Extending new bridges of understanding, a Muslim businessman and a Christian surgeon have united to produce a new book that mixes both Qur’an and Bible holy books, to foster greater understanding between followers of the two faiths.
“When I first came to the United States, if it wasn’t for my American neighbors opening their hearts and their homes for me, I wouldn’t have made it,” Dr. Safi Kaskas, a Muslim businessman, told Desert News on Tuesday, September 27.
“I feel a debt to this country.”
He continued, “I hate to see that the same Americans are feeling bad about Muslims now. I want to repair this relationship.”
“The Qur’an With References to the Bible” relies upon 7th century classical Arabic and comes complete with parallel verses from the Christian Bible.
It came as a fruit for continued efforts between Dr Kaskas, a practicing Muslim, and Dr. David Hungerford, an orthopedic surgeon who is a practicing Christian.
They first met as board members of Bridges to Common Ground, an organization that works to foster greater understanding between Christians and Muslims.
“When we met, Dr. Kaskas had this as a dream and (it was) something he had been working on in his mind,” Hungerford said.
“We were both kind of prepared for this project (and the) collaboration just became so obvious to us and we’ve been working on it together ever since.”
New Bridge
Kaskas said he believes their version of the Qur’an will offers a unique opportunity for readers to have a true contemporary reading of the text.
“I am a practicing Muslim, David is a practicing Christian,” Kaskas said.
“I want him to have the freedom to practice worshipping God his way and I want him to give me the freedom to worship God my way.”
Kaskas also said Christians might be surprised to discover some of the Quran’s contents, particularly when it comes to the text’s treatment of Jesus, the central figure in Christianity.
“The way Jesus was born in the Quran he had a miraculous birth his life was miraculous, the Quran states miracles that were not even stated in the Bible,” he said.
“Everything about Jesus as far we’re concerned is miraculous.”
Hungerford added that the book’s important parallels between both texts will also create better understanding.
“What our hope is that Christians will read it and the eyes of their misunderstanding and the depth of their ignorance will be dispelled so they can now look upon Muslims as part of the Abrahamic tradition,” he said.