After working with World Vision for five years, I have realised an incredible privileged that enables me not only to pursue a career but also to serve Allah in my work. Having participated in an interfaith dialogue and realising this fact has changed me remarkably. I feel so happy about it because for the first time I am linking my career to my faith.
In the past, when I worked for other international organisations in Somalia and Somaliland, my primary motivation was employment and survival. This obscured my vision such that I could not see the bigger picture in my work – serving Allah. Now I have a job that serves God and other people – it is a miracle and an unbelievable experience.
What strikes me most now is that this new realisation came about from working with a Christian-based organisation. I must confess this new understanding has provided me with extra motivation to settle into the organisation – an organisation I feel called by Allah to be with.
I feel proud that at World Vision we are all brothers and sisters serving to achieve a common goal, despite our different religions. During the interfaith dialogue, I learnt about the commonalities between Christianity and Islam. Prayers, seeking a continuous relationship with God and the concept of Zakat which is giving to the less fortunate are only some examples of these commonalities. Appreciating these facts can unite us to stand side-by-side for our common purposes, to use our differences constructively to help children and communities.
I am so thankful to Allah and World Vision for a great mission. I can hardly think of where else I could obtain such remarkable transformation.
Mr Osman is a staff member who attended an interfaith dialogue meeting in Hargeisa, Somaliland in June. The annual dialogue sessions aim to foster understanding between staff of Christian and Muslim faiths and work towards a common goal of service to humanity.
Note: “ Allah” is the Arabic term for God used by both Arab Christians and Muslims, and found in both the Arabic Bible and the Qur’an.
by Abdirahman H. Osman, Project Officer – WV Somaliland Global Fund HIV/AIDS
The fact that World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organisation hires people of other faiths is somewhat controversial.
Leaving this on a side, one may wonder how does a person of another faith feel about working for a Christian organisation. And is it at all possible for a person of a different faith to work in all integrity for WV? Here is, I think, a great answer from one of our Muslim staff.
From the latest issue of Connections, an internal WV publication..
By: DanutM on 12 July 2011
at 12:00 pm
I think this is a wonderful tribute to World Vision and to this honorable man of faith! Allah be praised! Praise be to God! We will never accomplish anything in this world by building walls that keep us from knowing and loving people of other faiths. So much better to build bridges!
By: Mary Perry on 15 August 2011
at 6:58 am