People of the Book

On a recent trip to the library I picked up What Everyone Needs To Know About Islam, by John L. Esposito. It was one of the featured books in the lobby of the main branch of Boston Public Library. A year ago I would have passed by it. However, since returning back to Boston a year ago from Florida, and with recent boil of affairs in the Middle East, I felt it was important to re-educate myself in Islam.

Re-educated, because unlike most Americans I've lived in a country (Nigeria) that has a significant Muslim population (ie. everyone got Muslim holidays off). I have relatives and friends I grew up with that are Muslim. I remember vividly being awoken to the sound of Allahu Akbar! (God is the most great!) at daybreak, right before my mother would come to my room to wake me up for school.

I have a respect for Islam and Muslim for the simplest of reasons. I was exposed to them day-in-day-out at such a young age in a way that I took for granted, therefore I accepted it as normal. Although my immediate family was Christian it was understood that Islam and Christianity co-existed 99% of the time, amicably.

As I read this book, I realize I have been in the United States so long, I have forgotten some of the customs and holidays. However, I find I have a deeper appreciation, even as a Christian, for Islam as I am learning that there are more similarities with Christianity than I knew. Unfortunately, the combination of Sept. 11 and the behavior of extremists have tarnished Islam in the American public view for the worse.

The most important thing I've learned from reading this book so far is that Muslims per the Quran regard Jews and Christians as "people of The Book," that is they regards them as children of Abraham like themselves.

This helps to explains why from the time of Muhammed through my childhood in Nigeria and beyond why Muslims have been able to live together with Christians or Jews. While this is an oversimplification, it's clear that problem of course is what happens at the exteremes of any religion and who those extremists can sway.