Catholic theology students attend Muslim’s iftar party

By Matters India Reporter

New Delhi, March 28, 2023: A group of students of theology from Delhi’s Jesuit-run Vidyajyoti Institute of Religious Studies on March 26 attended an iftar program, the ritual of breaking the fast during the Ramadan month.

They were invited by Syed Muhammad Nizami Sahib to the iftar at the dargah of Sufi saint Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya on the fifth day of Ramadan.

Muslims throughout abstain from eating and drinking during the day and end the fast at sunset during Ramadan month. Many Muslims and their groups use the iftar to build and promote interfaith relations.

Reminding the relevance of such interfaith engagements, Jesuit Father Joseph Victor Edwin, who teaches theology and Christian-Muslim Relations at Vidyajyoti, said: In the light of postmodernist thought which takes shape as abhorrence of uniformity, universality, and absoluteness, the Church has a new task of discerning her identity in the context of many religions.”

He reminded the students of the message of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue addressed to ‘Muslim brothers and sisters,’ that urged Muslims and Christians to strive to promote together a ‘culture of love and friendship’ in the context of ‘the culture of hate.’

The Vatican message said the culture of hate is nurtured through the numerous “negative attitudes and behaviors towards those who are different from us,” including “suspicion, fear, rivalry, discrimination, exclusion, persecution, polemics, insults, and backbiting” through social media.

Father Edwin said the message encourages both Muslims and Christians to nurture respect, goodness, charity, friendship, and mutual care for all in the context of negativity.

Syed Muhammad Nizami Sahib said that Sufis emphasize the importance of experiencing God in one’s life. He further said every human is created to love God and love his/her neighbour.

Sufism, he said, has played a great role in addressing the spiritual concerns of Muslims. In the Sufi spirituality the ethical teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and Jesus are highlighted.

The theology students said the experience convinced them that adherents of other religions are good, loving “precisely because of their religions. The Pope’s invitation is encouraging as he asks people to act with confidence that humanity belongs to God, build a future together on the foundations of Peace and Justice, and to cultivate Frankness and courage.