Sharing the Same Stories Can Overcome Perceived Differences
By Akhtar H. Emon
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
I was inspired by a blog written by Rabbi Allen Maller in which he mapped the commonality about the events of “Passover” in both the Jewish and Islamic faiths.
It will be surprising to many that the Qur’an distinctly narrates the story of the bondage of the children of Israel and their deliverance from the Pharaoh in Egypt.
The Qur’an mentions ten times that God sends Moses (Musa) to Pharaoh and his chiefs to warn them of the destruction of Egypt if Pharaoh does not stop calling himself God and keeps holding the children of Israel in bondage. Moses, accompanied with his brother Aaron, reprimanded Pharaoh and persuaded him to free the children of Israel.
This year, the Passover celebration began on the evening of April 21 and concluded seven days later. On the first two evenings, a special ceremonial meal (called a Seder), is observed in Jewish homes. It symbolically reenacts the events and religious significance of God’s redemption of the Jews from Pharaoh’s oppression.
The Qur’an recounts this story with much emphasis.
The following quotes are from the Qur’an, where Moses is saying to his people:
“Remember Moses said to his people: ‘O my people! Call in remembrance the favor of God unto you, when He produced prophets among you, made you kings, and gave you what He had not given to any other among the peoples.
“Children of Israel! Call to mind the favor which I bestowed upon you, that I preferred you to all others. Then guard yourselves against a (judgment) day when one soul shall not avail another, nor shall intercession be accepted for her, nor shall compensation be taken from her, nor shall anyone be helped (from outside).
“And remember, We delivered you from the people of Pharaoh: They set you hard tasks and punishments, slaughtered your sons and let your women-folk live; therein was a tremendous trial from your Lord. And remember We divided the sea for you and saved you; and drowned Pharaoh’s people within your very sight.”
Pharaoh was arrogant and refused to free the Jewish slaves until the last of the plagues God sent as punishment. The first-born of both man and beast were found dead on that fateful night.
The holy day name Pesach, or Passover, refers to this last of the plagues sent by God to the Egyptians. While the Egyptians suffered this plague, the angel of death passed over the houses of the Israelites. To protect themselves, the Israelites had marked their homes with lamb’s blood so that the angel of death could easily “pass over” their homes.
The Qur’an narrates that when under guidance from God, the Israelites fled Egypt and Pharaoh and his men pursued them. But their journey ended at the Red Sea that prevented their escape.
But a miracle happened when Moses struck the water with his staff: The waves of the Red Sea parted and the Israelites hurried between the parted waves.
Pharaoh and his soldiers followed them, but by the time the Israelites reached the other shore, the sea closed-in and engulfed their pursuers. Thus, the Israelites were delivered from bondage, and the Pharaoh and his people perished.
This exodus from Egypt has been celebrated for the last 3,300 years by Jews throughout the world.
In conclusion, I would like to quote Rabbi Allen Maller: “If both Jews and Muslims were to share some of the Qur’an’s verses this article refers to... it might help both communities come closer to one another. And if Jews and Muslims throughout the world became closer, then maybe Palestinians and Israelis could overcome and passover the terrible plagues that have afflicted them in our generation. Then the world would have another miraculous event to celebrate.”
( Akhtar H. Emon lives in Rancho Palos Verdes. He is the President of Arabic Language Institute Foundation (ALIF), Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, www.HADI.Org/Alif).
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