بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Alhamdulilah, with the tawfeeq from Allah (SWT), from April 6th to 11th, 2025, I was humbled and honoured to be part of a profoundly sacred and soul-stirring experience at the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland—my first ever trip to Switzerland. This was the 5th round of interfaith dialogue hosted by the World Council of Churches (WCC) with Dr. Shaykh Shomali, and while I arrived with some nerves and anxiety about meeting new sisters for the first time, all those feelings beautifully dissipated after our first warm hug and heart-opening conversations. It was as though I had known my soul sisters and brothers for a long time. Truly, when hearts are bound by sincere faith and surrender to God, we are no longer strangers—we are family.
This wasn’t merely a gathering—it was a pilgrimage of hearts, yearning to draw closer to God through understanding, empathy, compassion, and shared sacredness. We were blessed to meet esteemed Christian brothers and sisters, each holding prestigious roles within the Ecumenical Institute and WCC, and yet so grounded, warm, and deeply committed to a higher cause—the cause of unity in God and the collective protection of human dignity. Every session, every conversation, every silent prayer was embedded in the pursuit of divine light.
Faith, Dialogue & Human Fraternity
One of the most profound blessings of this retreat was the presence of Dr. Shaykh Mohammad Ali Shomali, Director of the International Institute of Islamic Studies in Qum and founder of the Risalat International Institute in London, UK. Shaykh Shomali’s life is a testament to what it means to walk the path of unity with humility, wisdom, and unwavering dedication. For over 25 years, he has nurtured deep interfaith relations—particularly with our beloved Focolare brothers and sisters—through a God-centric lens that invites hearts to rise above theological divides and into a space of mutual love, trust, and sincerity in seeking the Light of God. His presentations at Bossey were not only rich with spiritual depth but truly transformative.
When Shaykh Shomali spoke on the topic “Who is God?”, it touched every soul in the room. His gentle strength and profound reflections on the Shia Muslim perspective, his own interfaith journey, and his unwavering commitment to building human fraternity and unity in God left an indelible impact. As we shared readings from the Holy Qur’an and Christian scriptures, what emerged was not a competition of creeds, but a shared yearning—to become better in our own faith together.
“We need to silence our own ego and listen to God.
God has inspired Muslim saints and Christian saints.
We should listen with two ears—one with a Muslim ear and the other with a Christian ear. Completely harmonious, clear signal.
Enriches our faith.
If God is the centre of my life and if someone shares with me love of God, how much do I share with them?
If God is everything for each of us, then we share everything.
We have marginalized God.”
Such were the poignant reminders for our inward journeys—soul-stirring reflections by Shaykh Shomali.
A World in Crisis: Faith Amidst Fragmentation
As we sat in stillness and reflected on God’s majesty, I couldn’t help but think of the global crisis of our times. The Bossey retreat offered a spiritual oasis, but beyond its serene grounds, the world is grappling with the erosion of basic human values and injustices at its peak. Thus, it has resulted in a moral awakening and has stirred our global human consciousness in search for peace and justice.
Greed and hyper-individualism have infected societal structures, breaking communities and severing human connection. The sacredness of life, the responsibility to care for one another, and the centrality of compassion are being replaced by consumerism, ego-driven pursuits, and spiritual emptiness.
Faith—once the moral compass guiding generations—is increasingly undermined, diluted, or replaced by hollow ideologies and fleeting self-help trends. In desperation, many turn to distorted forms of gnosticism, disconnected from revelation, seeking mystical highs while missing the rootedness of divine worship and surrender.
There is a spiritual homelessness that grips our world. People are searching, yet peace eludes them. And perhaps most tragically, God has been marginalized—not only from public discourse but from personal hearts. In the absence of sacred presence, we see the rise of division, anxiety, despair, and purposelessness.
Bossey reminded us that true peace can only emerge when God is returned to the centre—not just of our religions, but of our lives. It is only through a God-centric revival of conscience and community that we can begin to repair what has been broken.
Like-hearted souls on a spiritual journey
Brothers and sisters from our Shia communities came together from across North America—Dearborn, New York, Dallas, Vancouver, London Ontario, Montreal—and me, all the way from Birmingham, UK. We formed a circle that felt like home. It wasn’t about where we were from, but what we were seeking: connection, purpose, and Allah’s light.
