The Pope's gesture of welcome

On a recent papal visit to the Greek Island of Lesbos, now at the centre of Syrian refugee crisis, Pope Francis selected three of the most distressed Syrian refugee families and brought them with him to Rome aboard the papal aircraft. He has also ensured that they are accommodated in comfort until such time as they are able to settle where they choose and are able to fend for themselves.

This most generous and symbolic action of sympathy for the refugees must surely be hailed and appreciated by all those concerned with, or caught up in this appalling humanitarian crisis and in particular by the worldwide Muslim community.   This was an unexpectedly bold step, taken by a religious leader, when many, in this extremely critical and antagonist world, would like to see the world divided on the fault lines of Islam versus Christianity or Islam versus the rest of the world. The Pope has shown great leadership in highlighting the crisis beyond the pale of any religious divide by his display of human brotherhood. He has touched the hearts of many, even though his action caused an outcry by those antagonistic towards him. These critics regard his action as yet another example of the Pope's pandering to Muslims, who are seen as wanting to take over the world and Christendom in particular.

The Pope has undoubtedly done the right thing by visiting Lesbos and empathising with the victims of war and dislocation. He also demonstrates the commitment that all human beings, regardless of race, religion or colour, should show towards each other. In addition we should appreciate that this has happened following, and despite, the pain and destruction rained down on the Christians and other minorities by all those involved in the conflict in Syria.

Christians and Muslims must work together for the welfare of all humanity, aiding not only war victims, but also the destitute, those living in poverty and the needy. We should become partners in working for global peace and harmony.

The Quran describes the nature of this partnership between Christians and Muslims in these words: ‘… and you will surely find that of all people they who say: ‘we are Christians’, are closest to feeling affection for those who believe. This is because there are priests and monks among them and because they are not arrogant.’  

We Muslims must also remember that when the early Muslims were being persecuted in Makkah, the Prophet Muhammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, directed them to emigrate to Abyssinia and seek refuge with the Christian king Negus. The king and his bishops received those early Muslims, who were victims because of their faith and allowed them to live in peace and harmony in his kingdom, refusing to hand them over to the Makkan leadership who, exploiting their friendship with him, sought their deportation.

Muslim and Christian relationships flourished in the time of the prophet Mohammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him. Christian delegations from Najran and elsewhere used to visit him in his mosque and particularly during what is now called the year of ‘delegations’. The Prophet Mohammad wrote to the archbishop of Najran, Abul Harith, and to other bishops and priests explaining the nature of their mutual relationships and informing them of their complete rights when they lived among Muslims. The Prophet respected them and protected their rights and dignity under Islam. Indeed when the Christian delegation was with the Prophet and they wanted to engage in their own worship, the prophet offered them half of his mosque, which they used and prayed towards Jerusalem. The Prophet never asked them to remove their crosses or their official religious dress while in the mosque.

Unfortunately, in our time, an ultra-sensitivity has manifested itself in our relationship, with the result that we now become easily offended with each other for no good reason.

The Prophet initiated the ensuring of religious and human rights by writing to the Christians in Muslim lands and this practice was continued by the Caliphs and governors who ruled after him. These are just some of many examples and the theological foundation that has always supported and strengthened the mutual relationship between all communities and the two main communities of Muslim and People of the Book.

A Muslim, who follows the examples of his Prophet and his Companions, would never harm his neighbours, their religion or their rites. That is an Un-Islamic and accountable act by Allah.

There is so much mutual suspicion these days, most of which is recycled from the time of Crusades and odd examples of incidents from the past. None of the incidents, often cited, contain any theological basis by which the destruction of our mutual relationship can be justified. Islam has given recognition to the faith of Jews and Christians and called them the People of the Book and invited them to find a ‘Common Ground’ among them all. That is the way forward now, as it was in the past.

Muslims should not be suspicious of their Christian brothers or the thinking behind their faith and religion. It is interesting for us to note that the Second Vatican Council taught 'that Muslims worship the one true God'. It also says: 'The Church regards with esteem also the Muslims. They adore the one God, living and subsisting in himself; merciful and all powerful, the creator of heaven and earth, who has spoken to men; they take pains to submit wholeheartedly to even his inscrutable decrees, just as Abraham, with whom the faith of Islam takes pleasure in linking itself, submitting to God'. (Nostra Aetate 3)

We need to respect each other and each other’s religions. To assist us in achieving this we must lay down mutually agreed rules of engagement based on the good grounds provided to us in our theological scriptures. In addition, political initiatives to improve relationships between the two communities must also be entered into on an ongoing basis. In 2007, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia visited the Vatican and had a historic meeting with Pope Benedict. In 2013, the King also sent his personal message to Pope Francis congratulating him on his election and advocating working together on improving Catholic-Muslim relationships.

It has always been a pleasure for me to work with the people of the Book and the interfaith communities and I continue to make it my religious duty to promote peace and harmony among the people of different religions. Fr Bill O.S.M. the Catholic Chaplin at the University of Bath and Bath Spa University, has long been a close friend, if I can be allowed to call him a friend, and we cooperated and worked closely together for over ten years on many issues. He would, very kindly, at the end of Ramadan every year, while I was working with the Bath Islamic Society as Imam, deliver a message of congratulations and good wishes for the Muslim community from the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Vatican. This provided a good example for all to follow in building community relationships and working together for community cohesion and the welfare of humanity.

We hope that both Muslim and Christian communities can work together to promote the exemplary relationship necessary if we are to build bridges of understanding and create a joint leadership that works together for the welfare of us all.