“For the first time in the city of Zoller, a Christian priest publicly prayed from the canopy of the mosque of the Muslim community,” alongside an imam.
Michael Knaus’ reasoning was:
“It is simply about a peaceful coexistence of denominations and religions.” And that is why he gladly accepted the invitation from Baykan Akdogan, the dialogue officer of the Muslim community, to say a prayer for peace.
If normative Islamic doctrine were all about “peaceful coexistence of denominations and religions,” there wouldn’t be a problem; but instead, it teaches supremacy, subversion and conquest of unbelievers. Knaus, like so many others, has chosen to turn a blind eye to this normative Islamic doctrine, which views Christianity as inferior, calls for warfare against Christians, and lives out these doctrines today in ongoing jihad warfare against Christians in Africa and the Middle East. His “historic gesture” at the mosque was in line with many gestures of the Pope, who has made it his priority to see the Catholic Church partner with Islam in efforts toward achieving “world peace.”
“Historic gesture: Catholic priest Michael Knaus prays from the roof of the Hechingen mosque,” translated from “Historische Geste: Der katholischer Pfarrer Michael Knaus betet vom Dach der Hechinger Moschee,” by Hardy Kromer, Zollern Alb Kurier, May 8, 2020:
For the first time in the city of Zoller, a Christian priest publicly prayed from the canopy of a mosque of the Muslim community.
The second public Friday prayer of the Hechingen Muslim Community took place yesterday, peacefully and without public controversy. The AfD, which had demonstrated with a crucifix and German flags a week ago on Gammertinger Strasse, canceled a new rally in advance.
50 Muslims and a few Christians
Around 50 Muslims and a few Christian onlookers witnessed a historic moment this time: For the first time since Islam became part of Hechingen, a Christian pastor prayed publicly with the Imam, the prayer leader of the Muslim community. Michael Knaus, the pastor of the Catholic parish of Hechingen, climbed onto the canopy of the Suleymaniye Mosque on Gammertinger Strasse.“It hurt me so much”
Knaus explained how this came about: last Sunday, the Catholic priest criticized the protests against the Muslim Friday prayer in his video service in the St. Luzen Church. “It hurt me,” said Knaus, “to see that Muslims should be prevented from praying. And I said that I find it shameful.” That caused “violent reactions, even from Catholics”. A priest could not behave like this, he was told.Peaceful coexistence is important
But Knaus remained persistent: “It is simply about the peaceful coexistence of denominations and religions.” And that is why he gladly accepted the invitation from Baykan Akdogan, the dialogue officer of the Muslim community, to say a prayer for peace.Brother of all people
And so Pastor Knaus said from the canopy of the mosque: “Lord, I came here as a brother of all people who were created in your image.” True to a prayer text from 1913, he asked God: “Make me an instrument of your peace, that where there is hatred, that I would love; that where one is offended, I would forgive; that where there is conflict, I would reconcile.”Peace message on May 8
Appropriate words in these days of crisis, in which new ways of dialogue are sought in a variety of ways; this is certainly a fitting message of peace on May 8, the 75th anniversary of the end of the war and the liberation of Germany from the Nazi dictatorship.O Allah, protect all people
Adnan Bürkev, the chairman of the Hechingen Muslim Community, was also pleased with the words of reconciliation that Pastor Knaus said: “It was great. It has to be that way. We have to stick together in Hechingen. We all pray to God. That’s all.” To God, which means Allah for the Muslims, the imam of the community, Ahmed Gezer, had previously called upon in the usual manner before Tuba Sekerci, the community’s commissioner for religion, renewed the prayer for peace from the previous week in German: “O Allah, protect everyone in Hechingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany and all over the world from the pandemic we are experiencing. “
The third edition will follow next Friday at 1.30 p.m. Then the Muslims are expecting a guest from the Protestant community.