By Zubair Khan

Ms Susanna Faust Kallenberg delivering her presentaiton

On 07.11.2013, an Organisation Christian, Islam Dialogue (CID) Bergstraße Germany Organized its 20th anniversary Programme in Heppenheim, a city included in the orbit of Jamaat Bensheim. Lady Priest Ms Susanna Faust Kallenberg honoured the meeting to deliver the key note speech. Her main theme was ” We Must Talk to Each Other” In one hour presentation she very amicably traced the historical linkage between Christianity and Islam. The most astonishing aspect of presentation remained her absolute neutrality. According to her, Martin Luther, one of the most influential figure in the reformation movement, a prominent theologian, his desire for people to feel closer to God led him to translate the Bible into the language of the people, very strongly kept on advocating the Christians, at least to read the Holy Quran once in life time.
About Goethe she was frank enough to express that many consider him Muslim. Following excerpts support this view point. Goethe said that there is “much nonsense in the doctrines of the [christian] church.” (Conversations with Eckermann, 11.3.1832) In his “Divan” Goethe stresses the value of the precious present moment rather than having the Christian attitude of only waiting for the next life and therefore, disgracing what God gives man in every moment of his life. Goethe refuses the christian view of Jesus and confirms the unity of Allah in a poem of his “Divan”:
“Jesus felt pure and calmly thought Only the One God; Who made himself to be a god, Offends his holy will. And thus the right(ness) has to shine What Mahomet also achieved; Only by the term of the One, He mastered the whole world”
(German)
“Jesus fuehlte rein und dachte Nur den Einen Gott im Stillen;Wer ihn selbst zum Gotte machte, Krdnkte seinen heil’gen Willen.Und so mudas Rechte scheinen Was auch Mahomet gelungen;Nur durch den Begriff des Einen Hater alle Welt bezwungen.” (WA I, 6, 288 ff)
While tracing the Islam in Germany she was generous enough to mention the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat from 1923 until 2013. She admitted that many Muslim factions do not accept Ahmadiyya as Muslim but Germans take them as true Muslims while the Ahmadies follow all rituals of Islam. She also highlighted the recent contributions of Ahmadiyya Community to start Islamic Classes in Germany. Recognition of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat as religious public corporate body in Germany was praised. She, through photos of Jamia, touched the training of Imams by Ahamdiyya Muslim Community. She remains in constant touch with national head of AMJ Germany Mr Abdullah Wagishauser.
The most beautiful part, while citing the examples of Ahamdiyya Muslim Community, she drew the attention of other Muslim groups present in the meeting, to follow its foot steps and strive for recognition as Islamic public corporate entity in Germany