tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27357712485144712252024-03-13T06:40:10.072-07:00She Answers AbrahamWeekly reflections on sacred texts by three women: a Jew, a Christian and a Muslim.She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-17671199808067271582013-08-14T04:18:00.002-07:002013-08-14T04:18:56.055-07:00Seeking Solace (part 3)<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
was faithful even when I said, “I suffered terribly;” </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
said in my panic, “All people are unreliable!”</span></div>
<div align="right" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> (Psalms
116:10-11)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Yasmina:</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Although
the second part of the Psalmist’s statement sounds negative, I can read
a more positive meaning; one that is deeper and parallel to my own
belief. He is saying that no “good” would come out of any human if it
were not for the grace and mercy of God, and it is this trust in God
that brought back his faith in others eventually. Personally, I take
comfort in the words “for God is with those who patiently persevere,”
which are repeated several times in the Quran. This notion is echoed in
many of the sayings of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings be upon him], <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=2735771248514471225&postID=1289788167877036350" name="_GoBack"></a>including “acknowledge God in ease and He will acknowledge you in distress.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"> [</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: small;">Imam an-Nawawi’s 40 <i>Hadith</i>, <a href="http://ahadith.co.uk/chapter.php?page=2&cid=11">Chapter 1, No. 19</a></span>]</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><i>What do you think about these words of the Psalmist? </i></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><i>This reflection was written in response to Tziporah's original post in September 2011. You may also want to read <a href="http://she-answers-abraham.blogspot.com/2013/08/seeking-solace-part-2.html" target="_blank">Grace's response</a>. </i></span></span></span></div>
She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-25206514595468351452013-08-07T05:33:00.000-07:002013-08-07T05:33:29.039-07:00Seeking Solace (part 2)<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
was faithful even when I said, “I suffered terribly;” </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
said in my panic, “All people are unreliable!”</span></div>
<div align="right" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> (Psalms
116:10-11)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Grace:</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I too am struck by the suffering Psalmist’s human declaration of faith undercut immediately by blame. For the cry of <i>why</i>
is inevitable, the search for someone or something to blame natural,
and the fear of God’s abandonment keen. From my Christian faith, I take
comfort in observing that Jesus too, in his loneliest and most bitter
hour, echoed another Psalm as he cried in anguish, “My God, my God, why
have you forsaken me?”</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"> (Psalms 22:1)</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">
That moment of human agony, transformed by a divine spirit of
compassion and forgiveness, shows me the redemptive power of love. I can
affirm that the grace of God, often working in and through the caring
of others, enables us to endure and, if we are willing, to grow
spiritually through suffering; to find, even amid suffering, a “peace
that passes understanding.” (</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: small;">Philippians 4:7)</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This reflection was originally posted in September
2011 as a response to Tziporah's post. What texts do you turn to when seeking solace? </i></span></span></span></span> </span></div>
She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-44325592258725681712013-07-31T06:11:00.000-07:002013-07-31T06:11:12.836-07:00Seeking Solace<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
was faithful even when I said, “I suffered terribly;” </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
said in my panic, “All people are unreliable!”</span></div>
<div align="right" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> (Psalms
116:10-11)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Tziporah:</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
am struck by the unflinching honesty of the Psalmist, who readily
admits to human frailty in suffering. Often, when we are distracted by
pain, we allow its attendant anger to overtake us, and we blurt out
terrible things about each other which we later regret. We seek relief
in blaming someone else for our situation. Sometimes we accuse each
other; other times we denounce God. This verse begins with a
declaration of faith—I believed in God despite my suffering—and
concludes with an admission of loss of faith. The Psalmist reflects on a
previous experience of suffering, when pain caused him to lose faith in
humanity. Yet he maintained an unshakable faith in God. I find solace
in repeating this verse as a mantra; I feel my pain begin to dissipate.
I am confident that when I look back on this difficult time, my faith
in God and others will have endured. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>This reflection was originally posted in September 2011. Rereading it nearly 2 years later, I find that my faith in God and others has endured and that the words of the Psalmist still speak to me, Tziporah</i> </span></div>
She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-29645622906666076442013-07-17T04:48:00.000-07:002013-07-17T04:48:25.676-07:00God Consciousness (Part 3)<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">“Verily,
God orders justice and kindness (<i>Ihsan</i>), and giving [help] to the
relatives, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and evil and tyranny. He
admonishes you, so that perhaps you may take heed.” (<i>al-Nahl</i> 16:90)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><i></i></b><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><i>Grace:</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I
am stirred by Yasmina’s emphasis on “God consciousness” in the exhortation all
Muslims hear weekly. The sheer variety of Christian denominations means
that the experience of a living God is likely to be evoked for Christians in
many different ways. Benedictions that conclude Christian worship are
expressed as blessings. Some churches also include a dismissal or sending forth
which is reminiscent of <i>al-Nahl</i> 16:90, calling upon worshipers to be
“doers of the Word and not hearers only.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_ftnref1"></a> (James 1:22) Quoting the Hebrew prophet Micah,
Christians also affirm the need for hearts that are attuned to “do justice,
love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_ftnref2"></a> (Micah 6:8) Interestingly, it is an <u>opening</u>
prayer in my own tradition that lifts me most powerfully to God consciousness:
“Almighty God…from whom no secrets are hid…cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
[…that] we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name.”</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This is Graces's response to Yasmina's reflection
on "<a href="http://she-answers-abraham.blogspot.com/2013/07/raising-our-consciousness.html">Raising
Our God Consciousness</a>," originally posted in Sept. 2011 and re-posted earlier this month.</i></span></span>She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-6948971939296932112013-07-10T06:50:00.003-07:002013-07-10T06:50:21.763-07:00God Consciousness, Part 2<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Verily, God orders
justice and kindness (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ihsan</i>), and
giving [help] to the relatives, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and evil and
tyranny. He admonishes you, so that perhaps you may take heed.” </span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">(al-Nahl 16:90)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Tziporah:</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Reading Yasmina’s
reflection, I thought about rabbis who end each Sabbath service with a closing
benediction. This practice is now considered outdated by many, but was fairly
standard in the synagogues of my youth. The closing benediction was often
an opportunity for the rabbi to summarize the sermon and to remind the
community to live by its message in the coming week. As I grow older, I can
