It is ironic that last week’s Hajj and Eid al-Adha celebrated the faith and love of Ibrahim/Abraham, father to Muslims, Jews, and Christians. “Those with the faith of Abraham are the sons and daughters of Abraham.”
Muslims, Jews, and Christians are FAMILY, at the most basic level, by their own words and convictions. They are sons and daughters of Adam, and sons and daughters of Abraham, and “the faith of Abraham/Ibrahim.”
Peace, shalom, سَلَام salaam, paix, صلح solh, Frieden, paz, 和平 hépíng, शांति shanti, pokój, мир.
Forgiveness, غفران** (ghufran), عفو** (afw), استغفار (istighfar), آمرزش (āmorzesh), بخشش (bakhshesh), گذشت (gozasht).
Any progressive or conservative in the know should maybe be embarrassed by hatred, violence, neglect, and name-calling — when Jews, Muslims, and Christians have more in common than THEY usually even know.
According to Islam, as well as Jews and Christians, God intervened after testing Ibrahim/Abraham’s devotion, obedience, and trust — and provided an animal caught in the thicket to be sacrificed instead. This moment of testing the trust and devotion of Ibrahim to his Creator is celebrated by Jews, Christians, and Muslims worldwide, not just Muslims performing the Hajj.
The Hajj pilgrimage takes place during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah. Eid al-Adha, also known as the “Festival of Sacrifice,” begins on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah.
The final days of the Hajj coincide with Eid al-Adha. While pilgrims are completing their Hajj rituals, Muslims around the world who are not on pilgrimage are celebrating Eid al-Adha.
Eid al-Adha celebrates that “Ibrahim/Abraham reasoned God was able to raise his son from the dead.” Trusting the Creator was a painful but safe decision, because of His character. While the Quran doesn’t specifically mention which son, Isaac or Ishmael — the Torah mentions Isaac as the intended sacrificial gift from Abraham to God.
The story here is very simple: willingness to do anything for Allah God because he is a God of both power and love — is a safe bet for all of the sons and daughters of Abraham, then and now.
And that character of the God/Allah of all three groups, Muslims, Jews, and Christians…
…includes love and forgiveness.
The sons and daughters of Abraham owe that to each other.
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Muhammad Nazir, RHIA, MBA
Michael H Peters reflection on the shared heritage and profound connections between Muslims, Jews, and Christians is both insightful and deeply moving. Indeed, the story of Ibrahim/Abraham stands as a powerful testament to the unity and common ground that these three faiths share. His unwavering faith and the subsequent divine intervention are celebrated universally, underscoring a legacy of trust, devotion, and divine love.
It is indeed ironic and perhaps tragic that despite these commonalities, there is often conflict and misunderstanding among these groups. Your message is a crucial reminder that individuals from all walks of life, whether progressive or conservative, should be embarrassed by actions that perpetuate hatred and division. Instead, we should strive to embody the love, forgiveness, and trust that characterize the God/Allah of all three faiths.
The story of Abraham/Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son, whether Isaac or Ishmael, is a profound lesson in faith and trust. It illustrates that true devotion transcends the specifics of religious narrative and focuses on the underlying principles of love and obedience to God. This shared story is a beacon of hope and a call to unity for all the sons and daughters of Abraham.
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Michael H Peters
Muhammad Nazir, RHIA, MBA “The story of Abraham/Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son, whether Isaac or Ishmael, is a profound lesson in faith and trust. It illustrates that true devotion transcends the specifics of religious narrative and focuses on the underlying principles of love and obedience to God. This shared story is a beacon of hope and a call to unity for all the sons and daughters of Abraham.”
Yes. Thank you for your insights, Muhammad.
