Jesus in the Koran

The Abu Sayyaf, a terrorist group claiming ISIS links has beheaded a Canadian citizen here in the Philippines. Omar Mateen, an American born of Afghan heritage, went on a shooting rampage killing 49 persons and wounding dozens of others in a gay bar in Orlando, Florida. Terrorist activities have increased in Europe while the wars in Iraq and Syria have killed hundreds of thousands of people.

. There are some who are calling this a “clash of civilizations.” Demagogues like Trump have exploited this paranoia and demanded that the United States ban Muslims from entering the United States.

In the midst of this hysteria, Pope Francis remains as a voice of reason and an advocate of peace.  When asked about fears of Islam and terrorism by a journalist from a French Catholic newspaper, the pontiff suggested that we should not think of Islam as a threat and said that it had shared roots with Christianity.

Pope Francis said: “It is true that the idea of conquest is inherent in the soul of Islam. However, it is also possible to interpret in Matthew’s Gospel where Jesus sends his disciples to all nations in terms of the same idea of conquest.” It seems that the Pope is saying that Islam and Christianity share the same mission of trying to convert the world to their respective religions.

A year ago, the pontiff was criticized for kissing the Koran in public and telling a Vatican audience that the spiritual teachings in the Koran are just as valid as the Holy Bible. Pope Francis said: “Jesus Christ, Jehovah, Allah. These are all names employed to describe an entity that is distinctly the same across the world. For centuries, blood has been needlessly shed because of the desire to segregate our faiths. This, however, should be the very concept which unites us as a people, as nations, and as a world bound by faith. Together, we can bring about an unprecedented age of peace, all we need to achieve such a state is respect each other’s beliefs, for we are all children of God regardless of the name we choose to address him by. We can address miraculous things in the world by merging our faiths, and the time for such a movement is now. No longer shall we slaughter our neighbors over differences in reference to their God.

Papal Encyclical on Islam

In his first papal encyclical, Evangelii Gaudium, which Pope Francis issued on November 2013, he devoted two paragraphs on the relationship between Christianity and Islam.

Paragraph #252. “ Our relationship with the followers of Islam has taken on great importance, since they are now significantly present in many traditionally Christian countries, where they can freely worship and become fully a part of society. We must never forget that they ‘ profess the faith of Abraham, and together with us, they adore the one, merciful God, who will judge humanity on the last day.’ The sacred writings of Islam have retained some Christian teachings; Jesus and Mary receive profound veneration and it is admirable to see how Muslims both young and old, men and women, make time for daily prayer and faithfully take part in religious services. Many of them also have a deep conviction that their, in its entirety, is from God and for God. They also acknowledge the need to respond to God with an ethical commitment and with mercy towards those most in need.”

In this paragraph, Pope Francis tells us that there are many similarities between Judaism, Christianity and Islam because all three “profess the faith of Abraham” and  believe that there is only One God or Supreme Being.

Paragraph # 253. “ In order to sustain dialogue with Islam, suitable training is essential for all involved, not only so that they can be solidly and joyfully grounded in their own identity, but so that they can also acknowledge the values of others, appreciate the concerns underlying their demands and shed light on shared beliefs. We Christians should embrace with affection and respect Muslim immigrants to our countries in the same way that we hope and ask to be received and respected in countries of Islamic traditions. I ask and I humbly entreat those countries to grant Christians freedom to worship and to practice their faith, in light of the freedom in which followers of Islam enjoy in Western countries. Faced with disconcerting episodes of violent fundamentalism, our respect for true followers of Islam should lead us to avoid generalizations, for authentic Islam and the proper reading of the Koran are opposed to every form of violence.”

Jesus and Mary in the Koran

Pope Francis mentioned that Jesus and Mary “receive profound veneration” because they are mentioned in the Koran where there are two accounts of the annunciation and birth of Jesus, and refers also to His teachings and healings, and His death and exaltation. Three chapters or suras are named after references to Jesus ( 3,5,19). Jesus is also mentioned in fifteen chapters or suras and in ninety three ( 93) verses.

The late Professor Geoffrey Parrinder wrote a book JESUS in the QUR’AN: “Jesus is always spoken of in the Qur’an with reverence; there is no breath of criticism, for he is the Christ of God.”

One of the titles given to Jesus, in the Koran, is “Son of Mary.” This title is mentioned 23 times in the Koran, 16 times as Jesus, Son of Mary, and seven times as son of Mary alone. In the Holy Bible the title Son of Mary is mentioned only once.

Perhaps, if we listen to the words of Pope Francis, we will also discover that there is much in common with the Holy Bible and the Koran; and, that it is possible for Christians and Muslims to live together in peace because of so much shared beliefs.

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