OHIO – Muslim leaders in the Ohioan city of Hilliard invited Christians, Jews and Hindus to a special iftar on Thursday, June 16, sharing the spirits of the holy month of Ramadan and uniting in a prayer for the victims of hate crimes.

“Let’s make a prayer that we can all add value together through collectivism and through unity of our communities. Let’s take our diversity and use it as a strength,” Imran Malik, chairman of the board at Noor Islamic Community Center, told The Columbus Dispatch.

“Our diversity should not be a reason for us to get more divided and more segregated. God created us in a lot of different forms and a lot of different colors and a lot of different creeds, and there was a purpose, and that purpose was to use that as an opportunity to learn from each other,” he added.

After prayers, Malik lightened the tone by pulling on a pair of red-and-blue boxing gloves to turn the focus to the June 3 death of boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

Muslim, Christian and Jewish leaders from central Ohio took the podium to offer thoughts about Ali’s legacy.

“Muhammad Ali was in some ways ahead of his time. He spoke out against racism, war and religious intolerance, the same issues we are facing today,” said the Rev. Rebecca Tollefson, executive director of the Ohio Council of Churches.

“Today’s headlines are indicative of continuing chaos and fear of the other. But he broke down barriers. .. He had incredible courage to risk unlikely friendships. He embraced all people who were different from him in status of life, creed or religion.”

The interfaith iftar comes only a few days after Orlando shooting, which was condemned by American Muslims.

Mosque members said that the number of people wishing to attend the iftar rose after the weekend’s violence in Orlando, indicating that people want to talk.

“Half of the problems can go away if we talk to each other instead of talking about each other,” Noor member Ghousiya Nadeem, of Hilliard, said.

“We have to think of the positivity. We have to think about love.”

Attendants included acting US Attorney Benjamin Glassman of Ohio’s Southern District and Matthew Keyes of US Sen. Sherrod Brown’s office.

Both officials thanked Noor with working to increase understanding and tolerance in the community.

“My heart rests always at peace,” Malik added, thanking authorities for keeping the mosque safe.

“Our goodness of community and our collectiveness supercedes the negatives in our society, so that gives us a lot of peace.”