Gudnayber

Category: Neighbors

  • Standing with Our Muslim Neighbors: A Christian Perspective

    Standing with Our Muslim Neighbors: A Christian Perspective

    A close friend of mine (referred to as “Mary” in a recent post by Qasim Rashid, Esq.) saw an Islamophobic post on social media that seemed fake and asked how she should respond. I thought it would be good to show support from a Christian perspective—one that does not see Muslims as our enemy—and also share some historical context. Note that even if they were our enemy, as Christians we are called to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44).

    Rich History of Mutual Protection

    Did you know that there is a long history of Muslims and Christians protecting each other?

    In the 7th century, Muslims were being persecuted in Mecca. During their Migration to Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia), they were welcomed and protected by a Christian king and his court. This early example of interfaith solidarity provided safety for vulnerable believers fleeing religious persecution.

    In 1219, during the Fifth Crusade, Saint Francis of Assisi was welcomed by the Sultan of Egypt, Al-Malik al-Kamil. Despite the ongoing military conflict, Francis stayed for several days, preaching and encouraging peace between the two religions. This remarkable encounter demonstrates that even during times of war, meaningful dialogue and mutual respect were possible.

    Modern Examples of Interfaith Cooperation

    This spirit of cooperation continues today. In Egypt, Coptic Christians regularly prepare evening meals during Ramadan for Muslims who have been fasting—a beautiful expression of neighborly love that transcends religious boundaries.

    At the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, all three Abrahamic religions work together, recognizing it as a holy site sacred to them all. This cooperation in maintaining one of Christianity’s most important sites shows how shared reverence can unite rather than divide.

    Personal Connections Matter

    For me personally, these principles became real through friendship. Years ago, I became close friends with a Muslim colleague. I enjoyed hearing about the differences in our related scriptures and was welcomed to eat with his family. When his father passed away during his pilgrimage to Mecca, I mourned alongside him. We still keep in touch, and he always asks my children to pray for him—a request that speaks to our shared belief in the power of prayer, regardless of the particular tradition.

    A Call to Love, Not Division

    There are extremists in all religions who distort and misinterpret scripture to serve their own agenda. Even Jesus warned that within his own church there would be “weeds planted amongst the harvest” (Matthew 13:24-28). These voices do not represent the true heart of our faiths.

    For me, the path is clear: I am going to love my Muslim neighbors. That is what God wants me to do.

    Assalamu Alaikum.

  • Humility and Love, the keys to Peace

    Humility and Love, the keys to Peace

    Here is the TL;DR for this article. Humility is needed to know I don’t know everything, and love is needed to empathize with your enemy.

    In this deep division in our country we are struggling to find common ground and we need it right now. Let’s take a deeper look at these two characteristics and how we can do better.

    “For we know partially and we prophesy partially, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.”
    ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭9‬-‭10‬

    In this vast world, our puzzle piece only sees the pieces that touch us. We may be more connected then ever and get news from all over the world but these snippets can’t tell us everything about those they feature. This taking the world in, one snippet at a time, means our minds fill in the blanks with limited information.

    Assumptions are the way we see the world in our minds. Even the richest world traveler may only see the nicest places around the world, but does not see their culture in its entirety. The community service volunteer may know their neighbors and community well but that is just one corner of the puzzle.

    Realizing no matter how hard we try we can only know in part means we must hold lightly to our beliefs. This does not mean to be lukewarm in the practice of our beliefs but we must not look down on those with different beliefs.

    “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely;”
    ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ ‭NABRE‬‬

    Now Love is the perfect, for where our understanding falls short love allows us to go beyond our understanding. You do not need to understand someone to love them. To see them as human and attend to their needs requires no shared language. Love is a universal language, a smile is an olive branch to someone who feels alone. Getting the door for someone or making room for them says, “I see you”.

    “Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
    ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭NABRE‬‬

    Now let’s be more specific about our divisions here in America, though we want different things both sides are seeking what they see as justice.

