21 August 2013

Help Palestine [hidayahnet] The church that's opened its doors to Islam

 

The church that's opened its doors to Islam: Christians roll out welcome to Muslims who were having to pray in the wind and rain because their mosque was so small


  • The Syed Shah Mustafa Jame Masjid mosque was too small to fit everyone in
  • Church minister Rev Isaac Poobalan saw worshippers praying outside
  • Now he has handed over part of St John's Episcopal Church in Aberdeen
  • Bishop says: 'It would be good to think we can change the world'

PUBLISHED: 12:33 GMT, 18 March 2013 | UPDATED: 16:02 GMT, 18 March 2013

A Scottish church has become the first in the UK to share its premises with Muslim worshippers.

St John's Episcopal Church in Aberdeen now welcomes hundreds of Muslims praying five times a day in their building as the nearby mosque was so small that they were forced to worship outside.
The minister of St John's, Rev Isaac Poobalan, has handed over part of the church hall to Chief Imam Ahmed Megharbi and the imam has led prayers in the main chapel.
Rev Poobalan said today that he would not be true to his faith if he did not offer to help.
Sheikh Ahmed Megharbi, left, and Rev Isaac Poobalan, right, behind the altar at St John's Episcopal Church, Aberdeen, which is also being used as a place of worship for Muslims
Sheikh Ahmed Megharbi, left, and Rev Isaac Poobalan, right, behind the altar at St John's Episcopal Church, Aberdeen, which is also being used as a place of worship for Muslims
Rev Poobalan, right, said he would not be true to his faith if he did not offer to help his neighbours with their overcrowding problem
Rev Poobalan, right, said he would not be true to his faith if he did not offer to help his neighbours with their overcrowding problem

He said: 'Praying is never wrong. My job is to encourage people to pray.

'The mosque was so full at times, there would be people outside in the wind and rain praying.
'I knew I couldn't just let this happen - because I would be abandoning what the Bible teaches us about how we should treat our neighbours.
'When I spoke to people at the church about the situation, someone actually said to me this was not our problem, but I had seen it with my own eyes, so it was a problem.
Rev Poobalan said: 'They were out there praying and the snow came on for the first time in winter, it was really hard to watch.
'When they were doing the prayer they had their hands and feet exposed and they were sitting on on the pavement, which is very rough.
'You could even see them breathing because it was so cold and I think when I saw that, the visual impact was such that I just couldn't walk past.
'It felt wrong, mainly because the church is next door, it's a big building and it remains empty on a Friday lunchtime which is when they need the place most as that's when they are at their busiest.
'We had something we could offer and they were just standing out in the cold and I said to my congregation "we need to do something".'
Rev Poobalan said he wanted the move to help build bridges between Christians and Muslims after some initial resistance from his congregation about the move.
 


