Salam:
Institute for Peace and Justice
A Nonprofit Organization for
Research, Education, and Practice
on issues related to
Conflict Resolution, Nonviolence, and
Development
Salam Institute
Goal:
Bridging Differences within and between
Muslim and non-Muslim communities
Salam Institute
Mission Statement
Mission Statement

Provide scholarly knowledge and
expertise on political, socio-cultural,
economic aspects of conflicts in
Islamic contexts to individuals,
governmental and non-governmental
organizations
Cont..
Promote
and Develop
Islamic Models for
Conflict Resolution and
Peace-Building among
practitioners, policy makers
academicians
Advancing Intra-Islamic Dialogue
Cont..
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Further Inter-Religious
Dialogue among Muslims and
non Muslims in Western and
non-Western societies
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Promote a peace and justiceoriented action among
different communities.
Interfaith conference
Cont…
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Advance the Integration of Local Traditions and Values
in areas of Peace, Conflict Resolution, Reconciliation,
Civil Society Capacity-Building, and Development
Project of Nurani Dunia, Jakarta, Indonesia: Income-generating plan for
women leaders and community development
Cont..
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Explore, Develop, and Utilize Existing Resources within
Muslim communities to better tailor and implement
community-based initiatives built on local strengths
Support and target specific vulnerabilities through
networking
Salam Institute
Guiding Principles

Research and evaluation:
-advance research and knowledge
-implement evaluation on themes such as:
Democracy
Nonviolence
Pluralism
Human Rights, and
Peacebuilding
as these relate to Islam and Muslim societies
Guiding Principles

Justice: basic pre-condition for reconciliation and healing in
conflict situations
- Salam’s orientation and approaches are based on the
contribution towards understanding and framing issues
related to justice, to build a solid foundation for peace

Nonviolent approach: a means to ensure sustainable and
durable resolution of any conflict of interests or values.
- All individuals have the capacity to learn and practice
nonviolent strategies to resolve their dispute, irrespective
of religion, national, or cultural background
Cont…
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Empowerment of communities and individuals:
- Provide individuals in conflict with knowledge, skills, access
to resources, and general awareness of the conflict, causes
and dynamics
- Purpose:
- Alleviation of asymmetric relations
inherited in a conflict
dynamics
- Generation of an atmosphere conducive to peacebuilding
and sustainable development
Cont..
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Equality:
- Focus on often inherited assumptions of superiority based
on categorical differences, such as religion, gender, class,
ethnicity, tribe, race and age
- Translate the value of equality into actual practice
Salam Institute
Why Islamic Values?
Help Muslim Communities

Strong tradition of social assistance, humanitarian relief, charity,
based on the Islamic values of social solidarity, social and
economic justice, responsibility to help the poor and the sick
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However, Muslim communities and organizations lack the
necessary experience and capacity to respond to these needs of
the communities they operate
Often sustainable development and peace-building practices
lack organization, training and effective response mechanisms
Islamic Values and Principles

Tawhid Unity of Being: views all existence as parts of the

same creation
Compassion (Rahmah) and Mercy (Rahim)

Original Constitution of Human Beings (Fitrah): Recognizes
that every person is inherently good and has the potential to be
perfect, irrespective of religion, culture or social background

Justice (adl): Emphasizes the importance of being just and fair
to all God’s creation and encourages establishment of just
social, economic, and political structures

Vicegerency and Social Responsibility: Holds the perspective
that human beings, as the representative of God on earth are
responsible for respecting, protecting and taking good care of
every single creation of God and calls for accountability
Cont..
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Ihsan (Doing Good)
Shura (consultation): encourages consultation for especially
important decisions and participation in decision making
Charity and sharing: encourages Muslims to give and share
what they have with those in need
Mmizan (balance): maintain balance in life and in the world and
prevent excess
Pursuit of love
Kindness
Wisdom and knowledge,
Service and social empowerment
Equality
Quest for peace and harmony
Areas of Activity
Range of Activities

Capacity Building for Muslim Relief:
- train the staff and beneficiaries on peace building
integration, conflict resolution and development
- develop joint projects with other inter-faith
organizations such as Catholic Relief Services
- introduce joint projects into programs like Do No Harm

Training: train staff and beneficiaries of Muslim Relief and
Development organizations in the following fields:
- Conflict Resolution and Peace building
- Islamic Traditions and Approaches to Sustainable
Development and Peacebuilding
- Islamic Sources, Principles and Practices of
Sustainable Peace and Development
- Training of Trainers
Cont..
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Research and publication on Islamic approaches & practices:
- humanitarian assistance, relief work, sustainable
development and peacebuilding, conflict resolution in
Muslim communities
- human rights, environment, sustainable development and
peace, effective and appropriate strategies to achieve
Millennium Development Goals in Muslim societies

Networking:
- facilitate meetings, set up international, regional and local
networks and databases for Muslim agencies and
practitioners in the fields of peace and conflict resolution,
sustainable development and relief
Intra-Muslim Dialogue
.

