A Night of Jordanian Football

                I’ve never really been a huge soccer fan, or any sports type of fan for that matter, I always felt that professional sport games got in the way of practicing music or other means that were of more importance. In the recent years I have tried to be more balanced, do things I haven’t really done before that most people do, so when the opportunity came to go to a professional soccer game (or football called here in Jordan) I figured I should take the opportunity and go.

                There was word being spread about a football game, a competition for Jordan’s acceptance into the world cup. If they lost, they would be eliminated and the other team would move on, this team was Australia. My friend Keith and I gave some money to another BYU to buy our tickets in advance. When it got closer to the game, Keith and I decided to stay in our apartment to rest, do homework, and not deal with the hassle of a crazy international football game. Apparently there were roughly nine girls and four guys going which they were advised to have a 2:1 ration of guys to girls by their female Arabic teacher. We later received a phone call asking for Keith and I to come so there will be more guys, which we agreed. We took our own taxi to the stadium since the main group had already left.

           In our taxi we got stuck in traffic many times. When we got stuck in traffic along the street of the main gate, we had many Jordanian young men walking along side of the cars asking us, “Inta Australee? Inti maa Australia? Are you Australian? Are you with Australia?” Keith and I would respond with, “la, ihna maa Ilurdan. No, we are with Jordan.” The first two young men that asked us were so excited that we were with Jordan instead of Australia and called us their brothers. The rest of the young men didn’t believe us and continued their shouts for Jordan. Our taxi driver let us know that everyone will think we are Australian and that we should make sure we go to the Jordan gates into the stadium so we don’t get verbally abused or even physically abused. After many other young men coming to our taxi windows we were still stuck in traffic. A few times we would see groups of young men all of a sudden running fast towards us and away from the stadium. I later learned that that was because they were being chased off by Jordanian police with gas. Keith and I wanted to get out so we didn’t have to pay the taxi driver for his time. He told us not to get out until we got closer to the main gate. I thought it was for the fact of him getting more money for his time but I later learned it was really for our safety.

                We finally got close to the gate. Our taxi driver reminded us again to just go straight to the Jordan gates (versus the gate the Australian portion of the stands). We get out and quickly found ourselves in the middle of a chaotic situation with the crowds and police. These police stood in a line telling the young men to go away, I imagine threatening them with further gas, but I didn’t pay too much attention to what they were saying to them; I was focused on how to get inside the stadium and to find our group of BYU students. I walked through a hole in the line of police. One grabs me by the arm and begins to walk me towards the stadium with a gun in his other arm. I tell him that we have friends inside the stadium and need to get our tickets. He said we should go to the Australian side even though I confirmed to him we were with Jordan. We were escorted twice by the police to the Australian gate because this apparently was the best place for us to be. Our fellow BYU students were already stuck inside the stadium and were not able to give us our tickets. So Keith and I decide that we should just go home and miss the game because it was going to start fairly soon and certainly didn’t have any tickets to get in what already seemed to be an already sold out game. There were crowds at each Jordanian gate of young men, pushing and shoving to squeeze through the police at the opening gate but the police were doing the same back. Surely, we couldn’t get in that way and sit with our friends.

                Keith and I, with another last minute decision, decided to go back to the Australian gate and try our luck there. We were already there at the stadium; we might as well try to get in. It was very interesting because many Jordanian youth tried to get in on the Australian side, carrying Australian flags trying to convince the authorities there were with Australia. Keith and I told them our story of how we had tickets but couldn’t get them on the Jordanian side, the police told us they couldn’t help us but we waited to see what would happen. Later, a Jordanian woman (probably the only one I saw at the whole stadium) was in charge of helping the Australian tourists to get in. After hearing our story decided to let us into the stadium and to go quickly before others see that we got in without tickets.

Keith and I on the Australian side of the stadium.

                Inside the Australian side, we saw that our small portion of the stadium which was fenced off was not full at all. We saw proud shirtless Aussies doing cheers while the crowded Jordanian crowd rambled several Arabic cheers. We met a few friends on the inside; most of them were fellow Americans that are here studying Arabic that also got let in for free. Obviously the polices knew that this side of the stadium would be much safer. I began to worry a lot about our group that was stuck in the middle of the stands with Jordanians. We tried to call and text but most of the time, our phones didn’t work and if they did, we couldn’t hear each other because of the loud volume.

