ISLAM

Muslims call her Mariam Alaihassalam, Christians call Her The Virgin Mary :

Bridge between Islam and Christianity

Heather ABRAHAM

Christianity and Islam

* Christianity and Islam are intimately connected
* Mary plays an important but not extensive role in the New Testament
* Many of the Quranic stories concerning Mary and Jesus are foreign to Christians
* Mary is most revered woman in the Islamic faith
* For Muslims, Mary is a paradigmatic servant of God

With the passing of the first decade of the 21st century the world is confronted with an ever increasing atmosphere of tension and discord between the Christian and Muslim worlds.

Turn on the nightly news or pop into your favourite internet web-news site and you will be confronted with the news of yet another terrorist bombing, another radical Muslim cleric calling for the destruction of America, another ill informed Christian spouting hatred against “Islamicists” (whatever that means), or another report on the most recent casualties of our “war on terror.”

We are living in an era of confusion and misinformation where the mere mention of Islam or Muslim often elicits comments founded on half-truths, anxiety, and fear. In this atmosphere of tension, it may be prudent to attempt to find common ground between these two clashing Abrahamic traditions. Christianity and Islam are in some ways, intimately connected; sharing many sacred stories, devotion to one God, ethical standards, and scriptural figures. Illuminating commonalities between these two mega religions, whose adherents make up almost 50 percent of the world’s population, may be the first step in building an understanding and hopefully, a bridge between the two.

Many may be surprised to learn that Mary is a significant and highly revered figure in Islam. Although Mary plays an important but not extensive role in the New Testament, she has a much more prominent position in the sacred text of Islam. Mary is mentioned no fewer than 34 times in the Quran, and she is the only woman in the Quran to have her own chapter or sura. Mary, the title of the 19th sura of the Quran, includes detail about Mary’s life before, during, and after the annunciation.

Many of the Quranic stories concerning Mary and Jesus are foreign to Christian ears and sensibilities. Even though there are many differing accounts, the Quran and New Testament also share similar stories about Mary. In the following annunciation accounts from sura 19:14-21 and Luke 1:30-34, Mary’s reactions to the heavenly messenger are strikingly similar. And when she saw him she said: ‘May the Merciful defend me from you! If you fear the Lord, leave me and go your way.’ ‘I am the messenger of your Lord,’ he replied, ‘and have come to give you a holy son.’ ‘How shall I bear a child,’ she answered, ‘when I am a virgin, untouched by a man?’ ‘Such is the will of your lord,’ he replied. ‘That is no difficult thing for Him. He shall be a sign to mankind,’ says the Lord, ‘and a blessing from Ourself. This is Our decree.’

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now you shall conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and be called the son of the Most High and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin.”

Although Mary has no salvific powers in Islam, she is one of the most revered women in the Islamic faith. In various hadiths, Mary is discussed as being one of the four ‘Perfect Women’ in history. Mary belongs in an exclusive group of women who are considered ‘Perfect’ because of their strength of faith and submission to God. In Mary the Blessed Mother of Islam, Aliah Schleifer argues that, unlike the traditional Orthodox Christian understanding of Mary, the Mary of Islam is an important figure in her own right.

Mary, in traditional Sunni Islam is an important figure in herself. Her position is not just that of the most exalted category of women, but she is ranked in the highest category of all human beings. In fact, from the perspective of those scholars who consider Mary to be a prophetess, she is considered equal to this aspect of her son Jesus. And to those who focus on Mary’s outstanding spiritual achievements, she is seen to have been blessed with stages of spiritual development that approach those of the Prophet Muhammad. In no case is Mary seen solely as the mother of Jesus. (95)

For Muslims, Mary is a paradigmatic servant of God and an example for all humanity to emulate.

Although there are many theological differences between Christianity and Islam, Mary’s shared importance in both religions can be understood as an opportunity for interfaith dialogue.

The easing of political and religious tension between the Christian and Islamic worlds is an enormous undertaking yet because religious differences are often used to justify anger and distrust, maybe, just maybe, religious similarities may lessen the divide. This brings me to the question of the day: Why are the media (Western and Eastern) and religious clerics (Christian and Muslim) not focusing on the commonalities and unifying aspects of these two Abrahamic cousins?

God has spread the earth and made it fertile:

You, as an agricultural producer

Minna Kaiyoom

Agriculture is essential and should be given priority in any community according to Quran; God has spread out the earth and made it suitable and fertile for cultivation. He sends the ‘fertilizing winds’ to drive the clouds and scatter the seeds and he sends down the rain to bring forth vegetation of all kind.

The many verses in which these bounties and favours of God are mentioned in the Holy Quran and serve to encourage people not only to thank God but to engage in agricultural production.

There are many sayings of the prophet(sal) which commend agricultural production. He had said;” When a Muslim plants a tree or cultivates a crop, no bird or human being eats from it without it being counted as charity(reward)for him”.

Stressing on the importance of irrigation and land reclamation for agricultural purposes,he also said;” Who ever brings dead land to life, for him is a reward in it,and whatever,any creature seeking eat food of it, shall be considered as charity from him”.

Agriculture is a vital activity which has benefits in this world and reward in the hereafter. people therefore should not easily abandon agricultural production as something menial and degrading and flock to towns to join the ranks of unemployed as has happened recently in many countries. Even if you live in towns and build up areas you should seek to plant fruit and other trees wherever possible or grow some of your own vegetables and flowers. This will also help to create a beautiful environment.

In order to achieve the greatest good for individuals and society, there are some basic regulations concerning the use of land, irrigation, the crops you are not allowed to plant and the manner of marketing your product.

