of peace and immediately caught the ear of Mostafa Morsy, who leads the Islamic center. Morsy says he is very excited about the president’s words, especially those of peace and understanding.
“Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire,” President Obama said.
“This is a new beginning not to fight, but to come to understand each other,” Morsy said.
The president also used words from the Koran. For Muslims it is the holy book, just as the Bible is for Christians.
“He quoted four verses from the Koran and he said that Muslims they offered to civilizations so many things,” Morsy said.
While respect echoed throughout the president’s 55 minute speech, he also condemned Palestinian violence.
“It is a sign of neither courage nor power to shoot rockets at sleeping children, or to blow up old women on a bus. That is not how moral authority is claimed,” President Obama said.
Those words caught Dr. Muhammad Kamran’s eye, along with the president’s theme of a new beginning.
“He has the capability of changing relations between America and the Muslim world,” Kamran said.
Filed under: General | Tagged: Egypt, Moustapha Morsy, muslims, Obama, sunnahfollowers
WOW! ALHAMDULILLAH! I HAVE NEVER HEARD A PRESIDENT GREET WITH AS SALAAMU ALAIKOM, OR TAKE UP FOR THE MUSLIMS AS OBAMA DID. I HAVE TO BE HONEST I DON’T TRUST THE GOVERNMENT LET ALONE ANY PRESIDENTS LOL, BUT INSHA’ALLAH I PRAY THAT OBAMA IS SINCERE ABOUT COMING TOGETHER AND I PRAY THAT EVERYTHING WORKS OUT AS WELL AS POSSIBLE AMEEN. ALHAMDULILLAH IT WAS GOOD TO SEE SHEIKH MUSTAPHA MORSEY SPEAK ALHAMDULILLAH, HE SHOWED THAT WE MUSLIMS ARE ABOUT PEACE AND WE LIKE TO HAVE PEACE AND CHANGE, JUST LIKE OTHERS WOULD, MAY ALLAH BLESS SHEIKH MUSTAPHA MORSEY WITH THE HIGHEST OF JANNAH AMEEN.
ASAWRWB TO ALL,
I WAS JUST LIKE SH MORSEY, THE PRESIDENT IS SPEAKING IN WORDS TO ENCOURAGE US TO COME TOGETHER AND LIVE IN PEACE, AND FOR ONCE A PRESIDENT HAS NOTHING BUT, GOOD THINGS TO SAY ABOUT US AS MUSLIMS. HE DID NOT PUT US DOWN OR MADE PEOPLE LOOK AT US LIKE WERE EVIL BEINGS. I APPRECIATE IN WHAT PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID IN HIS SPEECH AND I TOTALLY RESPECT SH MORSEY AND HIS STUDENT, LAILA , AND I’M GLAD TO BE TAUGHT UNDER HIS TEACHINGS THRU HER, THANK YOU SH MORSEY.
As salam alaikum!
Subhan Allah, well I am a big fan of Obama anyway he is a great bipartisan President who is not afraid of change. He encourages change, peace and togetherness. I did not see the speech in full but I am sure it was a good speech filled with honesty and sincerity.
Subhan Allah, I did not realize how young the sheikh looks! lol Masha Allah from his voice i pictured this old man with a grey beard and hair in a thobe and turban. Masha Allah. Alhamdulillah the vid was nice to see. Keep up the good work.
smc
mashallah this is really good news lets hope he means it insha allah……..
By the way all – Sheikh Morsy does NOT shave his beard or cut it. He just can not grow one. So dont look at him and think he shaves his beard. He has many Fatawah out there which state that the beard is obligatory and can not be shaved or trimmed.
Salam!
how about kobeisy’s beard?
It does not grow either?
By the way he is a pervert, so watch out, especially those ladies that are young and have marital problems and need counseling. Stay away! Advise to all muslim sisters that have a ” Ghira ” about their Deen.
Salam