Bells and Muezzin in Harmony: Dialogue with Islam as a Spiritual Responsibility
Article by Timo Güzelmansur published under the title Glocken und Muezzin im Einklang. Der Dialog mit dem Islam als geistliche Verantwortung in Herder Korrespondenz (special issue devoted to Pope Leo XIV, 15 April 2026).
Director of CIBEDO (the Christian-Islamic Meeting and Documentation Centre of the German Bishops’ Conference) and a member of the commission of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue responsible for relations with Muslims, Timo Güzelmansur offers a reflection on dialogue with Islam as a spiritual responsibility.
He builds on the vision of Pope Leo XIV, for whom a Christian identity that is neither relativised nor absolutised is the very precondition for the encounter with Islam. The image of “bells and muezzin in harmony” evokes a peaceful coexistence in which each tradition keeps its own voice: firmness in faith is not an obstacle to dialogue but its foundation. Set within a dossier on Christianity’s relation to the other religions, Judaism and Islam, the article places interreligious encounter within the horizon of a properly spiritual responsibility, rather than a mere diplomatic exercise.
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Article de Timo Güzelmansur paru sous le titre Glocken und Muezzin im Einklang. Der Dialog mit dem Islam als geistliche Verantwortung dans Herder Korrespondenz (numéro spécial consacré au pape Léon XIV, 15 avril 2026).
Directeur du CIBEDO (Centre de rencontre et de documentation christiano-islamique de la Conférence épiscopale allemande) et membre de la commission du Dicastère pour le dialogue interreligieux chargée des relations avec les musulmans, Timo Güzelmansur propose une réflexion sur le dialogue avec l’islam comme responsabilité spirituelle.
Il prend appui sur la vision du pape Léon XIV, pour qui une identité chrétienne qui ne se relativise ni ne s’absolutise constitue la condition même de la rencontre avec l’islam. L’image des « cloches et du muezzin à l’unisson » suggère une coexistence pacifique où chaque tradition garde sa voix propre : la fermeté dans la foi n’y est pas un obstacle au dialogue, mais son fondement. Inscrit dans un dossier sur le rapport du christianisme aux autres religions, le judaïsme et l’islam, l’article situe la rencontre interreligieuse dans l’horizon d’une responsabilité proprement spirituelle, et non d’un simple exercice diplomatique.
Lire l’article (accès sur abonnement) : herder.de
مقال بقلم تيمو غوزيلمانسور، نُشر بعنوان:
Glocken und Muezzin im Einklang. Der Dialog mit dem Islam als geistliche Verantwortung (Herder Korrespondenz، 15 April 2026)
بوصفه مديراً لمركز اللقاء والتوثيق المسيحيّ-الإسلاميّ (CIBEDO) التابع لمجلس الأساقفة الألمان، وعضواً في لجنة العلاقات مع المسلمين ضمن دائرة الحوار بين الأديان، يُقدّم تيمو غوزيلمانسور تأمّلاً في الحوار مع الإسلام بوصفه مسؤوليّةً روحيّة.
إنّ المؤلّف ينطلق من رؤية البابا لاون الرابع عشر، تلك التي ترى في هويّةٍ مسيحيّة لا تُنسَّب ولا تُطلَق شرطَ اللقاء بالإسلام نفسه. وتوحي صورةُ «الأجراس والمؤذّن في انسجام» بتعايشٍ سلميّ يحتفظ فيه كلّ تقليدٍ بصوته الخاصّ: فالثبات في الإيمان ليس عائقاً أمام الحوار، بل أساسٌ من أُسسه. وإذ يندرج المقالُ ضمن ملفٍّ عن علاقة المسيحيّة بالديانات الأخرى، اليهوديّةِ والإسلام، فإنّه يضع اللقاءَ بين الأديان في أفق مسؤوليّةٍ روحيّة بالمعنى الدقيق، لا مجرّد مسعًى دبلوماسيّ.
قراءة المقال (باشتراك): herder.de
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