better appreciate the appeal of a ritual in which religious leaders offer
guidance to the community and establish clear expectations for daily
behavior. In Jewish liturgy, individuals often recite a biblical verse at
the conclusion of their personal prayers in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Amidah</i>: “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart
be acceptable to you, God, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalms 19:15) Perhaps
this would be a fitting conclusion to any sermon; a reminder to both listeners
and speakers that God is present in our lives and attentive to our words and
actions. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This is Tziporah's response to Yasmina's reflection
on "<a href="http://she-answers-abraham.blogspot.com/2013/07/raising-our-consciousness.html">Raising
Our God Consciousness</a>," originally posted in Sept. 2011 and re-posted
last week. </span></i></div>
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<![endif]-->She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-43877485672440939982013-07-03T06:19:00.001-07:002013-07-03T06:19:29.255-07:00Raising our "God Consciousness" <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>“Verily, God orders justice and kindness (<i>Ihsan</i>), and giving [help] to the relatives, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and evil and tyranny. He admonishes you, so that perhaps you may take heed.” <br>(<i>al-Nahl</i> 16:90)<br><br><b><i>Yasmina</i></b>:<br>This Quranic verse is used to close the sermon each Friday in almost every Mosque around the world; it is a command that serves as guidance in daily affairs. Unfortunately, the words sometimes lose their meaning in translation, especially the word <i>Ihsan</i>, which is often translated as “kindness.” In a <i>Hadith</i>, the Prophet [Peace and Blessings be upon him] defines <i>Ihsan</i> as “to worship God as if you are seeing Him, and although you do not see Him, He sees you.”[1] <i>Ihsan</i> is the force that helps Muslims strive for excellence in character and moral values, and this verse is a reminder that God looks into our minds and hearts every second of the day. It leads to my “God consciousness” in thoughts, words and actions, and helps me remember that truthfulness in action is only achieved when an awareness of God permeates all of my senses.<br><br>[1] <i>Riyad-us-Saliheen by Imam an-Nawawi, Hadith</i> 60<br><br><br><i>This reflection was originally posted in September 2011. Please share your thoughts in the comments section. </i></p>She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-22472871851302406052013-06-19T06:01:00.000-07:002013-06-19T06:03:05.786-07:00Eternal Life (part 3)A man asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life? The man then recited the Ten Commandments and commented that he had kept them from the time of his youth. Jesus replied, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” The man was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. (The Gospel of Mark 10:17-22)<br />
<br />
<b><i>Tziporah</i></b>:<br />
While it is true that many Jews believe that observance of <i>mitzvot</i> (commandments) and strict adherence to Jewish Law is the path to eternal life, there are varying opinions regarding the centrality of ritual laws. One stream of rabbinic thought emphasizes <i>gemilut hesed</i> (deeds of lovingkindness) as taking precedence over all else. These acts of kindness, such as visiting the sick, burying the dead and bringing peace between people who disagree, can never be repaid. Rabbi Elazar quotes the prophet Micah to define lovingkindness: “You have been told what is good and what God requires of you: ‘to act justly, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.’ What does this verse imply? To act justly, this is the law. To love kindness, this is deeds of lovingkindness. To walk humbly with your God, this is to bury the dead and accompany the bride to her wedding canopy.”[1] Similarly, the Talmud lists examples of <i>gemilut hesed,</i> stating that the principal of the reward for these deeds—a richly fulfilling life— is earned in this world, and the interest is rewarded in the world to come.[2] Personally, I am striving to achieve a life of <i>gemilut hesed</i>, with the early rabbis—and Jesus and Muhammed—as my guides along the path.<br />
<br />
[1] Sukkah 49b <br />
[2] Shabbat 127a<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is the third of three reflections on Eternal Life, originally posted in October 2011.</div>
<br />
<br />She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-70956315632412556242013-06-12T04:02:00.001-07:002013-06-12T04:02:42.139-07:00Eternal Life (continued) <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>A man asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life? The man then recited the Ten Commandments and commented that he had kept them from the time of his youth. Jesus replied, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” The man was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.<br>(The Gospel of Mark 10:17-22)<br><br><b><i>Yasmina</i></b>:<br>As a Muslim, I believe that the path to eternal life is belief in God and living righteously. The means for staying upright and walking on this path are interdependent, and building one’s life on them can be described as servitude to God and His creation. They include belief in God, His messengers, the Scriptures and the Day of Judgment; ritual practice; and Ihsan, high moral character, which is reflected by doing acts of kindness. The messengers and prophets exemplify righteous living, and people who follow their example in life will be closest to them in the hereafter. It is for this reason that Jesus [Peace and Blessings be upon him] invited the man to an even higher place in heaven, where he would find treasure and companionship with the most upright beings. The prophet Muhammad [Peace and Blessings be upon him] said: “A man’s true wealth hereafter is the good he does in this world to his fellow man.” As a Muslim, I believe in all the prophets, whose lessons were given in different times and contexts but share a common thread: love and servitude to God, and dependence on Him alone.<br><br><i>This is the second of three reflections on Eternal Life, originally posted in October 2011. During the summer, we will rerun several conversations that didn't receive much attention (according to Google Analytics) when we first launched the blog. Please tell us what you think in the comments section!</i></p>She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-19699771188761718402013-05-29T04:19:00.000-07:002013-05-29T04:19:07.706-07:00Eternal Life: Part One<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A
man asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life? The man then
recited the Ten Commandments and commented that he had kept them from
the time of his youth. Jesus replied, “You lack one thing; go, sell what
you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in
heaven; then come, follow me.” The man was shocked and went away
grieving, for he had many possessions. </span></div>
<div align="right" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The Gospel of Mark 10:17-22 </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Grace:</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This
story from the Gospel of Mark challenges its Christian audience for
several reasons. On the surface, it appears to be making a statement
against material wealth. It further suggests that obedience to the Law
of God is insufficient for inheriting eternal life, usually understood
as life after physical death. However, this text challenges me in a
different way. I think Jesus was emphasizing that although obedience to
religious life is important, it is not completely life giving, even in
this life. Life in its fullest sense comes through sacrificial giving,
not hoarding, of whatever riches a person may have; these riches may be
talents, resources, special traits, monetary wealth, or other gifts. To <i>follow </i>Jesus, in this case, is not so much about dutiful obedience to the Law—or even about fervent belief in Jesus and his teachings<i>—</i>as it is about living fully every day through the giving of oneself to others. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">* * * * * * * </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>This is the first of three reflections on Eternal Life, originally posted in October 2011. During the summer, we will rerun several conversations that didn't receive much attention (according to Google Analytics) when we first launched the blog. Please tell us what you think in the comments section! </i></span></div>
She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-81749357356918216302013-05-22T06:09:00.001-07:002013-05-22T06:09:44.733-07:00Giver of the Torah (Part 3)<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">“Blessed are You,
Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who has chosen us from all peoples and
given us Your Torah. Blessed are You, Giver of the Torah.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">(blessing recited before studying/reading Torah, from the liturgy)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Tziporah:</span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">Do
Christians and Muslims believe that God gave the Torah to the Jewish people? If
so, do Muslims include this appellation among the 99 names of God? [follow links to read Tziporah's <span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://she-answers-abraham.blogspot.com/2013/05/giver-of-torah.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">original</span> post</a> <span style="font-size: small;">& Ya<span style="font-size: small;">s<span style="font-size: small;">mina's <a href="http://she-answers-abraham.blogspot.com/2013/05/giver-of-torah-continued.html" target="_blank">response</a><span style="font-size: small;">]</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Grace:</span></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Tziporah, I
love<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>your struggle with sacred text, and
appreciate your sensitivity both to what could be an alienating and
boundary-drawing text and also to what is so clearly for you a cherished and
essential part of your theology and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>liturgical practice as a Jew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These simultaneously “comforting and uncomfortable” texts, as we have
seen, appear in all our faith traditions<span style="font-size: small;">.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The mischievous part of me wants to respond to the question of whether I
believe the Jewish people are God’s chosen “from all peoples” to receive Torah/God’s
Truth with “Oh, my goodness, no! We Christians are!” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">In serious
response, however, I do think devout adherents to each of our faiths inevitably
have to wrestle with the question of “Can I be thoroughly<span style="font-size: small;">, </span>purely Jewish/Christian/Muslim
and still recognize and affirm the legitimacy of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">other</i>?” When this text is understood in
the light of God’s goodness<i>, </i>grace and generosity, without the overlay of an
assumption that God is partial to a select cultural or religious group, I can
affirm the “yes” to your question, Tziporah, and also affirm, without
uneasiness, your recitation of this blessing in your liturgy. At the same time,
I am grateful that you can do so without extrapolating from this text that I,
as a Christian or Yasmina, a Muslim, must somehow then reside outside of and
apart from God’s “chosen.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indeed, I
believe that I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">am</i> chosen—and that, in
fact, God chooses each and all of us to know “how wide and long and high and
deep…is the [knowledge-transcending] love of God.” (Ephesians 3:18-19) It
delights me that we can each view our “specialness” in the wide embrace of a
God who sees all of us as beloved children to whom God seeks to impart every
good gift.</span></div>
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<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Grace's
response marks our final "new post" before summer hiatus. We will re-post
some of our earlier conversations throughout the summer, and we hope that you
will share your thoughts and comments. If you have a reflection on a sacred
text that you would like to submit, send it in the body of your email to </span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="mailto:sheanswersabraham@gmail.com">sheanswersabraham@gmail.com<i>.</i>
</a></span></div>
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<![endif]-->She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-50156303206485709492013-05-08T06:53:00.000-07:002013-05-08T06:53:09.298-07:00Giver of Torah (continued)<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Tziporah:</span></i></b><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Do
Christians and Muslims believe that God gave the Torah to the Jewish people? If
so, do Muslims include this appellation among the 99 names of God? [read <i>Tziporah's</i> <a href="http://she-answers-abraham.blogspot.com/2013/05/giver-of-torah.html" target="_blank">full post</a>]</span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Yasmina:</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Yes, the Quran mentions the
Torah as a book of guidance and criterion given to Moses for the Children of
Israel. This is consistent with one of the central tenets of Islam that many
nations were honored and chosen, and some were given Scriptures through other
illustrious and revered messengers of God.</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">*</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> I consider the long line of prophets from Adam to
Muhammad [Peace and Blessings be upon them] and the gradually increasing
complexity of their teachings as indicative of the evolution in societal
complexity. I believe that the final guidance “in the form of a book” was given
to Muhammad [Peace and Blessings be upon him]. The Quran upholds the importance
of all Scriptures sent by God, but it also places itself as a book whose
universal message and relevance evolves over time and extends to all places.
Therefore, I see the progressiveness of religion not as new revelation, but as
continued guidance from God. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The Guide, the One who
bestows continuous and kind guidance to help all humans in their life journeys,
is one of the names Muslims would call upon when seeking religious knowledge
and readjustment to their lifestyles to please God. </span></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">*</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> “Indeed,
God chose Adam and Noah and the family of Abraham and the family of Imran [father
of Mary] over the worlds.” (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Family of
Imran</i>, 3: 33)</span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-58397690270575478352013-05-01T06:31:00.000-07:002013-05-01T06:31:52.087-07:00Giver of the Torah<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Blessed are You, Lord our
God, Ruler of the universe, who has chosen us from all peoples and given us
Your Torah. Blessed are You, Giver of the Torah.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">(blessing recited before studying/reading Torah, from the liturgy)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Tziporah:</span></i></b></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Since
I began studying the 99 Names of God with Yasmina and discovering the
similarities in how we address God, I’ve been wondering about what this
blessing means to me. While I recite it every morning and hear it recited often
during the morning services when the Torah is read publicly, I am not certain
that I fully embrace its message. First, the idea that God chose the Jewish
people—even if I understand or interpret this to mean that God chose to give
the Torah to the Jewish people—rings hollow. Other religions espouse beliefs
and laws similar to those found in the Torah, especially those that fall into
the category of "natural law," such as laws against murder and
incest, as well as laws pertaining to social justice. In addition, I don’t
believe that God <i>actually</i> gave the Torah to Moses at Sinai; rather I
understand the emergence of Torah as a progressive revelation of God’s will,
written by human beings in the language of their day. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">How
then, can I praise God as “Giver of the Torah?” Do Christians and Muslims
believe that God gave the Torah to the Jewish people? If so, do Muslims include
this appellation among the 99 names of God? </span></div>
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She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-37712733566298569892013-04-24T06:39:00.001-07:002013-04-24T07:53:53.897-07:00God's Outstretched Arm (part 3)<b><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Amanda:</span></span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One of the reasons I embraced Islam is that I have a strong,
personal dislike of the<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>anthropomorphic versions of God found in many other
religions. That being said, I feel that trying to grasp The
Divine without using ANY 'personhood' references is next to impossible.