                I’ve never been to a professional soccer game, never been a fan, but I sure do recall of hearing crazy riots and attacks at soccer games, as well as that Arab young men can be notorious for sexually assaulting foreign women at these events. Jordan is winning with 2 points and Australia 0 points with only a quarter of the game left. I wanted to leave to avoid the riots and the attempted verbal or even physical attacks on us as being foreigners and on the opposing team. We tried to encourage the other BYU students to the same, but of course it was too loud for them to hear us and texting didn’t work. So we left, got a taxi fairly easy and then arrived home grateful to have avoided the later chaos.

Our view point from the fenced off area.
Straight ahead was where our other BYU group was located.

                Shortly after arriving home, I got a call from one of the girls from the main BYU group. I could hear loud sirens and “whooping” sounds from what sounded like an ambulance or police car. This girl called to see if we were still at the stadium at which I replied. I asked them if they were on their way home and she said they were in a police ambulance type of car. She said that the crowd got so crazy that they were bombarded by many of the young men that they sexually assaulted the girls as they tried to get out of the crowds. I later learned that one of the nine girls in the group strongly wanted to leave early like Keith and I did but the rest of the group wanted to stay to the end. Sadly, she was right to have wanted to leave. I continued to learn the greater details of what had happened and how some of the Jordanian young men created a line around the BYU girls so that others wouldn’t get to them, calling it “haram” or forbidden of what the other young men were doing. A few of the girls were devastated with what had happened while other girls just took it as part of the culture and were just fine with their sexual assaults.

                My heart goes out to those that were hurt physically and emotionally. I wish Keith and I could have been with them to help , I wish that the group was smarter in their actions. I wish that they had left early like Keith and I did but most of all I wish the girls that took the event light heartedly would be more sensitive to the girls that were highly disturbed by the night. Nothing ever gives men the right to sexually assault women, especially not a “culture.” They shouldn’t have gone even with the numbers of guys to girls that they had. They had to have known how crazy the crowds would be.  They surely were warned not only the day of the game that this would happen but also before they ever came to Jordan. Of course, being with BYU, we instated new rules regarding public events that there is 2:1 ratio of guys to girls.

                I think I am more concerned about all of this because I have personally tried my best to be with the girls from our program even if it is out of my way to make sure they aren’t bombarded by the infamous young Arab men, or what they are called as the “shabaab.” Now, a few weeks after the game, the girls that had the hardest time with it have expressed that it was hard for them to want to go out and talk on the streets as they should for school but that things are now getting better and were grateful for the young men that strived to protect them. 

Welcome to Jordan

                                                                                                                                                                

Ahlan Wasahlan

                “Welcome to Jordan” are the first words I heard when I arrived to the Queen Rania Airport in Amman, Jordan.  These words were said in English. It seems that everyone wants to welcome me to Jordan once they find out I am from America, even after two weeks. I imagine it will be like this the rest of my time here, a period of four months. After working with many Arabs in the United States, I have come to learn a different culture but a culture I felt was subdued by the Western Culture in which they were present in. These are the people I study for school and my impressions I felt were altered a little bit. Maybe the Arabs I met were accustomed to Western thought and experience has transformed them. I knew I had to get to the Middle East for myself to see what the Arab was like; in his atmosphere, in his realm, and in his own home.  Jordanians are interesting folk, if you can even use the term folk. They are loud, thoughtful, deceitful, kind, helpful, ambitious, talkative, deceived, and patient. Now not all Jordanians are each characteristic I just mentioned, not at all. I feel those characteristics I feel can describe almost any society in the world. For my first assignment of writing about the culture, I’d like to explain my first 24 hours, my first welcome from the country, and my first impression of finally being in the Arab world.

