Download Who is my neighbor? - Archdiocese of Chicago

Who is my neighbor?
Who is my neighbor?
Allah/God The Qur’an When Muslims say “Allah” and Christians say “God”,
are they referring to the same God? The answer is yes and no.
But let us look more closely.
Regarding the One whom Muslims and Christians
worship, the answer is yes. Allah is just the Arabic word for
“God”. It is also the word Arabic-speaking Christians use in their
prayers and at Mass. For both Muslims and Christians, Allah/God
is the one and only God.
Regarding their understanding of God, both Christians
and Muslims would answer no. Consequently, Christianity and
Islam are two separate religions.
Christians believe God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
“Three persons equal in majesty, undivided in splendor, yet one
Lord, one God” (Preface of the Mass for the Trinity).
When Muslims say “Allah” in their prayers, they mean
the One and Only God who is neither two nor three. For
Muslims, Allah is indivisible and un-partnerable.
So again, when Christians pray and say “God”, and their
Muslim neighbors say “Allah”, are both referring to the same
God? The answer is yes and no. (V.4 S.1 2009)
For Muslims, the Qur’an is the exact word of God
spoken to Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel, revealed over a span
of twenty-three years. After Muhammad’s death, the words were
put into a single volume that has remained exactly the same in the
original Arabic for the past 1400 years.
There are translations, certainly, into many languages but
the translations are not to be understood as the Qur’an. God’s
word is in Arabic. To “recite” the Qur’an in its entirety is an
honored practice and often done during the season of Ramadan,
the month of fasting.
The Qur’an is the source of faith and practice for
Muslims and its central theme is relationship with God. It
considers all the issues of human life, including belief, worship
and behavior. Unlike our Scriptures, the Qur’an does not have
many long narratives, although it does contain well-known
characters, such as Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus. There is
also a whole chapter on Mary, who is very much honored by
Muslims. (V.4 S.3 2009) 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?
The Prophet Muhammad The Five Pillars
In the sixth century, although there were Jews and
Christians in the area of Mecca in modern day Saudi Arabia, most
of the inhabitants worshipped many gods. Into that culture,
Muhammad was born in the year 570 CE. For Muslims,
Muhammad is the last “prophet” and “messenger” of God in a
long line of prophets familiar to Jews and Christians, including
Abraham, Moses and Jesus.
Islamic traditions tell of some of the early signs of
Muhammad’s authority and mission. His birth was foretold with
glad tidings. Although he was orphaned at age seven, he grew up
to be a man seen by his tribal society as a good steward and wise
arbiter. He also had friends in the Christian community.
Muslims believe that God’s final message was revealed
to Muhammad in this way: at age forty, troubled by unusual
dreams and visions, he sought solitude in a spiritual retreat in a
cave near Mecca. Here he heard the voice of an angel identified
as Gabriel who told him, “Recite”. Muhammad listened and kept
the words he heard and “recited” them to others. This recitation
became the Islamic scripture known as the Qur’an.
Muhammad’s words and deeds are also a very important
guide for Muslims and they are recorded in the Hadith, a body of
literature second only to the Qur’an in importance. (V.4 S.2 2009)
The practice of Islam is built upon five pillars. The Five
Pillars form the foundation and framework for Muslim life. They
are the essential duties for Muslim adults and they are both a path
and also sustenance for every Muslim’s journey toward total
“submission” to God.
The Five Pillars are:
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]
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Shahada or witness to faith: “There is no god,
but God, and Muhammad is his messenger”.
This is considered the most important of the
five.
Salat or ritual prayer, which is practiced five
times a day.
Zakat or the giving of alms as a means to
“purify” and “increase” one’s wealth.
Sawm or fasting from sunrise to sunset, which is
observed during the month of Ramadan.
Hajj or the once in a lifetime pilgrimage to
Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
In the following articles, we will look at each one of these pillars
in more detail. Catholics will recognize many of these practices.
Let us see if we have any points of connection. (V.4 S.4 2009)
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]