We are physical beings in a physical world and, as hard as I try, I can't
avoid using personal pronouns when referring to God<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>or using human
ideas and emotions to describe God's <span style="font-size: small;">being. For example, <span style="font-size: small;">when I say things like "God hates this<span style="font-size: small;">," I </span></span></span>don't think God really hates in the way </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">that </span></span>we do<span style="font-size: small;">, b</span>ut trying to discuss
God without using any of this kind of language can make the discussion
cumbersome and esoteric. So it doesn't offend me to read or hear
God being referred to in this way. I think we're all trying to
understand The Divine and we're using whatever faculties we have to do
so. P<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">erhaps</span>, t</span>he closer we get to
understanding God,<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>the less we need to rely on anthropomorphic representations</span></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">—</span>of God.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://she-answers-abraham.blogspot.com/p/about-us.html" target="_blank">Amanda </a>originally wrote her response in the comments section of <a href="http://she-answers-abraham.blogspot.com/2013/03/gods-outstreteched-arm.html" target="_blank">Tziporah's post</a>. <a href="http://she-answers-abraham.blogspot.com/2013/04/gods-outstretched-arm-continued.html" target="_blank">Grace</a> responded last week with a Christian perspective. Please share </span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">your </span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">thoughts in the comments section this week. </span></i></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #888888;"><br clear="all" /></span>
<span style="color: #888888;"><br clear="all" /></span>She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-16348785995925379892013-04-17T05:43:00.000-07:002013-04-17T05:43:18.278-07:00God's Outstretched Arm (continued)<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Grace:</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The outstretched arm of
God is a powerful image in Christianity, too. Witness Michelangelo’s beautiful
“Creation of Adam” <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Creation_of_Adam" target="_blank">painting </a>on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike our Jewish and Muslim cousins,
Christians are comfortable imaging/imagining God, yet without worshiping the
image itself or losing sight of the reality that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">God cannot ever be imaged/imagined in all God’s fullness and
glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>We believe that God has
created every human being in God’s image, and that, in the person of Jesus
Christ, we can see that divine image fully revealed. For this reason, we seek
to conform our lives to the life of Christ—not just to the prophetic teaching
of Jesus, but to the very <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">being </i>of
Christ—by loving wholly, unconditionally and limitlessly. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The term “Son of God” is not understood by
Christians as a reference to Joseph’s or Mary’s son; like other monotheists we
believe that God is One and undivided. “Son of God” is simply a way for our
finite brains to conceive an eternal relationship through which God gave and
gives to us God’s very self to be with us in our joys and in our suffering, and
to offer us the redemptive Grace of an ever-deepening awareness and experience
of God. That is why the historical Jesus, a Jewish man situated in time and place, can be understood as the eternal Christ—of one being with God—who can
be seen and embodied in every person. Depictions of Jesus Christ, the Icon of
God, can thus be windows for us through which God’s presence, and God’s
forever outstretched arm, may be revealed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This is a response to <a href="http://she-answers-abraham.blogspot.com/2013/03/gods-outstreteched-arm.html" target="_blank">Tziporah's post</a> of March 20th. Please share </span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">your </span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">thoughts about using anthropomorphic terms to talk about God in the comments section. </span></i></div>
She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-89374237761960237472013-03-20T06:38:00.000-07:002013-03-20T06:38:15.329-07:00God's Outstreteched Arm<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“And God took us out of
Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and with great awe, and with
signs and wonders.” (Deuteronomy 26:8)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Tziporah:</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This verse was made famous
by the rabbis who compiled the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Haggadah</i>,
the book that Jews use to recount the story of the Exodus at the Passover
Seder, and who expounded upon it as follows: “Not through an angel, not
through a seraph and not through a messenger, rather The Holy One Blessed be He
did it in His glory by Himself.” The traditional text of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Haggadah</i> focuses entirely on God as the
Redeemer of the people of Israel. While Moses is the conduit for God’s signs
and wonders in the biblical account, the rabbis removed him from the Passover narrative
so that future generations would understand that Moses was merely a messenger
or prophet of God. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both texts—the Hebrew
Bible and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Haggadah</i>—contain
numerous references to God’s strength, using anthropomorphic language to
describe God. But these descriptions are not intended to be taken literally, as
Jews believe that God has no corporeal being. Nor are we permitted to create
graven images of God; we are, however, comfortable speaking metaphorically
about God’s physical attributes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">My understanding is that
Christians regard Jesus as the son of God—some believe Jesus to be a physical
embodiment of God—whereas Muslims do not speak, even metaphorically, of God’s
physical attributes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although Jews
appear to fall somewhere between these opposing views, Maimonides (1135-1204)
cautioned against describing what God is because, by doing so, one might
inadvertently imply what God is not. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Is there anything that you
believe your tradition forbids you to say about God?</span></div>
She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-60359871552298748732013-03-13T05:57:00.003-07:002013-03-13T05:57:48.011-07:00Faithful Advocacy - Part 3<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">“I
will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you
forever. This is the Spirit of truth...”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Gospel of John</i> 14:16-17a,
NRSV)</span></span><br />
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<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Yaira:</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The
pursuit of justice is one of Judaism’s central themes. From the prophets who
cry out, demanding that we care for those who are on the margins of society; to
the many <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mitzvot </i>(commandments),
obligating us to share with those in need, welcome the stranger, and regularly
forgive debts; to the well-known instruction, “Justice, Justice, you shall
pursue!” (Deut. 16:20), Jewish tradition insists that we construct societies
that are fair and just for all people. It recognizes, too, that although not
everyone is a decision-maker, each person is obligated to do what she can.
