A session of reflection on 'Interfaith Dialogue between Islam and Christainty' was organised by The Islamic Studies Association at 5.30 pm in St. Xaviers School, Delhi. This was in response to an open letter titled 'A Common Word between Us and You' was written by 138 Muslim leaders addressed to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and other Christian leaders. The Muslim leaders emphasised in the letter ' Love of God and Love of Neighbour'. His Holiness was particularly impressed by the attention given to the twofold commandment to love God and one's Neighbour. This reflection was organised to help the ISA to formulate the response to the Letter.
During the session Dr. Pushpa Anbu S.V.D, Secretary of Islamic Studies Association presented the synopsis of the letter signifying its contents in the emerging global as well as Indian context That Muslims and Christians make up the half of the world population. Without peace between these two groups, there cannot be peace in the in the world. The basis for peace and understanding already exists in the in the principles of both faiths- love for One God and love for the neighbour- Quoting from the Quran, He is God, the One!/ God the self-sufficient Besought of all! (Al – Ikhlas, 112: 1-2), So invoke the name of thy Lord and devote thy self to him with a complete devotion. (Al – Muzzammil, 73: 8). Quoting the Prophet Muhammad on love for the neighbour “None of you has faith until you love for your neighbour what you love for yourself.” On the Christian side Jesus said in the New Testament, “'Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength'. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this, ' You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these.” God Calling for the unity of Muslims, Christians, (Jews) “ O People of Scripture! Come to a common word between us and you, that we shall worship none but God, and that we shall ascribe no parner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside God. And if they turn away, then they say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered unto Him” (Aal 'Imran 3: 64) – Thus in obedience to Holy Quran Muslims invite Christians to come togather on the basis of what is common to both: Two commandments of Love.
Later, Dr. Paul Jackson S.J, President of Islamic Studies Association addressed the gathering on the elements of conformity and conflict between Islam and Christianity. With regard to conformity he once again he highlighted the two commandments of love. Stressing on the need to reconcile on conflict is that We Christians regard Jesus as Son of God, While our Muslim brethren regard as Prophet. Then Fr. Gisbert – Sauch S.J had read out the draft on 'Christian Response from Indian Setting” which was prepared by ISA. The draft acknowledges the appreciation for the initiative taken by Muslim Brethren as 'a beautiful gift'. Further it mentions that this letter encourages us to seek in our common faith in One God the inspiration to come together for mutual understanding and friendship and to be at the service of peace and of people in need. It takes note of the prominence given to the Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament, there by including Jews also, Which expresses the inclusivist attitude of Muslims and continues to say “Our common belief in God the Creator and Sustainer enables us to feel related to one another at the very deepest level of our being. We are aware of our observable differences in beliefs and practices, but consider them as challenges rather than as obstacles to mutual appreciation. Belief in One God is surely a great foundation for our shared religious experience. It enables us to realise that we are not alone in our cosmos, and find in this belief the strongest basis for the protection of our liberty. By surrendering to the one Transcendent yet loving God we affirm that we cannot surrender our freedom to any created reality”. Finally assuring the support it mentions “Our common belief in God the Creator and Sustainer enables us to feel related to one another at the very deepest level of our being. We are aware of our observable differences in beliefs and practices, but consider them as challenges rather than as obstacles to mutual appreciation. Belief in One God is surely a great foundation for our shared religious experience. It enables us to realise that we are not alone in our cosmos, and find in this belief the strongest basis for the protection of our liberty. By surrendering to the one Transcendent yet loving God we affirm that we cannot surrender our freedom to any created reality. Such love will impel us to collaborate with one another in promoting constructive changes leading to the welfare and improvement of diverse communities and individuals so as to build a truly inclusive Indian society. Concrete projects to strengthen mutual understanding, appreciation and cooperation will have to be worked out the the level of specific places and institutions. Mutual visits to one another on the important festivals of the year may be a beginning of friendlier relations available to most peoples. Educational and other institutions will surely be able to undertake other projects at various levels of society.”
Then many suggestions were proposed by the participants, namely, this message of brotherhood between Islam and Christianity should be disseminated by using wide communication mould, apart from scholarly efforts, there should be popular grass root level measures, so, the response may be translated in Urdu, the message of brotherhood may be communicated in all the catholic Educational Institution, networking with other groups which work for the same task, Indian Social Institute, Delhi may take initiative to contact all Imams in Delhi, were a few of the suggestions. It is a point of interest to be aware of Islamic Jesus in Nader Talebzadeh's Iranian movie, 'Jesus, the Spirit of God,' as an Islamic answer to Western productions like Mel Gibson's 2004 blockbuster 'The Passion of the Christ'.