First views of Jordan

               Air France. Don’t ever fly with them. Their customer service while on the plane is fantastic but their luggage transfers are subpar. This was their second time losing my luggage in Paris in less than a week. While at the airport I had my friend’s cousin, Hashem Al Nasser, waiting for me. He waited patiently, without smoking a cigarette for one whole hour in the airport, as I got my luggage situation taken care of. Hashem Al Nasser and I first met on Facebook (Most Arabs love Facebook); we hadn’t met in person prior to the airport. I was impressed with his ability to be patient with my luggage situation. He then drove towards Amman. Along the road, I saw families huddled around a small tent and camp fire (it was at night), probably cooking something with meat. I asked Hashem if this is where they lived, he said no, it was their way of getting out of the city and enjoying time with their family. We then went to dilwar ilbalad, or downtown of Amman. It was crowded and so bright with lights. We went to his favorite restaurant, Hashem’s. No it wasn’t his favorite place because of the name; I quickly learned it was because of the pita and hummus that was served. Just thinking of it makes my mouth water. Then he drove us around the city, demanding that we see at least one of the hills. You see, Jordan is built on many hills (or mountains), much of the old city falls between these hills where the water would run down. Now the city is much bigger and each area has its name. We drove down Rainbow Street, which is supposed to be where most foreigners were. We didn’t get out of the car, simply drove through the rigged traffic in a maybe two lane road. As we slowly drove down this street, we saw many cafes and restaurants, many of them with hookahs—an instrument to smoke basically anything you put into it. We then saw many women that were outside of what the media typically shows, they were unveiled, immodestly dressed and plastered in makeup. These women were surprisingly looked more like Arabs than foreigners. This is where Hashem invited me to get a girlfriend. The Arabs I saw were fairly attractive, much more in person than I expected, but a girlfriend was not an option because I already had one. He let me and my friend, Keith, use his cell phone to call our mothers back in the United States. He dropped us off at our hotel; it was a grand first night. We were ecstatic to be in Jordan and had a great introduction. Thank you to a new friend in a foreign land.

View of Amman from Rainbow street

Sun Rise Hotel was very interesting. It apparently is the oldest hotel in Amman, which I am sure it is one of the older hotels in Amman. It was run down, but it did have wireless internet. I found myself going down to the lobby asking for the password for the wireless internet so I could contact family and find the address to the place we needed to be the next day. It was no sooner found myself sitting down with the foondook owner and his friend helping them find companies that insure the oil rigs in the Persian Gulf. They later told me they wanted to buy stock in these companies because they thought they will become very rich if they did. I thought to myself why would they get rich from them? But I didn’t let it bother me too much. They then noticed my iPhone and asked if I was going to get the iPhone 5. They asked if it was really see-through, or transparent. I laughed and said there is no way they would do that. They must have seen the same predictions/fake photos of the iPhone 5 I saw on the internet. They then started to speak to me in Arabic—about politics. They asked me if I liked Obama and Bush. They began to state how profoundly they hated Bush because of the wars which he brought to the Middle East all for oil. They stated they didn’t like Obama but they also didn’t like Romney. They muttered that he wasn’t even a Christian, that America should have an American president.  “Mormons, don’t believe in Christ,” one said. “Why would America ever have a non-believing Christian?” “He is a Mormon and must be magnuun (crazy).” Even though their words were filled with disgust about this topic, I looked at them with some excitement. I said, “Ana mormonee zay Romney (I am a Mormon like Romney). “  I explained to them that I believe in Jesus Christ. They questioned all different aspects of how I believed in Christ. They then seemed to have run out of complaints about Romney and the Mormons. I knew at least one of them was Muslim because I had to wait for him to finish praying before I could check in.

They then went back into the topic of stocks for the oil insurance companies. It finally bugged me enough to ask them why they wanted to invest in these companies.

“Because we will get rich.”

“Why?”

“Because Israel and America will be at war with Iran very soon.”

“Why would you want war?”

“So we can get rich, very very rich.”

“I hope they don’t go to war. In fact, I don’t think there will be a war at all.”

One stood up and said, “I hope there is a war! I want to be a rich man.”

