The Universal Spirit of Islam: Keys for Interfaith Understanding
The Universal Spirit of Islam serves an important purpose at a time when misunderstandings about Islam are rampant. It demonstrates that Islam accepts the validity of many other faiths to an astonishing degree, as proven through these quotes from original and central Islamic sources. These references from the Koran and the sayings of Muhammad speak for themselves; they are further augmented by superb illustrations of Muslim art and architecture. This small book offers the reader, whether Christian or Muslim, many compelling keys to inter-faith understanding through its moving words and beautiful images.
“This book sets out to explore if these sources [the Qur’an and hadiths] provide a basis for improving interfaith relations. The Fitzgeralds (Judith and Michael Oren) give the reader space to come to their own conclusions, not taking sides in their preface. Their selections of Qur’anic and hadith passages show a unique sensitivity to and understanding of Islam. Accompanied by lovely photographs … as well as reprints of Islamic art and illuminated Qur’ans, the titular “spirit” of Islam comes across as reflective, wise and bridge building. The Fitzgeralds have reorganized some of Islam’s most sacred texts and art in an easy-to-understand format, not only underscoring the interfaith resources in Islam but the spiritual side of Islam as well.”
—Publishers Weekly
What is the universal spirit of Islam?
“O ye messengers…verily this your religion (community) is one religion (community) and I am your Lord, so keep your duty unto Me.”
—Koran 23:52
“Islam presents many different faces to the West. It is well beyond our scope to examine the wide spectrum of beliefs that fit under the over-arching umbrella of Islam, including what is often termed traditional Islam, or fundamentalist Islam, or terrorist Islam. This book collects passages that demonstrate how the earliest and incontestable sources of Islamic scripture view other religions, thus providing an unbiased picture before centuries of political conflicts and theological embellishments confused the issue. These quotations allow Muslims and non-Muslims to set aside all preconceptions and examine what authentic Islam actually says about Christianity and Judaism, indeed all other religions.
“Any Muslim who believes that Islam is the best religion for everyone in the world—or that other religions are inherently inferior to Islam—needs to ponder the weight of this irrefutable authority. These teachings also allow non-Muslims to realize that their fundamental religious beliefs are not in opposition with Islam, but rather share the same universal truths.”
—Judith and Michael Fitzgerald
“To those who believe in God and His messengers and make no distinction between any of the messengers, We shall soon give their (due) rewards, for God is oft-forgiving, most merciful.”
—Koran 4:152
“To every people have We appointed (different) rites and ceremonies which they must follow, so let them not then dispute with thee on the matter; but do thou invite (them) to they Lord, for thou art assuredly on the right way. And if they wrangle with thee, say, “God is best aware of what ye do. God will judge between you on the Day of Resurrection concerning that wherein ye used to differ.”
—Koran 22:67-69
Adam
“It is We who created you (mankind) and gave you shape. Then We bade the angels prostrate to Adam, and they prostrated; not so Iblis (Satan). He refused to be of those who prostrate. (God) said, ‘What prevented thee from prostrating when I commanded thee?’ He said, ‘I am better than he (Adam); Thou didst create me from fire, and him from clay.’ (God) said, ‘Get thee down from this; it is not for thee to be arrogant here; get out, for thou art of the meanest (of creatures).’…He (Satan) said, ‘Because thou hast thrown me out of the way, verily I will lie in wait for them on Thy straight way. Then will I assault them from before them and behind them, from their right and their left; nor wilt thou find, in most of them, gratitude (for Thy mercies).'”
—Koran 7:11-17
Abraham
“Abraham was indeed a model, devoutly obedient to God, (and) true in faith, and he joined not gods with God. He showed his gratitude for the favors of God, who chose him, and guided him to a straight way. And We gave him good in this world, and he will be, in the hereafter, in the ranks of the righteous. So We have taught thee (Muhammad) the inspired (message), ‘Follow the ways of Abraham, the true in faith; and he joined not gods with God.'”
—Koran 16:120-123
Joseph
“When God’s messenger was asked who among men was most honorable, he replied, ‘The one who is most honorable in God’s estimation is the most pious.’ On being told that that was not what they meant, he said, ‘The most honorable was God’s prophet Joseph, son of God’s prophet Jacob, son of God’s prophet Isaac, son of God’s friend Abraham.'”
—Hadith
Moses
“God’s messenger (Muhammad) came to Medina and found the Jews observing the fast on the day of Ashura, so he asked them what was the significance of that day. They replied, ‘It is a great day on which God delivered Moses and his people and drowned Pharaoh and his people; so Moses observed it as a fast out of gratitude, and we do so also.’ The Prophet said, ‘We have as close a connection with Moses as you have,’ so God’s messenger observed it as a fast himself and gave orders that it should be observed.”
—Hadith
David
“When they advanced to meet Goliath and his forces, they prayed: ‘Our Lord! Pour out constancy on us and make our steps firm; help us against those that reject faith.’ By God’s will they routed them; and David slew Goliath; and God gave him power and wisdom and taught him whatever (else) He willed. And did not God check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief—but God is full of bounty to all the worlds.”
—Koran 2:250-251
Jesus
“Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter anything concerning God save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only a messenger of God, and His Word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a Spirit from Him. So believe in God and His messengers, and say not ‘Three’—cease! (It is) better for you!—God is only One God.
—Koran 4:171
The Virgin Mary
“Except Mary and her son (Jesus), no human being is born without the devil touching him, so that he raises his voice crying out because of the devil’s touch.”
—Hadith
People of the Book
“Those who believe (in the Koran), and those who follow the Jewish (Torah), and the Christians and the Sabians—any who believe in God and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.”
—Koran 2:62
“You will come to folk who are people of a Book (Jews and Christians), so invite them to testify that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is God’s messenger. If they obey that, tell them God has made obligatory for them five times of prayer every twenty-four hours. If they obey that, tell them God has made obligatory for them charity to be taken from their rich and handed over to their poor. If they obey that, avoid taking the best parts of their property; and regard the claim of him who is wronged, for there is no veil between them and God.”
—Hadith
“We shall certainly test you with something of fear and hunger, and decrease of goods and lives and fruits, but assure those who are patient in adversity, who when calamity befalls them assert, ‘Surely we belong to God and surely we are returning to Him.’ Upon these shall flow their Lord’s blessings and mercy, and they are the rightly guided.”
—Koran 2:155-157
“God hath promised to believers, men and women, (heavenly) gardens under which rivers flow, to abide therein forever, and goodly dwelling-places in edenic gardens. But the greatest bliss is the good pleasure of God—that is the supreme felicity.”
—Koran 9:72
