adminstill insist on opposing each other over religious practice and belief. Whilst Islam and Christianity are obviously different religions – and whilst there is no minimizing some of their formal differences – it is clear that the Two Greatest Commandments are an area of common ground and a link between the Qur’an, the Torah and the New Testament. What prefaces the Two Commandments in the Torah and the New Testament, and what they arise out of, is the Unity of God-that there is only one God.
In the Torah, Deuteronomy 6:4 says: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!” Likewise, Jesus (peace be upon him -pbuh) said: (Mark 12:29) “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one”. In the same vein, God says in the Holy Qur’an: “Say: He, God, is One. / God, the Self-Sufficient Besought of all.” (Al-Ikhlas, 112:1-2).
Thus the Unity of God, love of Him, and love of the neighbour form a common ground upon which Islam and Christianity (and Judaism) are founded. Finding common ground between Muslims and Christians is not simply a matter for polite ecumenical dialogue between selected religious leaders. Christianity and Islam are the largest and second largest religions in the world and in history. Christians and Muslims reportedly make up over a third and over a fifth of human population respectively.
Together they make up more than 55 percent of the world’s population, making the relationship between these two religious communities the most important factor in contributing to meaningful peace around the world. If Muslims and Christians are not at peace, the world cannot be at peace. With the terrible weaponry of the modern world; with Muslims and Christians intertwined everywhere as never before, no side can unilaterally win a conflict between more than half of the world’s inhabitants. Thus our common future is at stake. The very survival of the world itself is perhaps at stake.
The lack of success in harmonizing disputes between the followers of these two religions, over the past hundred years, cannot be attributed to a single cause.
But the main cause of a mutual base of cooperation lies in theology. If we turn to their respective scriptures, we reach the conclusion that these books speak of similar phenomena. Yet we observe that in theological interpretations, different discourses have been developed by both Christians and Muslims. Hence the absence of a common theological basis, rather than a difference of views, is what impede co-existence. Traditionally, it is seen as if Islam and Christianity have nothing in common.
On the contrary, these two religions have more in common than most people, both Muslims and Christians, are aware of. When Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) revolted against the worship of idols in Mecca and told the people that they should worship the God who created the Heavens and Earth, he and his followers were persecuted and about 80 of his followers fled to a Christian nation, namely Ethiopia. The Christian King of Ethiopia gave these persecuted Muslims safe haven and took care of them until their country was safe enough to return.
The Christian King accepted the Muslims because he came to understand that Islam and Christianity had many similarities. When Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) established Islam in Medina; he treated Christians and Jews justly and engaged in dialogue with them.
When we closely study the two sacred books of these two religions, namely the Holy Qur’an and the Holy Bible, we find many things that complement each other. For example in Chapter 5 verse 82 of the Holy Qur’an, God asserts that Christians are nearest in friendship to Muslims.
“Thou wilt find the nearest in friendship to the believers (Muslims) to be those who say, we are Christians. That is because there are priests and monks among them and because they are not proud”.
Jesus Christ (pbuh) has been mentioned in the Qur’an numerous times. He is mainly called by the name of ‘Isa’. Some other names he is referred by are: Messiah, a word from God, Spirit, Prophet among others. The Qur’an also points out that the mission of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the continuation of Jesus’ mission. “Naught is said to thee (Muhammad) but what was said to messengers before thee”.
Both the Holy Qur’an and the Holy Bible not only teach about God, but about how to lead a good, faithful, life. Of course one outstanding similarity between Christianity and Islam is the Submission to the Will of God. Citing the words of the Messiah, Jesus Christ (pbuh) ; love of the neighbor is of paramount importance, second only to the love of God. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:38-40) There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31)
There are numerous injunctions in Islam about the necessity and paramount importance of love for-and mercy towards-the neighbour. Love of the neighbour is an essential and integral part of faith in God and love of God because in Islam without love of the neighbour there is no true faith in God and no righteousness. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “None of you has faith until you love for your brother what you love for yourself.” and: “None of you has faith until you love for your neighbour what you love for yourself.”
l Muhammad Asadi is the Head of Cultural Centre of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
However, empathy and sympathy for the neighbour-and even formal prayers- are not enough.
They must be accompanied by generosity and self-sacrifice. God says in the Holy Qur’an: “It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces to the East and the West; but righteous is he who believeth in God and the Last Day and the angels and the Scripture and the prophets; and giveth wealth, for love of Him, to kinsfolk and to orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and to those who ask, and to set slaves free; and observeth proper worship and payeth the poor-due.
And those who keep their treaty when they make one, and the patient in tribulation and adversity and time of stress. Such are they who are sincere. (The Holy Quran 2:177)
It is against this background that the Cultural Centre of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran has intensified efforts aimed at fostering interfaith dialogue among followers of all divine religions.
Observing that similar dialogues in the past have revolved around theological issues to the detriment of the intellectual and practical dimension as well as the existing values common to both religions, we have sought to synthesize religious tolerance with religious co-existence through the academia and members of the clergy at numerous forums which include seminars and conferences.
Throughout our programs, we have always maintained that dialogue between Muslims and Christians and other religions offers a new paradigm of interaction among nations, religions and cultures in a world that longs for peace and security. It also leads to further close relations among different religions all over the world.
We congratulate our brothers and sisters and the people of Zimbabwe on the advent of the blessed occasion of Christmas which marks the birthday of Jesus Christ (pbuh).
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Online Reporter