                This logic made great sense. Hate President Bush for bringing wars to the Middle East, say it was for his own personal gain for oil, etc. but then want a war just so you can get rich off of stock from insurance companies that we weren’t even able to find for the last hour. I wish I had known better Arabic at this moment because my response of why there probably won’t be a war and how they shouldn’t want for a war didn’t seem to reach them.  I encouraged them to invest in Google, Macintosh, or something they use. They didn’t want to do that. I went back to the hotel room, told Keith about the conversation and then realized I had lost my iPhone.

Our Sun Rise Hotel room

                That next morning, I prayed I would find my iPhone. It was my future lifeline for Amman let alone worth hundreds of dollars. Shortly after taking a cold shower, I got a knock on the door; it was the owner of the foondook which I spoke with last night. He pulled something out of his pocket and asked, “Is this yours?” It was my iPhone! I could tell from the case it was in but now it was all scratched up. “Yes! It is mine, where did you get it?!” “Come, follow me,” he said. I followed him all the way down the stairs and into the street. He said, “Hunna (here) my son found it at 2am in the morning.” He pointed at a spot on the street near the curb. It must have fallen out of my pocket or my lap when I got out of Hashem's car the night before. He knew it was mine from the photos on the phone (I always knew it was good to not put a passcode on the iPhone!) and he made something very clear to me. He said, “Here at my hotel, I don’t lie or cheat. In America, someone would have taken it. Now write a good review of my hotel on the internet.” I nodded my head, said several thank you’s in Arabic and went back to my hotel room. Wow, what an amazing man and son for not taking my phone, a very expensive one, too. He was honest and wanted to get rich through a war, what a great introduction to Jordan! And a prayer answered most certainly. 

                Keith and I soon after took a taxi to our next meeting place, charged us four dinars (about $7) which should have really been half a dinar (about $1). Yep, ahlan wasahlan to Jordan.

My Brothers' Keeper

I want to thank my family for everything, but particularly my five brothers.

I have grown up in a wonderful family where my parents equally raised and taught six sons about principles of the restored gospel, happiness and life lessons. I am grateful for them and the immense amount of love that they have shown equally to each of us. I am number four of six boys. No girls (my mom wanted a daughter, that's probably why there are six of us). There is a 14 year gap between the oldest and youngest.

My brothers and I have had many years together now and have definitely had our ups and downs while we were young but now things are always good, always supportive and looking out for each other. Not that we were bitter enemies or never appreciated each other, we just had I think the typical brotherly fights. I often was the last to jump in a dogpile and at the end always the one on the bottom. Growing up as number four of six boys has been a reward and blessing but I didn't see it that way. I loved my brothers but I never fully appreciated them and understood what it meant for me to be their brother and them to be my brother.

It was a few years ago while I was at the beginning of my BYU studies that I began to realize what is meant to truly love and appreciate my family, particularly my brothers which I didn't always get along with. It was during a time that one of my older brothers who was particularly having a tough time and I was in Utah while he was in California. I was thinking a lot about him and one Sunday during church we sang the song, "Lord, I would Follow Thee," a classic song in the LDS hymnbook. The song speaks of following the Lord by helping others. The last two versus' struck out to me that had never before.

I would be my brother's keeper;

I would learn the healer's art.

To the wounded and the weary

I would show a gentle heart.

I would be my brother's keeper-

Lord, I would follow thee.

Savior, may I love my brother

As I know thou lovest me,

Find in thee my strength, my beacon, 

For thy servant I would be.

Savior, may I love my brother-

Lord, I would follow thee

As I sang these versus I began to cry realizing that yes, this song was referring to all of God's children to as "my brother" but this was much more personal, I am actually my brothers' keeper. I am to help them and ask for help to love them just as my Savior loves me. My brothers, at that moment, became not people I just grew up with, that I just so happen to share the same parents with but that these were my brothers, my family that I am sealed to for all eternity. I instantly gained a greater sense of love for my brothers and it changed my perspective on eternity, family, and happiness.

I would like to mention a little bit about what I appreciate for each of them.

Brian: My oldest brother, the righteous example to all of us younger in the family. He is solid in the gospel and firm with his knowledge of his purpose in life. Great father and husband to his family and great support to me for whenever I have random questions. He is very well rounded and uses his talents to bless others. I will always be grateful for the eldest child in a family because of his example.

