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Who is my neighbor?
The Fifth Pillar of Islam: The Pilgrimage (Hajj) The Peak Religious Experience of Islam Hajj literally means the pilgrimage to Ka’ba and it is
during the first ten days of the last month (12th, called Dhu alHijja) of the Muslim lunar calendar. The hajj is an obligatory
religious duty for every adult Muslim, male or female, once in his
or her lifetime, once one is able to take the journey and can afford
travel costs without debt or borrowing.
Muslims, since the time of the Prophet Muhammad
according to God’s command in the Qur’an and following the
Prophet Muhammad’s instructions, come from all corners of the
world to visit Ka’ba, the first house of worship of God on earth, to
circumambulate it seven times, chanting: “At your call, O God,
here I come. You are One Alone, have no partner, all dominion
and all praise and glory belong to you.”
Performing the prescribed rites of circumambulation to
Ka’ba, running between the hills of Safa and Marwa, standing and
crying in supplication to God on the barren hot plain of Arafat,
stoning the devil for three days, the pilgrims slaughter a goat or
sheep in reenactment of Abraham’s sacrifice of his son to God.
The hajj is a peak religious experience for Muslims, an
eloquent demonstration to attest to the unity of God and equality
of all humankind before God. (V.6 S.1 2010)
Who is my neighbor?
The Mosque and the Imam The mosque is the place of worship to God and a place
of learning for Muslims. You may have seen photos of beautiful
mosques from around the world or driven past elegant mosques or
simple community centers in your own neighborhoods.
Within the mosque, the large unadorned room without
chairs but with a carpet or covering is the place for noon Friday
obligatory congregational worship for Muslims. On entering it,
worshipers and guests remove their shoes and women cover their
heads. The men and boys stand shoulder to shoulder facing
Mecca (east in the United States). The women and girls may be
behind the men or more often in the balcony. There is a pulpitlike structure from which the imam gives additional teaching.
During prayer, which lasts approximately ten minutes,
the imam or prayer leader stands alone a few feet in front of the
worshipers, where he leads the prescribed prayers. It is not,
however, required that only the imam leads the prayers. If he is
not present, another man may be designated as prayer leader. An
imam or prayer leader in Islam is not necessarily ordained; rather
any Muslim who is knowledgeable and of good moral standing
can be an imam.
The Catholic Church promotes spiritual ecumenism by
inviting us to pray for Muslims. We may also visit their mosques
and observe their methods of prayer when appropriate. Perhaps
you and a Muslim neighbor may want to visit each other’s
mosque and church. (V.6 S.3 2010)
Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs – Archdiocese of Chicago
Archbishop Quigley Center, P. O. Box 1979, Chicago, Illinois 60690-1979
Phone: 312-534-5325
Fax: 312-534-0357
E-mail: [email protected]
Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs – Archdiocese of Chicago
Archbishop Quigley Center, P. O. Box 1979, Chicago, Illinois 60690-1979
Phone: 312-534-5325
Fax: 312-534-0357
E-mail: [email protected]
Who is my neighbor?
Who is my neighbor?
Mary and Islam Catholic devotion to Mary is well known. Are you
aware that Muslims also have great devotion to the mother of
Jesus? Not only is one of the chapters (Sura 19) of the Qur’an
named “Maryam”, but Muslims often refer with reverence to
“Mother Mary”, and some visit Catholic shrines that honor her.
The Qu’ran records both the annunciation of John to
Zechariah and of Jesus to Mary, a chaste virgin and mother, who
gives birth to Jesus. Muslims also hold Mary before them as a
model of submission to God and modesty to imitate.
Catholics and Muslims hold much in common in our
love and devotion to Mary, but Mary is also at the center of why
we are two different religions. Catholics believe that Mary is the
mother of Jesus, who is both human and divine. Muslims believe
that Mary is the mother of Jesus, the Prophet and Messenger of
God, who is human but is not divine.
We can rejoice, however, that both Catholics and
Muslims love and honor Mary. Perhaps we can best honor the
mother of Jesus by learning how to trust in God and submit to his
Word so as to increase our love for each other. (V.6 S.2 2010)
Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs – Archdiocese of Chicago
Archbishop Quigley Center, P. O. Box 1979, Chicago, Illinois 60690-1979
Phone: 312-534-5325
Fax: 312-534-0357
E-mail: [email protected]
Who Is My Neighbor?
This is the final article in this series of twenty short
inserts for your Sunday bulletins that introduced you to your
Muslim neighbors. In reading them, you may have become more
familiar with the teaching of the Catholic Church on CatholicMuslim relations. You may also have become more aware of the
commonalities we share as well as the differences that make us
two separate religions.
After reading, have you found yourself interested in
engaging in conversations or mutual sharing and conversations
with your Muslim neighbors? Are you more conscious of the
stereotypes you may be carrying of Muslims and more critical of
media portrayals of Muslims?
Whatever your responses, remember that the Catholic
Church teaches that “we are to work sincerely for mutual
understanding and to preserve as well as to promote together for
the benefit of all humankind social justice and moral welfare, as
well as peace and freedom” (Nostra Aetate, no. 3 of the Second
Vatican Council on Catholic-Muslim relations).
Please pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide all
of us in the Church as we seek to know and love our Muslim
neighbors. The Who Is My Neighbor? articles are available in
English and Spanish and may be used as a series or separately:
www.archchicago.org/departments/ecumenical/eia_2009who_is_my_neighbor.shtm
(V.6 S.4 2010)
Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs – Archdiocese of Chicago
Archbishop Quigley Center, P. O. Box 1979, Chicago, Illinois 60690-1979
Phone: 312-534-5325
Fax: 312-534-0357
E-mail: [email protected]