Running to Pray

Christian tears in a Muslim holy place

I arrived at Sheikh Zayed Grand mosque in Abu Dhabi as the calls to join Friday prayers resounded in the background. “‎الـصـلاة ‎حـي عــلى الــصـلاة، حـي عــلـى الـصـلاة‎, ‎الله أكــبــر” / “God is great. Come to the prayer, come to pray” resounded through the marble floors as people were literally running through the entrance to join prayers. That image, of people running to join collective worship – to get on their knees and pray in submission to God – brought tears to my eyes. I became overwhelmed. In my life visiting many Churches and Mosques during my travels, I had never seen such profound eagerness. Unfortunately some attendees were not allowed to join due to social distancing rules; those people were outside the entrance with me, feeling quite frustrated. The eagerness to worship amongst everyone was profound. I even found myself uttering “الحمد ليسوع” (meaning, ‘Praise be to Jesus’) at the atmosphere of peace, which other Christian writers have also noted when visiting mosques. Seeing thousands of people bow, and position their bodies with humility seeking mercy, is powerful. It is something that both Muslims and Christians alike can agree in – the need for God to help us.

The very human struggle with sin or hedonism is another thing that relates people of different faiths. In no way does this mean that the ‘sins’ are the same, or the way of dealing with them is the same; though what it does mean, is that there is a shared experience of seeking to honour God above one’s own desires, and the struggle that is found in each individual trying to achieve that goal. Whilst we are often taught to differentiate ourselves by our beliefs, sometimes more love and peace (and even learnings about those differences too) can be achieved through sharing what is similar.

“The preservation of peace is a Christian ideal.”

For my Christian audience, it’s important to remember that “Jesus came for sinners, not Christians” – who is everyone, as we seek to come closer to the truth of the divine nature of God. In that sense, who are we to judge and deny people praying to God seeking his mercy and forgiveness for their sin? So many people are searching for peace. Christians are called to be peacemakers, and the bible calls Jesus the ‘prince of peace’, who we should aspire to follow. There may be theological differences, but there’s also shared acknowledgment of a broken heart in need of comfort from a God whose power expands beyond any conceptual idea you or I could think about.

God, steward my heart to love others more, and love you more.