Muslim and Christian Prayer @ Ramadan

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Ramadan is a time of prayer and fasting in the Muslim community and it is not uncommon for Christians to pray for the Muslim community during Ramadan.

Brian McLaren, a Christian, is praying and fasting during the current Ramadan. This is good. Christians are to fast and pray, Matthew 6:17. I am, however, concerned that he may have fallen into the tendency of some Muslim (and Christian) people to reduce aspects of the Christian faith to Islamic beliefs. Muslim reductionism of the Christian faith is seen in the Muslim’s questions to the Christian, “We believe in your prophet, Jesus. Why do you not believe in our prophet, Muhammad?” (But for the Christian, Jesus is more than a prophet; He is the Son of God) and again the Muslim asks, “We both believe in Abraham and he submitted to God: he was a Muslim. Why are you not a Muslim?” (But for the Christian, Abraham did more than submit to God; he is the father of our faith in God. See Romans 4.)

Similarly, a Muslim asks, “We both pray to the One God. Let us pray together?” (But for the Christian, God “Our Father” is addressed “through Jesus Christ our Lord”.) Read on –

Prayer is a conversation between two persons. The question is, Who is the One addressed? and, What is the basis on which we can come to God in prayer? For the Christian, God is the One God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit and hence Christian prayer is addressed to the Father through the Son and by the Holy Spirit. Thus the classical phrase, “through Jesus Christ our Lord”, closes Christian prayer.

When I read the Ramadan prayers of Brian McLaren I hear neither of the address to the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit nor of entering into that loving conversation with “Abba, Father” “through Jesus Christ our Lord”. I find this deeply troubling. Why these omissions? Has Brian McLaren’s commitment to peace-making inadvertently sacrificed the Prince of Peace? How is peace gained when clarity in divine address is absent?

Is peace-making best left to deeds of loving service and prayer for our neighbours, rather than the confusion and perhaps misunderstanding of prayer with our Muslim neighbour at their Ramadan time?

I heard our brother Brian speak at the Lambeth Conference of Bishops last year and greatly appreciated his zeal and clarity. I trust that he will clarify and make Christian his Ramadan prayers lest he inadvertently become a submissive appeaser rather than a Christian peace-maker.

Comments

5 responses to “Muslim and Christian Prayer @ Ramadan”

September 17, 2009

Sandra Fagan

thank you +John

I really appreciated this clarity/comment/explanation

Sandra
September 17, 2009

Chris Bowditch

Hey John.

I went and read that prayer. Not only does he leave out Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Father. He seems to me to leave out the distinctiveness of the Christian faith and the need for all people (including those of other faiths) to embrace Jesus to receive the forgiveness, love and mercy that he talks about so passionately.

It does seem that in an effort to correct Christians who can be mean spirited, legalistic and a lot like the Pharisee’s he has gone a step to far and fallen into some kind of humanistic drivel that has no power to do anything he so obviously longs for.

I hope and pray he is simply muddled in his expression and that this prayer does not reflect the core of his heart.

As you say, Where is Jesus, the Prince of Peace??
September 17, 2009

Bishop John

Hi Chris,

Yes, it’s a trap too easy to fall into.

I note that Will has a book review of McLaren’s and it is a bit mixed (ie, the value of the book is mixed, not Will!) Also he is at a conference with McLaren next month in Canberra. See http://god-s-will.blogspot.com/2009/08/generous-orthodoxy-review.html

It will be interesting to get an update then on his approach to mission, but this Ramadan effort is sadly inadequate if not misleading and damaging to Gospel life.
September 25, 2009

muqeem ul islam

As Muslims we have no choice. We had said in many words:

” WE BELIEVE IN ONE CREATOR, WE BELIEVE IN ALL HIS PROPHETS, WE BELIEVE, THAT JESUS (peace be upon him) WAS ONE OF THE MIGHTIEST PROPHETS OF GOD, THAT HE WAS THE MESSIAH AS WELL AS THE WORD OF GOD, THAT HE WAS BORN MIRACULOUSLY- WITHOUT ANY MALE INTERVENTION (which many modern-day Christians do not believe today) , THAT HE GAVE LIFE TO THE DEAD BY GOD’S PERMISSION, AND THAT HE HEALED THOSE BORN BLIND AND THE LEPERS BY GOD’S PERMISSION.”

Islam respects all religions. Nevertheless, Muslims consider the view of Christendom to be a misguided one. The Noble Qur’an highlights the important aspects of Jesus (Peace Be Upon Him) mother, his birth, his mission and his ascension to heaven.
VIRGIN MARY:
Story of Jesus (Peace Be Upon Him) in the Noble Qur’an starts with the conception of his mother, Mary, when the wife of Imran, Mary’s mother, vowed to dedicate her child to the service of God in the temple. This is mentioned in the following verses (Which is translated as follows);

“(Remember) when the wife of ‘Imran said: “O my Lord! I have vowed to You what (the child that) is in my womb to be dedicated for Your services (free from all worldly work; to serve Your place of worship), so accept this, from me. Verily, You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knowing” “Then when she delivered her child [Maryam (Mary)], she said: “O my Lord! I have delivered a female child,” — and Allah knew better what she delivered, — “And the male is not like the female, and I have named her Maryam (Mary), and I seek refuge with You (Allah) for her and for her offspring from Shaitan (Satan), the outcast.” “So her Lord (Allah) accepted her with goodly acceptance, He made her grow in a good manner and put her under the care of Zakariya (Zachariya). Every time he entered Al-Mihrab (a praying place or private room) to (visit) her, he found her supplied with sustenance. He said: “O Maryam (Mary)! from where have you got this?” She said “This is from Allah” Verily, Allah provides sustenance to whom He wills, without limit” [Chapter 3: verses 35-37]

http://islam100.wordpress.com
September 26, 2009

The Imaginary Bishop

Thank you for your comment.

As Muslims and Christians we both practise prayer.

The Fatiha of Islam, prayed 17 times each day by faithful Muslims, can be included in the prayers of the followers of Christ because it speaks of our desire to submit to God.

FATIHA PRAYER (in translation)

(The opening words of the Qur’an 1:1-7)

In the name of Allah,
Most gracious, Most merciful

Praise be to Allah,
the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds
Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Master of the Day of Judgement
Thee do we worship, and Thine aide we seek

Show us the straight way
The way of those on whom
Thou has bestowed thy Grace, those whose portion
Is not wrath, and who do not go astray.

*Can the prayer that Jesus taught his followers be included in the prayers of Muslim people?

JESUS’ PRAYER

(The Gospel According to Matthew 6:9-13)

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
[For the kingdom,
the power and the glory are yours.
Now and for ever. Amen]