c. 1997 Religion News Service

(Salam Al-Maryati is director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council and Ambereen Khan is director of the council’s Washington office)

UNDATED _ This week, 2 million Muslim pilgrims from around the world embarked on a pilgrimage _ the Hajj _ to Mecca to pay homage to Abraham, the pioneer of monotheism.

Muslims remind themselves of Abraham’s dedication and perseverance for the cause of God by celebrating Eid-ul-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice. Today, Abraham plays an even more pivotal role in interfaith relations in America, for he is the patriarch of the three great monotheistic faiths _ Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

In recent years, disasters have become an unfortunate regular occurrence during the Hajj because of a lack of adequate organization. The tragedy that occurred this year, when more than 300 people died during a fire in an encampment outside Mecca, however, should not distract us from understanding the ideals of Islam for enriching the human family.

The challenge for all followers of faith is to match behavior with principles.

Muslims believe the messages of God were not sent separately to competing religions, but were sent in stages and established the Abrahamic connection. The Torah, the Gospels and the Koran are regarded as the books of God, each reaffirming the former and sharing common ethical values.

Many Americans often think of Islam as an”Eastern”religion completely foreign from the”Western”religious traditions of Judaism and Christianity. They do not realize Muslims regard Abraham as the patriarch.

The misinformation begins with the labels. To call Judaism and Christianity”Western”religions is geographically inaccurate as both originated in the Middle East, as did Islam.

Few Americans remember Abraham had two sons, not one. Both Ishmael and Isaac are regarded as legitimate progeny of the patriarch and are ancestors of Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. This familial relationship among three men who impacted this world can be appreciated during this holy and peaceful time for Muslims. When we make the pilgrimage to Mecca, we go to the first house of worship built by Abraham _ the Kaaba.

Ironically, while Muslims around the world celebrate Abraham’s sacrifice, Judge Roy Moore declared that Muslims will not be invited to deliver prayers in his Alabama courtroom.

This is not the first time Muslims have been discriminated against by the state of Alabama. During the McCarthy era in the 1950s, American Muslims were required to register along with Nazis and Communists in Alabama.

When Moore exhibited the Ten Commandments in his courtroom, the act resonated among Muslims because it is the same Ten Commandments found in the Koran. However, when Moore states that Muslims”do not acknowledge the God of the Holy Bible,”he exposed a level of ignorance that is not uncommon.

Educating the public about Islam remains a formidable task. However, Moore’s statements represent a greater danger because he is exploiting biblical scripture as a tool to delegitimize and exclude other faiths.

Abraham’s importance to the three religions should not be denied. We should use our shared values and concerns to generate dialogue and community. To exclude Islam from the”Judeo-Christian”tradition is offensive to Muslims.

In addition, American history does not exclude Islam as Moore has implied. Thomas Jefferson kept a Koran, the Islamic scripture, in his library as a reference. Moore should visit the Supreme Court where the Prophet Muhammad and Koran are acknowledged along with Moses and the Ten Commandments.

Advancing ethical values in America, adhering to them and defending them, are not mutually exclusive with the idea of separation of church and state.

We cherish the maxim,”In God We Trust,”and the value of the adage in the Pledge of Allegiance,”one nation under God.”However, when government officials define God for the people, they violate the essence of the Abrahamic religions and all Americans should be concerned.

When judges begin to determine and define whose religion is legitimate and credible, justice will be sacrificed. The United States is a rich landscape of religious traditions and they have thrived not in spite of the separation of church and state, but because of it.

On this holiday for Muslims, let us remember that the highest ethical value of Abraham and his progeny, including Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, is justice.

MJP END RNS