Eric: My second oldest brother, the example of integrity and always having fun while doing it. He is I guess you can say the comic relief, that taught us all to have comic relief even during the darkest time. Even though he may be a bit goofy, he takes his purpose and calling in life serious. His family means everything to him and  I appreciate that example of what they mean to him. I will always be appreciative of his joy in life. 

Keith: My third oldest brother, the brother right above me and probably the one I have mot memories of doing things with. He is particularly strong with the adversary, he shows what true faith means. His example of integrity and do whatever it takes to get it done always inspires me. His love for his family and those around him are respectable. I can't express how grateful I am for his kindness to me from as early as I can remember. He is always the one to include in all activities when I am home, even if it means late nights playing the Wii. 

Kyle: My first younger brother, the Man among men. He has a humble and reverent heart. Always knowing what right from wrong is and following what is right. He was a young boy that I have seen to turn into a wonderful, faithful young man. He doesn't know it, but I have always looked up to him. I am grateful for his expressed excitement to spend time with me and to be excited for me to come home. 

Matt: My youngest brother, the hardworking and missionary spirited young brother. I am so grateful for his amazing ability to keep life simple and full of his joys. I admire his love to read. He has turned into a wonderful young boy that had great love for others into sharing the love for others through his missionary efforts as of recently. He inspires me to do more than what I thought I couldn't do. 

All of my brothers have been examples of being a missionary, working hard, putting on the good fight when it is tough, loving their parents, loving their wives and family, being sealed in the temple, and many many other things. I am grateful for their love and I pray that I would be their keeper, that I may love them as the Savior loves me. I am grateful to call them each my brother and I hope to be my brothers' keeper as I follow my Savior in keeping his commandments and serving His children. 

What Is Deep Practice?

As I was cleaning my cluttered desk off so I could write some checks for my enormous bills, I found this marvelous hand written list from my Euphonium coach that he gave me years ago. I strongly believe in the principles and their ability to be applied to all aspects. As I study Arabic, I wish there were an easier way. I think this list may make it easier as I apply these principles.


What Is Deep Practice?
1. It's designed to specifically improve a person's own performance. Usually a teacher or coach is involved.

2. It can be repeated over and over but not sloppily or mindlessly

3. It must be scheduled into the day and planned out ahead of time (no "spur of the moment" or "I'll do it when I feel like it" stuff!).

4. There's feedback on how you're doing - lesson, video or audio record yourself  practicing.

5. It is highly mentally and/or physically demanding. It's not for "sissies."

6. It must be done on a regular daily basis with appropriate breaks built in.

7. It must be broken into small chunks which are thoroughly learned and then strung together to see or get "the whole picture."

8. It isn't very entertaining BUT the payoffs are enormous

9. You must make mistakes and correct them immediately to grow and progress.

10. It requires you to stretch and reach high but not to set goals that are currently out of your reach!

11. Natural talent can be a help, but any person of any ability level can become very successful in any area by using these principles!!!

Dr. Steve Call, Tuba/Euphonium Professor at Brigham Young University

Islam and Christianity Part 1

    

 In beginning of the new Christian calendar we saw the birth of a man that would change belief, faith, stories and history—his name is Jesus Christ. To Christians Jesus Christ is viewed to be a great man, prophet and many view him as the Savior of the world. He was prophesied of prophets of old that He would come to redeem the world; He was born of the Virgin Mary as the only Begotten Son of God, organized a church, died on the cross and through His sacrifice redeemed the world of all sins. To Muslims though there is a different viewpoint – Jesus was not the Son of God, did not organize the Christian doctrine as it is viewed today (or for most of Christian history), and did not die as a sacrifice for mankind. Yes, he was born of the Virgin Mary, performed many miracles, and taught a new doctrine but he was just a profound prophet. Many Muslims revere him almost as much as the Prophet Muhammad. Christianity and Islam is a very intriguing topic for much of the West due to recent events. Many wonder what Islam thinks about Christianity. I will discuss what viewpoint Islam does have on Christianity that expresses respect and a call to correction according to the Qur’an and the Hadith.

