Source & Credit: Finger Lakes Times | March 12, 2010
By Sardar Anees Ahmad | Waterloo, NY
Our age seems to be the most religiously, and de facto culturally, polarized time in history. Samuel Huntington’s Clash of Civilizations echoes a widespread belief that religio-cultural identities will be the primary source of conflict in the post-Cold War world. The three power players – the Jewish, Christian and Muslim worlds – hold the cards in this scenario. Despite all the differences, the three communities share one powerful commonality – love for their patriarch, Abraham.
Like a father, Abraham exercised a tremendous level of steadfastness, which ultimately resulted in the cementing of his legacy. (Genesis 17) describes the covenant God established with Abraham, promising him the office of Father of Nations through his two illustrious sons, Ishmael and Isaac. And if not for his undying faith in God, Abraham would have never left his wife and Ishmael in the wilderness. From this single act, the child grew into to a man, later a prophet, and ultimately became the leader of a nation.
Like a father, his progeny has preserved and emulated many of his habits. Belief in the Unity and Decree of God, angels, heaven and hell, and nearly all of the same prophets and holy books indicates the profound effect Abraham has left upon his spiritual progeny. Moreover, all three faiths not only promote the institution of prayer, but even the manner in which prayer is to be offered is the same. Joshua (Joshua 5:14), Aaron & Moses (Numbers 20:6), Elijah (I Kings 18:42), Jesus (Mathew 26:39), Muhammad (Qur’an 22:78) all prostrated themselves before God – just like Abraham (Genesis 17:3).
And lastly, and most unfortunately, like a father – his children are often found quarrelling with one another. The Old Testament reminds us, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psalms 133:1)! Yet the seemingly petty differences between these three religious communities have cast a daunting shadow over the far more abundant commonalities. Prior to the Crusades, all three communities lived in peace in Jerusalem. For nearly 700 years, Moorish Spain was the center of learning in Europe and a symbol of brotherhood as the children of Abraham lived and worked amicably with one another. If accomplished in the Jerusalem and Spain of old, why can this scenario not manifest itself today, especially when all three communities still recognize one magnanimous father?
To Jews, Abraham is a strict monotheist, brilliant debater, and grandfather of the promised Israelite community. To Christians, Abraham is a paragon of virtue and the forefather of Christ. To Muslims, all this, as well as the renovator of the Kaaba, and one who finds mention in every daily prayer. More than 50% of the world recognizes Abraham as ‘father.’ Neither Jew nor Christian, yet Abraham has achieved a monumental feat – three of the world’s major faiths love and revere him. Born in Ur (Genesis 17:5), present day Al-Muqayyar, Iraq, his surroundings offered a fitting metaphor for his life – hardship, however seemingly insurmountable, can be overcome.
Recognition of this common ancestry can, therefore, significantly contribute to change an inevitable clash of civilizations into a concordance of civilizations.
Read the original article: Unite Through Common Ancestry
Sardar Anees Ahmad is the Chairman of the Muslim Writer´s Guild of America. He is a graduate of
Binghamton University with a B.A in economics, and has completed
studies at Cornell University. He is a monthly religion columnist for
the Finger Lakes Times and has been a contributing member of Majlis Sultanul
Qalam, USA (MSQ-USA). He is a member of The Muslim Sunrise's masthead, the oldest American Islamic periodical.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for your comments. Any comments irrelevant to the post's subject matter, containing abuses, and/or vulgar language will not be approved.