By Fr. Rif'at Bader, Chief Editor at abouna.org
"Yes, the so-called 'Islamic State' drove us out of our home, but we congratulate the Muslims on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha as we are confident that is no relationship between Islam and terrorism as terrorism has nothing to do with religion." This is what a Christian displaced from Mosul said on the day of solidarity with the displaced Iraqis that has recently been organized by the Catholic Center for Studies and Media and the Royal Institute of Inter-Faith Studies, in cooperation with Caritas Jordan and Our Lady of Peace Center.
These words expressed by one of the displaced are very impressive. He was, by the way, a wealthy businessman who had to leave everything behind, give up his work and his fortune to experience a new life of bitter homelessness by leaving the land of his fathers and forefathers accompanied by his wife, children and mother simply because he has a ''different religion". Given the choice to continue his life by abandoning his religion, he did not refuse to embrace "the other religion" because he hates it, but because he wanted to preserve the beautiful pluralism that decorated his East for many centuries.
His words convey congratulations to Muslims--his brethren and partners in citizenship in the bleeding Arabism and in the human dignity that no matter how weakened it gets, it remains sacred being created by the hands of the Almighty, the Creator and the master of the universe. He congratulates the Muslims marking Eid Al-Adha while realizing that any insult directed to him would imply insulting Muslims, and whoever made him homeless would have ruined the harmonious image of the East… this East which witnessed several wars where none of which marked the elimination of the other religion as we see nowadays.
Marking the Eid and on the occasion of the congratulations conveyed by the Christians of Mosul to their Muslim brethren, we reiterate the last paragraph in the final statement of the day of solidarity with the displaced Iraqis which motivates us to pray to the Lord to protect our country, and restore tranquility to the hearts and minds of peoples. In line with the statement we say:
"Marking the advent of Eid Al-Adha, we covey our sincere congratulations to His Majesty the King, the Jordanian people and the Islamic nation. We call on all Muslims in the world to pray wholeheartedly in these blessed days so that the Almighty would endow his blessings on our region, and restore peace and security to the neighboring countries particularly in Syria and Iraq. We also call on them to pray for the international community to act in unison to promote a climate of peace and justice and restore the displaced to their homes and countries so as to contribute as they did in the past to building their modern democratic societies through the promotion of the values of forgiveness, reconciliation and human rights, within the framework of good citizenship and constitutional equality between all the components of the same society. "
In association with the Christians of Mosul, we say to our Muslim brethren everywhere: Happy Eid Al-Adha
Source: http://en.abouna.org/en/holylands/christians-mosul-convey-good-wishes-muslims-eid-al-adha
"Yes, the so-called 'Islamic State' drove us out of our home, but we congratulate the Muslims on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha as we are confident that is no relationship between Islam and terrorism as terrorism has nothing to do with religion." This is what a Christian displaced from Mosul said on the day of solidarity with the displaced Iraqis that has recently been organized by the Catholic Center for Studies and Media and the Royal Institute of Inter-Faith Studies, in cooperation with Caritas Jordan and Our Lady of Peace Center.
These words expressed by one of the displaced are very impressive. He was, by the way, a wealthy businessman who had to leave everything behind, give up his work and his fortune to experience a new life of bitter homelessness by leaving the land of his fathers and forefathers accompanied by his wife, children and mother simply because he has a ''different religion". Given the choice to continue his life by abandoning his religion, he did not refuse to embrace "the other religion" because he hates it, but because he wanted to preserve the beautiful pluralism that decorated his East for many centuries.
His words convey congratulations to Muslims--his brethren and partners in citizenship in the bleeding Arabism and in the human dignity that no matter how weakened it gets, it remains sacred being created by the hands of the Almighty, the Creator and the master of the universe. He congratulates the Muslims marking Eid Al-Adha while realizing that any insult directed to him would imply insulting Muslims, and whoever made him homeless would have ruined the harmonious image of the East… this East which witnessed several wars where none of which marked the elimination of the other religion as we see nowadays.
Marking the Eid and on the occasion of the congratulations conveyed by the Christians of Mosul to their Muslim brethren, we reiterate the last paragraph in the final statement of the day of solidarity with the displaced Iraqis which motivates us to pray to the Lord to protect our country, and restore tranquility to the hearts and minds of peoples. In line with the statement we say:
"Marking the advent of Eid Al-Adha, we covey our sincere congratulations to His Majesty the King, the Jordanian people and the Islamic nation. We call on all Muslims in the world to pray wholeheartedly in these blessed days so that the Almighty would endow his blessings on our region, and restore peace and security to the neighboring countries particularly in Syria and Iraq. We also call on them to pray for the international community to act in unison to promote a climate of peace and justice and restore the displaced to their homes and countries so as to contribute as they did in the past to building their modern democratic societies through the promotion of the values of forgiveness, reconciliation and human rights, within the framework of good citizenship and constitutional equality between all the components of the same society. "
In association with the Christians of Mosul, we say to our Muslim brethren everywhere: Happy Eid Al-Adha
Source: http://en.abouna.org/en/holylands/christians-mosul-convey-good-wishes-muslims-eid-al-adha
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