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  • From the Pulpit: Omaha area faith leaders discuss the end of Hajj, finding positives in midst of adversity – Omaha World-Herald
Written by liberatingstrategies@gmail.comJune 2, 2025

From the Pulpit: Omaha area faith leaders discuss the end of Hajj, finding positives in midst of adversity – Omaha World-Herald

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“And proclaim the Pilgrimage among men; they will come to thee on foot and (mounted) on every
kind of riding. Lean on account of journeys through deep and distant mountain highways; that
they may witness the benefits (provided) for them. And celebrate the name of Allah, through the
Days appointed, over the cattle which He has provided for them (for sacrifice): then eat you thereof
and feed the distressed ones in want. Then let them complete the rites prescribed for them, perform
their vows, and (again) circumambulate the Ancient House.”
Quran chapter 22 — verses 27-29.
Friday, June 6, Muslims all over the world are gathering to celebrate the end of the season of Hajj, or pilgrimage, the Festival of Sacrifice that commemorates the pilgrimage. Performed once in a lifetime, the pilgrimage is made in response to God’s command to the prophet Abraham.
As told in the Quran, the holiday has its roots in Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael (his only son at that time). In faithfulness to what he believed was God’s will, Abraham was preparing to kill his son until God provided a ram for the sacrifice. Jews and Christians believe Abraham was about to sacrifice his second son, Isaac, but Muslims believe he was about to sacrifice his first son, Ishmael. Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad is a direct descendent of Ishmael.
Muslims are called on to complete five “pillars,” or fundamental tenets, of Islam in their lifetimes. The fifth pillar is Hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca.
Pilgrimage is, for Muslims, a training course in faith and ethics and increases faith, uplifts the spirit and inculcates only the best conduct and manners of all pilgrims. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said to “perform the Hajj for it cleans sins as water cleans dirt (sins and wrongs).”
The equality of all Muslims is emphasized in the Hajj by the fact everyone wears the same dress and perform the same rituals which are meant to help the pilgrims acquire the talent of remembering Allah in all that they do, so that they become closer to him.
In so doing, Muslims become as pure and clean as angels walking on earth. Muslims also commemorate the first 10 days of the month of Hajj as the last 10 of the 40 days that Moses stayed in seclusion on Mount Sinai. Alone on Sinai, Moses received the Ten Commandments afterwards.
— Imam Mohamad Jamal Daoudi,
Al-Taqwa Islamic Center of Elkhorn
In 2006, we had a life-changing event that changed our family forever. We had a window during the summer where, miraculously, we were able to carve out three weeks together for all nine of us (my husband and I, and our seven children ages 10-23) to explore Europe and Israel. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience this together.
We flew overseas with 21 pieces of luggage and loaded up a big white van. We arrived in Rome with one day to explore before our flight to Tel Aviv. We left our luggage in our van on a busy street and hopped on a bus to visit the Coliseum before our flight. We then took a bus back to the van only to find that the windows had been popped out and all 21 pieces of luggage had been stolen (in broad daylight). We were absolutely in shock. EVERYTHING was gone. All of it!
We went through all of the emotions … crying, denial, anger (searching the trash bins for our stuff), then acceptance and “how do we move on?” We had missed our flight and had nowhere to stay. It was after midnight. We bought gelato and sat on some benches in downtown Rome and evaluated our next steps.
We talked through all of this and right then and there we learned the most valuable lessons. We learned that things don’t matter — all of that can be replaced — but we had each other. When you deal with losing everything, it really makes you ponder on what really matters. That was a big lesson to learn after our trauma.
The next lesson was making a CHOICE to overcome this. We sat down as a family and discussed that God had given us this miraculous three weeks together and we’re not going to let anything or anyone get in the way of it. We were going to choose to continue our trip with a positive attitude. It turned out to be the most amazing trip in every way because of the opposition we went through and the lessons we learned. We learned that Christ could heal our wounded hearts. We chose to let God heal and change our hearts to provide peace and joy.
John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you, peace I give unto you …”
Those lessons have stayed with us even today.