According to one rabbinic saying, “If [a person] sits in his home and says to
himself, ‘What have the affairs of society to do with me? Let my soul dwell in
peace!’—If he does this, he overthrows the world.” (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Midrash Tanhuma, Mishpatim</i> 2)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">For
too many years, I sat at home and left justice work to others. Now I am
actively involved, but I still sometimes feel afraid and under-qualified. Here,
I draw inspiration from the story of Moses, the quintessential “reluctant
prophet.” When God called Moses to lead, Moses was afraid and doubted himself.
But God promised to be with him and guide him. Moreover, God sent someone—Moses’
brother, Aaron—to help him. In my own life, every time I have left my comfort
zone, I have found unexpected friends and helpers along the way. My tradition
demands that I do what I can to bend the world toward justice—but it doesn’t
want or expect me to do it alone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><i>This is the third post <span style="font-size: small;">about Faithful Advocacy </span>from <a href="http://she-answers-abraham.blogspot.com/p/about-us.html" target="_blank">Guest Writers</a> LeeAnne, Amanda & Yaira. <span style="font-size: small;">He<span style="font-size: small;">re ar<span style="font-size: small;">e links to <span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://she-answers-abraham.blogspot.com/2013/02/faithful-advocacy.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a> and <a href="http://she-answers-abraham.blogspot.com/2013/03/faithful-advocacy-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Please join their conversation by leaving your comment below. </span> </i></div>
She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-36327630153432382572013-03-06T06:03:00.000-08:002013-03-06T06:03:31.051-08:00Faithful Advocacy - Part 2<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">“I
will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you
forever. This is the Spirit of truth...”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Gospel of John</i> 14:16-17a,
NRSV)</span></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>Amanda</i></b>:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pre-Islamic Arabia was rife with injustice. The
wealthy and powerful clans ruled and anyone who wasn’t born into the privilege
of that life was at the mercy of the system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The weakest members of that society were often exploited and
discarded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, when our Prophet
Muhammad [Peace and Blessings be upon Him] brought the message of Islam, which demands
equality for both genders and the redistribution of wealth through obligatory
charity, it produced both a spiritual and a social revolution. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Muhammad himself was an orphan, and tradition holds
that he was unable to read or write.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although
he was known for his good character, he had very little in the way of education
or resources to make him the great revolutionary he would become later in his
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I often reflect on our prophet in
my own activism, remembering that by most worldly standards, his contemporaries
considered him “unqualified” to lead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But Muhammad’s humility and willingness to submit to God allowed him to
spread the word and advocate on behalf of the disadvantaged, producing a
beautiful new way of life for their entire community that inspires us to do the
same today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to remind myself
regularly that God doesn’t call the qualified—but qualifies the ones He calls.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><i>This is the second of three posts by <a href="http://she-answers-abraham.blogspot.com/p/about-us.html" target="_blank">Guest Writers</a> LeeAnne, Amanda & Yaira. Please join their conversation by leaving a comment below. </i></span></span></span></div>
<br />She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-45129385367400763372013-02-27T05:53:00.000-08:002013-02-27T05:53:08.261-08:00Faithful Advocacy<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“I
will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you
forever. This is the Spirit of truth...”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Gospel of John</i> 14:16-17a,
NRSV)</span>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">LeeAnne</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">:</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">In
the Christian tradition, the title of “Advocate” is a designation for the Holy
Spirit. To engage in advocacy means to give a voice to truth, to speak on
behalf of another who has less power, one with less privilege or status. We
look to Jesus’ many examples of advocacy to see that our call as Christians
includes speaking up for the powerless and working for justice. Yet taking
action can be frightening. We tell ourselves that we don’t know enough about
the issue, that someone else can speak better than we can, or that our voice
doesn’t matter. The little voices in our head say, “How can I? Not me!” </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The
truth is that people just like you and me—with jobs, families, church
obligations, and evening soccer practices—can make a big difference simply by
sharing our values and personal stories with decision-makers. People of faith
in particular can articulate the moral voice for the health of God’s creation
and our neighbors, which encourages legislators to vote for the common good.
