I like monasteries. Once upon a time I was very seriously considering becoming a monk at Quarr Abbey on the Isle of Wight. Happily, I took soundings from friends and they discouraged me. I wisely took their advice. But I spent many spiritually profound retreats at Quarr Abbey and look on it with affection. Though the monastic life is not condoned in Islam the Quran has one important positive thing to say about monasteries:

[They are] those who have been evicted from their homes without right – only because they say, “Our Lord is Allah.” And were it not that Allah checks the people, some by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of Allah is much mentioned. And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might. (22:40)

Monasteries, like churches, are places where ‘the name of Allah is much mentioned.’ They are therefore sacred places. Here is Quarr Abbey. Click on the pic for more about it.

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Today I read the terrible news that ‘Islamic State militants’ in al-Qaryatain, in Homs province, reportedly used bulldozers to demolish the Mar Elian monastery. It was founded more than 1,500 years ago. According to the BBC this is an image showing militants preparing the monastery for demolition. These Muslim fanatics have destroyed a place where ‘the name of Allah is much mentioned.’ It is an unspeakable crime.

Categories: Islam