Joe and Mr. Rashid: An Annotated Interreligious Dialogue

Qasim Rashid
Just as Isis claims to be Muslim the KKK and LRA claim to be Christian. It is their acts that are not Islamic or Christian. So how about this? Let’s stand together against all terrorists and extremists. Don’t let them divide us and don’t fall for their traps. Telling people you want them to die is not Christ like. It is KKK like. Let’s rise above the hate with Muslim-Christian unity for peace. What do you say?

This non-Christian has the patience of a saint. A saint. I usually block at this point. And he’s right, it isn’t Christ-like. Christ would want us to be loving and charitable to Muslims even if they were as evil as Joe thinks. Heck, Christ even wants me to love Joe.

Joe
Jesus Christ is the alpha and omega. The beginning and the end. The Quran cites psalms and proverbs and talks about the Bible.
The Quran was written 400 years after Muhammads death
It’s not legit
Even an atheist can compare the two and show you the Quran essentially nullifies itself. Just do some research and see what’s out there.

Qasim Rashid
The Quran recognizes Jesus Christ as a true prophet of God. You’re wrong, the Quran was written in the life of Prophet Muhammad(sa). Rest assured I’ve studied this in detail but it matters not if you accept it as true or not. That’s not what I’m asking. I’m asking this:

Will you stand united in Muslim-Christian unity for peace and against terrorism and hatred?

*hand raise* I will. Also, Joe? APOSTROPHES.

Joe
Jesus is not a prophet of god
He is god
He became flesh. He was crucified dead and buried and rose on the 3rd day.

Qasim Rashid
Glad that’s where you find your comfort. I’m asking this:

Will you stand united in Muslim-Christian unity for peace and against terrorism and hatred?

Joe
I’m not going to harm anybody but I doubt you’ll see that happen in this lifetime. Muslims and christians are polar opposites

Qasim Rashid
I disagree. This is what the Christian Negus of Abyssinia said about Muslims and Christians at the time of Prophet Muhammad(sa). The righteous Christian King said, “Our faiths are two rays of light from the same sun.” He stood united with Muslims. Muslims stood united with him.

Will you stand united in Muslim-Christian unity for peace and against terrorism and hatred?

Joe
[No response]

Please notice that the Muslim, whom I’ve been told belongs to a religion that requires him to kill those who won’t convert, was just given a perfectly good opening to proselytize to Joe, tell him he had to stop believing in Jesus and convert to Islam or face death, something along those lines.  And instead of doing that, instead of even disagreeing with Joe’s creed, he murmured respect for his beliefs and asked for a Muslim-Christian alliance. Smooth.

Qasim Rashid
What do you say brother? Let’s stand united for peace and love against terrorism and hatred. I believe that is what Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad(sa) both taught. Are you in for peace?

Joe
Look what happened in Ohio today cause of some Somalian shooter. This is a fallen world because of mans sin. Sure you and I stand for peace but we can’t control what other people do cause they have their own free will.

Qasim Rashid
He wasn’t a shooter. He had a knife and he was justly stopped, thankfully. And you’re right we cannot control what others do but we can control what we do. That is our free will.

And if we stand for peace and love then I believe we can overcome the hatred and violence of extremists. It makes me really happy to hear you say we can stand for peace together. God bless you brother. This is the love that Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad(sa) taught us to have for one another. We don’t have to agree in religion to agree we have love for each other as equal human beings.

Joe
[No response]

Thank you, Mr. Rashid. As a blogger I’m already getting the verbal spank for not drawing enough attention to the stabber’s religion or race even though that information had not been released when I made my previous blog post. I sometimes shudder at the thought of how horrible it would be if every time a Christian misbehaved, Christianity was blamed for it. Steubenville would have been invaded and forcibly liberated by half a dozen civilized nations by now, that’s for sure.

Qasim Rashid
I see you’re in Florida. I have close friends in Florida who are American Muslims. If you ever are up to breaking bread together than it would be my privilege to host you. I pray we can build on this friendship to promote true peace and love for all people. Let me know, ok?

Joe
I got you man

Qasim Rashid
❤ peace brother. Have a blessed evening.

——

Will it always end up positive like this? No, but that shouldn’t stop us from trying. We have free will, after all. This is the power of dialogue. Join this drive for unity and peace. Sign up as a #MuslimAlly at trueislam.com and spread the word.

I’m on the verge of tears. I want to have dinner at Quasim Rashid’s friends’ house in Florida. I’m packing my bags.

Here’s how it breaks down, to me. And I’ve said this all before, but it needs to be repeated. As Christians, we are required to love everyone. Everyone including our enemies. Jesus was pretty explicit about that fact.  If Muslims were as evil as Joe thought they were, we would still be required to lay down our lives for their sake. How much more when reasonable, patient, charitable Muslims like Mr. Rashid exist?

I don’t think that Joe considers me a Christian– this type of Bible-thumper usually thinks that Catholics aren’t Christians either. But for the record, as a Christian: yes, Mr. Rashid. I will join you in Muslim-Christian unity for peace, however I can. And I would love to eat dinner with you if I’m ever in Florida as long as it’s gluten-free. And you may have dinner at my house if ever you’re in town, and I’ll try to cook or probably order takeout or find a frozen dinner that meets any dietary restrictions you might have as well. I’m sorry you have to put up with this nonsense, but at least you and I both got posts out of it, right?

(image via Pixabay)