All we are asked to do in striving for justice is to leave our comfort zones—to
leave behind our reluctance to speak up, to take action. As we open our hearts
and accept Jesus’ invitation to join him in advocating for a better world, we
hear his comforting words: “Do not be afraid.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><i>This is the first of three posts by <a href="http://she-answers-abraham.blogspot.com/p/about-us.html" target="_blank">Guest Writers</a> LeeAnne, Amanda & Yaira. Please join their conversation by leaving a comment below. </i></span></div>
She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-11664353351581338102013-02-06T08:59:00.000-08:002013-02-06T08:59:31.782-08:00Mercy (part 3)<div align="left" class="bloggerplus_text_section" style="clear: both;">
“Moses, when tending [his father-in-law] Jethro’s flock in the wilderness, proved himself a tender shepherd. He was not above carrying a little lamb that ran away in its search for water on his shoulder back to the flock. God said, ‘This tender shepherd of man's flock shall be the shepherd of my own flock.’” (<i>Exodus Rabbah</i> 2, 2)<br /><br /><b><i>Tziporah</i></b>:<br />This biographical sketch of Moses the shepherd is found in a collection of classical <i>midrashim</i>, or legends, written in the 9th-11th centuries. When I read Yasmina’s post about the Prophet Mohammed, this story immediately came to mind. In particular, the verse of Quran describing Mohammed himself as “a mercy to all creatures” struck me as so similar to the rabbinic sages’ description of Moses’ compassion toward the lamb. How can a prophet or leader, a teacher or parent, relate to God’s creatures except with mercy and lovingkindness? Without these qualities, he or she would surely fail. One of the 99 names of God that I have studied with Yasmina is ‘<i>Al Rabb</i>, the Master, Lord, Nurturer or Sustainer. God nurtures His creatures through eloquent guidance and educational discipline, signs and tests. Similarly, God nurtured Moses, offering divine guidance and signs, as well as discipline and tests, including the test of the runaway lamb described in this legend. The etymology of ‘<i>Al Rabb</i> is akin that of the Hebrew word <i>HaRav</i>, the master or teacher, an honorific that the rabbis bestow upon Moses. A striking parallel in our religious traditions is the extent to which our prophets are a shining reflection of the divine attribute of mercy.</div>
She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-70734214981248147452013-01-30T07:30:00.000-08:002013-01-30T16:56:00.122-08:00Mercy (continued)<div align="left" class="bloggerplus_text_section" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Dear Readers, </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Please add your comments to Grace’s response below. We hope this new format of posting<br />each writer’s response separately will enable you to join our conversation more easily. My response will appear next Wednesday. Until then, we look forward to hearing from you, Tziporah</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (<i>The Gospel of Matthew</i> 5:7)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><i>Grace:</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I am grateful, Yasmina, for <a href="http://she-answers-abraham.blogspot.com/2013/01/mercy.html" target="_blank">your words</a> about the Prophet Mohammed, for I agree </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">that misconceptions about him, his teachings, and his followers can only lead to fears and misgivings that create barriers where bridges are needed. Mohammed’s teachings about women will surely surprise many Christians, including some who fail to see that even the Apostle Paul (who is commonly viewed as misogynistic) admonished husbands to “love your </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself for her.” (<i>Ephesians</i> 5:25) </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">The concept of mercy lies, too, at the very heart of Christian teaching. For example, in the beloved </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">Parable of the Good Samaritan, one’s neighbor is defined as “the one who showed mercy.” (<i>The Gospel of Luke</i> 10:37) Similarly, this biblical verse virtually mirrors the <i>Hadith</i> you cite: “There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others.” (<i>James</i> 2:13a) Our three religious traditions are different from one another in particularity. Yet, whether it is through Moses, Jesus, or Mohammed that our gaze is directed to God, we come to discover a </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">universal truth that love of God and the manifestation of God’s love for us is not complete until we can express that love for one another, for all people everywhere, and, as Mohammed emphasized, for all of God’s creation.</span></div>
She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-22852920679852538472013-01-23T07:47:00.000-08:002013-01-23T07:47:52.913-08:00Mercy<i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Dear Readers, please join our conversation by commenting on Yasmina's explanation of th<span style="font-size: small;">is </span>verse of Quran, written in honor of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammed [Peace and Blessings be upon him]. Tziporah & Grace will be responding in the coming weeks.</span></i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">“</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">We sent thee [O
Muhammad] not but as a Mercy to all creatures.”</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;"> (<i>al-Anbiya</i> 21:107)</span>
</div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yasmina:</span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">Not bound
by time, not limited to a group, not restricted to humans; this short verse describes
the prophet of Islam</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> [Peace and Blessings be upon him]</span> as a Mercy that is manifested in the Book he was given and
in his example, which Muslims seek to emulate.
The occasion of his day of birth more than 1,4<span style="font-size: small;">00</span> years ago is an opportunity to
contemplate the meanings of that mercy. Misunderstood
by many today, his teachings challenged the modes of conduct fourteen centuries
ago; but the issues he condemned and the actions he praised are still relevant today.
Among these issues are the treatment of women and stewardship of the
environment. From the beginning, he stressed to the men of his time that “The
best among you is the one who is best to his wife</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">”</span></span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 115%;">1</span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>and
reinforced the need for stewardship of the earth through the teachings of the
Quran. When asked, “Messenger of God, will we have a reward on account of
animals? He answered: “There is a reward on account of every living thing.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 115%;">2</span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>Most of
all, his emphasis was on the importance of good character, clearly indicating
that dealing with people in an honorable manner is a means<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2735771248514471225" name="_GoBack"></a>
for acquiring the Mercy of God: “God will not show mercy to a person who does
not show mercy to other people.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 115%;">3</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 115%;">1</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Muslim: Hadith</span></i><span style="font-size: small;"> 3466</span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 115%;">2</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Bukhari: Hadith</span></i><span style="font-size: small;"> 378</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 115%;">3</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Bukhari</span></i><span style="font-size: small;">: Hadith 375</span></span></div>
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She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-3672149710269398432013-01-09T05:54:00.000-08:002013-01-09T05:54:21.034-08:00The New Year<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him. (Psalms 37:7)</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Grace:</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Having just celebrated New
Year’s Day on the Gregorian calendar, I am mindful of the variety of New Year’s
observances in different cultures and religious traditions. Most mark the New
Year in a particularly momentous way, whether solemn or festive. Interestingly,
this is not the case for Christians who follow the liturgical Church calendar
of the West and observe the religious New Year on the first Sunday of Advent, four
weeks prior to Christmas. Neither a fast day nor a feast day, the first Sunday
of Advent introduces a new cycle of readings from Scripture, ensuring that the
complete Old and New Testaments, the Psalms, and the Gospels, will be read in
weekly worship over the course of three years. At Advent, church vestments mark
the New Year with the color blue; one of four candles on an Advent wreath may
be lit during the worship service, and hymns anticipating the coming of Christ,
such as “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” are sung. No fireworks on this day; not even
great ceremony. The New Year comes quietly, as pondering hearts open to prepare
Him room.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">What special meanings and
rituals are associated with the New Year in your faith tradition?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Yasmina:</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The New <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hijri</i> Year<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span></span></span>
also comes quietly with no celebrations or rituals associated with it. As a
matter of fact, the concept of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hijri</i>
calendar was introduced years after the death of the Prophet Muhammad [Peace
and Blessings be upon Him]. However, the end of one year and the beginning of
another one remind Muslims that they should treat every day as an opportunity
for reviewing their words and actions. It is also an occasion to remember that
time is a gift one should treat with wise care, as illustrated by the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hadith</i>: “Take advantage of five matters
before the passing of five others; your youth before become old; your health
before you become sick; your wealth before you become poor; your free time
before you get preoccupied, and your life before your death.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[2]</span></span></span></span>
This is an appeal to us to take action and give thanks as long as we still can.
