Remembering the birth of Jesus at Christmas time is sometimes associated with the thought that Jesus is the only way to God. In Islam when the Prophet Muhammad is remembered he is thought to have brought the final and most complete revelation of God. This tendency toward exclusivity is present in both Islam and Christianity and in the news we even hear of an aggressive and sometimes militant Islam. However among the Shia scholars of Iran we heard a different message.
Speaking at an inter-faith dialogue meeting one Shia scholar said, “Each divine religion is unique and a complete religion in itself. Differences are important and necessary to bring a more complete understanding of God and God’s way.” He quoted from the Quran 5:48, “We (God) have ordained a law and assigned a path for each of you (different religions). Had God desired, God could have made you one community (religion); but it is God’s wish to strengthen you by that which God has bestowed on you. Take the lead in all good works!”
The Shia scholar, Allamah Tabatabai (died 1981) who is one of the most highly respected interpreters of the Quran in Iran, said that if a person of any faith lives according to the knowledge of God that has been revealed within his or her faith tradition, there is no fault with that person. If, however, that person disregards that knowledge of God and God’s desire for his or her life, then there is fault no matter what religion he or she follows.
Practicing what we know to be God’s desire is perhaps a challenge for each person, particularly for those with power and maybe Jesus coming in weakness, as a baby, can be a guide for us. I remember what one of our Iranian scholar friends said, “Power tends to lean the wrong way”.
See our book for more reflection of our experience in Iran.
Evelyn and Wallace Shellenberger 