“Virgin Mary Brings Christians and Muslims Together”
                        A Workshop Organized by Nahar Achabab within Afkar II Program
                                              
The Lebanese International University (L.I.U.) Bekaa Camous ( Khyarah) hosted a workshop held under the title “Virgin Mary in Islam and Christianity”, organized by “Nahar Achabab” and Assafadi Foundation, managed by OMSAR within Afkar II program, and funded by EU.
The Reverend Father Dr.Joseph Bou Raad, Dean of the Faculty of Theology of the Antonin University-Baabda, Mr. Fadi Bou Rached, professor of Mariamite Theology at the Antonine University, Cheikh Hassan Charifa, member of the Announcement Body in the Higher Islamic Shiite Council and preacher at Assafa Mosque, and Cheikh Khaled Abdel Fattah, lecturer at Al-Azhar University, were the speakers of the meeting.

                                         

After welcoming the participants, Ms. Pascal Azar, the moderator of the meeting, underlined the reason why “Virgin Mary” was chosen as the topic of the workshop. She said: “Through her sanctity, love, humility, piety, chastity and purity, the Blessed Virgin is able to bring together those who were separated by sectarianism and by their ignorance of the essence of the belief, the religion and God”, asking in this regard: “How can we start from the person of Virgin Mary and from our common religious icons to enhance the coexistence and the dialogue between us?”    

Father Bou Raad
Father Bou Raad underlined the status of Virgin Mary in the Gospel saying that “the Christian’s look to the person of Virgin Mary is specially defined in the New Testament and was evolved through history, through the religious believes”. He added that the New Testament revolves mainly around Jesus Christ; therefore Virgin Mary is referred to with the view of clarifying and elucidating the person of Jesus Christ. Father Bou Raad noted that however few the passages of the Gospel where Mary was mentioned, they were pivotal in the formation of the first Christian community and in Jesus’ life. The Holy Koran refers to Virgin Mary in many things that are not mentioned in the New Testament, noting that both are in perfect harmony.

                                                                  

Cheikh Charifah
Cheikh Charifa underscored that establishing a dialogue in Lebanon does not mean that the Muslim should dissolve in the Christian and vice versa. The dialogue is an urgent need to know the other; and all religions call upon humanitarianism. He added: “There is no controversy between Islam and Christianity regarding Virgin Mary, for Her sanctity was mentioned in the Holy Koran. She was referred to more than thirty times in the Koran; by mentioning her we would be dignifying ourselves. Honoring Her will not glorify Her for She is already glorious”.
Charifah invoked Koranic Verses from Al-Omran’s Sura and Mary’s Sura to clarify the life story of Virgin Mary according to the Holy Koran and noted that she was mentioned in the context of divine miracles. He said: “There is no controversy concerning Virgin Mary’s conception; Jesus was born with no father, but in view of the nature of our oriental society the skepticism was irrevocable. A miracle was needed to acquit Mary. The amazement was when the newborn spoke in his cradle”.

Cheikh Abdel Fattah
Cheikh Khaled Abdel Fattah, lecturer in Al-Azhar University, talked about the status of Mary in the Koranic Suras. He underlined that the Suras that tell about Virgin Mary or about the things related to Virgin Mary (Mary’s Sura, the dining table’s Sura, Al-Omran’s Sura) represent 10% of the Koranic Ahadith. He added: “We are not discussing about an issue of discord, for the Lady Mary is the best Woman in the existence. He who does not believe in Mary is not Muslim”. Cheikh Abdel Fattah added: “If it is impossible to choose, it is possible to model after someone, so why can’t Mary, by Her behavior and purity, be a model for everyone”.

Fadi Bou Rached
As for Fadi Bou Rached, he explained the Mariamite ideology and its dimensions, going into the depths of the Christian faith from that ideology’s perspective. He stressed that what was impossible has become a reality thanks to Mary’s humility and faith and that the Mariamite ideology was the path from where God’s Son entered the world. He added: “Mary is the Mother that gives us birth in grace … and he who acknowledges this role and this vocation that God wanted premeditatedly, will truly enjoy the purity of Her Motherhood and the power of Her intercession”.

Dr. Farah
Dr.Mohammad Farah highlighted the importance of Mary in Islam. He asked questions to father Joseph Bou Raad, asking for clarification regarding the Christian theological look to the ideological things related to Virgin Mary.

Discussion & Recommendations
A debate between the participants took place about the virtues of Mary and about the means of resorting to these virtues as well as other common religious symbols to enhance the dialogue between the Christians and the Muslims. Wissam Al-Ghazali, a graduate from the Holy Spirit University- Zahle Branch considered that in order to avoid the ignorance and the hatred between the religions, a paramount importance should be given to education, as it is the foundation of the coexistence between the different sectarian, confessional and religious communities.” As for the recommendations, Bou Rached noted: “The beauty is one of God’s universal virtues, and Mary is full of grace and beauty. And the beauty of the King’s Daughter stems from Her soul; so let our souls be beautiful to bring down the feelings of hatred, grudge and anger among us”.