When inviting our Muslim friends to our homes or church it is important to be aware of the religious and cultural differences between Islam and Christianity, and also within Islam and Christianity.
Below is (or soon will be!) a series of articles to help us grow in our sensitivity.
We all interpret what other people do through our own cultural lens and this can result in mutual misunderstanding of behaviour and beliefs. Muslims have clear ideas about how holy books should be treated because of what they have learned from the traditions of Islam.
Most Muslims today hold the Qur’an in the deepest respect and have set rules about how it is used. It is expected that a good Muslim would be ritually clean before handling an Arabic Qur’an. This would involve washing the hands, the face, arms and feet. When not in use the Qur’an would be covered and placed high on a book shelf, above where people sit. For many non-Arabic speaking Muslims, this is where it may stay. Muslims receive a blessing from reciting or listening to the Qur’an in its original language, perhaps even if they do not understand it. It would be seen as disrespectful by a Muslim, if a Christian was seen to place their Bible on the floor, or to write in it.
For Muslims, it is not considered good practice to allow a person suffering from mental health problems to touch an Arabic Qur’an. This is to prevent them disrespecting the Qur’an by accident, for example, by dropping it on the floor. They can, however be provided with a recording of verses from the Qur’an which they can listen to, as this does not have the same status as the written word. There have been many documented cases in some countries, of accusations of blasphemy when people with mental health issues have been accused of disrespecting or desecrating the Qur’an, and been killed by outraged mobs for their mistake. This contrasts with the widespread practice in Christianity of supplying Bibles to the sick and infirm in Hospitals, for the spiritual support of the sufferer.
Upon entering the toilet, Muslims must not carry the Qur’an or any part of it or wear something that has the name of Allah engraved on it. Thus going to the toilet while carrying something that has Allah’s name on it, (such as rings, bracelets, necklaces etc.) is not recommended. This is because the name of Allah must be revered.
It is reported that the Prophet used to remove his ring whenever he went to the toilet as the ring had the name of Allah on it.
It is strictly forbidden to take the Muslim Holy Book into the toilet and many Muslims would be very concerned and confused to see passages of the Christian Holy Book on display inside a toilet or a cubicle. However, this practice appears to be becoming more and more widespread, in churches and Christian Homes.
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