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28 February 2008
U.S. Navy Imam Explains His Role as a Military Chaplain
Ask America webchat transcript, February 27
Lieutenant Commander Abuhena Saifulislam, the second Muslim chaplain commissioned in the U.S. Navy, participated in a February 27 Ask America webchat on the U.S. military chaplaincy program, Islam in the U.S. military and his role in promoting religious tolerance.
Following is the webchat transcript:
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of International Information Programs
Ask America Webchat Transcript
Discussion with a Bangladeshi-American Military Imam
Guest: Lieutenant Commander Abuhena Saifulislam, U.S. Navy
Date: February 27, 2008
Time: 10:00 a.m. EST (1500 GMT/2100 Dhaka)
Imam Saifulislam: As-salaamu alaykum! This is Chaplain Abuhena Saifulislam of the U.S. Navy. I am honored to be a guest for this webchat, and would like to thank you in advance for your questions and for taking the time to participate. I look forward to chatting with you for the next hour.
Question [Eather Newaz]: Hello, greetings from Jessore Global connections Internet Learning Center in Bangladesh. We are happy to know that you worked for the Sidr affected people in Bangladesh. We have quite a few questions for you and would love to get your answers.
1. We appreciate it that the US marine came forward to help the SIDR affected people in Bangladesh. Although the immediate recovery works are over there are huge need of long term rehabilitation works in the affected areas. Is the US government planning to help Bangladesh to rehabilitate the affected people?
Thank you
Sumaya, Abir, Miraz, Masum Badshah Faisal Islami Institute
New Town, Jessore, Bangladesh
Answer [Imam Saifulislam]: The United States government, as you mentioned, came to Bangladesh's assistance immediately following the cyclone providing emergency relief supplies. However, we had been working in the area for years building all-purpose shelters and earthen dams, and funding water ambulances and mobile water tanks. We were there before the cyclone hit helping to prevent damage. We were there immediately following the cyclone with emergency relief. Now, the U.S. Mission in Dhaka is committed to stay by the side of the Bangladeshi people to rebuild infrastructure and livelihoods to make a better future.
Q [Eather Newaz]: Hi there, we are a group of students from Comilla in Bangladesh. We participate in US State Department supported Global Connections and Exchange Project.
This is very interesting to see someone born in Bangladesh is working as military chaplain in the US. We are very proud of you. We would like to know more about you. Do you have any personal website about life etc.? Which district you are from in Bangladesh? What’s your key motivation in joining as military chaplain in the US? Will you be interested in future to work as a military chaplain in Bangladesh? What roles you played for the Sidr affected population?
Sincerely,
Robbani, Rakib, Nayeem, Jafur, Atiqur, Saikat, Imtiaz, Hafizur, Ani, Rashed Yusuf Multipurpose Technical High School
Comilla, Bangladesh
A [Imam Saifulislam]: I don't have a personal website, but let me give you a brief biography. I was born in Ishurdi, in Pabna district in Bangladesh. I attended primary school in Chittagong, and high school in Dhaka, and went to Dhaka University afterwards. I came to the United States in 1989 and joined the Navy in 1992. I became a U.S. Navy Chaplain/Imam in 1999.
Joining the Navy was attractive to me for many reasons. I particularly liked the discipline of the military lifestyle. In addition, coming to the U.S. from Bangladesh, my religion became even more important to me. I wanted to help other people understand more about Islam by being an example. The chaplaincy program offered me that opportunity as well as a chance to help military service members of other faiths.
Q [Chat Participant]: Greetings and after I want to know is a religious Bangladeshi Muslim or Christian? Thank you
A [Imam Saifulislam]: If I understand the question correctly, I am a Bangladeshi-American Muslim.
Q [Chat Participant]: Dear all, I am Fraidoon from Afghanistan and I joined to web chat of USA and so you said that you should have questions and comments about Islam and America.
Why you made this webchat about Islam and America?
Best regards Fraidoon Fojan from Afghanistan GCEP of Takhar province Taloan ILC thanks...
A [Imam Saifulislam]: Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the United States. However, people around the world are often still surprised to hear that there are a large number of Muslims in the U.S.
The most common question I have been asked since I arrived here is how Islam is practiced in America. This is the perfect forum for addressing these types of questions.
Moderator: Dear participants, thank you for your questions. Our guest continues to review them.
Q [Kuba]: Sir, thank you for this opportunity. US is a majority Judeo-Christian country. Thus the military would reflect this majority status, it reflects general population. My question: How have you been received in this military structure? How do Muslim military practice Islam while "on duty"?
A [Imam Saifulislam]: Great! I have personally been well-received into the military. I have been treated as an equal, and have been able to practice my faith like anyone else. We are allowed to have Friday services during work hours, and I am able to pray during work hours. We have Islamic prayer centers inside military bases that I helped establish.
Q [Tarek]: How does one actually become a Muslim chaplain within the US military? Is it necessary to have a college degree? If so, any particular degree, such as Islamic studies? Is there a special organization that "sponsors" or certifies US military Muslim chaplains?
A [Imam Saifulislam]: It is necessary to have an advanced college degree -- I earned a three-year Master of Science degree in Islamic Studies from the Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences in Leesburg, Virginia. The Islamic Society of North America is my sponsor and certified me to become a U.S. Navy Chaplain/Imam.
Q [Tarek]: The Holy Koran is Allah's literal word. As a Muslim military chaplain, are you able to preach that?
A [Imam Saifulislam]: I am allowed to preach during my worship services according to the tradition of the Qur'an and the Prophet.
Moderator: Welcome to those of you just joining us. Chaplain Abuhena Saifulislam continues to review your questions.
Q [Eather Newaz]: Many people have lost their house in the Sidr affected areas. The houses were so vulnerable to such super cyclone. What kind of houses could survive such cyclone? Do you have any suggestion?
Thank you, Nasrin Anjuman Runi, Education Lead Teacher, Rani Bilash Moni Govt. Boys High School Gazipur, Dhaka, Bangladesh
A [Imam Saifulislam]: I am not a construction expert, but I did visit the Sidr-affected areas. I know the U.S. government is working closely with the government of Bangladesh to help rebuild the areas affected by the cyclone and help construct more shelters that can withstand these types of storms.
Q [Tarek]: Good morning. The bio for the chaplain indicates he immigrated to the US in 1999 but enlisted in the US Navy in 1992. Is that an error in the bio?
A [Imam Saifulislam]: I actually immigrated in 1989, not 1999.
Q [Tarek]: I've read reports that the process for selecting Muslim chaplains is not as strict as it is for other chaplains ... compared to that other process, if it is different, can you explain any difference?
A [Imam Saifulislam]: In fact, the standards for selecting chaplains in the U.S. military are the same regardless of the faith.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk about the chaplaincy program and my experience as a Muslim in the United States. I thank the U.S. government for giving me the opportunity to return to my country of birth. Visiting the cyclone affected areas and discussing Islam with religious leaders and students have been truly enlightening. I am happy that I could be a small part of the U.S. government's rehabilitation program. Was-salaam.
Moderator: We wish to thank Chaplain Abuhena Saifulislam for joining us today. The webchat is now closed.
A full transcript of today's webchat will be available on our Ask America Homepage usually within one business day.
(Guests are chosen for their expertise. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of State.)
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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
