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Appendix 1 Fethullah Gülen on Jesus and Interfaith Dialogue Because this book argues that the Islamic understanding of Jesus and his eschatological role can lay the groundwork for interfaith dialogue, it is important to show how this can be put into practice. Fethullah Gülen, a prominent contemporary Muslim scholar who is highly involved in interfaith dialogue and has significant influence and spiritual authority, should be considered an important example in this regard. In response to a series of questions I posed, Gülen offered these thoughts on Jesus and interfaith dialogue, and he kindly allowed me to include these previously unpublished musings here. I have made slight editorial revisions to the text I received. In order to better understand and explain the messianic mission attributed to Jesus in the relevant sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, we should consider the following event: After the victory of Badr (624), and since no divine commandment had been revealed about how prisoners of war should be treated, the Prophet of Islam consulted with his companions on this question, as he always did when there was no specific divine commandment . ‘Umar argued for their execution, but Abu Bakr gave the following opinion: “O God’s Messenger! They are your people. Even though they did you and the believers great wrong, you will win their hearts and guide them well if you forgive them and please them.” The Prophet turned to Abu Bakr and said: “You are, O Abu Bakr, like the Prophet Abraham, upon him be peace, who prayed to God about his people: ‘He who follows me is of me, as is he who disobeys me—but You are indeed All-Forgiving , All-Compassionate’” (Qur’an 14:36). The Prophet continued, “You [Abu Bakr] are also like Jesus, who prayed: ‘If You punish them, they are Your servants. If You forgive them, You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise’” (Qur’an 5:118). Fethullah Gülen on Jesus and Interfaith Dialogue 165 Then the Prophet turned to ‘Umar and said: “O ‘Umar! You are like Moses, who said [of the Pharaoh and his chieftains]: ‘Our Lord, destroy their riches and harden their hearts so that they will not believe until they see the painful chastisement’” (Qur’an 10:88). The Prophet of Islam also compared ‘Umar to the prophet Noah, who prayed for the punishment of his disbelieving, obstinate, and unjust people. Muslims believe that Islam is the last universal form of the divine religion and the consummation of all previous religions. Muslims believe Islam contains all the perennial values and truths in those religions, and Islam compels its followers to believe in all the prophets. However, this does not mean that Islam dictates a certain type of behavior in all circumstances. To the contrary , just as its universality and applicability in completely different times and circumstances caused the emergence of different schools of law, Islam’s consummation of all previous religions requires acting differently in different times and conditions. Adherents believe that God bestowed special favors on each prophet according to his mission within the circumstances surrounding him (Qur’an 2:253). For example, the prophet Noah was endowed with steadfastness and perseverance. The prophet Abraham was honored with intimate friendship with God and with being the father of numerous prophets. The prophet Moses was given the capability of administration and was exalted through receiving God’s speech from beyond a veil, and the prophet Jesus was distinguished with tolerance, compassion, and profound spirituality. All the prophets have shared in the praiseworthy qualities mentioned, but each of them surpasses, on account of his respective mission, the others in one or more of those qualities. While each prophet was distinguished with certain excellent characteristics in a greater degree than the others, the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, who was charged with conveying Islam in its universal form, had all the qualities mentioned above at their most perfect level, except that of being the father of prophets. He had, because of the universality of his mission, the distinction of being like Moses in that he warned mankind, brought and established a law, and fought against his enemies. He was like Jesus in that he was a bringer of good news who preached mercy, forgiveness , love, charity, altruism, modesty, sincerity, purity of intention, and moral values of the highest degree. This means that the Prophet Muhammad, and therefore Islam, had the mission both of...

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