Archbishop Francis George sat Tuesday in a corner of the praying room in a mosque in Northbrook, while Muslim worshipers prayed at the break of the Ramadan fast at sunset.
The presence of George, the first Chicago archbishop to attend such an event, was described by participants as the opening of a new chapter in relationships between Catholics and Muslims here.
“My presence today means that we are serious about strengthening our ties between Chicago’s Muslim and Catholic communities,” said George, the cardinal-designate who was accompanied by a group of priests and nuns.
“Interreligious understanding is very much like interracial understanding: You need to put a human face on differences.”
As the last verses of Imam Senad Agic’s melodious prayer resonated under the white and gold dome of the Islamic Cultural Center at 1810 N. Pfingsten Rd., clerics and lay people of both faiths bowed their heads.
“Muslims recognize Jews and Christians as being the people of the Book, and Muhammad recognized both Moses and Jesus as prophets,” said Ibrahim Sadek, a co-chair of the Muslim/Catholic Dialogue group founded last May. “We are praying to the same God.”
Shortly before 5 p.m., the sun set over the Chicago area, allowing Muslims to end their fast. Men and women walked out of the prayer room to eat a date and drink a glass of water, symbolizing the end of a day’s fast. During the 30 days of Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking or engaging in sex between sunrise and sunset. Tuesday was the 20th day.
“This is a time when Muslims put on their best behavior and honor the Koran and its teachings,” Sadek said.
The Muslim/Catholic Dialogue group also aims to help Muslims reach out to other communities.
“For years the Muslim community grew in the Chicago area, but we never made any real organized efforts to reach out,” Sadek said. “Muslims want to be full members of the Chicago’s religious community and participate fully in it.”
After putting their shoes on, Muslims and Catholics went to dinner in the center’s basement.
“I’m starving. I haven’t eaten anything since 5 o’clock this morning,” said Saban Torlo, 51, a Bosnian Muslim, who dined on falafel, hummos and grilled meats served on a bed of rice.
“It is a tradition that at the end of Ramadan, Muslims make gifts to people who don’t have anything. I sent $100 to people who were mutilated during the Yugoslavian war.”
