ING

click to donate

Contact Us

Welcome

Overview

Introduction

ING recognizes the need for education and ongoing dialogue in today's multicultural and diverse society to promote peace and understanding in our communities,. To this end, ING offers an interactive presentations and interfaith panels. Scroll down to see a variety of different tools and resources that are available to help your organization and its members develop a better understanding of Muslims and their faith as well as Islam in the context of America’s religious pluralism.

Building Bridges with American Muslims

In our increasingly multicultural and diverse society, ING recognizes the need for ongoing interfaith dialogue and cooperation to bring about peace and mutual understanding among people of all faiths or none in our communities. For more than 17 years, ING representatives have served various civic groups and community organizations as speakers on panels, presenters, and participants in interfaith programs that promote peace. We believe that the key to achieving peace is to foster understanding and mutual respect through education and dialogue.

Interfaith Speakers Bureau

The Interfaith Speakers Bureau (IFSB) is an ING program developed to expand its educational outreach efforts to promote religious literacy and mutual respect. Modeled after the Islamic Speakers Bureau, the Interfaith Speakers Bureau (IFSB) provides speaker panels consisting of two or more representatives from the five major religious groups speaking on a variety of topics to schools, colleges, universities, and other organizations. The Interfaith Speakers Bureau currently includes representatives of the Islamic, Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, and Hindu religions. All IFSB speakers are practitioners of their faiths and are taught to adhere to the First Amendment Center principles when presenting about religion.

Calendar of Important Islamic Dates

2011-2013 CALENDAR OF IMPORTANT ISLAMIC DATES

Recognizing these important dates not only brings awareness of the diversity within the student population, but also instills pride in Muslim students who celebrate them. Muslim students may be embarrassed or shy to acknowledge these practices or holidays, which are not yet a part of the dominant American culture. We hope this information will be useful.

Ramadan Information Sheet

Joining more than 1.5 billion Muslims around the world
AMERICAN MUSLIMS WILL OBSERVE THE MONTH-LONG FAST OF RAMADAN
BEGINNING AUGUST 1st, 2011

Introduction
Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, which is based on a 12 month lunar year of approximately 354 days. Because the lunar year is 11 days shorter than the solar year, each lunar month moves 11 days earlier each year. It takes 33 solar years for the lunar months to complete a full cycle and return to the same season. This year, the month long fast of Ramadan is set to begin on Monday, August 1st, 2011. The month traditionally begins and ends based on the sighting of the first crescent of the new moon. Starting on August 10th, Muslims throughout the United States and the rest of the world will begin to search the sky for the new crescent, or in some cases, they will follow a pre-determined date based on astronomical calculation.

Hajj Information Sheet

Joining more than 1.5 billion Muslims around the world
AMERICAN MUSLIMS WILL CELEBRATE EID AL-ADHA
(FESTIVAL OF THE SACRIFICE) ON NOVEMBER 6, 2011*

Introduction
American Muslims join millions of Muslims from around the world to prepare for a journey of a lifetime and take part in the Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. The basic acts of Hajj last for five days during the 12th month of the lunar Islamic calendar called Dhul-Hijjah.

Islamic New Year Information Sheet

November 26th, 2011 will mark a new year in the Islamic calendar, which commences the year 1432 A.H. The Islamic calendar dates back to the migration of the Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina in the year 622 C.E. (Common Era), which is known as the Hijra. The Hijra marks a turning point in the history of Islam; the importance of this event is reflected in the fact that it marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar, rather than the birth of the Prophet Muhammad or the first Qur’anic revelation in 610 C.E.