Reading from the books that some would burn
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In New York, speaking out for freedom and diversity might mean joining a vigil at 7:15 pm Friday evening September 10 at 51 Park Place [near the Park Place stop of the #2 or #3 subway], the location of the Muslim-rooted community/ cultural center that has been the object of both attack and warm support. That date/time has been chosen by the support group New York Neighbors for American Values. (See their website here. )
Some religious folk have urged that gatherings in synagogues, churches, and/ or public places on September 11 or 12 read together from the Quran, Torah and Talmud, the Christian Gospels, and other sacred texts.
Since many American Jewish and Christian households may not have a Quran at hand, we have selected just three passages that lend themselves to the message of peace, dialogue, and compassion.
"There shall be no coercion in matters of faith." (2:257 [Asad])
"Behold, we have created you all from a single male and female, and have made you into nations and tribes so that you might come to deeply know one another [not to hate and despise each other]. Truly, the noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is most deeply conscious of God. Behold, God is all-knowing, all aware." (49:13 [Asad])
"True piety does not consist in turning your faces towards the east or the west -- but truly pious is he who believes in God, and the Last Day; and the angels, and revelation, and the prophets; and spends his substance -- however much he himself may cherish -- it -- upon his near of kin, and the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and the beggars, and for the freeing of human beings from bondage; and is constant in prayer, and renders the purifying dues; and [truly pious are] they who keep their promises whenever they promise, and are patient in misfortune and hardship and in time of peril: it is they that have proved themselves true, and it is they, they who are conscious of God." (2:177 [Asad])
These translations come from Muhammad Asad's The Message of the Qur'an: The Full Account of the Revealed Arabic Text Accompanied by Parallel Transliteration (publ by The Book Foundation, England, 2003). This edition includes many many notes citing authoritative Muslim scholars explaining the texts.
Some texts that seem much more violent also appear in the Quran. So do such texts in the Torah, the Gospels, the Upanishads, etc. But the great teachers of all our traditions have insisted that “all their paths are peace.” All teach that some version of “Love your neighbor as yourself” is the central wisdom.
Ah-meyn, ah-min, amen!
Comments
3 comments postedas a muslim , I would like to say, that what happened in 11 September , does not represent what Islam says.
Islam is a peaceful religion , and in Islam, it’s clear, that killing people is a crime, people from all the religions and all the countries, it’s clear that hurting people is a crime. Those people used Islam as an excuse for what they did.
As a human, and as a Muslim, I felt horrible on 11 September. I was 12th years old, I live in the Middle East. I still remember that me and my classmates did not stop asking about this, because we really felt bad, we felt that the humanity is being attacked. We were kids, in the 6th grade, but we saw things different.
Islam for me was a way of life. I’m not religious , I do not pray 5 times a day, I do not fast 100% perfect. But Islam is my way to live. I learnt to love all the people, to accept them, this is what my religion asked me to do. My religion asked me to believe in the People diversity ..
All the world, has a fear called terrorism. Many people think that muslims are the source of it. I say, I’m a Muslim, and I share this fear with you. It’s ugly to have this fear. But I’m a human.
Do not let people, who use religion to justify what they are doing give you bad image about my religion..
The first time I read the Quran I was in the 2nd grade, I read it all of it.. even though I hardly had the ability to read such a hard book.. The Quran is an amazing teacher, and God give us mind to read it and to understand it by ourselves. The Quran made me love all the people, all of them, all of them, it made accept all of them, host all kind of people in my house. And as a Muslim, I’m proud to have many Jews friends, many Christian friends, and many American friends.
11 September, was a horrible for our humanity , all of us, Americans Christians Jews and Muslims,
I want to add , that I read the Bible and the Torah,
Both of them too , encourage love and peace between people.
Religions are really peaceful, the problem is not about the Bible or the Torah or the Quran, it’s about people who do not open their eyes, and see the other side.
Thanks very much for these resources, Arthur. I do have a copy of the wonderful Asad translation of the Quran, and can look up and read these passages aloud in a service on September 21, the International Day of Prayer for Peace ( in coordination with the UN’s International Day of Peace). A few folks in our community are getting an interfaith initiative together to reach our to and support the Muslim community here in the State College PA area during this difficult time. Many blessings and thanks, Sarah Q. Malone.