{"id":181,"date":"2011-12-14T15:42:05","date_gmt":"2011-12-14T20:42:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/commonwordcommonlord\/?p=181"},"modified":"2011-12-14T15:42:05","modified_gmt":"2011-12-14T20:42:05","slug":"if-they-only-knew","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/commonwordcommonlord\/if-they-only-knew\/","title":{"rendered":"If They Only Knew…"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em>Clearly, those Christian “patriots” who want to silence TLC’s “All-American Muslim” series have no idea what is in our scripture and our faith about Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin. Clearly, these people have no idea about Islam in general. Otherwise, they would not try to bully advertisers into dumping “All-American Muslim” for a truly silly reason: that the Muslims on “All-American Muslim” are “too ordinary.”<\/p>\n

No, my house is not decked out with lights or a Christmas tree. Yet, I still love Jesus so very much. As this poem I penned attests:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What was it like, when you stood there alone?
\nPraying in the East, on you His Light ever shone?<\/p>\n

What was it like, when the angel came before thee?
\nFrightening you greatly, shattering your tranquility?<\/p>\n

What was it like, when you were told the news:
\nThat unto you was born the Messiah of the Jews?<\/p>\n

Did you not know, that you were more than worthy?
\nThat God chose you above all, that He favored you greatly?<\/p>\n

Did you not know, that before you came to be,
\nThe Lord already declared that magnificent were thee?<\/p>\n

What was it like, when the Spirit was blown:
\nWhen our master was conceived, a miracle to be shown?<\/p>\n

What was it like, as you left in fear?
\nAfraid of the slander that may be placed in the ear?<\/p>\n

How did it feel, when the pangs came in earnest?
\nDid you feel deserted, that the Lord had no interest?<\/p>\n

What did it sound like, when our master to you spoke?
\nHow soothing was his voice, covering you like a cloak?<\/p>\n

How sweet was the fruit that fell from the tree?
\nDid it comfort your mind, fill you with tranquility?<\/p>\n

How sharp were the stares when, with him, you arrived?
\nDid their shock give you pain, that they would think you would connive?<\/p>\n

How powerful was his voice, when he proclaimed the truth?
\nWere they amazed by his grace, as he shattered the lies of the uncouth?<\/p>\n

O Blessed Mother, upon you I perpetually pray for peace.
\nAnd also upon your son, I pray blessings cover him as a fleece.<\/p>\n

And if, O Blessed Soul, I get a chance to kiss your hand,
\nIt would be the most honored place I could ever stand!<\/p>\n

 <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful Clearly, those Christian “patriots” who want to silence TLC’s “All-American Muslim” series have no idea what is in our scripture and our faith about Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin. Clearly, these people have no idea about Islam in general. Otherwise, they would not…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":175,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,65],"tags":[264,201,250,266,11,29,113,114,265],"class_list":["post-181","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-a-common-word","category-american-islam","tag-all-american-muslim","tag-christianity","tag-christmas","tag-florida-family-association","tag-islam","tag-jesus","tag-noble-brother","tag-poetry","tag-tlc"],"yoast_head":"\nIf They Only Knew... - Common Word, Common Lord<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, nofollow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"If They Only Knew... - Common Word, Common Lord\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful Clearly, those Christian “patriots” who want to silence TLC’s “All-American Muslim” series have no idea what is in our scripture and our faith about Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin. 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Hassaballa","description":"Hesham A. Hassaballa is a Chicago doctor and writer. He has written extensively on a freelance basis, being published in newspapers across the country and around the world. He has been a Beliefnet columnist since 2001, and has written for the Religion News Service. He is also a columnist for Patheos. His articles have been distributed worldwide by Agence Global, and he was also a guest blogger for The Chicago Tribune and has blogged on ChicagoNow\" . In addition, Dr. Hassaballa has appeared as a guest on WTTW (Channel 11) in Chicago, CNN, Fox News, BBC, and National Public Radio. Dr. Hassaballa is co-author of The Beliefnet Guide to Islam (Doubleday), and his essay, \u201cWhy I Love the Ten Commandments,\u201d was published in the award-winning book Taking Back Islam (Rodale). His latest book, Noble Brother, is the story of the Prophet Muhammad told entirely in poetry, and it is now published in its second edition. 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