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19 Ghayb - The Unseen

Posted on 1st May, 2021

19 Ghayb - The Unseen

 

This time again it is good to start with some information about the letter ghayn which does not exist in our alphabet. The transcription ‘gh’ represents a guttural sound, rather like a Parisian ‘r’.

 

The word ghayb is found 48 times in the Qur’an. It is translated in different ways by Abdel Haleem. Here are some examples:

He [God] has the keys to the unseen: no one knows them but Him. He know all that is in the land and sea. No leaf falls without His knowledge (Q 6:39).

 

            God know the secrets of the heavens and earth: He sees everything you do (Q 49:18).

 

Say: “God! Creator of the heavens and earth! Knower of all that is hidden and all that is open (Q 39:46).

 

This last example is particularly interesting. It refers to the belief in God the Creator which is fundamental for both Christians and Muslims. The first message Muhammad was called to proclaim was “Recite! In the name of your Lord who created” (Q 96:1) and Christians recite in their profession of faith: “I believe in God, the Creator of heaven and earth”.

 

God is the Self-Subsistent (Al-Qayyûm), not requiring anything or anyone to justify his existence. He is the Rich (Al-Ghanî), the one who has no need of anything. So there was no necessity for God to create the universe and all that it contains, including ourselves. We can say that the very fact that we exist is part of the Mystery (al-ghayb).

 

This surely leads us to praise and glorify God. Muslims pray: “Praise belongs to God, Lord of the worlds” (Q 1:2). Christians proclaim: “Glory to God in the highest”. We are united in this belief and in the way it influences our prayer.

 

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INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE

The importance of Interreligious Dialogue

“Interreligious dialogue is a necessary condition for peace in the world, and so it is a duty for Christians as well as other religious communities” (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium no.250)

This dialogue is part of the mission of the Church, together with the worship of God through prayer and liturgy, the witness of a Christian way of life, service to fellow human beings, proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel and instructing people in the faith.

What is dialogue?

Dialogue means “all positive and constructive interreligious relations with individuals and communities of other faiths which are directed at mutual understanding and enrichment, in obedience to truth and respect for freedom” (Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Dialogue and Proclamation no.9)

What is the aim of this dialogue?

The aim is threefold:

Imam Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi and Pope Francis meet.

 -   To live in peace and harmony with people of different religious traditions;

-    To work together for the benefit of all our brothers and sisters;

-    To help one another to respond sincerely and generously to God’s will for us.

To whom is this dialogue directed?

This dialogue “should be potentially universal, that is, all-embracing and capable of including all” (Pope Paul VI, Ecclesiam Suam, no.79).

Missionaries of Africa

“Our Society was founded in 1868 by Cardinal Lavigerie, Archbishop of Algiers. It is a Missionary Institute of Priests and Brothers living in community. Its aim is to proclaim the Gospel to the peoples of the African world. Because of its origins the Society has always had a particular interest in Muslims” (Constitutions art.1).

In Liverpool

Here in St. Vincent’s, we see our participation in interreligious dialogue as:

  • Establishing contact with local Muslim communities and communities of other faiths.
  • Cooperating with other bodies engaged in interreligious relations.
  • Participating in the work of interreligious committees (Fr Michael and Fr Terry are members of the Archdiocesan committee for Ecumenism, which covers also interreligious relations; Fr Michael attends the meetings of Faith Leaders).