Islam’s Public and Private Face

Many pray openly five times a day, fast publicly from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and publicly repeat the shahada (confession of faith): “There is no God but God and Muhammad is the apostle of God.” What is not public is that most Muslims (perhaps three-quarters) are into folk stuff, mixing so-called orthodox Islam (five pillars and strict monotheistic beliefs) with popular practices.  Here, life revolves around charms, amulets, curses, blessings and a whole lot of fear.

Egypt’s President Calls for Moderated Islam

Sharing with Muslim Women during Ramadan

Religious ceremonies affect home life very much and therefore involve women particularly. Even Muslim families unaccustomed to practicing daily prayers and other religious duties will celebrate Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha just as Christians celebrate Christmas and Easter. They are social as well as religious occasions. Muslims and Christians generally show considerable interest in each other’s festivals. These festivals and the interest they generate can be bridges for understanding and communication between the communities.

Christians and Muslims Alienate Each Other

Twelve simple ways to stop the alienation:

1. Relate to individual people, not abstractions.
2. Talk to people, be a student, and remain curious about the content of what someone believes and the ways in which they live out their faith.
3. Acknowledge that you are not as knowledgeable as you think. Stay humble.
4. Ask God to reveal ways in which you operate out of prejudice—ways about which you have absolutely no awareness.
5. Meet a Muslim, or several Muslims, rather than listening to what the media tells you about Muslim or the generalizations they make about “Islam” or the ‘true Muslim’
6. Dare to love people—all people—regardless of the cost.
7. Thank God you were given faith, not because of something good about you—your intelligence or your goodness—but because of something wonderful about God.
8. Find your worth and value in the fact that Christ died for you and loved you even when there was nothing loveable in you.
9. Keep your feet on the ground and your head out of the clouds. Keep it real and learn from that reality.
10. Don’t become a hater. Haters are haters even when they claim to be guided by God. When you kill, torture, or hate people because they are not like you, or because they don’t believe what you think they ought to believe, you are a hater and not of God.  You grieve God and displease Him.
11. Be clear about your salvation. You are not saved by being an American or a Saudi, a Republican or Democrat, a liberal or conservative, a Yankee or a Southerner, a Baptist or an Episcopalian, a Christian or a Muslim, a Harvard or Wheaton College grad….You are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and that not of yourself. That is not just good news; it is the best news!
12. There is still time to change and stop alienating people of other faiths. The Holy Spirit is always there waiting for you to love as you are loved.