🏵️🏵️🏵️ Dear Adrianne,
Thank you for your heartfelt response. I appreciate your willingness to engage in this dialogue and for sharing your understanding of peace through the lens of your faith. It's clear that we both have a deep commitment to our beliefs and an earnest desire to seek truth and understanding in our spiritual journeys.
Your emphasis on grace and the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice resonates with the Islamic view of the mercy and compassion of Allah (SWT), who, as mentioned in Surah Az-Zumar (39:53), invites His creation to seek His forgiveness: "O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. For those who do good in this world is good, and the earth of Allah is spacious. Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account." In this verse, there’s an acknowledgment of human fallibility and a call to seek divine mercy, much like the grace you describe in Christianity.
In Islam, Jesus (known as 'Isa in Arabic) holds a special and revered position. He is considered one of the greatest prophets, a messenger of God who performed miracles, and was born of the Virgin Mary ('Maryam'). The Qur'an speaks of his miraculous birth in Surah Al-Imran (3:45-47), where the angels announce to Mary that she will give birth to a pure boy: "O Mary, indeed Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary—distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those who are near [to Allah]. He will speak to the people in the cradle and in maturity and will be of the righteous."
Additionally, in Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:110), Allah proclaims the greatness of Jesus and his miracles: "The Day when Allah will say, 'O Jesus, Son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Pure Spirit and you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and [remember] when I taught you writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel and when you designed from clay [what was] like the form of a bird, then you breathed into it, and it became a bird by permission of Allah. And you healed the blind and the leprous and, by My permission, brought the dead to life…"
These verses reflect the high regard in which Jesus is held in Islam; he is a revered prophet and a forerunner to the final messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him). While we have differing beliefs about his nature and role in salvation, I find great value in recognizing the respect and honor given to Jesus within Islam.
While we may differ in our understanding of how peace and reconciliation with God are ultimately attained, both faiths underscore the importance of living out justice, kindness, and love. As described in Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:32), "Whoever saves a life, it is as if he has saved mankind entirely." This reflects a fundamental desire for love and compassion that transcends religious boundaries.
Regarding your understanding that Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), I appreciate your conviction. In Islam, we also believe in the importance of guidance, as mentioned in Surah Al-Fatiha (1:6-7), where we ask Allah to guide us on the straight path—the path of those who have received His grace. These verses convey our yearning for divine guidance and understanding, similar to the redemption you speak of through Christ.
As we continue our meaningful exchange, I encourage you to explore my articles, where I delve into the Islamic perspective on Jesus and the anticipation of his return. I believe our views can enrich each other's understanding of these pivotal beliefs. You can find a collection of articles that explore these themes. I hope you will find something that resonates with you, as I delve into the significance of Jesus in our faith and the shared anticipation of his return.
Thank you for keeping me in your prayers. As we both seek to be reflections of our faiths and engage compassionately with one another, what do you think are the greatest similarities we can find between our journeys, despite the differences in our beliefs?
In peace,
Mohamed, Ph.D