by Tamim Ansary
The second in our series on Tamim Ansary's book, 'Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes'. View the first installment here
Beginnings
Ansary opens his book with a winning account of the earliest days of Islam, from Mohammad's conversion to the wrangling and tussle for leadership which precipitated the Sunni-Shia split.
As a Christian reading this history - and there's no doubt that I'm approaching both the book and these articles from a non-Muslim, though Abrahamic-faith background - there are some striking accounts presented and several points that beg to be compared to the Christian narrative.
Christian Parallels
Mohammed, Ansary relates, was the one person on earth with a direct connection to God. This belief continues to play itself out in the Ismaili doctrine of the Imamat, in which the Imam is held to be the bearer of the nur, the Universal Light, which is the first of God's creations and the mirror of God.
Similarly, though with crucial differences, Christians also apply the 'Light of God' moniker, this time to Jesus. His connection with God was so close that He referred to Allah as 'Father' (John 17:1-5), a title that hints at knowledge and intimacy.
Battle of Badr
Interesting, also, was the story of the Battle of Badr that Ansary relates and which took on an uncanny resemblance to the conquest of the Midianites by Gideon and his 300-strong Israelite army (Judges 7). A curious numerical coincidence, if nothing else.
Ansary makes some direct contrasts, too. Islam, he reminds us, is not (at least, orthodoxically) Muhammad-centric. By comparison, the fore-telling, birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, reign and future return of Jesus Christ is pivotal to Christianity. Neither Muhammad's birth nor death are addressed in the Qur'an - there is no 'Muslim Christmas'.
Whereas salvation in the Christian faith is based on the very fact and circumstance of Jesus's birth, death and resurrection, Ansary notes that Islam presents salvation as a community-focussed event; the individual participating in a collective effort to build an all-encompassing, religious community on earth.
Muslims look to the here and now to build this righteous group, and here Ansary paves the way for us to understand the efforts of outliers such as ISIL, whose teleological approach justifies violence in order to institute this righteous, earth-bound community.
By contrast, the Christian anticipation of perfect community is centred on heaven or, more specifically, the shift of heaven to a renewed earth as God makes His home amongst the saved following the Day of Judgement (Rev 21:2-4, 2 Peter 3:13). Whilst they strive for godly community now, perfect righteousness is not expected until later.
Sacrifice
Ansary retells a fascinating tale (with great appeal in the Shia world) of Ali's self-sacrifice at a time when Muhammad's life was in danger. The story goes that would-be assassins were expected by Muhammad and Ali volunteered to fill-out his bed for him. When the assassins realised they had been duped they spared Ali's life, something which in no way diminished the selfless act.
Christians reading this story will instantly think of another 'hero of the faith', Jesus, who volunteered to take the place of every believer condemned to death on account of their sin.
Ali, however, wasn't the only one who protected Muhammad. The Prophet's uncle, Abu Talib, was the first to leap to his defence. Ansary writes that in the early days of Muhammad's revelations he was targeted by the Qurayshites but was kept from them by Abu Talib despite the fact that he wasn't a Muslim.
Mutual Respect
Ansary doesn't record every story in Muslim history - he is selective for a reason. And in this last story we find obvious application. In an era when Ismailis and others are targeted for beliefs different to ours, Christians in general, and all of us at Ismaili Friends specifically, pledge to stand alongside our Ismaili friends, to protect them when it is in our power, and to speak out on their behalf where we have the chance.
We know they'll do the same for us.