It warms my heart that the “Christmas story” as told in the Bible is also found in the Qur’an. Here it is: The Christmas story begins in Chapter 19, aptly named Mary. The Qur’an (19:16-17) begins, “Recount in the Book how Mary withdrew from her people to an eastern place and kept herself in seclusion…… Continue reading The Christmas Story in the Qur’an
As the Christmas season approaches, let us briefly reflect on the connections between Prophet Muhammad, who considered Jesus his “brother,” and the Virgin Mary, Jesus’s mother. Muhammad and Mary are similar in many ways. One commonality is that both were said to have been visited by the Angel Gabriel to usher in God’s plans for…… Continue reading Muhammad and Mary – A Christmas Reflection
What can Prophet Muhammad’s encounters with ancient Christians teach us about today’s relationship between Christianity and Islam? More than you may think, according to Rice University’s Craig Considine, a lecturer of sociology. He examines these interactions in his newest book, People of the Book: Prophet Muhammad’s Encounters with Christians. Considine describes the book as biographical…… Continue reading Order “People of the Book – Prophet Muhammad’s Encounters with Christians”
Pastor Gregor Hohberg, Rabbi Andreas Nachama and Imam Kadir Sanci are working together A building project by Jews, Christians, and Muslims looking for a place to meet becomes a reality today as faith leaders unite to lay the first bricks for a groundbreaking interfaith structure in the middle of Berlin, Germany. Known as the House…… Continue reading “Churmosquagogue” Lays First Bricks For Peace
Kuehn Malvezzi’s depiction of the “churmosquagogue,” or the House of One in Berlin – Photo credit – Kuehn Malvezzi Abrahamic worshippers in Berlin have united to create a “churmosquagogue,” a building that will include three places of worship, all under the same roof, for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Harriet Sherwood’s article on the Guardian sheds…… Continue reading The “Churmosquagogue” – Abrahamic Worshippers Unite in Berlin’s “House of One”
The Mosque of Jesus Christ, Son of Mary in Kaloleni, Kisumu County (Kenya). Copyright: The Standard The Standard, one of the largest newspapers in Kenya, published an uplifting story on the “Mosque of Jesus Christ, Son of Mary” in Kaloleni, Kisumu County (Kenya). The mosque’s name was carefully chosen by the local Muslim Association in…… Continue reading “Mosque of Jesus Christ” to Heal Christian-Muslim Rift in Kenya
Photo by Dan Rosenstein via Unsplash In the West Bank city of Hebron, Jews and Muslims share an ancient shrine known to Jews as the Cave of the Patriarchs and to Muslims as the Ibrahimi Mosque. Abraham (or Ibrahim in Arabic) is believed to be buried at this sacred site. So too are Sarah, Isaac,…… Continue reading The Hope in Shared Spaces of Prayer
Representatives of Muslims 4 Peace, an organization that aims to bridge people from different religious and ethnic backgrounds through interfaith activities, interviewed Dr. Considine on a range of topics including (but not limited to) the life and legacy of Prophet Muhammad and effective ways of engaging in interfaith work. The interview was conducted in February…… Continue reading Inspired by Prophet Muhammad – Interview With “Muslims 4 Peace”
PRE-ORDER HERE The publication of The Humanity of Muhammad: A Christian View has been postponed due to the coronavirus. Originally scheduled to be published on May 1st, 2020, the book is now likely available in August 2020. God willing. Here is the book’s description: “What makes an American Catholic of Irish and Italian descent one…… Continue reading Pre-Order “The Humanity of Muhammad: A Christian View”
Sally Mousa sent me an article last week that really warmed my heart and soul. The title of the article is “UAE vision of interfaith harmony takes shape in Abrahamic House of Fraternity.” Reporting for The National, Arthur MacMillan provides the details. Officially known as the Abrahamic Family House, the complex (pictured above) will be…… Continue reading Introducing the Abrahamic Family House
Greetings of peace to those of you who are new to this page (and peace to those who have been here for a while). Every now and then it is important for me to make this kind of post, as there seems to be some questions around who I am, what I stand for, and…… Continue reading Muhammad, Humanity, and Christian Religiosity
