Photo: Siasat Daily
Hyderabad: Michael D. Calabria, a Franciscan friar and director of the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies at St. Bonaventure University in New York, said that small acts of kindness and the resilience of the natural world continue to give him hope despite growing religious polarisation and global conflicts.
Calabria, who has spent more than four decades studying Islam, was speaking after delivering a lecture titled Reading the Taj Mahal Beyond Marble at Hyderabad's Salar Jung Museum. The event was organised in collaboration with the Delhi Art Gallery as part of Rana Safvi's exhibition, The Mute Eloquence of the Taj Mahal: Ba-zaban-e Be-zabani, Siasat Daily reported.
Reflecting on what sustains his optimism, Calabria said that while the world is witnessing wars, violence and the loss of countless lives, especially among the young and vulnerable, simple gestures of compassion can make a significant difference. He noted that the Islamic concepts of zakat and sadaqa extend beyond charity to include acts of friendship and care, which he believes help people endure difficult times.
He also said he draws inspiration from nature, describing the seasonal migration of Canada geese near his home as a reminder that the natural order continues despite human conflict. Calabria added that verses from the Quran, including passages inscribed in the Taj Mahal, encourage people to reflect on the wonders of creation and see them as signs of the divine.
Speaking about his study of the Quran, Calabria described it as a text of immense depth whose meanings continue to unfold with repeated reading. He said the scripture contains a powerful theological message and repeatedly urges humanity to learn from the revelations given through earlier prophets, including the Torah, the Psalms and the Gospel, before presenting the Quran as a continuation of that tradition. He added that he deeply appreciates both the beauty of its language and the richness of its theological content.
On relations between Christians and Muslims, Calabria said many misconceptions have developed over centuries, often fuelled by those seeking political or social power. He argued that history offers numerous examples of the two communities living together peacefully, collaborating and contributing to human progress. In his view, the belief that Christians and Muslims have always been in conflict is historically inaccurate, as periods of cooperation have outweighed episodes of hostility.
Commenting on India's religious diversity, Calabria said the Mughal period particularly drew his scholarly interest because of the pluralism that enabled different religious, ethnic and cultural communities to create remarkable achievements together. While expressing concern over contemporary communal tensions, he said India's enduring contribution to the world has been its tradition of pluralism, especially religious pluralism.