    Those who are left seek justice for marginalized and what they see as the protection of individuals rights. Those on the right seek justice for law and order and what they see as traditional values and morals.

    I’m not saying either is right or wrong, what I want is for us to see each other as human beings and to treat each other with compassion. We need to go the extra mile for the person we do not agree with.

    “If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles.”
    ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭40‬-‭41‬ ‭NABRE‬‬

    Now there are those who just want to fight, be mindful. Someone looking for a discussion cares what you say, they want to understand and they want to be understood too. If you realize you are talking the the former, find a polite way to exit the conversation. There is no understanding being reached by someone who just wants to win; discussions are not a zero-sum game but an exchange of puzzle pieces that help us see the bigger picture.

    “A person gains honor by avoiding strife, while every fool starts a quarrel.”
    ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭20‬:‭3‬ ‭NABRE‬‬

  • A house divided

    A house divided

    My family feels very divided. The division I feel in my family, I believe, many families are feeling here in the US. The United States currently feels like the Divided States.

    “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.”
    ‭‭Mark‬ ‭3‬:‭24‬ ‭

    I don’t know how we bridge this gap. If we can’t mend these divisions in our own families how can we come together as a Nation and solve the issues we are facing. This is a dark place we are in.

    “Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.”
    ‭‭1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬

    It’s a hard road ahead. We are blinded by either hate or our own sense of what is right. It will take humility and compassion to over come this division. We can not rely on our own understanding. We need to allow ourselves to hear the other side.

    “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely;”
    ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ ‭

    You may find you are not able to concede to the others opinion. That it goes against your values or you just can’t find any common ground. Here I urge you to love your enemy.

    ““You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.”
    ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭43‬-‭45‬

    Loving your enemy does not mean letting them think they are right. It does mean you see them. This is a beautiful gesture that you can give someone you disagree with. In a world where most feel they are not heard, seen or that they matter you can show them they are heard, seen and matter.

    In the end, is it better your enemy believes you are right or that they are loved? Love is the key to change. I will leave you with this description of love.

    “Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
    ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬-‭7

    No matter how sure we are about our positions and opinions, we are human and our perspective and perception is limited. We see in part, love allows all voices and makes us whole. Love makes us United again.

    Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing. For we know partially and we prophesy partially, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.”
    ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬-‭10‬

  • Gates closed for most vulnerable: Episcopal Church ends its Migration Ministries in the US

    Gates closed for most vulnerable: Episcopal Church ends its Migration Ministries in the US

    Episcopal Church is ending its refugee resettlement agreement with the United States federal government.

    The Episcopal Church in the US has ended its immigrant resettlement program after the US ordered resettlement for Afrikaners from South Africa seeking asylum while all other refugees have been declined since this administrations started.

    The Federal Governments crackdown on immigration has expanded to asylum seekers, ending legal status for many of these types of immigrants. These people are having to return to countries that may be hostile towards them. This has never been illegal immigration and is meant to help people at risk of persecution.

    Letter from Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe on Episcopal Migration Ministries

    In Bishop Rowe’s letter he notes that much of their work in recent years has been the resettlement of Afghan refugees. These are often people who had assisted the US and have been in danger since our withdrawal from Afghanistan.

    When faith organizations stop supporting federal programs we need to pause and ask our selves if we are living up to the ideals of our founding fathers.

    We are a nation of immigrants. We are forgetting what made us great, why God blesses us. We serve the least and give them hope. They come looking for the American dream, guided by lady liberty’s torch. At her feet you can read this inscription, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”


    “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus. The poem’s famous lines, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free

    This is also biblical. We are called to treat the Alien as we treat ourselves, reminding Gods people that they were once Aliens and slaves in a foreign land.

    “You shall treat the alien who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you; you shall love the alien as yourself; for you too were once aliens in the land of Egypt. I, the Lord, am your God.”
    ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭19‬:‭34‬

    If we want to be great again, we need to be compassionate again. These people are no different then our families before us that brought us here. We need to respect their memory and return to welcoming those who need us.