A Dialogue with Islam

A couple of years ago, my long kept wish of being acquainted with Muslims came true. It was when I finally had the opportunity to skip my usual office and daily itinerary and paid a visit to a “Dawah” Center in town. It was a small office which served as the local center for Islamic Cultural and Religious Studies. Aside from that, it also served as a “masjid” or “mosque” for the Muslim converts where their obligatory “salah” or prayers were regularly held.

For long, I had this deep-seated notion of notoriety among Muslims in general. I am sad to admit that my early years were filled with beliefs that Muslims were thieves, murderers, terrorist, or traitors as most people would say about them. But as I grew to maturity, I decided to know for myself whether such social labelings were true. Being an empiricist, I came to long for the moment in which I could finally meet a real Muslim, to get along with him, and personally discover who and what they really are. This was against the background that the prevalent custom among most Christians was to shun away even the very idea of being acquainted with any Muslim whom they have branded as “can-never-be-trusted-people”.

Because of that, I assume, the obvious suspicion being held by Christians among Muslims had also come to be shared by the latter against the former over the years. Thus, relationship between the two became a frozen “mind-your-own-business” approach. If there were ever few instances where there the two had some form of contact, it could be surmised to be a confrontation.

While in the Dawah Center I was introduced to a certain “Bobby” who was approximately in his early twenties and whom, I later learned to be known in Arabic name as “Abdullah”. A name he chose for himself when from being a Catholic, he converted to Islam just a few months earlier. He led me to the upper room which, upon our entry, I noticed to be surrounded with books with Arabic writings and design. The floor was covered with a mat. Seeing Bobby (Abdullah) to have removed his slippers, I also put away my shoes before we entered. He told me to make myself comfortable and that somebody will be coming to explain to me whatever query I may had about Islam.

Soon enough, someone came with paint all over his clothes and arms. He smiled warmly as soon as he saw me and immediately extended his hand to me. Instantly, I held out mine, shook his hand and introduced myself. He told me his name was Shajid. To my amazement, he was a former Christian too. He added that he was an elementary teacher by profession and that he was actually painting his house when Abdullah texted him. It is imperative for him, he said, to leave anything he does whenever a “seeker”- someone who desires to know Islam is around.

So over a cup of coffee which he heartfully offered, we talked about Islam at length. We started with its history then proceeded to discuss the Prophet Mohammad, Jesus Christ, Mary, and even Jihad. For more than four hours we shared our views in a perfectly candid manner. Though his insinuations against Christianity were very evident from the start, I was able to manage to keep our conversation as friendly as possible without any desire of converting each other.

After a while we ended up as good friends and with me, a very different man. I came to admire Islam, its beautiful teachings and its love for peace. I felt sad to realize how its beautiful teachings are distorted by some disoriented followers in order to justify some atrocious activities. My friend Shajid told me that the Holy Qu'ran never taught terrorism or the use of violence. He told me also that those who make use of Islamic teachings to justify violence are no different from any religious fanatic who is blinded by a wrong belief, to which I readily agreed. I even mentioned the atrocities of the Crusades carried out by the Christians as well as the horrors of the Inquisition abuses during the medieval period. I said Muslims and Christian alike share the same shameful mistakes in the past. Indeed, there could be a very thin line between fanaticism and fundamentalism.

Our conversation was long; too long for talking about our differences but too short for the wonderful sharing and friendship that had begun. Shajid gave me a copy of the Qu'ran which became one of my favorite books. When I left the Center, I could feel so much admiration for Islam as well as for our Muslim brethren. I even felt, I had become a more fulfilled Christian. Christ died for all, and it was He who said “Love your enemy”. With everything I learned about Islam in such so short a time; I could not even conceive of Muslims as enemies. How could I, in the first place? Aren't they children of Abraham (Ibrahim) too? That makes them our brethren.

May peace and love be upon humanity!

See http://www.socyberty.com/Religion/Jewish-Chritian-and-Islamic-Peace, 125083