    He said: 'It's a move that is so basic and fundamental. It has nothing to do with religion - it's all based on human need.
    'The religious divide shouldn't divide us as people. 
    'But I anticipated there would be some opposition as it's strange and new and there was some natural anxiety in the beginning.
    'But once people realised that there is more commonality between us.
    'I certainly hope, wish and pray that this will help relations between the two religions.
    'When I spoke to the imam there was some hesitation on their part too, because this has never been done before.
    'But they took us up on the offer and it has been a positive relationship.'
    St John's Episcopal Church in Aberdeen is believed to be the first in the UK to offer its space for Muslim worship
    St John's Episcopal Church in Aberdeen is believed to be the first in the UK to share with Muslims
    Rev Poobalan, 50, said being surrounded by Islam while growing up in India helped break down the divide for worshippers of two religions praying together in Aberdeen.
    Sheikh Ahmed Megharbi of the Syed Shah Mustafa Jame Masjid mosque said: 'What happens here is special and there should be no problem repeating this across the country.
    'The relationship is friendly and respectful.'
    St John's is part of the Scottish Episcopal Church, which is part of the Anglican Communion and distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland.
    The Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney, the Right Rev Dr Robert Gillies said that this relationship could be the start of a change in dynamics between the two faiths.
    Dr Gillies said: 'It would be good to think we can change the world.
    'Most of us most of the time feel we can't so don't bother.
    'But sometimes, someone has a vision we can do something of global significance on a local scale.
    'This is what is happening between St John's and the mosque in its grounds.
    'Everyone can do something locally and if more were to do so then something big might just begin to happen globally.'
    Dr Gillies said that the 'eyes of the world' were now focused on the two faiths represented in the building on the city's Crown Terrace.
    Although the Christian church regards Jesus as the son of God, the Muslim faith views him as a key prophet.
    Sections of the church hall have been handed over to the mosque and the imam has led prayers in the main chapel
    Sections of the church hall have been handed over to the mosque and the imam has led prayers in the chapel
    Even with differences like these, there can be a mutual respect, said Dr Gillies.
    The relationship between the mosque and St John's has developed over the past few years.
    On Christmas Eve 2010 both opened their doors for prayers, food and socialising.
    In 2011, the church and mosque teamed up to mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the USA.
    Verses were read from both the Bible and the Koran to commemorate those who died.
    There have been cases of Christians allowing Muslims to pray in their churches in parts of America.
    In 2011, two Florida churches were criticised for opening their doors to Muslim groups.
    But Church leaders believe the move in Aberdeen is a first for the United Kingdom.

    From: Mahadi <sanjose@pd.jaring.my>
    To: UITM <uitm-melaka@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Saturday, 17 August 2013 6:54 AM
    Subject: Help Palestine [hidayahnet] Fw: Wacana Agenda Kristian sedunia menggugat umat di Malaysia - iTV Pembela secara terus menerus dari studio

     

    ----- Forwarded Message -----
    From: Mahadi <muhammadiyahmalaysia@yahoo.com>
    To: Kenalan <KENALAN-ABADI@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2013 6:46 AM
    Subject: Wacana Agenda Kristian sedunia menggugat umat di Malaysia - iTV Pembela secara terus menerus dari studio

    Kepada umat Islam yang tinggal jauh dan berada diluar negara bolihlah menonton melalui iTV Pembela secara terus menerus dari studio PEMBELA mulai jam 8.30 pagi pada 17 Ogos 13 di link ini.

    http://www.justin.tv/pembelatv

    Penonton juga bolih menghanar soalan melalui chat window atau sms kepada Tn Hj. Karim Omar di 019-3199788 atau kepada terus kepada Penerbit iTV PEMBELA, Saifol Anwar Ab Rahman di Facebook

    HEBAHKAN




    __._,_.___
    Reply via web post Reply to sender Reply to group Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (2)
    Recent Activity:
    Free download [Internet Explorer/Firefox]:
    Hidayahnet Toolbar [no virus, adware, malware etc]
    http://hidayahnet.ourtoolbar.com

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    **Boycott Israel**Support Palestine**

    All views expressed herein belong to the individuals concerned and do not in any way reflect the official views of Hidayahnet unless sanctioned or approved otherwise.

    If your mailbox clogged with mails from Hidayahnet, you may wish to get a daily digest of emails by logging-on to http://www.yahoogroups.com to change your mail delivery settings or email the moderators at hidayahnet-owner@yahoogroups.com with the title "change to daily digest".

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Affiliates:
    iPerintis - eGroup untuk Saintis dan Jurutera Muslim 
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/iperintis/

    Recommended sites:
    Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia  : http://www.abim.org.my
    Ikram Malaysia                 : http://www.ikram.org.my
    Palestinkini Info              : http://www.palestinkini.info
    Partai Keadilan Sejahtera      : http://pk-sejahtera.org
    Fiqh Siber                     : http://al-ahkam.net/
    The Muslim Brotherhood         : http://ikhwanweb.com
    Hidayahnet website             : http://hidayahnet.multiply.com/ 
    .

    __,_._,___
    Posted by at

    No comments:

    Post a Comment

    Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)