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Home » Church, synagogue, and mosque opened in one complex in Abu Dhabi

Church, synagogue, and mosque opened in one complex in Abu Dhabi

by Team@Lotus
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 The tri-faith Abrahamic Family House was built by the UAE after a visit by Pope Francis in 2019 when he signed a historic declaration of fraternity with a prominent Islamic leader.

In an enlightened experiment to foster interfaith understanding and break barriers, the three Abrahamic faiths have built their places of worship in one compound in Abu Dhabi. The UAE formally opened Abrahamic Family House in mid-February where  a mosque, a church and a synagogue face one another. Next to each stands tall pillars illuminating a crescent, a cross, and a menorah, respectively.

The project was flagged off by Pope Francis in 2019 when he traveled to Abu Dhabi and met with Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the head of Sunni Islam’s most prestigious seat of learning. The resulting Document on Human Fraternity set ambitious goals to foster interfaith dialogue. The tri-faith complex is built by UAE’s Higher Committee for Human Fraternity.

Muslims, Christians, and Jews gathered to inaugurate the three worship centers, named Ahmed El Tayeb Mosque, St Francis Church and Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue located on Saadiyat Island in the capital of UAE. A high-profile representative from each faith gave inaugural remarks. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, President of Abrahamic Family House, said it stands for hope “for peaceful coexistence and understanding.”

The chief rabbi of the United Kingdom, Ephraim Mirvis, was quoted by Religion News Service as saying that it was historic to see the “children of Abraham gathered … to build a new world.” He exhorted the audience to “recognize the part of the divine in every person” so we can “shape a new world built from loving kindness.”  

Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, said that believers do not need to walk away from their deeply held beliefs to befriend others and to visit their houses of worship.

Inside views of Ahmed El Tayeb Mosque, St Francis Church and Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue. (All photos courtesy: Adjaye Associates)

Designed by Ghanaian-British architect Sir David Adjaye, Abrahamic Family House respects the values of the three faiths sharing the space. The mosque faces in the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah while the synagogue faces west to Jerusalem. A marble-floored garden area in the middle allows visitors to sit and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

About the cubical form of 3 buildings standing cheek by jowl, the official website of the Family House says, “The Form is translated from the three faiths, we use the lens to define what is similar as opposed to what is different and we use the power of that revelation to make the form.”

The place is already welcoming worshippers to its mosque, church, and synagogue. From March it was open to visitors. Within each of the three places of worship, visitors will be able to observe religious services, listen to scriptures, and experience sacred rituals. The fourth sacred space will meanwhile serve as a center for people of all faiths, offering educational and event-based programming. Entry is free and visitors can pay for a guided tour.

The religious landscape in the federation of seven emirates seems to be  changing. The official religion of UAE is Islam, but it has a huge number of migrant workers from South Asia, a lot of them Hindus. It is no coincidence then that the first Hindu temple being built by BAPS organization too is coming up in Abu Dhabi, on land gifted by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. Interestingly, UAE has a Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence in Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan who said the Abrahamic Family House is their attempt to show that they are creating an environment respectful of different beliefs.

Religious and community leaders in the UAE agree. Rex Bacarra, a former Benedictine monk and now a faculty member at Rabdan Academy in Abu Dhabi, told Khaleej Times: “In a world filled with division and strife, the Abrahamic Family House serves as a beacon of hope, proving that with love and understanding, people of different faiths can come together and work toward a shared purpose.

Liron Zaslansky, Consul General of Israel in Dubai was also quoted by Khaleej Times as saying, “Abrahamic Family House holds a historical significance as the home of the first purpose-built synagogue in the UAE and the first built in the Arab world for nearly a century. It demonstrates the UAE leadership’s deep commitment to coexistence and tolerance, which are among the leading values of the UAE, and are at the heart of the Abraham Accords (facilitated by America under President Trump.”

Lead picture courtesy: abudhabiguide.ae/

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