🏵️🏵️🏵️ Dear James,
I must commend you on your thought-provoking article on embracing religious pluralism and the concept of love unbound. As a Muslim, I resonate with the sentiment that our faiths are not mutually exclusive, and that we can learn from and appreciate the similarities and shared values that exist across religious traditions.
However, as a follower of the final message from God to humanity, I must respectfully disagree with the notion that Christianity is the culmination of all previous revelations. In Islam, we believe that God has sent prophets to guide humanity throughout history, and that Islam is the culmination of all previous revelations, including those received by prophets such as Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and others.
The Quran affirms this in verse 5:48, which states: "To each among them [the People of the Book] We have appointed a Law and a Way. Had Allah willed, He would have made you one Nation [community], but [He willed] to test you in what He has given you; so compete with one another in good deeds."
As Muslims, we believe that our faith is not a rejection of previous revelations, but rather a fulfillment of them. The Quran is often referred to as "the final testament" because it contains the culmination of all previous revelations and guidance from God.
As Islamic scholar Sheikh Abd al-Hamid Kishk once said, "Islam is not a new religion, but rather the culmination of all previous religions. It is the realization of all that was before it."
I would like to extend an invitation to you to explore Islam further and discover its message for yourself. The Quran is available online in an easy-to-read English translation at
https://quran.ksu.edu.sa/index.php?l=en#aya=1_1&m=hafs&qaree=husary&trans=en_sh.
I encourage you to read it with an open heart and mind, and discover the beauty and wisdom that lies within its pages.
In conclusion, I say: "Come, join us on this journey of spiritual discovery and growth. Let us walk together towards God's mercy and love."
Yours sincerely,
Mohamed, Ph.D