A mosque is a Muslim place of worship. This photograph was taken in Abu Dhabi of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. In 2017 it was re-named: The Mariam Umm Eisa Mosque which translates, Mary, Mother of Jesus.
The mosque was renamed to form an interfaith link in the United Arab Emirate where people from over 200 nationalities live including Christians from Europe and the Philippines. How very thoughtful, generous and kind. But some Christians got sniffy right away and said with an air of righteous indignation, "Notice, they didn't name the mosque, Mary, Mother of God." That's right, Islam doesn't recognize the divinity of Jesus.
But why can't we just be happy and share the joy? Mary is profoundly loved by Islam. The whole of the 19th chapter of the Quran is dedicated to her memory. She is mentioned many more times in the Quran than in the entire New Testament. Naming the mosque after Mary, Mother of Jesus echoes the Gospels. So what's to argue about?
On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said, to him, "They have no wine." John 2: 1-3
Within Islam there is a mystical thread called Sufism which is a system of belief and practice in which Muslims seek to find the truth of Divine Love and knowledge through a direct experience of God. And what is that, but to learn compassion which is to feel deeply with other people. Americans are turning against one another lately, especially against those who are considered other. And Muslims are often considered to be other.
Maybe Mary can help us find our way back to one another. Not blue and white, blond Mary, but the brown-skinned and dark-eyed Mary of Nazareth. Mary, the minority woman from Nazareth. Nazareth - forgotten, laughed at and backwater. Mary, whose name means strong or obstinate. Pregnant, revolution (turn-around) Mary who sang out to her pregnant elder relative:
"...for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name, and his faithful love extends age after age toward those who fear him. He has used the power of his arm, he has routed the arrogant of heart. He has pulled down princes from their thrones and raised high the lowly. He has filled the starving with good things, sent the rich away empty..." Luke 1:49-53
The name Mary means rebellion. Today, learning compassion, acceptance and love is rebellious. I'd suggest we're not as good at this as we might think we are.