Prophet Muhammad is one of the most vilified and misunderstood people in the history of the world. In this talk, “Prophet Muhammad’s Love of Humanity: Lessons for Our Time,” I will dispel misinformation about Muhammad in an accessible, appealing, and scholarly way. I will present historical sources and stories about Muhammad’s relations with Jews, Christians,…… Continue reading Prophet Muhammad’s Love of Humanity – “Lessons For Our Time”
Dr. Craig Considine speaks at the 5th annual Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies. The Forum, led by Sheikhs Abdallah bin Bayyah and Hamza Yusuf, was titled “Alliance of Virtues: An Opportunity for Global Peace.” Dr. Considine spoke on a panel titled “Covenants, Treaties, the Nation State and Muslims in the Global Order.” The host…… Continue reading Video: Christian Scholar Examines Prophet Muhammad’s Covenants and Pluralism
Picture this. Al-Shabab gunmen, based around northern Kenya, open fire on a bus and ask dozens of passengers on board to identify the Christian passengers. The Muslims on board refuse and decide to instead shield their fellow Christians. Some Muslims even offer their hijabs so the women can not be identified by their religion. As…… Continue reading True Story of Muslims Protecting Christians Nominated For An Oscar
In early December 2017, I had the opportunity to give a lecture for the Dialogue Institute Dallas in Dallas, Texas. I talk about the Christian-Muslim relations in the early years of Islam in light of the covenants Prophet Muhammad made with the Christians.
Back in 2008, I had the opportunity to meet with Judea Pearl, the father of Daniel Pearl. Following the murder of his son, Judea reached out to people across the United States hoping to counter religious extremism and build bridges of understanding between people of different faith communities. I asked Judea if he could tell…… Continue reading Peacekeeping Vs. Peacemaking: What’s the Difference?
During the Caliphate of Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, Muslims started to expand northwards into the lands of the Byzantine Empire. The majority of the Christians in the region were Monophysites, who had a more monotheistic view of God that was similar to what the new Muslims were preaching, as Lost Islamic History notes. “They welcomed Muslim…… Continue reading Why a Muslim Holds the Key to the Holiest Church in Christendom
On December 1st, 2017 I will be speaking at the Dialogue Institute of the Southwest in Dallas, Texas. The event starts at 7:00PM. The title of the talk is “Christian Muslim Relations in the Early Years of Islam.” I will be engaging mainly with the concept of religious pluralism and how it relates to the…… Continue reading Dialogue Matters: Christian Muslim Relations in the Early Years of Islam
Note: Linda Sarsour, the American Muslim activist, is under attack because she made a reference to the term jihad in a speech at ISNA. Here is an article which explains the concept of jihad to a Christian audience. The article was first published at The Huffington Post. Politicians and anti-Muslim activists frequently take to audiences…… Continue reading A Christian Perspective on Jihad
I had the pleasure last Saturday of breaking the fast with the Clear Lake Islamic Center, the Muslim American Society, and other members of their communities at an annual Ramadan gathering in Seabrook, Texas. I was invited by my friend Dr. Mohamed Shalaby, who asked me to speak on Prophet Muhammad’s model of integration and how…… Continue reading Prophet Muhammad’s Model of Integration for the U.S. and the Ummah
Ramadan is almost here. In preparation for my talk on Prophet Muhammad’s relations with Christians at The Islamic Institute/Blue Mosque in Houston on Friday, I prepared this short post on how people can understand the true spirit of Ramadan. Last year, a young Protestant man in college sent me an e-mail with some questions about Christian-Muslim…… Continue reading The Spirit of Ramadan – When the Prophet of Islam Opened the Door of His Mosque For Christians
Prophet Muhammad’s relations with Christians is a topic that I have dedicated a lot of time to researching. I have focused on two primary issues: 1) the Covenants of the Prophet with the Christians of his time, showing how these Covenants stand for religious pluralism and civic national principles, and 2) the visit of the Christians of Najran…… Continue reading When a Priest Recognized the Prophethood of Muhammad
