One Goal with Different Paths
Sara Ibrahim, 18-12-2009
We encounter different cultures and different religions every day of our lives, exploring the blessing of religious diversity around the world is a lucky step towards enlightenment, of which many are unaware of.
Looking at an abstract religion from a humane angle makes it much easier for us to learn and accept others' differences, rather than being obliged to look at it as an endless battle. For each religion has an ethical and moral story that we can implement in our daily lives.
A'ashura, the commemoration of the Martyrdom of Imam Hussein (A.S), and Christmas the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, are two different celebrations of two different yet at the same time similar religions.
The Vicar of All Saints' Church in Beirut, Reverend Nabil Shehadi, had a say on that subject. "I highly appreciate what Imam Ali (pbuh) said: "People are of two kinds: Either your brothers in Faith or they are equals in creation." And I think this is the ideal way of dealing with each other, no matter how extensive these differences are, they can enrich us.", he said.
Rev. Shehadi said that the fights occurring among people due to lack of accepting each others' differences is awful, adding "the new testament in the Bible teaches us that our attitude to anybody should be out of love and respect."
He continued that Muslims and Christians shared many common grounds, such as the celebration of one of the most interesting stories on "Al-Adha", "It is all about sacrifice, love and faith, of where a father was willing to give up his son for the sake of God, that is the ultimate faith" he said.
Speaking of sacrifices of Imam Al Hussein (A.S) and Jesus Christ, Reverend Shehadi said: " Anything that inspires us with sacrificial love for others is something that we should honor and learn from, Imam Al Hussein gave away his life for the sake of his nation, the Christ suffered for the sake of lifting us up from the hole we dug ourselves into, these sacred sacrifices have eternal consequences".
Rev Shehadi added: "I hope that people understand the true message of A'ashura which is that there's a love greater than hatred, and that is the kind of love God has for us".
On the same note, a lecture on "Christian-Muslim theological interaction" was given by Dr. Jon Hoover an assistant professor of Islamic Studies at the Near East school of Theology in Beirut.
Dr. Hoover said: "Muslims and Christians together make up well over half of the world's population. Without peace and justice between these two religious communities, there can be no meaningful peace in the world." adding, "Peaceful relations between Muslims and Christians stand as one of the central challenges of this century, and perhaps of the whole present epoch".
Dr. Hoover stressed on the common ground between Muslims and Christians, which is the dual common ground of love of God and of neighbour, he said that it should be the basis of all future interfaith dialogue between us, he added what Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: " The most virtuous behavior is to engage those who sever relations, to give to those who withhold from you, and to forgive those who wrong you.", just like Jesus Christ prayed for his enemies: "Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing"(Luke 23:34).
In one of his articles "Islamic Monotheism and the Trinity", Dr. Hoover says that the differences between Christians and Muslims should be respected and they shouldn't blind us to similarities where they occur, more important, they shouldn't prevent them from wrestling with these differences, seeking to understand their significance more deeply, and asking how they can refine our faith in the one God.
During one of the lectures made by the Religious Authority Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah on the similarities between the Christians and the Muslims, his Eminence said: "Jesus Christ (A.S) was tortured and had to endure severe hardships for the sake of the Message, he was prosecuted like Imam Hussein (A.S.) was, and asked the same question to his people: {But when Jesus became conscious of their disbelief, he cried: Who will be my helpers in the cause of Allah? The disciples said: We will be Allah's helpers. We believe in Allah, and bear witness that we have surrendered (unto Him) } 3:52, the same thing happened with the Imam (A.S.) when he felt that he was being betrayed by a lot of people who went back with their words, He asked: "Who would support us", and his true supporters rushed to ensure him: "We are with you, son of the Messenger."
Sayyed Fadlullah continued, "If we differ with you about Christ whom you consider the incarnation of God, while we do not, and if we differ over the meaning of the oneness of Allah the Almighty, we do not differ on moral and spiritual values, nor do we differ about all the teachings that Jesus (A.S.) preached. For we believe in all holy books.
Speaking of Imam Hussein (A.S.) and his sacrifices, Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah talked about the lessons, the implementations, and models of A'ashura. His Eminence said that the true history of Karbala says that there is a faithful group who are adherent to their honor, esteem, dignity and the right of their nation, who refuse submission, humiliation, and surrendering to tyrants and oppressors and who resist and stand up for confrontation. This group chose resistance, confrontation and martyrdom over disgraceful humiliating submission.
We encounter different cultures and different religions every day of our lives, exploring the blessing of religious diversity around the world is a lucky step towards enlightenment, of which many are unaware of.
Looking at an abstract religion from a humane angle makes it much easier for us to learn and accept others' differences, rather than being obliged to look at it as an endless battle. For each religion has an ethical and moral story that we can implement in our daily lives.
