Forbes.com - Magazine Article http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/28/cordoba-muslim-relations-op...

High Five
High Five With Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf
Edited by Courtney Boyd Myers 10.28.09, 12:00 PM ET

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is an author, spiritual leader and tireless advocate for improving Islamic-Western
relations. Born in Kuw ait and raised in Malaysia, Rauf moved to the U.S. w hen he w as 18 to study
physics at Columbia University. In 1983 he became Imam of the Masjid al-Farah mosque in New York
City, continuing in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both Egyptian imams.

Rauf is acutely aw are of how the conflict betw een Islamic and Western communities undermines local
and global security. "Something is fundamentally w rong right now ," he says. "We are experiencing a
crisis of commercial globalization, and w e need one of spiritual globalization if w e are going to heal."
Rauf and his w ife, Daisy Khan, have devoted their lives to healing the globe. In 1997, Rauf started the
American Society for Muslim Advancement, a national nonprofit that Khan now runs. Rauf is also CEO
and chair of the Cordoba Initiative, an independent multinational group he founded in 2003 w ith offices in
New York and Malaysia.

"We enjoy our w ork so much," says Daisy, "That at any point in time w e'd rather be w orking than
anything else. We are having so much fun trying to heal the w orld." Despite the demands of his w ork,
Rauf finds time to enjoy the finer things in life, from the skill and creativity that goes into a finely prepared
dish or the care and cut of an Armani suit. Here, Rauf selects his five favorite w orks of craftsmanship.

Next Page: Arabic Cuisine

© Gulfimages /Getty Images

Arabic Cuisine

1 of 4 05/02/2010 04:29 PM
Forbes.com - Magazine Article http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/28/cordoba-muslim-relations-op...

I enjoy cuisine from all over the globe--Moroccan, South East Asia, Japanese, Italian and particularly
Arabic. And this may seem obvious, but I strongly dislike any food done badly. Food preparation is about
the art of quality. I agree w ith Julia Child w ho says, "You w ouldn't cook a $30 lamb roast in a $15 dollar
pan w ould you?" No, you w ouldn't. A steak prepared to perfection has the ability to levitate a man, but a
steak can also be cooked to taste like rubber.

I started cooking at 20 w hen my mother left my father, brother and me to return to Egypt w ith my tw o
sisters. She left me w ith a few recipes to cook for my father and brother. I prepare a great okra dish,
baked w hole lamb and baked rice w ith milk. I love holidays involving food, particularly Thanksgiving and
our Eid Ul-Fitr, w hich occurs after the fasting month of Ramadan.

Next Page: Clothing

© Ray Tamarra/Getty Images

Clothing

I love clothing that exemplifies the philosophy of design. When you buy clothes of this high quality, they
transcend their certain normal functions and are capable of simplifying one's life. For example, a w ell-cut
suit fits better and a cashmere sw eater is thin but keeps you w arm. I am a man w ho takes great
pleasure in w earing fine fabrics. I love Armani suits because Armani alw ays uses the best fabrics.
Also, of course, Brioni, the famous Italian designer, makes w orld-class suits w ith exquisite
craftsmanship. My w ife, Daisy, grew up in Kashmir, w here you can find the w orld's finest cashmere
scarves.

Next Page: Cars

2 of 4 05/02/2010 04:29 PM
Forbes.com - Magazine Article http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/28/cordoba-muslim-relations-op...

© Aw ad Aw ad /AFP/Getty Images
Cars

Is there anything more alluring than a nicely engineered automobile? I currently drive a Lexus GS400 but
am looking into the 2010 Mercedes E550. I like things of beauty--beauty in thought, beauty in spirit,
beauty in creativity--and beauty in engineering is one of those things. I like a car that is beautiful, but also
one that is functional, so I can use it all the time. I drive very often betw een our Manhattan apartment and
our home in New Jersey. But if I could drive a car just on sunny, crisp Sunday afternoons, I w ould drive
a Mercedes roadster.

Next Page: Calligraphy

© Gallo Images/Getty Images

Calligraphy

Islamic calligraphy is more than handw riting. It is spiritual. I love reading religious verses in calligraphy
because it is graceful, elegant and engaging. And because it is done on paper, it has an ancient,
Zen-like spirituality. This sacred art of nibs and pens bridges Japanese and Muslim cultures. I particularly

3 of 4 05/02/2010 04:29 PM
Forbes.com - Magazine Article http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/28/cordoba-muslim-relations-op...

like Turkish calligraphy, like the artistry of Turkish Master Hassan Chelebi, w ho can trace his lineage of
teachers back to the 16th century.

I also enjoy the Arabic calligraphy of American Muslim Mohamed Zakariya, w ho is best know n for his
w ork on the popular "Eid" U.S. 34 cent postage stamp, w hich w as issued on Sept. 1, 2001, featuring
gold Arabic calligraphy on a lapis background commemorating tw o important Muslim festivals, Eid ul-Fitr
and Eid al-Adha. Today, Zakariya regularly holds exhibitions and teaches calligraphy across the country.

Next Page: Persian and Turkish Rugs

© Image Source/Getty Images

Persian and Turkish Rugs

Praying is my absolute favorite thing to do. And the difference betw een praying on a beautifully
handcrafted Persian run and praying on an ordinary rug is like driving a Lexus vs. driving a dinky Ford.
When it comes to rugs, like most w orks of art, it's a measure of quality that I look for. I ow n about 15
rugs, mostly prayer rugs, betw een my New York and New Jersey homes and about 15 more at my
home in Malaysia. I love w alking barefoot across a nice silk carpet because you can barely feel it. My
favorite antique carpet is by Haji Jalili, one of the great carpet artists of the 19th century.

More High Fives

Read more Forbes Opinions here.

4 of 4 05/02/2010 04:29 PM