Journey takes spiritual direction.

Byline: FROM HEART TO HEART By Khaled Ishaq For The Register-Guard

"In the name of friendship, don't repeat to my Beloved all that I said last night, out of my mind; but if, by God, she hears it, she'll understand what a man can say in the dark, loud or quiet, rough or soft, when reason is not at home" (from "What a Man Can Say" by Jelaluddin Rumi).

I cannot help but reminisce about some of my moments of intense panic as I prepared for my departure to study in the United States in September 2001. How was I supposed to know that I would become, inevitably but uncomfortably, a spokesperson for a religion of more than 1 billion Muslims with as many diverse languages as cultures!

I faced the need to make an important decision as far as my life in the community in Eugene was concerned.

I could choose to remain invisible in the face of the predominant misunderstanding of Islam, the bad image that some political (so-called Islamic) groups present and the systematic misinformation campaigns that some media outlets maintain about Islam and Muslims.

However, I could not overcome the sense of responsibility toward those with whom I had the honor to be acquainted, whom have spared no chance to show care and empathy. Given this warmth, I felt that it would be a betrayal to turn down anyone who approached me to address the community or to speak about my spiritual values.

I realized that choosing to be involved in the community could jeopardize the educational mission that I came for, and would compete for the limited time that I have for my personal life. However, given the timing of my arrival, as a passenger on one of the aircrafts that was diverted to Gander, Canada, on Sept. 11, I knew from the outset that God had a plan for me.

My trip has since become a spiritual journey in which I rediscover and re-appreciate the values of Islam devoid of any cultural biases. It has showed me the universal face of Islam in relation to justice, peace, tolerance and human dignity. The journey has made me a stronger Muslim, whose life is centered on the love of the Earthly that stems from the love of Allah (God).

As an individual, this journey reminded me that to be a Muslim is much more than just making a declaration, but a lifelong commitment to become a grateful servant of God by worshiping Him alone, believing in all His messengers, showing compassion to needy and other creatures, and doing good deeds, beginning with the greeting salam (peace).

Khaled Ishaq is a student at the University of Oregon and has presented the Quran and other Islamic writings at the interfaith prayer and reflection services. This column, "From Heart to Heart," is coordinated by Two Rivers Interfaith Ministries, a network of faith communities in the Eugene-Springfield area. For more information, call 344-5693.