Editor’s Note: In the spirit of respectful interfaith dialogue, www.Clarion-Journal.com welcomes Safi Kaskas, a noted Islamic scholar, peacemaker, and translator of the Qur’an to share an eight-day reflection on the Beatitudes from a Muslim perspective. 

A Muslim Reflection on the Beatitudes
by Safi Kaskas   

Day 1

Do you know what the Beatitudes are? They are the opening lines of the Sermon on the Mount, spoken by Jesus as a guide to his followers and disciples.

If we Muslims want to live next to our Christian neighbors, we need to know what their Book teaches them. I will mention one of the Beatitudes every day and we will discuss it if you show interest.

Let's start:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). 

What exactly does it mean to be poor in spirit? 

Some propose that Jesus is speaking of financial poverty. While it is true that Jesus elsewhere warned against seeking riches (Matthew 6:24), that does not seem to be Jesus’ point in Matthew 5:3. Jesus is speaking of being “poor in spirit”; i.e., being “spiritually poor.” 

To be poor in spirit is to recognize that without spiritual humility, without truly asking God's help, we have nothing and we are spiritually worthless.

The first step on the path toward God according to Jesus is to admit that we are spiritually nothing and God is everything.