Only in America! T'was the Sunday before Christmas, when Rev. K. Karpin asked if I could read from the chapter of Mary in the Quran, at the Celebration of Worship, at the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew.
Of course I was available. I would make myself available. Me, a Muslim, reciting the Quran in a church on the Fourth Sunday in Advent!
It gets better:
I asked if he had any particular verses in mind. Of course he did. I quickly reached out for my copy of the Quran. Perfect!
It gets better:
I dared to ask if I could play the recitation of the Quran in Arabic, just a few verses. Of course, he said.
In the beauty of the sanctuary, with the choir behind, and the red poinsettias abound, I stood at the podium, held my iPhone to the microphone, and played the recitation. I read the verses where the angel announces to Mary that she is to be with child, her fears, her agony of labor, the miraculous birth of Jesus, and the baby speaking from the cradle.
It gets better:
People surrounded me after services were over. "Thank you...this was beautiful...thank you." I, a Muslim woman, was given the opportunity to read from the Quran at Sunday services, and they were thanking me! Such is the spirit of Christmas. "Thank you for inviting me."
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