Promotion of intra-religious
dialogue, vital to achieving longlasting and successful
initiatives in peacebuilding,
reconciliation, and development
Purpose of Intra-Muslim Dialogue:
- find consensus on shared goals and aspirations
- achieve a greater scope of community support for
shared socio-political and economic goals
Inter-Religious & Inter-Cultural Dialogue

Pioneered American
Evangelical and Muslim
dialogue in consultations
with Fuller Theological
Seminary in Pasadena, CA.

Created consortium
partnerships with diverse
American Muslim
organizations such as the
Islamic Society of North America,
Islamic School of Social
Sciences and the Mohamed Said
Farsi Chair of Islamic Peace.
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Joint publications, training manuals on interfaith dialogue
2006: five joint workshops in five American cities.
Project funded by the Department of Justice.
Education and Curricular Support
Commitment to the development of educational and progressive
curricula stressing:
Islamic values and
nonviolence
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Gender equality
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Individual responsibilities
and human rights
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Environmental
consciousness
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Accountability and
leadership.
Economic Growth and
Investment Promotion Needs
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Capacity building to facilitate technologies transfer
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Support of agencies to promote greater access
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Food security and environmental guardianship
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Management and accountability systems
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Social stability generated by reconciliation, consultation, and
consensus-building
Sustainable Peace Building
Fundaments
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Ecological Balance
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Sustainable Development
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Recognition of Human Dignity
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Respect for Cultural and Religious Diversity
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Social and Political Participation
Sustainable Development
Goals

Sustainable development from an Islamic perspective:
- “balanced realization of social welfare, reduction of poverty,
effective governance of public goods, economic efficiency,
social, economic, and ecological justice through a
consultative social decision making process.”
(Kadayifci-Orellana)
Cont…
Community Goals Include:
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Establish and disseminate conflict resolution mechanisms,
peacebuilding skills which emphasize diversity in the
community
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Develop participatory processes that allow for community
feedback and redress
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Support and train existing conflict intervention authorities and
teams at the local level
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Establish ongoing partnerships with emergency relief
organizations to facilitate rapid response in disaster relief
operations
Cont..
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Employment and income generating ventures at the local level
to promote community solidarity and mutual support
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Continuation of processes that empower individuals and
groups to develop targeted initiatives based on existing
strengths and weaknesses for the benefit of local
communities
Sustainable Development Goals
Education and Training Requirements
 Curricular Development for Madrassahs to include:
Nonviolence and Diversity
Gender Equality
Individual Responsibility and Community Service
Leadership Accountability
Environmental Stewardship, Public Goods, and Human Rights
 Trainings and Creation of Manuals
Imam trainings: Leadership, Dialogue, and Civil Society
Neighborhood Empowerment Pilot Projects
Training Trainers & NGO Capacity-Building Programs
Women's Trainings: Health, Representation, Organization
Conflict Resolution and Nonviolence Workshops
Publications
Upcoming Salam Publications include:
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Evangelical Christian – Muslim Dialogue and Peacemaking:
Traditions in Theory and Practice (2006)
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Islamic Approaches to Peacebuilding (2006)
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An Islamic Guide to Interfaith Dialogue for Imams (2006)
Islamic Peacebuilders
Database
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Islamic organizations in the U.S and worldwide engaged in
peacebuilding, development, nonviolence, peaceful interreligious and intra-religious coexistence, conflict resolution
and conflict transformation in Muslim societies
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Resource for scholarship and activists in the field, networking
and support, to provide and disseminate alternative
approaches and activities related to Muslim communities
challenges
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Regions where research has already begun include in Africa,
the Middle East, Europe, Southeast Asia and North America.
Networking and Community
Support
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Adapt peacebuilding and development initiatives to specific
needs of communities by working closely with individuals
and groups on the ground
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Building on strengths and core values
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Target weaknesses and resource gaps
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Connect local groups and individuals with international
donors and sponsors, of crucial importance in emergency
relief