A Quran photographed in a mosque (2012). Credit: RNS photo by Sally Morrow
Posted on 08/21/2012 11:38:08 AM PDT by NYer
(RNS) This year during Ramadan — the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar when Muslims believe the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad — I was in solidarity with my Muslim sisters and brothers throughout the world by reading the Quran. But here's the thing: I am a Roman Catholic.
My copy of the Quran, with more than 1,700 pages, has sat on the top shelf of my bedroom bookcase among other sacred texts for 14 years. Typically I would use it as a sporadic reference and resource to better understanding Islam, reading a few short passages at a time.
A Quran photographed in a mosque (2012). Credit: RNS photo by Sally Morrow
However, this Ramadan something at the core of my being was calling me to read the Quran in its entirety. And so my monthlong Ramadan journey began.
Each day and evening, the prayerful poetry in the Quran held me in a meditative mode of peace as I read without being aware of the passage of time.
When I finished reading a week before the end of the month, I felt as if the Quran was almost endless, reaching beyond the confines of my calendar days. I didn’t want to read the last page. I didn’t want to be finished.
The Quran inspired me, taught me and helped me to remember my essential holiness and how that holiness in the image of God should be reflected in the world.
As Ramadan comes to a close this weekend (Aug. 18-19) with Eid al-Fitr, I find myself focusing on the blessings I have been given through the grace of God while reading the Quran.
The Quran encouraged me to continuously be aware of a gracious and merciful God who cherishes humanity and cherishes all of creation. I came to believe more firmly during my humble Ramadan experience that being cherished by God is an example of divine love beyond the limitations of any one language, symbol and imagination.
Certainly this has implications for how we treat each other and care for the world.
Many chapters, or surahs, in the Quran had me reflecting on the diversity and opposite realities in nature (night/day, male/female, darkness/light, beginning/ending, life/death) and reaffirming that God is found in both. This insight into sacred polarity is a perfect teaching paradigm for respectful interreligious dialogue, which is never about win/lose, right/wrong profiling and divisiveness.
Among my greatest lessons from the Quran was to be reminded to have faith, seek the truth, praise God, pray, forgive, be kind, be peaceful and take care of people who are most vulnerable — those who are oppressed and often forgotten.
Perhaps the commentary found in the conclusion of my Quran says it best:
“What can we do to make Allah’s light shine forth through the darkness around us? We must first let it shine in our own selves. With the light in the niche of our inmost hearts we can walk with steps both firm and sure: We can humbly visit the comfortless and guide their steps. Not we but the light will guide. But oh the joy of being found worthy to bear the torch and to say to our brethren: I too was in darkness, comfortless, and behold, I have found comfort and joy in the grace divine."
After reading the Quran during Ramadan, I am again convinced that there are more commonalities between and among religions than there are differences that isolate and divide.
This is what Bishop Howard Hubbard has wrought in this diocese. One more year to his retirement.
Having observed the behavior of the followers of the Koran, I have no desire to read it, none at all.
More evidence (as if any were needed) that educated fools are a danger to society.
Me thinks she is confusing the devil that she has allowed into her soul, with the true God of Christians, of which Allah is NOT.
Idiot.
I have decided that I need to read it, for the same reason that I read the Communist Manifesto, On Guerilla Warfare, and parts of Mein Kampf and Das Kapital.
Know your enemy.
She must have skipped right over a lot of those Suras...
I meant Duff, not NYer, is an idiot!
I agree. I want to read it so I can tell those who say “Islam is not a violent religion” the facts straight from their own gospel.
It may turn my stomach, but I will read it so I am informed of what is in the heart and mind of those wishing me dead.
It’s OK to study from a scholarly POV. Thing is, you’ll have to bite your tongue when you come across the many heresies (Jesus not being the Son of God, Abraham told to sacrifice Ishmael instead of Isaac, Mahomet’s rewriting of God’s law, ad nauseam), but it’s useful to actually know the differences so that anyone from a Biblical background who might be getting sucked into that belief can be dissuaded.
For a start, check Ann Barnhardt’s videos on it on youtube.com.
The deceits of Satan to be wary of?
I have read the entire Koran, several times in English and once in Arabic. It is worth having read if your work is related to maintaining freedom in the world. Having read and understood that book, I keep it in a spot far from the bookshelf containing my holy books.
“The Quran inspired me, taught me and helped me to remember my essential holiness and how that holiness in the image of God should be reflected in the world.”
This woman is a complete and total idiot.
The only thing the Quran ever helped me remember is how much I hated reading Mein Kampf.
Turns out they’re the same book.
And they met the same fate in my garbage can.
Anyone who likes or respects the Quran cannot be trusted: their judgement is utterly questionable.
If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.
— The Art Of War, III-18
So why is that Catholics don’t have a saint Muhammad?
Either:
- There was no supernatural encounter by Muhammad (He just made it all up himself.)
-Or-
- Muhammad’s encounter was supernatural, but not with God.
I am sure there is a detailed description of the official church findings in the Vatican archives. (under lock and key)
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