|
Never Mind, Just Crossing the
Moon
Arnvid Aakre
The moon was hanging almost new in the dark night while
glimmering stars crowned the celestial floor. Above the garden,
palm branches whispered an ancient hallelujah song and underneath,
some Europeans and even more Egyptians sat on "plastic straw
mats" with strong Neolithic colors. It was good company after
a long day of work.
I've always been fascinated by Egyptian evenings when the moon
has reduced itself to a slim crescent, as here one can actually
imagine oneself sitting in the moon - due to its more horizontal
angle. This indulgence in whimsical imagination isn’t possible,
where the same moon is hanging nearly vertical.
This same relaxing moon is also one of Islam's identifying
symbols.
On the east bank of the Nile, in the town of Luxor, I noticed
the same moon as part of a symbol combination on top of many
houses. The combination was totally new for me, as this was a
"relaxing" moon and the Christian cross-united in one
image. Sometimes the cross was standing inside the moon, other
times the moon was combined in the center part of the cross -
while still more combinations were around. Those who have been to
the Coptic Museum in Cairo have most likely seen the same symbol
there.
To most Egyptians, as an European with white skin and blond
Hair, I "belonged" to the Christian part of the Egyptian
united Muslim-Christian symbol. My Islamic friends always said to
me, when ever religious topics came up: "Malish, Allah Wahed"
("Never mind, it's the same God").
These statements did not exactly match the mental picture I had
brought with me of religion.
One of my friends in Luxor is the grand Sufi Sheikh here,
famous for helping anyone in need - so Muslims and Christians both
come to him for help and advice. One day I went up to him and told
him that I had to become Muslim. He looked at me without
believing, and then said: "Are you stupid?"
To this he instantly added: "do you really believe God
needs a paper, you know Islam - so why those papers?" After
explaining my personal reasons, he answered: "okay, but then
you must promise me something first". In the second before he
continued, I expected he would say something
"traditional" - but he said: "If you want to know
more than you know about Islam - never listen to a Muslim". I
was baffled, but he continued: "Nobody can tell you the whole
truth, so read, think and evaluate for yourself. Allah talks best
directly or through his holy books".
After some weeks I went to Al Azhar in Cairo, the Moslem
university there, and a short time after, I had the papers in
hand.
Did my life change? Not much - the same moon is hanging above.
Still something changed, and that's the reason for this story.
So what was the change?
Well, before my Egyptian Muslim friends used to say to me
"Malish, Allah Wahed" - now it's my Egyptian Christian
friends who say "Never mind, it's the same God".
To me this shows a vibrant, life-loving culture that did not
end with its ancient history. On the contrary, it's all very much
alive - just ask the man in the moon and you will see.
|
