If you’re familiar with the Bible and interested in peace with your Muslim neighbors, you need to familiarize yourself with the Qur’an. In the West, the least understood of the Holy Books is the Qur’an.
The Qur’an tells us that the origin of all revealed books is God Himself, and therefore, it says that the message communicated through them is essentially the same. It says: “He has ordained for you the same faith He commanded Noah, and what We have revealed to you, and what We commanded Abraham and Moses and Jesus: ‘You shall uphold the faith and do not break up into factions.'” (Q 42:13)
Once you start becoming familiar with the Qur’an, you will notice that it does not describe itself as a book to compete with the Torah and the Gospels. It often confirms them as books of guidance and enlightenment (Quran, 5:46 & 48). It is, in fact, a commentary on both. This point is often missed by most Western scholars. The Qur’an, as such, is an ecumenical book par excellence.
A close look at the Qur’an reveals its inclusive nature. It says: “Truly those believers in this message, as well as the Jews, the Christians, and the Sabeans, whoever believes in God and the Last Day and does righteous deeds will have their reward from their Lord, and will not have fear, nor will they grieve.” (Q 2:62)
In light of this and other Qur’anic statements, we conclude that the problems between Jews, Christians, and Muslims mainly exist because of interpretations of the texts rather than their underlying meanings.
Even teachings common to all three religions found in all three books can still divide the followers of these three religions. Let’s take the two great commandments as an example:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)
The first commandment is about loving God. Many interfaith meetings are taking place around the world, with people discussing theological issues from their own faith point of view. They’re focusing on differences, and this is the main reason they don’t make much progress. They debate whether they worship the same God rather than focusing on learning from each other better ways to love God. God did not ask us to argue who is God; He simply asked us to love God.
Issues of faith are not necessarily logical. They can’t be the subject of productive debates. If I hear you saying that you love God, I should accept that you love God the Creator, the only One that exists. Let me accept that you will worship God the best way you know, while I’m worshipping God the best way I know.
Putting the issue of the first commandment aside, we are left in our churches, synagogues, and mosques with the second commandment teaching us to love our neighbor.
According to Jesus, we are all neighbors. (Luke 10:25-37) We need to learn again that our diversity is a source of our strength. It can be a significant reason for creativity in many fields. We need to learn from the Qur’an, as well as reason, that if God had wanted, He could have made all of us a single community, but instead He is testing us by means of what He has revealed to us. (Q 4:58) Therefore, striving to live peacefully together is an act of worship, and learning to celebrate our differences is a blessing. “Homogeneity is a recipe for sterility, whereas diversity raises the intelligence and virtue of groups. It does so because each community can act as a role model for particular skills and human virtues for others to emulate, and that is a reciprocal process; it works both ways. It is through such reciprocal engagement that the core values upheld by one nation, society, or community can be tested and held to account.”
If we love for others what we love for ourselves, then we should not oppress, as we do not like to be oppressed. We should consider bad for others whatever we regard as bad for ourselves. Accept from others what we would like others to accept from us. We shouldn’t say to others what we do not wish to be said to us.
The adoption of this simple code of conduct as taught by all scriptures can go a long way in healing the strained relationship between people of various faiths. The Qur’an goes a step further. Where Jews, Christians, and Muslims are divided and cannot resolve their differences, the Qur’an prescribes an appropriate arena for competition. We are to compete with each other in good deeds. The Qur’an says: “To every community, there is a direction to turn to, so compete in doing good.” (Q 2:148)
Social justice is a beautiful arena for competition, as Micah 6:8 encourages us to do: “O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
It will be an appropriate response from the people of the book to accept this Biblical/Qur’anic challenge. Even the methodology of that dialogue is explained in the Qur’an: “Invite (all) to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful exhortation, and argue with them in ways that are best.” (Q 16:125)
Practical Steps for Unity:
- Interfaith Dialogues: Organize regular interfaith dialogues where participants focus on shared values and common teachings rather than differences. Use these platforms to learn from each other and find common ground.
- Community Service Projects: Collaborate on community service projects that address social issues such as poverty, homelessness, and education. Working together on these projects can build trust and foster unity.
- Educational Programs: Develop educational programs that teach about the commonalities between the Qur’an, the Torah, and the Gospels. These programs can be implemented in schools, religious institutions, and community centers.
- Joint Celebrations: Celebrate religious festivals and important events together. This can help build mutual respect and understanding.
- Support for the Marginalized: Focus on supporting marginalized groups within the community. This includes providing aid to the poor, the widows, the orphans, and the oppressed. (Q 2:177; 4:36, 75, 135)
- Promote Social Justice: Advocate for social justice issues together. This can include campaigns for human rights, environmental protection, and economic equality.
- Cultural Exchange Programs: Encourage cultural exchange programs that allow people to experience and appreciate the traditions and practices of other faiths.
8. Youth Engagement:
– Interfaith Youth Groups: Establish interfaith youth groups that meet regularly to discuss common values, participate in community service, and build friendships.
– Educational Workshops: Organize workshops and seminars for young people to learn about the similarities and differences between their faiths, fostering mutual respect and understanding.
– Youth Leadership Programs: Develop programs that train young leaders in interfaith dialogue and cooperation, empowering them to be ambassadors of peace and unity in their communities.
– Joint Youth Activities: Plan joint activities such as sports events, art projects, and social gatherings that bring together youth from different faith backgrounds to build camaraderie and trust.
- Women’s Engagement:
– Interfaith Women’s Groups: Create interfaith women’s groups that meet regularly to discuss shared values, support each other, and engage in community service.
– Joint Workshops and Seminars: Organize workshops and seminars on topics such as family, health, and education, where women from different faiths can share their experiences and learn from each other.
– Social and Cultural Events: Plan social and cultural events, such as cooking classes, art exhibitions, and book clubs, that bring women together to celebrate their diverse traditions and build friendships.
– Community Support Initiatives: Collaborate on initiatives that support women in need, such as shelters for victims of domestic violence, educational programs for single mothers, and health clinics.
- Environmental Stewardship:
– Tree Planting Campaigns: Organize tree planting campaigns involving members from different faith communities to promote environmental sustainability and beautify local areas.
– Eco-Friendly Projects: Collaborate on projects that protect and restore local ecosystems, such as clean-up drives, recycling programs, and conservation efforts.
– Educational Initiatives: Develop educational programs that teach the importance of environmental stewardship from a faith perspective, encouraging believers to take active roles in protecting the planet.
– Sustainable Practices: Encourage the adoption of sustainable practices within religious institutions, such as reducing waste, conserving energy, and promoting eco-friendly products.
In today’s United States, I call for the establishment of a family of believers, where we all love God, and we all practice loving other members of the family.
This is what I learned from Jesus and what I learned from the Qur’an. To me, this is true religion.