For this reason, turning the page on another calendar year is seen not as a cause
for celebration, but more as a chance for contemplation followed by righteous
action.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Tziporah:</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Both the verse in Psalms
and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hadith</i> evoke the solemnity of
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rosh Hashanah</i>, the Jewish New Year.
Like the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hijri</i> calendar, the Jewish
calendar we now follow is a later calculation of the early rabbis (1<sup>st</sup>
century BCE-1<sup>st</sup> century CE), who also instituted many of the rituals
of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rosh Hashanah</i>—especially those
involving reflection on one’s behavior and repentance of one’s sins during the
previous year. Throughout the centuries, complex liturgical poems were added to
the public prayers. Many of these poems describe the martyrs of previous
generations, while others remind us that our lives hang in the balance as God
judges our deeds. One example contains the haunting refrain, “On <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rosh Hashanah</i> it is written and on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yom Kippur</i> it is sealed;” this refers to
the fate of all those who will die in the coming year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The month leading up to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rosh Hashanah</i> through the ten days following it are known as the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yamim Noraim</i>, the Days of Awe, which end
with a full day of fasting and repentance on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yom Kippur</i>, the Day of Atonement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At this time of the New Year, we wait in stillness for God’s decree.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">[1]</span></span></span> <span style="font-family: Georgia;">The first year of the <i>Hijri</i> calendar is the year the Prophet [Peace
and Blessings be upon Him] and his followers migrated from Mecca to Medina. It
corresponds to 622 CE in the Gregorian calendar.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">[2]</span></span></span> <span style="font-family: Georgia;">Narrated by <i>Ibn Abbas</i> in <i>Musnad Imam
Ahmad</i></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-13422967294783002082012-12-19T07:37:00.000-08:002012-12-19T07:37:05.783-08:00Increase the Light<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“When a person lights one candle from another,
neither flame is diminished.” </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bemidbar
Rabbah </i>13)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Tziporah</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Georgia;">:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">My favorite night of
Hanukkah is the last night, when each of us lights our favorite menorah. That’s
45 candles: 8, plus 1 server to light the others, times 5 family members,
burning for at least 30 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
spouse usually remarks that our dining room resembles the nave of a cathedral,
which conjures memories of my childhood visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New
York City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the text that I quoted, the
early rabbis use the physical properties of a candle’s flame to focus on light
as a metaphor for wisdom. This is one message of Hanukkah, the celebration of
which involves adding candles each night to increase the light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many religions prescribe candle
lighting and singing to dispel the darkness of the winter solstice. When we light
a flame in our own homes and houses of worship, and we keep one another in our
prayers, I have no doubt that we will increase the light in the world and the
warmth in our hearts. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Grace:</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Tziporah, your delightful family
tradition on the last night of Hanukkah makes me smile as I imagine all that
flame! It also brings to mind these words from a familiar song: “If everyone
lit just one little candle, what a bright world this would be!” That same song makes
the connection you make between the light of a candle and a prayer that brings
light into dark places. How much we need to heed that call to prayer in our
world today: Darkness and evil can never be eliminated, I think, but I also
believe with people of every faith tradition that darkness cannot prevail where
the light of God shines. A favorite verse of mine from Christian scripture
affirms, “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome
it.” (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Gospel of John</i> 1:5) In
another account, Jesus speaks words that I see as applying to people of good
will everywhere: “<i>You</i> are the light of the world.” (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Gospel of Matthew</i> 5:14, emphasis mine) What an awesome calling
to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">be </i>light for one another!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Yasmina</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Georgia;">:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Although the Islamic
tradition does not call for physical lighting of candles, the notion of sharing
and increasing the light brings to my mind many positive associations. I recall
immediately the beginning of a Hadith that I have memorized. It is a Hadith about
charity; the type of charity that is not limited to financial giving, but
encompasses any form of voluntarily sharing one’s knowledge, time, advice and
emotional support: “Charity does not in any way decrease the wealth.”</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">*</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> Many verses of the Quran and other Hadiths
emphasize the superiority of light over darkness and the many forms in which each
is manifested. Light is wisdom and blessings, and all that is of benefit to us.
