about WHISPERS OF KAIETEUR

Forward to Whispers of Khaieteur

Sheikh Habeeb Alli is passionate about building up community; the Islamic Community, the Interfaith Community, Canadian Community, and that of his beloved homeland, Guyana. His compassion for humanity and tireless efforts, rooted in his devotion to Allah, overflows in these poems, articles, letters, and accounts of the myriad of activities he has both catalyzed and given testimony to on these pages.
Alli’s book makes evident his capacity to network and build bridges of understanding within and beyond the Canadian Muslim community. His Guyanese background gives him an edge at noticing where communities are ready to transcend racism and other barriers on the path of faith. Indeed, it has given him the ability to “navigate between cultures, traditions, and religious personalities” and we, his readers, benefit from his dexterity. His News section frequently praises the possibilities for meaningful interfaith engagement that Canada offers, but his poems show the depth of daily interfaith coexistence in “the country of six races”. Alli not only enjoys the many different people he encounters, but he listens carefully and learns from them, inviting the reader to share in the wisdom he is finding along the way.

The News reports show a vibrant, living, faith community that is active in caring for one another and their neighbors in Canadian society, and further abroad. Alli not only lets us see the multiple layers of Canada’s Muslim communities and leadership, but invites us into his heart through his poetry, as he is “melted” by encounter after encounter with inspiring people. He shows Allah’s care of inmates, abused women, men and seniors, the youth, as well as God’s desire for our health, and whole-ness. In particular he describes God’s will for people to live at peace with one another and demonstrates throughout the book what it could look like when people live in harmonious relationships at home, in the mosque, and broader society.
Alli observes, “…while God has not given up on us by sending new babies every day we seem to give up on man by judging each other daily.” Through poetry, wise letters of exhortation, and news documenting the activity of the Muslim community, he demonstrates how we can seek to be more like God, not giving up on one another.

Between the covers of this book we find many signs as to what it means to entrust one another “with your life and religion – knowing you will be dignified and your freedom of religion will be respected…” This book will be a blessing to all who read it.

Susan Harrison PhD Candidate in Theology, at Emmanuel College, Toronto School of Theology at the University of Toronto October 19, 2012