            Muhammad at an early age heard the stories of Jesus the Christ, Moses, Abraham, along with other religious stories. They were probably legends to him filled with mystery and sacred teachings. Muhammad, though grew up in an idolatry society, believed in a One True God that would not only correct false teachings but would do it through a prophet similar the stories he had heard. Muhammad in his 40^th year was called as a prophet and was used as a mouthpiece for God to correct the false traditions and practices the people around him and around the world was doing.[1] In Daniel Peterson’s book titled the “Muhammad, Prophet of God,” Muhammad spoke of Christians being around him and even prophesying of the coming of a prophet for the Arab peninsula. After Muhammad’s call in 610 AD, many Christians in the Arab world did convert and some did not. Sometimes these two religions found contention because of the different structure of economic and social structures. Often they supported each other.[2] I believe Islam found greater peace about Christians even though they were not of the same faith through the following passage: "Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in God and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve." Surah 2:62. In Surah 2:138-140 we find versus that describe that Jews and Christians worship the same God as Muslims and are related through a lineage of patriarchs. Mushaf Al-Madinah says the following about this concept, “If the Christians claim that these Patriarchs knew of and followed the teachings of Jesus, the claim [all people worshipped Christ in the past] is still more absurd, - except in the sense of Islam that Allah’s teaching is one in all ages.”[3]

            Teaching in all ages implies that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Just as Latter-day Saints (Mormons) believe in dispensations (a period between prophets that bring about significant doctrine like Adam to Noah, Noah to Abraham, etc.) and they believe in a falling away or an apostasy (the people rejecting the teachings of a prophet and then God calls another prophet to help correct the falsehoods created) so do Muslims believe these concepts. Islam preaches that just as Christ came to correct the fallen Jewish practices, Muhammad came to correct the false teachings that the Christians and other religions had changed. Everyone in the past that worshipped Allah (God) correctly are Muslims (one who submits to God), therefore Muhammad is bringing back these teachings. This point is confirmed in Surah 5:14 where it claims “Christians…did take a Covenant but they forgot a good part of the Message that was sent to them…” Though Christians are fallen away, they still carry truth and are considered “People of the Book” ( also known as Dhimmi). People of the Book according to the Qur’an are Jews, Christians and Abyssinians. These are people who believe in the prophets found in the Old and/or New Testament. Later, Muslim scholars would consider Zoroastrianists and Hindus People of the Book, most likely for political reasons. As People of the Book, they were considered a respectful people in a Muslim community with special privileges over non-believers. They were capable of holding a political office and be prominent people.

We then learn in Surah 5:82-85 that Christianity is the nearest in love to Islam. This could be interpreted to different meanings. Here Al-Madinah comments that it not means all people that call themselves Christians, but the true sincere Christians similar to the Abyssinian Christians that helped the Muslims for their hard work and willingness to learn. It states that when they listen to the message given by the prophet Muhammad we will “see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they recognize the truth.” Then then in the Day of Judgment they will be rewarded “With gardens, with rivers flowing underneath-their eternal Home. Such is the recompense of those who do good.” Christians that are honest and sincere will receive the same rewards that good honest Muslims will receive in the final Day of Judgment.

The Hadith, a collection of teachings and words spoken by the prophet Muhammad, carry similar viewpoints of the Qur’an on Christianity but also very different viewpoints as well that create contradicting opinions for Muslims to interpret . First, there is a hadith that seems to be harsh towards the Christians: “"Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Do not greet the Jews and Christians before they greet you and when you meet any one of them on the roads force him to go to the narrowest part of it."[4] It was later explained in a footnote that this may sound harsh, yes, but it is more so for the safety of the Christian or Jew to be given a separate part of the road for their own safety in case the Muslims may be desirous to harm them. I think Muhammad had an understanding of the differences between the three different monotheistic religions because of his revelations through the Qur’an so he knew to give these people space so that there may not be any harsh misunderstandings from Muslims toward the Christians.

