Can we co-exist? Muslims and Christians (Any religion as a matter of fact)
I have recently started to read the Holy Quran. It started with a discussion with my younger brother. This boy is 19. I connected with him last year. He is a Muslim. Our discussions compelled me to read the Holy Quran as I felt some of his ideas about his religion seemed not aligned with the ideas of some other Muslim friends I have. I started to look for answers for him and ended up finding answers for myself. I took a liberty in involving other Muslim friends to get my queries answered. I wanted to inquire about tolerance in Islam about people who are Kafirs/disbelievers. One of my other Muslim friends encourage me to read about Hazrat Umar(RA). She informed me how He (RA) started off being against Islam and how Hazrat Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) requested God for him. He started off being an enemy and ended up being a devoted friend and follower of Islam. Hazrat Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) forgave him and always admired his courage. I also read about Jesus Christ in Surah Al Imran where Jesus is given honor and his followers’ superiority and respect. I came to read Surah Al Kafiron (Disbelievers) where disbelievers are stated to freely follow their religion and practice it. I feel the more I read the more I understand. We always judge other religions based on our prior knowledge which is not factual but rumored based. However, now that I started to read Holy Quran on my own I feel it validates some of my Biblical perspectives. Reading a Holy book of another religion does not convert you. It liberates you as you understand the beliefs of others and get to respect them and widen your own perspective and knowledge about your own book and its perspectives.
Moral: We never try to understand the background of other people who we call friends and acquaintances. We need to understand the rules and regulations of other families, institutions and organizations. Respecting others will help us gain respect. Unless if you are an unconditional giver and you would not mind getting respect back.
Disclaimer: I am still a Christian l believe in God, Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ. I believe in the resurrection of Christ. I love Jesus!
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ReplyDeleteThank you so much for expressing your opinion. I, by no means feel my statement is condescending. Well it might seem to you, I did not intend it to be that way.
DeleteAnyways, co-existence means to exist at the same time. For example, you have a family and I have a family. You have rules of your family and I have my own family rules. I might not be aware of the curfew you have and you definitely are unaware of the regulation of my family and set up. In order to judge me you have to know why I reacted the way I did. I am influenced by my family. You have not read Holy Quran (I am assuming) your judgement is based on what you have been told and seen people doing. I have read the Bible and currently, i am reading the Holy Quran. I feel people are reluctant to read the book of other beliefs assuming they will convert.
Moreover, Bible is a book my beliefs are based on and what I have lived since the time I was born. It is not only a spiritual guide but also a way of living and a culture I have followed all my life. I have many Muslim friends and in order for me to know them better and know their living style and standard I need to learn it from the book they base their beliefs on.
My blog might not have expressed my idea. However, I feel that even before we judge any other culture and their teachings we should strengthen our own beliefs and understand our perspectives by reading our own book first. Once we have understood and read our book, we should read the book of other faith to understand their faith and perspective. Reading about other culture and belief will help us to know them more. Once we respect them after understanding their perspective. They will appreciate us and respect us in return. We are socially co-existing. We should learn to spiritually co-exist.
Here, I would quote Rich Mullins, “We were given the Scriptures to humble us into realizing that God is right, and the rest of us are just guessing.”
We know we are right because we are taught we are right! God is the ultimate sovereign authority and creator. He Almighty knows the best!!
Very impressive wish you all the best for such initiative inshalah one day you will come up with positive thoughts for both religions.islam teaches us respect of all prophets ,religions ,Hollybooks and their worship places as well. We need positive minds to make our lives peacefull.
ReplyDeleteAmen!
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