Light is also equated with prayer, guidance, knowledge, piety and
righteousness; these noble qualities will all take the form of physical light
on the Day of Judgment. There is one last, unique depiction of light that is
visible to the angels and attracts them to visit its source: it is the light
that emanates from houses where the remembrance of God is fundamental.</span></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">*</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Charity does not in any way decrease the wealth; and the servant who
forgives, God adds to his respect; and the one who shows humility, God elevates
him in the estimation of the people.” (<i>Sahih
Muslim</i>, Book 32, Hadith 6264)</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
</div>
</div>
She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-69385364140847025382012-11-28T05:39:00.000-08:002012-11-28T05:39:49.614-08:00Walking with the Angels<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Yasmina:</span></i></b></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">Hajj, or “setting
out with purpose,” is the fifth pillar of Islam. Known as the pilgrimage to
Mecca, Hajj is a journey that millions of Muslims across the globe dream to
take. The essence of Hajj is to be granted forgiveness from God; its meanings
are countless and its benefits far reaching. In October, I was blessed with the
opportunity to undertake Hajj and learn from this experience. One of the
unforgettable lessons is the depth of purpose that was driving these millions
of individuals, and the place where I felt it manifested the most was during
the <i>tawaf</i>, or “circling the <i>ka’ba</i>,” the first house built for the
worship of God. As I joined the thousands of worshippers in the <i>tawaf</i>, I felt a sense of calm, safety,
peace and serenity that I had never felt before. While performing this ritual,
each was busy with individual, silent prayers: praising God, asking for His
forgiveness and guidance, offering supplications to heal the sick and invoking His
mercy. Praying among millions, my sense of self was reduced as my soul yearned
to connect with The Creator. I could not but think of the planets’
counter-clockwise motion as I walked in this manner; I could not help but
remember that the angels are engaged in the same movement around a House of
worship in heaven. It was as though we were diving—in silence and total
submission—into a state of utter love and awe to The Most High. As we finished
the seventh round of the <i>tawaf</i>, I
emerged from the depths of that state to recognize Hajj as a quest for
knowledge and better understanding of myself, the world around me and, most of
all, God, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2735771248514471225" name="_GoBack"></a>The Truth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Tziporah:</span></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">I remember when I
first read about the <i>tawaf</i> in a
memoir by a British-Muslim physician who was working in Saudi Arabia and
decided to journey to Mecca for Hajj. Like you, Yasmina, she wrote about
feeling like a small part of a larger whole while walking the seven circuits
around the <i>ka’ba</i>: “As I looked up and
surveyed the multistranded circle of humanity adorning the Ka’aba, a giant,
rich choker of pilgrim pearls, I found myself among them. In this diversity,
finally I belonged. Islam was many-faceted and I was simply one.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></span></span></span>
My own experiences with rituals that involve moving in circles have been
similar. As a bride under the wedding canopy circling the groom, I felt a sense
of serenity and solitude—despite the presence of many family and friends—and a
deep conviction that I was not only joining my life to my spouse’s life but
also that we were connecting to God. The physical movement of these rituals,
coupled with the “music” emanating from the surrounding souls, transports us to
another realm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Grace:</span></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">How transformative
Hajj, Yasmina! While I have not had the privilege of participating in such a
major pilgrimage, I do share both your and Tziporah’s regard for ritual that,
in solitude and serenity, binds us to God and to one another. For that reason,
I take periodic retreats to a Benedictine monastery, where I spend several days
in total silence, enveloped, as you describe, in the peace of God’s abiding
presence and love. Many Christians are now reclaiming an ancient religious
practice of walking a spiritual labyrinth, whose singular, yet maze-like,
circular path alternately narrows and expands as one moves slowly to its center.
Perhaps in imitation of early Christian pilgrimages, walking the labyrinth
reminds us of the recurring patterns in our life’s journey and brings fresh
revelation about submission, guidance, trust, and promise. Some place a pebble
somewhere along the labyrinth’s path as a symbol of a burden being released to
God or as an offering of thanks to God for mercy and forgiveness. Even this “pilgrimage in microcosm” helps
readjust a skewed human compass!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br clear="all" /></span>
<br />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 115%;">Ahmed,
Qanta A., </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Land-Invisible-Women-Doctors-Journey/dp/1402210876/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353591475&sr=1-1&keywords=qanta+ahmed"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 115%;">In the Land of Invisible Women</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 115%;">: <i>A Female Doctor’s Journey in the Saudi
Kingdom</i></span></a><i><span style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 115%;">, </span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 115%;">Chapter 14: The
Million-Man Wheel, p. 149.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735771248514471225.post-53010884241688316562012-11-14T04:09:00.000-08:002012-11-14T04:09:09.834-08:00Thanksgiving<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“…give
thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God…”<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> (I Thessalonians 5:18a)</i></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Grace:</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Particularly
at Thanksgiving, St. Paul’s admonition to give thanks in all circumstances is
readily affirmed by most Christians and persons of other faiths too. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the statement that giving thanks in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> circumstances is </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“</span>God’s will</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">”</span> may
strike a particularly discordant note to one whose life is in tangles or to one
who struggles with a serious illness or a deep hurt or grief. Once, when I was
in a particularly awful situation, I found myself responding with anger to
these words. I questioned how I could be expected to give thanks; perhaps I
confused giving thanks <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in</i> all
circumstances with giving thanks <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">for</i>
such a circumstance. Over time, I have seen how deeply my spiritual life has
been shaped by attention to gratitude and thanks to God <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in </i>every circumstance. In fact, it is in the most bitter of
circumstances that my spirit is lifted when I realize just how many blessings
abound, even in the midst of suffering. What has your own faith tradition
taught you about thanksgiving?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Yasmina:</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Upon
reading your reflections, I remembered how as a child I was taught that the
etiquette for replying to someone’s “How are you?” is to say first <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Alhamdulillah</i>, which means, All praise
and thanks are due to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, it
is sometimes the only thing a Muslim answers, eliminating the need to give
further details. As an adult, I have come to appreciate the five daily prayers—or
seventeen cycles of prayer—I am commanded to perform every day because my
preoccupation with daily life can divert my attention from “giving thanks in
all circumstances.” Knowing that I have to plan my day according to the times
during which I need to perform those prayers helps me to refocus, reflect, and
transcend my worries and pain, as well as remember the bounties I have been
blessed with. Muslims, who stop whatever they are doing to engage in the
prescribed prayers to recite the opening sentence of each of the seventeen
cycles, find themselves in a state of thanksgiving as they say these words:
“Praise be to God the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds.” (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">al-Fatihah</i> 1:2)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Tziporah:</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Grace,
I am glad you raised this question and grateful for your emphasis on giving
thanks <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in</i> all circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I, too, have found myself in difficult
circumstances struggling to recognize the blessings in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to Jewish tradition, a person is
supposed to recite a blessing upon hearing bad news, in particular the news
that someone has died. The prescribed blessing is “Praised is the True Judge.”
I have often choked out these words, against my will, without the proper
intention of praising God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I believe
that it is appropriate to say the words of praise or thanks without truly
feeling them and hope that feelings of praise and thanks will eventually
follow. The early rabbis taught, “One is obligated to bless upon the bad as he
would upon the good….” (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mishnah Berakhot</i>
5:5) Perhaps Paul and the early rabbis were responding to a natural human
tendency that they observed: While it is not easy for a person in pain to offer
thanks to God, there are always things for which to be thankful; and it
is a worthy endeavor to offer thanks even when it is difficult to do so.</span></div>
<br />She Answers Abrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00100433553612114433noreply@blogger.com2