Before I share the following Hadiths, I believe it to be important to share that many people think that Islam has a God of horror and terror and not a peaceful God. I would have to say the first part is true but not the latter. Just as a Christian’s God is peaceful and loving so is He harsh and has shown horror. Both Gods express a form of mercy and damnation and you might say that both Gods are one in the same. The first hadith is “Jews and Christians go to hellfire in place of Muslims.” This one could easily be interpreted in a way of considering Jews and Christians to be of no worth. According to one viewpoint of this Hadith, Christians and Jews are not capable of going to paradise and will be sent to hell while the Muslims that are pure in heart will take their place in paradise. This also could imply that Jews and Christians are in a fallen state and Muslims now fulfill what was once lost. Another hadith that seems to penetrate a Christian: “Allah forbade Muslims to marry the pagans (Jews and Christians); I do not know any kind of associating others with Allah in one of Allah’s slaves.”[5] I believe this is saying for no Muslim to marry a Jewish or Christian woman, or at least not until they become believers themselves.

The hadiths also mention the doctrine of what the Christians believe. "The Christians … asserted that the Holy Ghost has incarnated Himself in the person of Jesus Christ."[6] This Christian doctrine to Islam would be considered blasphemous. Apparently at this time Muhammad had an understanding that this was a Christian doctrine, though this was probably not vastly believed then and especially now in the Latter-day Saint doctrine, he felt it worthwhile to correct the Christian falsehoods dealing with their sacred prophet Jesus. Another instance of Christians is in relation to the one above speaking of Christians and Jews going to hell instead of Muslims. I will sum up the hadith given its long length. The Christians will be summoned and asked who they worshipped. They will say they worship Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Then it will be said, “you tell a lie; Allah did not take himself either a spouse or a son.” And then they would be asked what they would want, they would want water. They would be pointed into a direction to gather this water. They didn’t want to go to the area because it seemed a mirage of hell. They were than gathered together and would fall into the fire one by one.[7] This hadith gives much room for the opponents of Islam to claim its dark nature. Though I may see this hadith as an extremely harsh one, I see it being a form of explanation of God’s judgment metaphorically for the Judgment Day.

Today Christians and Muslims still live side by side. There are millions of Muslims that now live outside of the Arab world that live among millions of other Christians (with millions of Christians still in the Arab world.) Largely due to the events on September 11^th, 2001 many Christians in the West have a natural instinct to be fearful of their Islamic brothers and sisters. We would call this fear Islamicphobia. Extreme Islamists seem to ruin it for the rest of the good and great Muslims found throughout the world. In the New York Times I recently read that Coptics and Muslims were clashing in Egypt with several dead and two churches in flames. Just four months ago Christians were circling around the Muslims while they prayed so that anti-protesters could not harm them during the Egyptian Revolution.[8]  Do their actions represent what each other’s religions really teach? They do not. It is the simple principle of pride that is spoken against in both religions coming into the hearts of the people. Though there is great contention today there is tension of Christians not liking Muslims throughout the West and Islamic extremists preaching to fight against the West, there is great understanding capable through discussion and listening to one another. One winter semester at Brigham Young University I would spend my Sunday evenings having interrelation dialogues with my friends Mohammad and Ali (“Not the boxer” they’d often say after introducing themselves). We speak of each of our faiths – Islam and Mormonism. As each week past, we found more things in common than not. Before my friends departed back to Jordan one said to me, “What you have taught me about your faith must be shared with all Muslims. If they knew what you had taught me, they would support you more than any other nation found in the world.” After speaking with other Latter-day Saints that have had similar discussions with Muslims I have found I am not alone with this type of respect and appreciation for our two faiths.

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[1] Ayoub, Mahmoud M. Islam Faith and History. Oxford: One World, 2004 p. 21

[2] Peterson, Daniel C. Muhammad: Prophet of God, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2007

[3] Al-Madinah. The Holy Quran: English Translation of the meanings and commentary. Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia: King Fahd Holy Qur’an Printing Complex, p. 54

[4] Sahih Muslim vol.3 book 24 no.5389,5390 p.1185

[5] Sahih Muslim vol.3 book 68 no.5285 p. 838

[6] Sahih Muslim translation vol.1 p.127 footnote 393.

[7] Sahih Muslim vol.1 book 1 no.352 p.117.

[8] Kirkpatrick, David M. “Muslims and Coptic Christians Clash Again in Egypt” New York Times, May 15^th, 2011