— Miriam Beck,
Church of Jesus Chris of Latter Day Saints
From left, Emily Carrisalez and Yoselin Ramirez perform at a dedication ceremony for Plaza de la Raza at 24th and N Street in Omaha on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Archbishop George Lucas places his hand on Archbishop designate Michael G. McGovern during the installation mass of McGovern at St. Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
JJ Vazquez and Yoselin Ramirez perform with Mariachi Los Galleros at a dedication ceremony for Plaza de la Raza at 24th and N Street in Omaha on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Troy Bader, CEO of Dairy Queen, shares a moment with Ellie Petersen, 6, of Omaha, during the 2025 Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder Shopping Day at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Marilynn Martinez performs as part of Mariach Los Galleros at a dedication ceremony for Plaza de la Raza at 24th and N Street in Omaha on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Thomas Kluver kneels down to inspect a soybean field in Fairfield, Neb., on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
Archbishop designate Michael G. McGovern presents his letter of appointment by Pope Francis during his installation mass at St. Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
Nebraska’s Riley Silva (1) scores a run past Creighton’s Connor Capece (2) during the fifth inning of a college baseball game at Hawks Field in Lincoln, on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
Creighton head coach Ed Servais embraces former player David Gerber after the Bluejays 8-7 win over Nebraska at Hawks Field in Lincoln, on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
Carly Portinen, wildlife rehabilitation director at Nebraska Wildlife Rehab, releases a big brown bat at the RiverFront in Omaha, on Monday, May 5, 2025.
Dominic Gillen wheels his son Will in for a town hall hosted by some state senators to discuss medical cannabis at Carpenters Union Hall in Papillion on Saturday, May 3, 2025. Will, 23, suffers from multiple types of seizures daily due to a severe form of epilepsy. Will’s parents, Shelley and Dominic, have been advocating for medical marijuana for 12 years, believing medical marijuana could help improve their son’s quality of life.
Shelley Gillen puts shoes on her son Will at their home in Bellevue on Saturday, May 3, 2025. Will, 23, suffers from multiple types of seizures daily due to a severe form of epilepsy. Will’s parents, Shelley and Dominic, believe medical marijuana could help improve their son’s quality of life.
Nebraska’s Harper Murray (27) spikes the ball past South Dakota State’s Madison Burr (8) and Rylee Martin (5) during a spring game match in Ord, Neb., on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Nebraska head coach Dani Busboom Kelly reacts as a group of fans sing “Happy Birthday” after a spring game match in Ord, Neb., on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Michael DeGroff and his daughter Malone, 6, walk across I Street to queue for the Nebraska spring game match against South Dakota State in Ord, Neb., on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Evalina Sain, executive director of Omaha Students for Sustainability, stands for a portrait in Memorial Park in Omaha, on Thursday, May 1, 2025.
Greg Abel shakes hands with shareholders during the 2025 Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder Shopping Day at the CHI Health Center on May 2. Next year when the shareholders meeting occurs, Abel will be the Berkshire CEO, replacing Warren Buffett.
Works in the See’s Candies both stretch before the crowd is let in for the annual Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders Meeting at the CHI Health center in Omaha, on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Omaha Marian’s Evalyn Runco jumps over a hurdle hurdle first during her heat of the 300 meter hurdles during the Metro Conference track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
Omaha North’s Ben Harris jumps a hurdle during the 300 meter hurdles during the Metro Conference track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
Bellevue West’s Braylon Chism has a slight lead over Omaha North’s Darion Jones in the 300 meter hurdles during the Metro Conference track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
Papillion-La Vista South’s Breylee Botts finishing first in the 100 meter hurdles in the Metro Conference track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
Papillion-La Vista South’s Breylee Botts finishes ahead of Bellevue West’s Janiyah Willis in the 100 meter hurdles during the Metro Conference track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
Canada goslings exit the pond inside Hanscom Park in Omaha on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
A pair of Canada geese and their goslings swim at the pond inside Hanscom Park in Omaha on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
Contstruction workers at the nearby new Mutual of Omaha tower watch as an Omaha fireffighter climbs down a ladder while at a fire call near 14th and Farnam Streets in Omaha on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
Omaha fireffighters on a fire call near 14th and Farnam Streets in Omaha on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
Creighton head coach Ed Servais embraces his wife Anne after his final game at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, on Sunday, May 11, 2025.
