I have just heard that Rev Dr Anthony Meredith SJ has died. As well as being a Catholic priest he was a distinguished patristics scholar at Oxford and London universities and he received me into the Roman Catholic Church when I was an undergraduate studying Christian theology at the University of London (several years later I converted to Islam). A kind and extremely learned man. Through his lectures and books I learnt about early Christian doctrine and the importance of Tradition (with a capital T). He was the only lecturer who referred to Jesus as “our Lord” in class. As a Christian I loved it!
In a brief bio he wrote about his work:
Apart from a collection of sermons, entitled Faith and Fidelity, published in 2000 whatever eke I have written either as articles, papers or books has all concentrated upon the Fathers. Although l have since then become intoxicated with Saint Augustine, everything else has been focused on Gregory of Nyssa. This includes The Cappadocians (1995) and Gregory of Nyssa (1999). The last book was published in 2012 entitled Faith and Philosophy in the Early Church.
Categories: Christianity, Converts to Islam, Death, Scholars, The Roman Catholic Church
Death is always sad . . . apparently he lived a full life.
I appreciate your positive statements of this man.
. . . he received me into the Roman Catholic Church when I was an undergraduate studying Christian theology at the University of London (several years later I converted to Islam).
Interesting . . . ( I remember when I first encountered you and your blog and debates with MDI – you mentioned being a former Evangelical, but did not talk about your RC phrase until recently. (or maybe I missed it at the early point back then, since you deleted several whole blogs since those days.)
Are you still a Muslim?
A kind and extremely learned man. Through his lectures and books I learnt about early Christian doctrine and the importance of Tradition (with a capital T).
What is Tradition (with a capital T) vs. regular tradition ?
He was the only lecturer who referred to Jesus as “our Lord” in class. As a Christian I loved it!
So he affirmed the Lordship and Deity of Christ – good for him. Because of that, he can RIP. (rest in peace)
If you are still a Muslim, or some kind of Monotheist who rejects the Deity of Christ, how can you think someone who affirmed the Deity of Christ will have rest and peace in the afterlife?
Is that not Kufr ?
So many questions, so many agendas..
Your’re an ignorant soul Ken, It is permissible to show respect, even mourn someone who has died following something other than Islam, such as mourning one’s father or brother if someone died following a religion other than Islam, or if someone who did great charity work or was someone who helped people and was of good character, and other virtues that people may have, but do not follow the religion of Islam, and they are not hostile towards Islam and its people.
The Prophet (P) grieved for his mother (disbeliever) and wept for her, as narrated by Abu Hurayrah said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) visited his mother’s grave; he wept and caused those who were around him to weep, and he said: “I asked my Lord for permission to pray for forgiveness for her, but He did not grant me permission. And I asked Him for permission to visit her grave and He gave me permission, so visit graves, for they will remind you of death.”
Ibn Abi Shaybah (11808) narrated from Sulaymaan ibn Buraydah that his father said: When the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) conquered Makkah, he came to a grave and sat beside it and appeared to be addressing someone. The people sat around him, then he stood up weeping. ‘Umar came to him, and he was one of the boldest in speaking to him. He said: May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah! What is it that has made you weep? He said: “This is the grave of my mother. I asked my Lord to let me visit it, and He gave me permission. I asked Him to let me pray for forgiveness for her, but He did not give me permission. I remembered her and felt sad, so I wept.” There was never a day on which he wept more than on that day.
Qays ibn Sa’d reported: A funeral passed by the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and he stood up. It was said to him, “It is a Jew.” The Prophet said, “Was he not a soul?”
I agree. Ken is an ignorant soul. Fundamentalism corrupts the human heart. Thank God I am free of it!
I totally agree that we should show respect and compassion for those who have died.
And those Hadith on showing respect at the time of the death of someone who was not a Muslim are good and respectful.
But you are leaving out other Hadith and the Qur’an that indicates about some who they knew were not believers, and the texts make comment on their status in hell – for example Abu Talib, Muhammad’s uncle:
Narrated Al-Musaiyab:
When Abu Talib was on his death bed, Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) came to him and found with him, Abu Jahl and `Abdullah bin Abi Umaiya bin Al-Mughira. Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “O uncle! Say: None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, a sentence with which I will defend you before Allah.” On that Abu Jahl and `Abdullah bin Abi Umaiya said to Abu Talib, “Will you now leave the religion of `Abdul Muttalib?” Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) kept on inviting him to say that sentence while the other two kept on repeating their sentence before him till Abu Talib said as the last thing he said to them, “I am on the religion of `Abdul Muttalib,” and refused to say: None has the right to be worshipped except Allah. On that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “By Allah, I will keep on asking Allah’s forgiveness for you unless I am forbidden (by Allah) to do so.” So Allah revealed:– ‘It is not fitting for the Prophet (ﷺ) and those who believe that they should invoke (Allah) for forgiveness for pagans.’ (9.113) And then Allah revealed especially about Abu Talib:–‘Verily! You (O, Muhammad) guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He will.’ (28.56)
https://sunnah.com/urn/44500
“It is not for the Prophet and those who have believed to ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they were relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are companions of Hellfire.”
Surah 9:113
This is a verse that alludes to Abu Talib and other Hadith quote the verse all the way and other Hadith also say that he is in hell, wearing shoes of fire, and his brains are boiling over and over.
Ibn ‘Abbas reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Among the inhabitants of the Fire Abu Talib would have the least suffering, and he would be wearing two shoes (of Fire) which would boil his brain.
Sahih Muslim 212
In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 423
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 413
Showing respect for the dead is good and right. (per the Hadith you cited) All I am saying is that there is also indication that Islam does judge people who they knew were not Muslims as being in hell. (for example, Abu Talib) – and if Paul’s professor clearly believed in Jesus as Lord (Yahweh, sovereign boss / master = Deity, God in the flesh), then it seems inconsistent with doctrinal and consistent Islam.
This is a verse that alludes to Abu Talib – Surah 9:113
other Hadith also say that he is in hell, wearing shoes of fire, and his brains are boiling over and over.
Ibn ‘Abbas reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Among the inhabitants of the Fire Abu Talib would have the least suffering, and he would be wearing two shoes (of Fire) which would boil his brain.
Sahih Muslim 212
In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 423
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 413
https://sunnah.com/muslim/1/423
So, sometimes Islam does say who is in hell, based on what they know about the person and his life.
Only Allah can judge and knows which souls at the time of death, given their life circumstances and experiences, where they will reside in the end.. No one can say what Rev Dr Anthony Meredith SJ situation is, except Allah. Allah knows best!