The following was delivered at the Abraham’s Table Interfaith event on Monday, February 17 at Trinity College
Prophet Abraham is known for many things—his faith, resilience, and unwavering trust in God. But one of his most beautiful qualities was his generosity. He never ate alone. He always invited guests to share his food, believing that hospitality was a sacred act. The Divine Scriptures tell us that when angels came to visit him in human form, bringing the good news of a son, he immediately prepared a meal with roasted meat to serve them.
One day, as the story goes, Abraham was eagerly waiting for a guest to join him for a meal. Eventually, a traveler arrived. But when Abraham learned that this man worshipped fire instead of believing in one God, he hesitated. His devotion to monotheism was so strong that he decided not to offer the man any food. Disappointed, the hungry traveler turned and walked away.
At that moment, something amazing happened. God spoke to Abraham and said:
“O Abraham! This man has denied Me for seventy years, yet I have never stopped providing for him. I have given him food, water, air to breathe, and a life to live—without ever turning him away. If I, the Creator of all, never abandoned him, then why did you?”
This story reminds us of something powerful: Our role is not to judge but to love. Not to reject, but to embrace. No matter who someone is, what they believe, or where they come from, they are still part of the human family—still deserving of kindness, still worthy of being welcomed.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught:
“All creatures are [like] a family of God, and He loves most those who are kindest to His family.”
Imagine if we all lived by that principle—if we saw every person as part of God’s family. Our differences wouldn’t divide us; they would enrich us. Instead of focusing on what separates us, we would focus on what brings us together.
As Rumi beautifully put it:
“You have come to bring people together, not to plant the seeds of division among them.”
When we share a meal, we do more than just eat. We connect. We learn about each other. We build friendships. The Quran reminds us: “We created you from different nations and tribes so that you may know one another.” One of the best ways to do that is by sitting together, eating together, and appreciating each other.
So tonight, as we share this meal, let’s also share kindness. Let’s be open to new friendships. Let’s appreciate our differences and see them as opportunities to grow. Because this—gathering together, listening to one another, respecting one another—is how we build a world of understanding, respect, and love.
