🏵️🏵️🏵️ Thank you,Francesca, for your insightful reflections on the tendency to idolize various aspects of faith and life. Your writing sheds light on a critical issue that resonates across multiple faiths, including Islam.

In Islam, we emphasize the principle of Tawheed, the oneness of God, which warns against any form of idolatry, whether it be the veneration of objects, individuals, or even concepts. The Quran states, “And your god is one God. There is no deity [worthy of worship] except Him, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful” (Quran 2:163). This calls believers to remain vigilant against the distractions that can lead to idolatry, fostering a pure devotion to Allah alone.

Your argument about modern distractions resonates with the Islamic teaching that puts the worship of God above all else. The Quran also emphasizes: “So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone” (Quran 18:110). This serves as a powerful reminder for both Christians and Muslims to evaluate what we prioritize in our lives, ensuring that nothing takes the place of our devotion to God.

I encourage you Francesca, to continue exploring and discussing these critical themes. Perhaps we can inspire others to reflect on the essence of their faith and foster a broader dialogue about the risks of creating idols in our lives.

What challenges do you think believers face in recognizing these modern-day idols?

With respect,

Mohamed, Ph.D.