Among us was the sweetest 6-month-old baby boy, Mohammad Aban, with his loving mum from Dallas and caring grandmother from New York. His little smiles brought so much warmth and softness to our space.
There was this quiet, unspoken bond between us—deep sisterhood, shared love, and a longing to grow closer to God. Our gatherings were simple, heartfelt, and full of meaning. All we wanted was to find ourselves again, in His light and mercy.
Prayer, Presence & Sacred Encounters
Every part of our retreat was drenched in the light of presence. From congregational prayers led by Shaykh Shomali to heartfelt moments during our internal meetings at night in the serene Bossey landscape, we were in constant remembrance. On Thursday evening, we visited the Shia Centre in Geneva, where we recited Dua Kumayl and shared a beautiful spiritual dinner with brothers and sisters. It felt like a Laylatul Jumu’ah in Najaf. Shaykh Shomali gave a powerful talk on Social Wilayah and how important it is. This was wrapped in the sweetness of togetherness and sacred purposes.
Before we departed, our group recited Du’a Nudbah on Friday morning, and its words reached straight into the soul. It was not just a prayer—it was a soul-cry for our Awaited Imam Mahdi (ajfs) and a hopeful glimpse into a world where Prophet Isa (a.s.) and the Imam (ajfs) will walk together, united in divine justice and mercy.
A Visit to the Lutheran World Federation
Our interfaith journey included a memorable visit to the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), a global communion of Lutheran churches in its Communion Office. The LWF Council continues to meet in the Octagon, a venue outside Geneva. We were graced with thought-provoking presentations, where we exchanged ideas, explored shared spiritual values, and listened to one another with open hearts.
Nature as a Mirror of the Divine
The retreat culminated in a stunning excursion to Mount Salève and Lake Annecy in France. The weather was beautiful, the sun shining and so warm. We journeyed up the mountain in a cable car, walked among the peaks, and paused for private reflections. The experience of being surrounded by such awe-inspiring natural beauty grounded us in deep gratitude. The sunrises in Bossey, the crisp alpine air, and the tranquillity of Lake Annecy felt like divine whispers, reminding us of God’s majesty.
We also explored the city of Geneva, using trams and public transport, and shared a heartwarming lunch at a halal restaurant, basking in the spirit of social wilayah that connected us through every meal and every shared laugh.
The Sweetness of Togetherness
A special mention must be made of Sister Rukiya Alawi, whose quiet strength and gracious support made the entire journey so seamless. Her presence reminded many of Lady Zaynab (PBUH)—resilient, dignified, and deeply rooted in purpose. Her nurturing care ensured everyone felt at ease and spiritually held.
Equally instrumental was our dear Brother Abdullah from Toronto. From airport pickups to driving us across Geneva and making countless trips with a smile, his humility, patience, and generosity stood out. Always ready to help, always grounded in service, he made everyone feel seen and supported. His warm-hearted spirit uplifted us all and made the logistics feel effortless.
In Bossey, we weren’t trying to win arguments—we were trying to win back the purity of faith. During the several conversations, Shaykh Shomali would remind our fellow Christian brethren that God is happy if fully committed to our own faith whether be it Muslim or Christian and grow our vertical relationship with God.
We weren’t trying to erase differences—we were trying to embrace depth.
And most of all, we were walking each other home—towards the One God, who is the Light of the heavens and the earth.
This was more than interfaith dialogue.
It was a divine encounter.
A sacred breath between Abrahamic siblings, joined in yearning, growing in reflection, and united in light.
Every brother and sister who joined this trip was so selfless. We felt like a family—bonded like the rosary beads of Sayyida Fatimah Zahra (sa), each soul a luminous drop, strung together in Divine Love.
May Allah (SWT) allow these seeds of unity to grow and blossom until the day when justice, peace, and love reign under the banner of the Awaited Saviour, Imam Al Mahdi (ajfs).
May Allah SWT accept our humble efforts in strengthening our human relationships, and may He bring barakah in this Godly endeavour.
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Reflections by Sis Nasim Walji Pirmohamed, Birmingham, UK
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