There were about 80 participants. The Reflection was locally organised by Fr. Victor Edwin. S.J, Jesuit Secretary for Dialogue
The Islamic Studies Association (ISA) is composed of Catholics interested in a serious study of Islam and in establishing cordial contacts with their Muslim neighbours. It was founded at a meeting convened by the Secretary of the CBCI Commission for Dialogue and Ecumenism in Agra, March 1979.
During the session Dr. Pushpa Anbu S.V.D, Secretary of Islamic Studies Association presented the synopsis of the letter signifying its contents in the emerging global as well as Indian context That Muslims and Christians make up the half of the world population. Without peace between these two groups, there cannot be peace in the in the world. The basis for peace and understanding already exists in the in the principles of both faiths- love for One God and love for the neighbour- Quoting from the Quran, He is God, the One!/ God the self-sufficient Besought of all! (Al – Ikhlas, 112: 1-2), So invoke the name of thy Lord and devote thy self to him with a complete devotion. (Al – Muzzammil, 73: 8). Quoting the Prophet Muhammad on love for the neighbour “None of you has faith until you love for your neighbour what you love for yourself.” On the Christian side Jesus said in the New Testament, “'Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength'. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this, ' You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these.” God Calling for the unity of Muslims, Christians, (Jews) “ O People of Scripture! Come to a common word between us and you, that we shall worship none but God, and that we shall ascribe no parner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside God. And if they turn away, then they say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered unto Him” (Aal 'Imran 3: 64) – Thus in obedience to Holy Quran Muslims invite Christians to come togather on the basis of what is common to both: Two commandments of Love.
Later, Dr. Paul Jackson S.J, President of Islamic Studies Association addressed the gathering on the elements of conformity and conflict between Islam and Christianity. With regard to conformity he once again he highlighted the two commandments of love. Stressing on the need to reconcile on conflict is that We Christians regard Jesus as Son of God, While our Muslim brethren regard as Prophet. Then Fr. Gisbert – Sauch S.J had read out the draft on 'Christian Response from Indian Setting” which was prepared by ISA. The draft acknowledges the appreciation for the initiative taken by Muslim Brethren as 'a beautiful gift'. Further it mentions that this letter encourages us to seek in our common faith in One God the inspiration to come together for mutual understanding and friendship and to be at the service of peace and of people in need. It takes note of the prominence given to the Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament, there by including Jews also, Which expresses the inclusivist attitude of Muslims and continues to say “Our common belief in God the Creator and Sustainer enables us to feel related to one another at the very deepest level of our being. We are aware of our observable differences in beliefs and practices, but consider them as challenges rather than as obstacles to mutual appreciation. Belief in One God is surely a great foundation for our shared religious experience. It enables us to realise that we are not alone in our cosmos, and find in this belief the strongest basis for the protection of our liberty. By surrendering to the one Transcendent yet loving God we affirm that we cannot surrender our freedom to any created reality”. Finally assuring the support it mentions “Our common belief in God the Creator and Sustainer enables us to feel related to one another at the very deepest level of our being. We are aware of our observable differences in beliefs and practices, but consider them as challenges rather than as obstacles to mutual appreciation. Belief in One God is surely a great foundation for our shared religious experience. It enables us to realise that we are not alone in our cosmos, and find in this belief the strongest basis for the protection of our liberty. By surrendering to the one Transcendent yet loving God we affirm that we cannot surrender our freedom to any created reality. Such love will impel us to collaborate with one another in promoting constructive changes leading to the welfare and improvement of diverse communities and individuals so as to build a truly inclusive Indian society. Concrete projects to strengthen mutual understanding, appreciation and cooperation will have to be worked out the the level of specific places and institutions. Mutual visits to one another on the important festivals of the year may be a beginning of friendlier relations available to most peoples. Educational and other institutions will surely be able to undertake other projects at various levels of society.”
Then many suggestions were proposed by the participants, namely, this message of brotherhood between Islam and Christianity should be disseminated by using wide communication mould, apart from scholarly efforts, there should be popular grass root level measures, so, the response may be translated in Urdu, the message of brotherhood may be communicated in all the catholic Educational Institution, networking with other groups which work for the same task, Indian Social Institute, Delhi may take initiative to contact all Imams in Delhi, were a few of the suggestions. It is a point of interest to be aware of Islamic Jesus in Nader Talebzadeh's Iranian movie, 'Jesus, the Spirit of God,' as an Islamic answer to Western productions like Mel Gibson's 2004 blockbuster 'The Passion of the Christ'.
There were about 80 participants. The Reflection was locally organised by Fr. Victor Edwin. S.J, Jesuit Secretary for Dialogue
The Islamic Studies Association (ISA) is composed of Catholics interested in a serious study of Islam and in establishing cordial contacts with their Muslim neighbours. It was founded at a meeting convened by the Secretary of the CBCI Commission for Dialogue and Ecumenism in Agra, March 1979.
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