Day of Difference

Christian-Muslim trip to Kuwait, February/March 2014, part three

What was different for me, on our final day of work, though a good portion of it was actually rest, being both a Friday and the last part of the national holiday, was going to the masjid. I don’t normally go to masjids on a Friday, though I am interested to hear the Friday sermon, because English masjids are usually full to bursting. The last masjid I visited in England was Muslim Welfare House in Finsbury Park, where Toufik is CEO. The whole building was so full of worshippers that I sat at the top of the first flight of stairs, with many others. It is literally true that the British Muslim community does not have enough worship space, especially where there is heated, but often uninformed, opposition to mosque developments.

We attended Juma (Friday) prayers at a masjid near the seafront, which was also different in that the sermon was preached in English, the majority of sermons preached in England are not. The imam preached on the importance of doing good for the sake of Allah (God), that those who follow God should be prepared to be tested by God (as part of their spiritual and personal development) and the importance of responding to these tests in the right way. I had the opportunity to ask him about his text afterwards, telling him that I tweeted sermon themes and scripture references after attending worship. This was his text:

Surah 3.134, ‘Those who spend [in Allah’s cause — deeds of charity] in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger, and who pardon men, verily, Allah loves those who do good.’

As there was so much space in the masjid I was able to sit next to Toufik after the prayers. As we sat talking about the sermon one of the mosque leaders addressed the worshippers, telling us that one of the brothers would be taking his shahadah (confession of faith). His car had broken down recently and he was so impressed with the Muslims who helped him that he had embraced Islam. After he had made his confession in one God and Muhammad as the messenger of God a long line of men formed to hug and welcome him. I too, though not a Muslim, welcomed him as someone who had found his way, it was an emotional and joyful moment, and a new experience.

After prayers we were due to visit an exhibition of ancient artefacts and Qur’ans from the region. We were too early for this display at the former American Mission Hospital but noticed as we stood at the gate that an Indian church was holding a worship service on the other side. Of course we had to join them! We both had an experience of otherness and difference, although these were fellow-Christians they were worshipping in another language and I could only relate to the words ‘Amen’ and ‘Hallelujah’ in the preacher’s sermon. I remarked to Hamad that the words in the masjid were more familiar to me!

The theme of language continued when we visited the exhibition, there were many artefacts from Babylon and we discussed the story of the Tower of Babel, which we have in common. I described the Biblical story of Babel, which led to further dialogue about reading the Gospels, what Christians believe about Jesus and why, prophethood, imperfection and the differences between the Qur’an and the Bible. How perplexing it is that in the ideas where we have many similarities, even a common language and common characters, that there are deep divides around humanity and divinity! Yet this difference is an invitation to dialogue and, knowing that we will never resolve our theological differences, we can resolve together not to let our differences divide us, to keep talking and build relationships. This was a real face to face dialogue as Hamad and I compared beliefs almost as old as the artefacts themselves, not seeing any of them for a while as we shared our scriptural heritage with each other. We could only move on, not having agreed with each other, still friends, enjoying the Qur’an displays together.

Our evening was rounded off with a trip to another masjid on the other side of town, one of the oldest, beautiful and reminiscent of a lighthouse. The imam recited in the most beautiful and gentle way. How else can it be when we are together for prayers, even across our difference?

Julian Bond
Director, Christian Muslim Forum

Originally published at christianmuslimforum.org.