A Conversation about Mary/Maryam – Mother of Jesus

Three Reflections

Interfaith dialogue, according to our Bridge Building logo, brings together four intersecting considerations that contribute to positive, and even transformative interfaith sharing:  hospitality, dialogue, peace, and witness.   

To help us reflect on the most recent interfaith dialogue, three attenders offered to share a reflection. Alicia reflects through her Mennonite tradition, Ali reflects through his Shia Muslim tradition, and Collin reflects through his Anglican tradition.

May these reflections inspire us to step into spaces that offer new perspectives, new friendships, and through that, a stronger faith witness to the reconciling love we all long for. 

A reflection from Alicia

I felt immediately welcomed at the A Common Word dialogue about Mary / Mariam. The gathering had an inviting atmosphere where we could cluster in a big group to hear the speakers and also have the fluidity to form smaller groups during times of discussion. The hospitality provided in preparing tea throughout and a snack following the dialogue enriched conversation, contributing to a central effort for everyone to feel included.

The dialogue had many respectful exchanges with both speakers sharing how the mother of Jesus was portrayed from Christian and Islam faith backgrounds. I valued how they engaged each other, taking turns to respond with surprise or familiarity in hearing about Mary’s life from the Bible and Quran. During the dialogue, I felt free to express my faith as an Anabaptist and I could genuinely offer that safety for others to do the same. I appreciated how group discussion was interwoven between the speakers’ segments, as it dedicated time to get to know one another and hear our personal connections to Mariam.

Peace was wholly present as I engaged in conversation. I was delighted by how Mary’s attributes of honesty, confidence, trust in God and her gentle but emboldened spirit were iterated and reiterated by the people in my group. I was surprised to learn how the Quran focuses on Mariam’s solitary conviction in faith and in giving birth to Jesus in a way that was absent from her community told in the Bible. This depiction added a resilience to her character that I didn’t know before and appreciate that it is being role modelled for younger generations.

Mary has been a difficult figure in the Christian diaspora and I am grateful that through the important meeting points of interfaith dialogues like this one I can rectify how her purpose was often oversimplified in my faith education. It is our united inspiration from such a remarkable woman that made it easy to build relationships and deeply communicate about our faith.

A reflection from Ali 

This past Sunday, Edmonton witnessed a deeply meaningful and exceptionally well-organized interfaith dialogue that will be remembered as a model for respectful and enlightened engagement across religious traditions. A Common Word Alberta hosted “A Conversation about Mary/Maryam: Mother of Jesus,”—a timely and spiritually profound event that brought Christian and Muslim communities together in a shared space of reflection, learning, and reverence. 

The dialogue focused on Mary (Maryam, peace be upon her), a figure held in the highest esteem in both the Christian and Islamic faiths. In a world often divided by misperceptions, the event stood as a beacon of harmony and mutual respect. The program began with a warm welcome and thoughtful registration process, followed by a dialogue that was as rich in scholarship as it was in sincerity.

Sheikh Nabil Awan, representing the Muslim voice, delivered an articulate and heartfelt perspective rooted in Islamic theology and tradition, highlighting the immense respect and veneration for Maryam in the Qur’an and Hadith. His remarks were balanced beautifully by a Christian speaker who emphasized Mary’s centrality in Christian belief and devotion. Together, their dialogue revealed not just theological insights but deep common ground in spiritual values—purity, sacrifice, divine grace, and maternal strength. 

The venue—First Mennonite Church—was a welcoming and gracious host, providing a space that felt truly inclusive and dignified. Attendees from diverse backgrounds engaged respectfully, listening with open hearts and minds. The atmosphere was one of genuine curiosity, spiritual connection, and communal goodwill. 

This event deserves high commendation for its exceptional planning, respectful tone, and the courage to address shared religious heritage with intellectual integrity and emotional depth. Special thanks are owed to the Christian and Shia communities of Edmonton for their leadership, collaboration, and hospitality. Their work in fostering such initiatives is an invaluable contribution to the advancement of peace and social cohesion.

In conclusion, “A Conversation about Mary/Maryam” was more than a dialogue—it was a living testament to the power of faith to build bridges and a strong affirmation of the values we must continue to uphold: coexistence, empathy, and interreligious solidarity.

This event should be celebrated and emulated. It brought to life the ideal that in understanding one another, we enrich our own faith and strengthen the fabric of our shared society.

A reflection from Collin 

The May Common Word dialogue was well attended and a positive interfaith event. From what I experienced, all the participants were welcoming, friendly, respectful, and interested in engaging in dialogue. I especially think that the sign-in period with coffee/tea gave people a chance to get comfortable with some of their co-attendees before the break-out groups.

The prompted questions pushed groups towards productive discussions and gave us something to move the conversation forward. I think the break-out sessions were a good length and gave everyone a chance to speak, and were well balanced against the speaker time - neither felt like they dragged. Our group struggled slightly to get someone to speak first, so maybe the question sheet could come with a fall-back prompt (e.g. the person with the next birthday starts) or some other way to help people start talking? 

I learned more about the Muslim perspective on Mary/Mariam, and think this is a topic where Christians and Muslims can find common ground while also finding value in our differences. Moreover, the chosen topic naturally led to further discussions, which helped us explore both faiths more thoroughly (like implications of the virgin birth, etc.). 

No one made me feel judged for sharing Christian views, and we discussed similarities and differences calmly and in kindness. The topic was a bit tricky from the Christian point of view. It appears Muslim views about Mary are more consistent, so I felt some need to be ecumenical and reiterate that there are Christians who do not share my views. I thought this was important, so I did not present my views as representative of all Christianity. However, I am a bit worried that this led to Christians slightly overspeaking on this topic just because of the sheer number of views that could come up. For example, Christian views of Mary are heavily tied to views on church history and tradition. 

Learning that Jesus is emphasised as the “son of Mary” in Islamic tradition was really interesting to think about!

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