Participants in the four-week study, The Jesus Fatwah, met for the third time in the presence of Maulana Nabil Khan, a young Islamic scholar who graduated from the Al-Ihsan Institute (founded and led by the Mufti Aasim Rashid). He commenced his studies at the tender age of fifteen and graduated seven years later. He currently assists in providing the educational programs of the Al-Ihsan Institute, teaching Arabic to English-speaking students and delivering lectures to youth and the general public, at the same time as pursuing further studies himself, in both Islamic and secular education.
 
Maulana (his title, indicating his 7 years of study) Nabil, after suggesting he would keep things “light,” dove into some of the most challenging and controversial issues related to the perception of Islam by non-Muslims in the world today. His topic, “Islam and Muslims: Peace, War or Terror” covered the meaning of the words jihad, Sharia Law, and fatwah, as well as providing information about culture and customs in nations where Islam is practiced as distinct from the religion itself.
 
Crossroads participants in the study were free to ask challenging questions (in a respectful way) and received thoughtful answers on several topics, including questions about political vs. clerical power in Islamic countries (“Who’s really in charge?”), female genital mutilation, the role of an Ayatollah, the rise of ISIS, the different sects or “schools” within Islam, and what to do if one hears threatening or sinister language regarding Muslims “taking over” or “coming to get us.”
 
Maulana Nabil communicated in such a way (and also invited the participation of other Muslim companions who attended with him) as to emphasize the complexity of the political situations facing our world today, and inviting Christian listeners to continue to “test” what they hear and read with real Muslim neighbours and particularly scholars. At the end of the evening, everyone present offered a two or three word summary of their response to the time together. Words like “respect,” “openness,” “gratitude” and “hope” predominated.
 
Clearly, this conversation was only a beginning to an interfaith dialogue that could have great depth and potential for mutual learning.
 
 
The Jesus Fatwah series took place at Crossroads United Church on Tuesday evenings from September 26 to October 17, 2017.