Picture this. Muslim gunmen spray a bus with bullets, killing two passengers in northern Kenya. The gunmen are part of al-Shabab, a militant group based in East Africa. After opening fire, the militants asked the 62 Muslims on board the bus to identify the Christian passengers. The Muslims refused to reveal their identities, telling the…… Continue reading This Is Islam, Too: New Movie on Muslims Protecting Christians in Kenya Bus Ambush
An important article in The News International was published today. It touches on whether Muslims should greet Christians with Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. The author of the piece, Aijaz Zaka Syed, was taken aback by the convoluted logic that Muslims are “aping the West” by sending warm greetings to Christians. Syed claims that the…… Continue reading Tolerance Is a Vital Part of the Islamic Faith
“The world is falling apart.” A lot of people have used these words over the last few days. The attack in Germany and the utter destruction of Aleppo are just two examples that we see on a daily basis. Amidst the darkness, let me send you some words of encouragement. Do not let the misery and fear corrupt your mind,…… Continue reading Faith Leaders in Berlin Protect the “Grey Zone” After Christmas Market Attack
You know I’m a proponent of interfaith studies. I’ve studied Islam as a Catholic for over 12 years now. One thing I’ve realized is the importance of studying together – like actually sitting down with someone outside of your specific tradition. Go over the texts together. Interpret together. Dissect controversial passages together. Break bread together.…… Continue reading When People of Faith Meet Around Their Scriptures
Father Jacques Hamel’s gruesome murder in northern France July 26 – by men claiming allegiance to the Islamic State – prompted sorrow and outrage from Muslim leaders around the world. Carol Zimmerman of Catholic News Service called me shortly after the murder to gain insight on how a Catholic like myself views Hamel’s murder. Here…… Continue reading Quoted in “Slain French Priest Was Attack on ‘All of Us'”
Leftist. Liberal. Progressive. Communist. People hurl these terms at me on an hourly basis via social media. They are overused and misused so much that they no longer have any meaning to me. I do not self-identify myself with any of these labels. Placing me into these categories is nonsense. I am none of these things,…… Continue reading Why This Christian Is An “Islamic Apologist”
Here’s a radio interview with Middle East in Focus (Los Angeles). The program has been airing regularly on KPFK since 1980. MIF’s mission is to fill the many gaps left by the mainstream media in their coverage of the M.E. and to correct many of the distorted images presented by the mass media – both news…… Continue reading Radio Interview: Islamophobia and Radicalization With Middle East in Focus (Los Angeles)
People often ask me, Why do you study Islam if you are a Christian? Here is my answer: I am hungry for meaning, wherever it might be found. I do not care if it is in a desert of Arabia or a small village in France. I want to bridge the perceived worlds, through meaning-making.…… Continue reading Why This Christian Studies Islam
The Muslim American Society (MAS) in Houston is hosting their annual banquet iftar dinner and Muslim Community Center groundbreaking celebration. I am happy to announce that I will be one of the keynote speakers. Imam Wazir Ali, Director of Mercy Community Center and the Resident Imam of the Houston Masjid of Al-Islam and Masjid Al-Qur’an, will also…… Continue reading Speaking at Muslim American Society in Houston
“If a monk or pilgrim seeks protection, in mountain or valley, in a cave or in tilled fields, in the plain, in the desert, or in a church, I am behind them, defending them from every enemy; I, my helpers, all the members of my religion and all my followers, for they [the monks and…… Continue reading 10 Great Prophet Muhammad Quotes on Christians
The following video shows an interfaith peace symposium sharing messages of peace with various communities including an address by His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the fifth Khalifa (Caliph) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. I am honored that His Holiness mentioned my research paper Religious Pluralism and Civic Rights in a “Muslim Nation”: An Analysis of Prophet Muhammad’s…… Continue reading Video: Research Paper Mentioned By His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad
This short video/documentary that I made is based on my recent Huffington Post article titled “Why a Christian Can View Muhammad as a Prophet”.