Millard West’s Kennedy Moore (20) boxes out /m5/ from the ball as Millard West’s Addy Stephens (00) slides in for the save during the first half of a Nebraska Class A girls state soccer tournament quarterfinal match, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha on Monday, May 12, 2025.
Lincoln East’s Bella Bingham (25) and Scout Waite (24) embrace after falling to Bellevue West in a Nebraska Class A girls state soccer tournament quarterfinal match, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha on Monday, May 12, 2025.
New Omaha women’s basketball head coach Jamie Carey speaks during her introductory press conference in Omaha, on Monday, May 12, 2025.
Todd Cejka casts his ballot at Walt Disney Elementary School in Omaha on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert concedes the election to democratic challenger John Ewing during an election night watch party in Omaha on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
Omaha Westside’s Sebastian Perez Rojas (20) attempts to score against Lincoln Southeast’s Dylan McDuffee (1) during the first half of a Nebraska Class A boys state soccer tournament quarterfinal match, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
Sofia Leach decorated her mortar board for Creighton University’s commencement ceremony at CHI Health Center Omaha in Omaha on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
Lincoln East’s Dele Odulate (5) slides home as Papillion-La Vista’s Ryan Thompson (7) can’t handle the throw during a Nebraska Class A quarterfinal boys state baseball tournament game, at Tal Anderson Field in Omaha on Friday, May 16, 2025.
Lexington’s Pedro Prado-Cruz (18) tries to steal the ball from Elkhorn Mount Michael’s Mesach Nkurubujango (6) during the second half of a Nebraska Class B boys state soccer tournament quarterfinal match, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
Bennington’s Beau Pick (3) and Gretna East’s Kamden Korth (1) collide while going for the ball during the first half of a Nebraska Class B boys state soccer tournament quarterfinal match, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
Bennington’s Austin Kaiser (11) leaps over Gretna East’s Dallas Andrews (8) during the first half of a Nebraska Class B boys state soccer tournament quarterfinal match, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
Bennington’s Max Leight (9), left, and Beau Pick (3) celebrate Leight’s goal during the first half of a Nebraska Class B boys state soccer tournament quarterfinal match, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
Schuyler’s Obed Benazo (7) is lifted up by teammates after their win over Bennington for the NSAA Class B boys soccer championship at Morrison Stadium in Omaha on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
Schuyler’s Omar Genchi (19) hugs his sisters Laura Genchi, left, and Maria Genchi, right, after their win over Bennington for the NSAA Class B boys soccer championship at Morrison Stadium in Omaha on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
Schuyler players celebrate with the trophy after their win over Bennington for the NSAA Class B boys soccer championship at Morrison Stadium in Omaha on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
Crete’s Lesli Kratochvil competes in the Class B girls long jump at the Nebraska state track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.
Carol Windrum holds up a sign at a Stand in Solidarity event at Plaza de la Raza in Omaha on Thursday, May 22, 2025. The event was organized by Omaha Together One Community and allies to bring attention to support for positive immigration solutions in Nebraska.
Attendees listen to speakers at a Stand in Solidarity event at Plaza de la Raza in Omaha on Thursday, May 22, 2025. The event was organized by Omaha Together One Community and allies to bring attention to support for positive immigration solutions in Nebraska.
From left, Mary Kay Meagher and Marylyn Felion walk past a mural after a Stand in Solidarity event at Plaza de la Raza in Omaha on Thursday, May 22, 2025. The event was organized by Omaha Together One Community and allies to bring attention to support for positive immigration solutions in Nebraska.
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Read moreTrump Administration Live Updates: New Orders Will Escalate Immigration Crackdown, White House Says - The New York Times

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