One World Religion Watch: The nun and the Imam who work together for Lebanon's most vulnerable
They are a nun and a sheikh. They eat breakfast together, laugh
together, and work together in Lebanon. In a country with 17 religious
denominations, life goes on without asking what God the other one
believes in.
AHMAD ALKHAHL
Sheikh
"First,
we are children of man, we are all human. The human being has to
respect this despite of the different denominations of faith. Each one
practices his religion according to the precepts that God has foreseen
in it, but everyone, without exception, shares social, humanitarian and
moral principles.”
SR MARIA JOSEPHA ABOU HAIDAR
Religious, Sisters of Charity of Besançon
"I
think this image of me with the sheikh shows there is a coexistence
between Christians and Muslims. It is useful not only for the Middle
East, but also for Europe, which is not accustomed to seeing this kind
of coexistence that we have had for 1,600 years. There have been better
and worse times: We have been persecuted, murdered, displaced. Yet
despite everything, there is forgiveness in the heart and we have been
able to recover and take the next step.”
This
dispensary of the Order of Malta managed by the Sisters of Charity of
Besançon began to operate in the middle of the Lebanese civil war. It is
located in the rural region of Kefraya, and today serves patients from
40 villages and hundreds of Syrian refugees.
They
also have this medical mobile unit that offers health care to those who
are far away. In fact, that's why the sheikh has visited the sisters
today, to ask if this service can reach more places throughout the
region.
AHMAD ALKHAHL
Sheikh
"This
is a very active center that is making it possible for a lot of people
to live in the area, especially because of the current crisis. It is
alleviating the difficulties of the population.”
SR MARIA JOSEPHA ABOU HAIDAR
Religious, Sisters of Charity of Besançon
"We
have a good relationship with everyone. When a person holds out a hand
we respond by stretching both hands. Everyone respects each other and
there is coexistence. Christians and Muslims live together. They know
that we are at their service.”
The nun
and the sheikh are a symbol of Lebanon itself, a country where
coexistence is a force that illuminates the darkness that threatens the
entire Middle East.
