Mary: clearly a bridge between Islam and Christianity

[demosincebirth]

Brother John M. Samaha, SM

For Muslims, Mary is the true Sayyida (Lady). In their creed only Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad, would rival her. After the death of Fatimah, Muhammad wrote, “Thou shall be the most blessed of all women in Paradise, after Mary.” In a variation of this text, Fatimah says, “I surpass all the women, except Mary.”

This highlights another point: namely, why our Blessed Mother in the 20th century should have revealed herself in the insignificant village of Fatima, Portugal, so that all future generations will know her as Our Lady of Fatima. Because nothing happens without divine reason, some believe the Virgin Mary chose to be known as Our Lady of Fatima as a pledge and sign of hope to the Muslim people, and as an assurance that they who show her great respect will one day accept her divine Son, too.

Evidence to support these views is found in the history of Muslim occupation of Portugal for centuries. When they were finally driven out of Portugal, the last Muslim ruler had a beautiful daughter named Fatimah. She fell in love with a Catholic young man. For him she not only stayed behind when the Muslims left, but she also embraced Catholicism. Her young husband loved her so much that he changed the name of the town where he lived to Fatima. Consequently, the very place where Our Lady appeared in 1917 bears a historical connection to Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad.


http://catholicvoiceoakland.org/2011/05-09/forum1.htm