Additional Resources:
A Common Word Between Us and You
Edited by Miroslav Volf, Ghazi bin Muhammad and Melissa Yarrington
Reviewed by Desiree LaChapelle, Biola University, La Mirada, CA
A Common Word was written by Muslim leaders in response to a comment made by Pope Benedict during a speech at The University of Regensburg, Germany regarding the prophet Mohammed. In the context of speaking about faith and reason Pope Benedict referred to a conversation held between Byzantine Emperor Manual II Papelogous and a Persian man who was evidently knowledgeable in both the Christian and Islamic faiths: “Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.”[1]
The response was written (and originally posted in the New York Times newspaper) by leading Islamic scholars who were angered by the Pope’s comment but wanted to respond in a manner that would up open dialog between Christians and Muslims. The intent of the letter was to point out the two Commandments of God that are found in the sacred text of both Christianity and Islam: love of God and love of neighbor.
Using examples from the Bible and the Qur’an, An Open Letter seeks to focus on our religious commonalities as a way to foster peace between our two religions. The Muslim leaders use the following points to establish their argument:
-Regarding love of God, The Qur’an states:
“There is no god but God, He Alone, He hath no associate, His is the sovereignty and His
is the praise and He hath power over all things”[2]
“Yet there are men who take rivals unto God; they love them as they should love God.
But those of faith are more intense in their love for God…”[3]
-The Fatihah (considered to be the greatest chapter in the Holy Qur’an):
“In the Name of God, the Infinitely Good, the All-Merciful./
Praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds./
The Infinitely Good, the All-Merciful./
Owner of the Day of Judgement./
Thee we worship, and Thee we ask for help./
Guide us upon the straight path./
The path of those on whom is Thy Grace, not those who deserve anger
nor those who are astray.” [4]
-Regarding love of neighbor, the Qur’an states:
“It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces to the East and the West; but righteous is
he who believeth in God and the Last Day and the angels and the Scripture and the
prophets; and giveth wealth, for love of Him, to kinsfolk and to orphans and the needy
and the wayfarer and to those who ask, and to set slaves free; and observeth proper
worship and payeth the poor-due. And those who keep their treaty when they make one,
and the patient in tribulation and adversity and time of stress. Such are they who are
sincere. Such are the pious.”[5]
The signatories use similar Scripture verses to demonstrate commonalities in both religions:
-Regarding love of God and neighbor, the Bible states:
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!/
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,
and with all your strength.” (The Shema, Deuteronomy 6:4-5)[6]
“…Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said to him, ‘You
shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all
your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it:
‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the
Law and the Prophets.”[7]
“You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor,
and not bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge
against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am
the LORD.” [8]
The signatories go on to state that the Two Greatest Commandments are a common link between the Qur’an, the Torah and the New Testament; and represent the Unity of God and the fact that there is only one God.[9] And while there is no easy solution, the fact remains that together, Christianity and Islam make up more than 55% of the world’s population.[10] Thus, the signatories urge leaders of the Christian and Muslim faiths to come together in order to find a way to coexist peacefully and live in harmony with one another.
What follows are key points of the response posted in the New York Times by Yale University Christian Scholars:
-Before we can engage in dialog, we must first acknowledge sins on our part, past and present (Crusades, Global War on Terror, etc.)
-The commonalities are not peripheral issues they are the foundational core for both of our faiths: love of God and love of neighbor.
-Justice and freedom of religion are crucial parts of loving our neighbors
-Even if our neighbors turn out to be enemies, Jesus commanded us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. (Matthew 5:44-45)
-We need to commit ourselves to labor together in heart, soul, mind and strength to achieve peaceful relations between our religions.
The Yale signatory’s response is laudatory but entirely too clinical to be practically applicable. While it is essential to acknowledge the importance of the suggestions outlined in the signatory’s response, I believe real world application looks much different. Scholars, clerics and religious leaders can dialog endlessly about how to approach the peaceful resolution, but the real work and significant impact will take place at the grass roots level when Jews, Christians and Muslims are fostering interpersonal relationships on a much small scale than ‘The Nations’.
I applaud the efforts of both Islam and Christian leaders to engage one another in peaceful dialog, but I do not believe coexistence is a goal that can be achieved until we all learn the concept of agreeing to disagree. There are major theological differences between our respective religions and the impasse may prove too great a hurdle as we set out to achieve the goal of peaceful and harmonious coexistence.
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