A Common Word
By Jeff Burns
On October 13, 2007, 138 Muslim scholars published an open letter to Christian leaders around the world known as “A Common Word” (See www.acommonword.com and the Christian response from Yale University: #32 on that website under Christian responses.) (An abridged version of this historical document is included in this newspaper, but you can download the long version on the website.) This Muslim initiative and Christian response focus on two major issues: belief in one God, and love of God and love of neighbor. These two issues are essentials, but unity around these them will not go very far unless we engage in a meaningful, respectful and peaceful dialogue that focuses not only on what we have in common with each other but also how we are different. A Common Word initiative is a wonderful place for Christians and Muslims to begin.
I must confess that I have been surprised that more Christians and Muslims have not heard about this initiative. As I read over the 138 names of Muslim scholars who signed the document, I could not help but be deeply impressed that such brilliant scholars were willing to take the time to offer such as gracious gift to the global Christian community. Also, I have felt proud of many of the Christian leaders who have responded with a positive reception of the document. I believe it behooves all of us, both Christians and Muslims, to read this document and prayerfully determine what God would have us do towards each other as Muslims and Christians in America.
Historically, there have been two traditional approaches that Muslims and Christians opt for when it comes to engaging and communicating with each other: One approach has been to debate and the other has been inter-faith dialogue.
Debate has typically focused on attacking the other in order to prove the rightness of “our” position. This has fueled animosity. If you go on the internet, you can find many websites for both Christians and Muslims that choose this approach. Muslim polemists (debaters) say they can prove that Christianity and the Bible are both corrupted and inferior to Islam. Christian polemists say they can show that the Qur’an is a syncretistic book that did not have origins in heaven and Muhammad was not a messenger. Both groups can make good arguments for their positions, but in the end I believe that this kind of debate is fruitless in these matters. It has been my experience that very few people come to faith or change their religion due to these types of debates. I have rejected this path because I do not believe it leads us to the place that God wants to give us.
Inter-faith dialogue, as typically practiced, is each side expressing their beliefs, but without listening to the other side. The weakness of inter-faith dialogue is that many times the people who engage in this activity tend to be of the more liberal persuasions of Islam and Christianity. As a result, the focus of the dialogue is only on what each faith has in common with the neglect of how we are different. In order for interfaith-dialogue to reach a broader spectrum there is a need for both conservative and liberal Muslims and Christians to take part in the dialogue in order to effectively discuss what both groups have in common as well as they are different. I love inter-faith dialogue and I believe it can be helpful in furthering the two intentions of the Common Word document.
There is a third path that is an alternative approach that many Muslims and Christians have not even considered: bridge building. This is the approach I have chosen. Four years ago I was a Christian Zionist that cared little for Muslims until God changed my heart through a friendly encounter with a Muslim child. I believe part of the calling that God has given me is to be a blessing and support to the sons and daughters of Ishmael. I believe that the only meaningful way this can genuinely happen between Christians and Muslims is if we learn to be authentic friends. Debating can never foster good will between us, and interfaith dialogue can be a nice platform for formal gatherings however, in the end, if we do not become friends then we have failed to represent the second most important aspect of our faiths, which is to love our neighbor. This is the only way that fear and prejudice of each other can be diminished. If you as a Muslim and I as a Christian become friends and brothers then I believe we have fulfilled the heart and intent of our Holy Books. It is in the sharing of laughter, grief, play, dialogue and eating together that we truly touch the souls of one another. The day that Muslims and Christians think that they cannot learn from each other is truly a sad day for humanity.
I have made many Muslim friends over the last four years. I have learned so much from each of them. I love going to the mosque when I can and I have made the reading of the Qur’an a part of my regular life routine. I have sought for the last four years to develop a genuine understanding of Islam. Cherno Jaye, Hisham Sarsour, and Jihad Shawwa have become like dear brothers to me. I have a deep respect for the Qur’an and the character of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). I see so much beauty in Islam and I believe that I am a better person and Christian for taking this journey. Bridge building requires humility. It means that we have to see the value in others who are not like us and be willing to learn from them. This is the path I have chosen for myself, and I encourage all Christians and Muslims to take this path also. In fact, I believe it expresses the original intent of the Muslim scholars who wrote and signed the Common Word document.
Recently I was in Chicago meeting with Imams, scholars and Christians on how these bridges could be built. I asked one Imam how the Christian community could serve both him and his people. He said, “Dialogue and friendship.” I went to the Islamic Association of North America in Indiana and took a couple of Christians with me, and I asked a staff person at the center the same question. She said, “Interfaith dialogue would be helpful, but we need to break bread together as friends.” I could tell you many similar stories, but all of them tell me that God wants Christian and Muslims to build bridges and become genuine friends.
I am sure that it may seem strange at times that a Christian writes regularly for a Muslim newspaper. I must confess I felt the same way at first but now I feel right at home doing it. I think it speaks very highly of the openness, tolerance and progressive nature of the staff at IQRAA.
In keeping with the spirit of the Common Word initiative I will begin to write articles that are intended to generate dialogue, understanding and bridge building between Muslims and Christians. Some of the articles will focus on what we have in common and others will focus on our differences and how can they can be reconciled. As I study Islam and Christianity I find that our differences are easier to reconcile if we stay in the context of our Holy Books. If we make the focus of our Christian and Muslim dialogue our traditions, history, and religion, then it is harder to reconcile our differences. I choose to write from the context of our Holy Books and when I do that I find deep joy and hope for our futures together. I find that most Christians do not have a Muslim friend and most Muslims do not have Christian friends. As a result it is easy to dehumanize each other and foster prejudice. This must change. The extended Common Word document basically says that Muslims and Christians make up 55% of the world’s population and if we do not find a way to build bridges of friendship, then this is going to be a difficult century for all of us.
Recently, I heard the story of a group of Imams in a Muslim country that read the Common Word document and as a result invited a group of Christian leaders from the U.S. to attend a conference in their country. The Imams and the Christian leaders took turns speaking during the conference. At one point one of the Christian speakers was reading from the Qur’an during his speech. One of the Imams was offended and shouted at him and said, “You are not a Muslim and have no right to read and comment on our Holy Book. You no nothing about Islam!” The Christian speaker said, “My friend, you are right but I am willing to sit at your feet to learn all you can teach me about your book and Islam.” The Imam was so moved by his response that he went to him, hugged him, and said, “And I am willing to sit at your feet to learn about your book and Christianity.” It is my prayer that we will have the love and humility that many Muslims and Christians are experiencing because of the good work that has begun from the Common Word initiative.