Prayer Christian and Muslim Perspectives

The book under review is a collection of essays and personal reflections, drawn from the 2011 Building Bridges Seminar in Doha, Qatar. Over thirty leading scholars from both faiths presented papers and debated the meaning and function of prayer in their respective traditions. The seminar followed the established pattern of public lectures on the first day, while the second and third days were devoted to private sessions. The volume, being the seminar’s record, follows its structure. The preface contains the introductory remarks of Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury in which he reviewed the development of the series of Bridge Building seminars since 2003 and particularly applauded “the fruitful work of the Doha International Centre for Interfaith Dialogue.” (p. xv). Part I, entitled Surveys, provides the revised versions of the first day’s lectures which were given in three pairs. Michael Plekon’s paper provided some examples of prayers from the Christian traditions, while Reza Shah-Kazemi’s essay dealt with the Qur’anic theology of Prayer. He discussed the implications of the Qur’anic verse: “I only created the jinn and mankind in order that they may worship Me” (51:56). According to him “the meaning of “worship” in this verse is “knowledge”. (p. 13) He argues that worship becomes the primary means by which the divine purpose of creation is achieved and by which knowledge of God is attained.