True love means loving everyone

I've been living for 12 years in Muslim countries around the globe, and I've seen different faces of Islam. Most Muslims are friendly and respectful of other's beliefs. They are also quite zealous of their own, but not violent. They sieve through their scriptures on what is and what is not applicable today to ensure harmonious living respecting others'. On the other hand, few Muslims do follow strictly what They read in their writings, even if that means persecuting infidels. For example Ancient Iraqi Christian communities have been expelled following a decree by ISIS, that they must either convert to Islam, pay a tax or die.  (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/last-few-iraqi-christians-flee-violence-and-threats-in-mosul-as-isis-continues-its-takeover-9622541.html). In sharia countries, people may face death if they leave Islam. Such was the case of Mariam Yehya Ibrahim, the Sudanese Christian woman sentenced to death in Sudan because of her faith. Happily for Mariam, international diplomatic intervention allowed her moving to the UK.

During the past few weeks violence episodes have been fostered amid religious extremism in Israel and Palestina. I wonder then, how can peace be accomplished? I came across this article from Tribun News, a news agency in Indonesia (the largest populated Muslim country) about how Palestinians Christians are helping Palestinian Muslims. This is how it should be done. It's about loving everyone in all situations. A great example on how to foster peace across the world.

CHRISTIAN CHURCH BECOMES A MUSLIM PRAYER BUILDING FOR THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY

http://banjarmasin.tribunnews.com/2014/07/26/gereja-di-gaza-jadi-tempat-salat-umat-muslim

BANJARMASINPOST..CO.ID, GAZA CITY - For Mahmoud Khalaf, a resident of Gaza, was a strange new experience performing prayers under the gaze of an icon of Jesus Christ. But since the war broke out in Gaza, he had no choice but to worship in a Christian church. That's where he took refuge after Israeli air strikes hit northern Palestinian homes.

"They allow us to pray. This gesture changed my view of Christians. I really did not know them before, but they have become our brothers," said Khalaf (27 years) who claimed he had never imagined to perform evening prayers in in a church. "We (Muslims) pray together last night," he said. "Here, the love between Muslims and Christians has grown."

Upon entering the Church of Saint Porphyrius Haman in Gaza City, visitors are greeted with the words "marhaban" (welcome) by Christians, but by "al-salamu aleikum" by most of the inhabitants at this time, namely the refugees of Gaza who have been making the church compound as their home for nearly two weeks.

Khalaf, who left his home in the Shaaf after it became the target of Israeli warplanes attack, holding a Misbaha (Islamic beads like a rosary) anxiously, but relieved to have found refuge with some 500 other Muslim refugees. "Christians carry us through. We thank them for it" he said.

Khalaf is now accustomed to worship in the temple of a religion that is foreign to him, especially during the holy month of Ramadhan. Every day he is oriented toward Mecca, reciting the verses of Al-Quran and bowed himself, as he did in the mosque.

The priests and people appreciate their Muslim guests.

"Of course, Christians are not fasting (as required for Muslims during the ongoing month of Ramadhan), but they deliberately avoid eating in front of us during the day. They do not smoke, onr drink around us," said Khalaf.

But he has been unable to execute the commands of religion during the bloody conflict and indiscriminate that has killed more than 800 Palestinians, mostly civilians. "I'm usually a devout Muslim, but I've been smoking for Ramadan. I'm not fasting, I was too scared and tense because of the war"

Fasting will end when Eid comes. However, with the ongoing bombing, hundreds of people were killed and thousands left homeless, rather muted the excitement of Eid. "Christians and Muslims may celebrate Eid together here," said Sabreen al-Ziyara, a Muslim woman who had worked at the church for 10 years as a janitor. "But this year, it is not Eid but a party of martyrs," he said. He refers with respect to those who have died as a result of the war.

It is a harmonious and tolerant atmosphere, but in the middle of the battlefield, the tension is still felt. When the food supply comes, clashes nearly broke when the women and children looking for a plastic bag containing bread and water, which is distributed with the help of the church officials.

Christians in Gaza have been reduced in number to about 1,500. While the Sunni Muslim population is of 1.7 million people. The Christian community, as in other places in the Middle East, has shrunk due to persecution and unemployment. However, in situations such terror in Gaza, a sense of brotherhood grew between them.

"Jesus said, love your neighbor, not just your family, but your colleague, your friend - Muslim, Shia, Hindu, or Jew," said Tawfiq Khader Christian volunteers. "We opened our doors to everyone."