By Marites Guingona-Africa
January 24, 2009
A good man was laid to rest the other day. He passed away in the still of the afternoon sheltered by the love of his family who stood by him throughout his illness. TAHA BASMAN was a devout Muslim who pioneered interfaith dialogue among his Muslim brothers and sisters in Metro Manila. He slipped away gently from this world leaving in his wake the garden of friendships he had nurtured with people of diverse religions and spiritual expressions for over a decade, and the seeds of peace in the hearts of Muslims and Christians that he had sowed.
We, at the Peacemakers' Circle, remember Taj (as he was called) fondly. He was there in the early years when our dream of creating a "common ground," a "safe space" for people of diverse cultures and beliefs was first coming to be. He was the first Muslim who introduced Islam to our growing circle of interfaith friends in 1999. Two years later, with his friendship and support, the foundations of The Peacemakers' Circle were built. He was the pillar of peace in Islam for us as he introduced the five pillars of Islam and its six articles of faith to us.
It was from Taj that I first learned how to relate with Muslims in ways respectful of their culture and beliefs. As a Catholic Christian endeavoring to build bridges of mutual respect, understanding and cooperation among people of diverse religions and faith traditions, I valued growing in mindfulness of the need of Muslims for prayer time and space during our meetings, for halal food, for fasting during the month of Ramadan, for self-determination and other particular needs that I used to not be aware of.
Taj and Ann (his wife of twenty three years) were inspiring exemplars of peace in Islam. They were one and inseparable in their passion for and commitment to interfaith peacebuilding. When not attending to their eight children, they devoted much time, energies and resources to nurturing their interfaith relationships. We at The Peacemakers' Circle have been blessed with the gift of their friendship and support in creating the kind of interfaith bridge-building organization that we envisioned ourselves to be.
When 9/11 happened and the world reeled in its wake, Taj and Ann found themselves at the center of a whirlwind of interfaith dialogue projects and activities that called for Muslims to bring forth the ways of peace in assuaging the fears and anxieties of the world ignorant of Islam. Taj was there, always speaking graciously (and humorously!) of the goodness of Islam and embodying its peace before many groups of people who yearned to make sense of it all. And with him, The Peacemakers' Circle grew in strength and relevance to the times.
It is with deep gratitude and fondness that we at The Peacemakers' Circle remember Taha Basman, our dear friend, co-founder, incorporator, and esteemed colleague who has given so much of himself to the promotion of Islam in his journey through life along the path of peace.
Thank you, Taj! And may Allah the all merciful and loving guide you onward towards peace and joy eternal in paradise!
[Note: Comm. Taha Basman died of sarcoma, a malignant tumor of the connective tissue, on January 22, 2009 at the age of 57. The tumor that grew in his legs metastasized to his lungs]
Invitation to a Memorial for Taha Basman
Please join us
this Friday - January 30th, 2009
3:00 - 6:00 p.m.
@ Ugnayan hall, 3/F PhilDHRRA Partnership Center
(#59 Salvador St., Varsity Hills, Loyola Heights, QC)
for a gathering of friends in the interfaith movement as together
Taha Basman
Refreshments to share would be appreciated.