Last week I gave a presentation in front of a group of undergraduate and postgraduate students at Rice University in Houston, Texas. The title of my lecture was “Religious Pluralism in Islam: Analyzing Prophet Muhammad’s Covenants with Christians”. The Prezi is available here. As is the case with academic presentations, there was a short question…… Continue reading Pluralism and the Najran Christians: How Prophet Muhammad Went Beyond Toleration
Countries in the so-called “Western world” often depict themselves as the true torchbearers of democratic principles and religious freedom. In setting themselves up in the binary of the “Western world” versus “Islamic civilization,” Western leaders suggest that Muslims worldwide are less tolerant and accepting of religious minorities. Such an argument is a gross misrepresentation of Islamic…… Continue reading Pluralism in the Prophet’s Covenants: A Christian Perspective on Interreligious Solidarity Against Discrimination
As an advocate of interfaith dialogue, particularly between Christians and Muslims, I’m often faced with the issue of conversion. People ask me, “If you admire Prophet Muhammad so much, why don’t you convert to Islam? Why don’t you accept him as “the seal”? I see these questions popping up on my Twitter and Facebook feeds…… Continue reading Why a Christian Can View Muhammad as a Prophet
ISIS is winning. I say that with the utmost regret, but it is true. Bullets have not stopped it, nor have bombs or ground troops. States around the world have denounced ISIS’s radicalism from afar, but words are meaningless without any action. At a time when ISIS enslaves people, a new movement is determined to…… Continue reading New Petition Proclaims ISIS Is Guilty of Genocide
“Armed anti-Islamist protest outside mosque.” This is the headline that I am reading as I rise out of bed. I also see another headline: “Marine hosts ‘Draw Muhammad’ protest outside mosque.” Aside from these protests and events being offensive and downright degrading towards Muslims, they are also highly ironic. If he were with us today,…… Continue reading How the Prophet Would Respond to “Draw Muhammad” Defamation and “Anti-Islam” Protests
Published on Huffington Post Religion (05/08/15) Never in my wildest imagination did I ever think I would become a scholar focusing on Islam and Christian-Muslim relations. Growing up, my passion was playing basketball and following the Boston Celtics. I never had any Muslim friends. In fact, I did not even know a single follower of…… Continue reading The Price I Pay For Respecting Islam
Published on Huffington Post (4/24/2015) Christianity and Islam are often painted as mortal enemies that will be forever fighting in a war for religious supremacy. Christians and Muslims would be wise to remember that Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad are kindred spirits. By turning to their teachings, we can see that these two prophets are…… Continue reading Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad Followed “The Golden Rule”
John Andrew Morrow’s book The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World is truly one of my favorite books ever. It has inspired me in ways that I never thought that a book could. It’s one of those reads. Six Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of His Time:…… Continue reading A Must Read: “Six Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of His Time: The Primary Documents”
Published on Huffington Post (February 23rd, 2015) Relations between different ethnic and religious groups in the Middle East, US, and EU are deteriorating at a rapid pace. Across these three areas, Muslims are pitted against non-Muslims and black and brown people are pitted against white. What is needed now more than ever is a role…… Continue reading Prophet Muhammad’s Example of Anti-Racism
*Note: This article, published in the Huffington Post on October 20th, 2013, is relevant in light of the recent attack by Muslims in Libya, where 20 Coptic Christians were killed because of their religious background. While the article is placed in an Egyptian context, it can easily apply to the situation in Libya. One issue often discussed on…… Continue reading Muslims in Libya Forget Muhammad’s Letter to Christian Monks at Mt. Sinai
Published on Huffington Post (January 1st, 2013) In seventh century Arabia, a middle-aged man had a vision to create a new religious and social order for a largely pagan and tribal society. The man, Muhammad, told his band of followers to behave wisely and civilly. “The best among you,” he said, “are those who have…… Continue reading An Unlikely Connection Between the Prophet Muhammad and George Washington
The following short collection lists eight of the most important monuments in the world in terms of interfaith dialogue and interfaith relations. By the term “monument” I refer to a building or structure created to commemorate a person, event, or social bond which has significance in regards to improving relations between the Abrahamic faiths. The eight monuments documented here…… Continue reading The 8 Most Important Interfaith Monuments in the World
In the ancient monastery of Saint Catherine’s at Mount Sinai in Egypt, there is a covenant of Prophet Muhammad’s in which he guarantees protection and other rights to the Christian communities of his realm. But a retired Egyptian army general says he has filed a court case pushing for Saint Catherine’s to be demolished, thus…… Continue reading Prophet Muhammad’s Covenant with Christians to be Destroyed with Destruction of St. Catherine’s Monastery
Source: Catholic News Agency The Holy Land’s bishops have said that Christians and Muslims need to unite against extremism, stressing that people of all beliefs are at risk. “Christians and Muslims need to stand together against the new forces of extremism and destruction,” the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land said in an…… Continue reading Christians & Muslims Stand Together Against New Forces of Extremism & Destruction
craigconsidinetcd.com 