Christian Witnessing that
Muslims Understand… a Path and a Challenge for Interreligious Dialogue.
by Eliseo “Jun” Mercado, OMI
Today, the world faces myriads of problems… poverty,
AIDS/HIV, Wars and Genocides, Terrorism, Human trafficking, etc… This reality
urges believers to take a second look at their respective religion… and ask
fundamental, perhaps revolutionary, questions. Is religion part of the problem
or part of the solution to that problem that the world faces? In the midst of these man-made tragedies, how
do our religions fulfill authentic compassion in human society?
It is this same reality that compels us to also take a
second look at our relationships as men and women of differing faiths. Thus the beginning of “interreligious”
dialogue…
My years of experience living in the midst of Islam in Southern Philippines have taught me that interreligious dialogue
is a continuing journey… that can be described by an attitude and a disposition
that a pilgrim takes as he/she embarks on the hajj. “Labbayka” is the word that comes out
of his/her mouth as he/she begins the journey to God’s abode. Labbayka ‘inna hum - Here I am … ready
to do your bidding… in awe and in solidarity with all who undertake the
journey…
In many places, circles and communities, interreligious
dialogue is akin to an exercise or a ratio
studiorum. But to many people
struggling to survive… to retrieve their dignity and basic rights and freedom
as human beings or as a community and nation, interreligious dialogues offers
that HOPE for an alternative world where with all our differences we can feel
at home – secure and happy as children of God .
In my desire to live and struggle with Muslim minorities in
the Southern Philippines , I have always been
guided by what the Qur’an positively says about the Christians… And through
these, I continue to struggle to enflesh that type of Christian witnessing that
my Muslim neighbors can easily understand…
Three (3) Passages…
The first text is from Sura 5:
82 that says…
“and nearest among them in love to the believers wilt thou find those who say
‘we are Christians’, because amongst these are men who are devoted to learning
and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant.” (wa latajidanna aqrabahum mmawaddatan
lilladhina amanu-l-lladhina qaalu nnaanasaaraa dhaalika bianna minhum qasisina
waruhbaanaan wa annahum la yastakbiruna.)
I resolve that I shall be true to this in my dealing with my
Muslim neighbors… To be a…
·
A
person of learning;
·
A
person that renounces the world and NOT greedy; and
·
A
person who is not haughty or arrogant!
Yes, I can be that person nearest to them in Love… because I
am a Christian…
The second text is taken from Qur’an
57: 27 that
states… “…we sent after them Jesus the Son of Mary and bestowed on him the
Gospel; and we ordained on the hearts of those who followed him COMPASSION AND
MERCY’. (waja’aalnaa fi qulusbi-lladhina-ttaba’uhu raa’fatan wa –rahmatan).
The two key descriptions of Jesus’ followers are Compassion
and Mercy… Is this NOT the very heart of religion and the very heart of God…?
God is Rahmaan and Rahim! “loving-kindness” The heart of religion and a
believer as described in Sura 50:37… A believer who remembers the need for a
feeling heart, a hearing mind and a present self… to his/her neighbor… (“…inna fi dhalika la-dhikra li-man kana lahu
qalb aw alqa al-sam’wa wa huwa shahid”)
Reflecting on this passage, I wander whether the call for us
is precisely to retrieve these key descriptions and allow them to bear upon the
relationship between the worship that we bring and the behavior that we come by…
or putting it in another way, allowing the “coincidence” between the heart of
God and the heart of the believer.
The third text is from Sura 49: 14 that says “…we made you into
nations and tribes that you may know each other (not that you may despise each
other). The most honored of you in the
sight of God is the most righteous of you”.
(Ya_ ay yuhal
na_su in na_ halaqna_kum min zakariw wa unsa_ wa ja'alna_kum suu_baw wa qaba_
ila litaa_rafu_ in na akramakum indal la_hi atqa_kum in nal la_ha alimun kabir.)
Still in another Qur’anic passage, Sura 11: 118, it
says: “If thy Lord had so willed He could have made mankind one People: but (he
willed it otherwise, ands so) they will not cease to dispute.” (Wa lau sya_'a rabbuka laja'alan na_sa
ummataw wa_hidataw wa la_ yaza_lu_na
mukhtalifin(a).)
But
what is this righteousness being asked of us…?
Sura 2: 178 tells us… “It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces to
the East and the West; but righteous is he who believeth in Allah and the Last
Day and the angels and the Scripture and the Prophets; and giveth his 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 God fearing.” (Ya_ ayyuhal lazina a_manu_ kutiba
'alaikumul qisa_su fil qatla_, al hurru
bil hurri wal 'abdu bil 'abdi wal unsa_
bil unsa_, faman 'ufiya lahu_ min akhihi syai'un fat tiba_'um bil ma'ru_fi wa
ada_'un ilaihi bi ihsa_n(in), za_lika takhfifum mir rabbikum wa rahmah(tun), fa mani'tada_ ba'da za_lika fa lahu_ 'aza_bun alim(un).)
This is the concrete response to the Qura’nic
invitation to “excel each other in good deeds” that constitute true piety and
righteousness…
A Tradition….
When I was a young and idealistic priest… in search of a
path on how to live and work among Muslims, I stumbled through the help of Frs.
George Anawatti, OP and Jacques Jomier, OP and their Dominican companions in
Cairo during the early 80’s to touch base with a tradition that began and
identified with Frs. Louis Massignon and Charles de Foucauld. It is the Badaliyya movement… or a Ransom
Movement.
It is a tradition that draws inspiration from the whole
reality of “being a ransom” before the Lord beginning with Jesus Christ… to
mark the relationships with our Muslim neighbors.
This a tradition retrieved by St. Francis of Assisi by being
a threat to no one… loving in his powerlessness and poverty all without
exclusion thus being empowered to call even the vowed enemies – called at that
time as the “Saracens” as “brothers” and “sisters”. Francis lived as a LITTLE and poor brother to
all – semper minor!!!
In our contemporary times, Frs. Louis Massignon and and
Charles de Foucauld through the mystical paths… discovered anew this
inspiration and lived the hospitality as both guest and host and fulfilling in
their lives and prayers whatever may be lacking or ambiguous in our
relationship but at the same time always remaining as “little” brothers to
their Muslim neighbors.
Last January 2006, I launched a blogspot on this particular
path – the Badaliyya Movement. I believe
that by highlighting the examples of “Badals” in history of Muslim-Christian
relations, we my find a key to a life and
community shared without exclusion.
Visit the blogspot at http://badaliyya.blogspot.com/
In conclusion, I simply desire to reiterate what the Qur’an
says about us and these remain formidable Challenges for us.
First is to become exemplar of “la
inna yastakbiruna”- not to be haughty…
Second is to enflesh in our life and action that raafatan wa rahmatan” - Mercy and
compassion - the urgent need today - a
feeling heart, a hearing mind and a present self… to his/her neighbor.
Third is to follow the path that shows “ila
litaa_rafu_ in na akramakum indal la_hi “ - heeding
invitation to “excel each other in good deeds.
And fourth is to retrieving the path of Jesus…
who died for us while we were still sinners (Rom. 3: 1 6 )
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