A'ashura, the commemoration of the Martyrdom of Imam Hussein (A.S), and Christmas the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, are two different celebrations of two different yet at the same time similar religions.
The Vicar of All Saints' Church in Beirut, Reverend Nabil Shehadi, had a say on that subject. "I highly appreciate what Imam Ali (pbuh) said: "People are of two kinds: Either your brothers in Faith or they are equals in creation." And I think this is the ideal way of dealing with each other, no matter how extensive these differences are, they can enrich us.", he said.
Rev. Shehadi said that the fights occurring among people due to lack of accepting each others' differences is awful, adding "the new testament in the Bible teaches us that our attitude to anybody should be out of love and respect."
He continued that Muslims and Christians shared many common grounds, such as the celebration of one of the most interesting stories on "Al-Adha", "It is all about sacrifice, love and faith, of where a father was willing to give up his son for the sake of God, that is the ultimate faith" he said.
Speaking of sacrifices of Imam Al Hussein (A.S) and Jesus Christ, Reverend Shehadi said: " Anything that inspires us with sacrificial love for others is something that we should honor and learn from, Imam Al Hussein gave away his life for the sake of his nation, the Christ suffered for the sake of lifting us up from the hole we dug ourselves into, these sacred sacrifices have eternal consequences".
Rev Shehadi added: "I hope that people understand the true message of A'ashura which is that there's a love greater than hatred, and that is the kind of love God has for us".
On the same note, a lecture on "Christian-Muslim theological interaction" was given by Dr. Jon Hoover an assistant professor of Islamic Studies at the Near East school of Theology in Beirut.
Dr. Hoover said: "Muslims and Christians together make up well over half of the world's population. Without peace and justice between these two religious communities, there can be no meaningful peace in the world." adding, "Peaceful relations between Muslims and Christians stand as one of the central challenges of this century, and perhaps of the whole present epoch".
Dr. Hoover stressed on the common ground between Muslims and Christians, which is the dual common ground of love of God and of neighbour, he said that it should be the basis of all future interfaith dialogue between us, he added what Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: " The most virtuous behavior is to engage those who sever relations, to give to those who withhold from you, and to forgive those who wrong you.", just like Jesus Christ prayed for his enemies: "Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing"(Luke 23:34).
In one of his articles "Islamic Monotheism and the Trinity", Dr. Hoover says that the differences between Christians and Muslims should be respected and they shouldn't blind us to similarities where they occur, more important, they shouldn't prevent them from wrestling with these differences, seeking to understand their significance more deeply, and asking how they can refine our faith in the one God.
During one of the lectures made by the Religious Authority Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah on the similarities between the Christians and the Muslims, his Eminence said: "Jesus Christ (A.S) was tortured and had to endure severe hardships for the sake of the Message, he was prosecuted like Imam Hussein (A.S.) was, and asked the same question to his people: {But when Jesus became conscious of their disbelief, he cried: Who will be my helpers in the cause of Allah? The disciples said: We will be Allah's helpers. We believe in Allah, and bear witness that we have surrendered (unto Him) } 3:52, the same thing happened with the Imam (A.S.) when he felt that he was being betrayed by a lot of people who went back with their words, He asked: "Who would support us", and his true supporters rushed to ensure him: "We are with you, son of the Messenger."
Sayyed Fadlullah continued, "If we differ with you about Christ whom you consider the incarnation of God, while we do not, and if we differ over the meaning of the oneness of Allah the Almighty, we do not differ on moral and spiritual values, nor do we differ about all the teachings that Jesus (A.S.) preached. For we believe in all holy books.
Speaking of Imam Hussein (A.S.) and his sacrifices, Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah talked about the lessons, the implementations, and models of A'ashura. His Eminence said that the true history of Karbala says that there is a faithful group who are adherent to their honor, esteem, dignity and the right of their nation, who refuse submission, humiliation, and surrendering to tyrants and oppressors and who resist and stand up for confrontation. This group chose resistance, confrontation and martyrdom over disgraceful humiliating submission.
Sayyed Hassan added that this group was besieged by hunger and thirst, terrorized, then killed and still never retreated, and this is an ideal model that was made as a foundation for this great Islamic humanistic school for all ages to come.
The logic of Imam Hussein and Jesus Christ is all about teaching us how to reject humiliation and how to insist on confronting and resisting despite the lack of supporters and the abandonment of those near and the connivance of those far.
Knowing that we live in a multi-confessional country that is in need of additional cooperation, we truly have to join hands against the oppressors, instead of fighting one another! As Mahatma Gandhi once said: "Unity to be real must stand the severest strain without breaking".