The use of land

A person who owns land should cultivate it himself,if he is unable to do so,he should allow others to cultivate it and many share equitably in the produce.It is not allowed to rent or lease cultivatable land for a fixed sum. The reason for this is that a crop might fail and the person renting the land would face hardship in paying the rent.

In natural irrigated land,you should not do anything that would damage the interest of other farmers.In the interest of common good,you are not allowed to divert running water passing through your land,so as to deny a farmer downstream.

Crops you may not cultivate

It is harm (forbidden) to cultivate a plant, such as hashish. knowing and intending that it will be used by people in such a way as to bring harm to them. Growing tobacco may also bring harm under this category.

Sale of produce

It is not allowed to deal in ‘futures’ selling of crops,to sell a crop before it is matured. This is to estimate speculation and also possible injustice should the crop failed to materialize.It is not permissible to sell crops before their good condition is clear. The seller has a duty to inform the buyer of any known defect in the produce he is selling.

Drop, A Clot, A Morsel?

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Allah has put an angel in charge of the womb. He says, ‘O Lord, a drop? O Lord, a clot? O Lord, a morsel?’ When Allah desires to complete the creation of the foetus, he says, ‘O Lord, male or female? Wretched or happy? How much provision? How long a lifespan?’ and he writes that for him in his mother’s womb.” (Sahih Bukhari)

This hadith informs us that Allah has charged an angel with the responsibility of the development of foetuses.

It is only with Allah’s permission that the angel allows conception to take place. The angel then seeks Allah’s permission to proceed at each stage of the development of the embryo. The matters of gender, happiness or sadness, Rizq (provision), and lifespan, are decided for a person while they are still in the womb.

That is why we are told not to adopt Haraam (forbidden) means to earn our living because how much we will receive of sustenance is already preordained. Resorting to activities prohibited by Allah will not increase your wealth so why incur Allah’s wrath to try to obtain what you will not get any way.

Similarly, this hadith tells us to live our lives as respectable, brave, Muslims. There is a saying that a single day lived like a lion is better than a hundred years lived like a hyena. Even if you got to live for a thousand years you would still die and enter the ocean of the hereafter. When your time of death cannot even be changed then why compromise your Akhirah for it?

So also, events that will make you happy or sad are also written in your destiny. Our test is what our reaction to those events is going to be.

Do we thank when something makes us happy or do we become proud and credit ourselves for the good fortune. Similarly, when the going gets tough do we display patience with Allah’s decree or utter words of ingratitude.

We must remember that all of life is a qualification exam for paradise. The events (questions) are pre-ordained (decided), your reactions (answers) are in your control.

Sayings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):

Learn the laws of inheritance

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Learn the laws of inheritance and the Quran, and teach the people, for I am a mortal.” (Tirmidhi)

There are numerous ahadith concerning the learning and teaching of the laws of inheritance in Islam. The Arabic word “Al-Fara’id” is the plural of “Faridah” meaning an enjoined ordinance or a duty prescribed by Allah Since the shares of inheritors are meticulously determined and described in the Shariah, the science dealing with these laws is known as Ilm Al-Fara’id (Laws of Inheritance). The Messenger of Allah said that since he was a mortal he would die, therefore, before his death people should learn the laws of inheritance from him in order to be able to continue to practise them after his death. To this day, whoever learns the laws of inheritance, with the intention of preserving the Sunnah and Allah’s commands thereby, will be rewarded by Allah for doing so.

Freedom of thought in Islam

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

A man called Mughees and his wife, Bareera, who were living in slavery in Madinah, decided to accept Islam. After some time the wife was set free. By winning her freedom she legally obtained the right either to live with her husband or to seek a separation from him.

Bareera decided in favour of separation, but Mughees, who was greatly attached to her wanted her to change her decision and continue to live with him. This is a long story recorded in books of Hadith in details. To put it briefly, the matter was finally brought before the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.). Both of them came to the Prophet (p.b.u.h.), Bareera in front and Mughees, following her. As recorded in the Hadith, the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said to Bareera: “It would be better for you to take back your decision.” Bareera replied, “O Prophet of God, is this your command?” The Prophet said: “No, it is only a suggestion.” Bareera replied, “Then I do not need it.” This is the highest and ultimate example of Islam granting such great freedom to men and women. This freedom does not mean anarchy. It is a concession to human nature.

The development of human nature is possible only in an atmosphere of freedom. Just as a tree flourishes in an open environment similarly the human being develops to the full only in an atmosphere of total intellectual freedom.

Great challenge:

One chapter like the chapters of the Holy Quran

Allah has said in the Quran:

And if you are in doubt about what We have revealed (the Quran) to Our worshipper (Muhammad (PBUH)), then produce a chapter like it, and call your witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides Allah if you are truthful. And if you do not do it, and you can never do it, then fear the Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones. It has been prepared for disbelievers. And give good news (O Muhammad) to those who believe and do good deeds, that for them are gardens (Paradise) in which rivers flow.... (Quran, 2:23-25)

Ever since the Quran was revealed, 14 centuries ago, no one has been able to produce a single chapter like the chapters of the Quran in their beauty, eloquence, splendour, wise legislation, true information, true prophecy, and other perfect attributes.

Also, note that the smallest chapter in the Quran (Chapter 108) is only ten words, yet no one has ever been able to meet this challenge, then or today.

Some of the disbelieving Arabs who were enemies of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) tried to meet this challenge to prove that Muhammad (PBUH) was not a true prophet, but they failed to do so. This failure was despite the fact that the Quran was revealed in their own language and dialect and that the Arabs at the time of Muhammad (PBUH) were a very eloquent people who used to compose beautiful and excellent poetry, still read and appreciated today.

Compiled by Latheef Farook E Mail [email protected]