Abrahamic Family House, Abu Dhabi
The Abrahamic Family House is an interfaith complex on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi that houses a mosque, a church and a synagogue.
From the earliest centuries of Islam, this region welcomed people of different ethnicities and religions from all over the world, initially driven by the expansion of trade and commerce.
In the seventh and eighth centuries AD, the islands of Sir Bani Yas in Abu Dhabi and Siniya in um al Quwain were the center of exchanges that connected the Arabian Gulf to the rest of the world. As a result, a small group of Christians established monasteries and churches on these islands.
There is also evidence of an ancient Jewish community, which is illustrated by the discovery of a large tombstone in Hebrew that marks the resting place of “David, son of Moses.” No one knows how large this community was, but we do know that they were comfortable erecting such a prominent monument, written in the language of their faith.
The mission of The Abrahamic Family House builds on that historical legacy and is inspired by concepts from the Document on Human Fraternity signed in 2019 by His Holiness Pope Francis and the Great Imam of Al Azhar, His Eminence Dr. Ahmed El-Tayeb, and in particular by the belief that open dialogue, Understanding and acceptance are paramount to meeting the many challenges facing humanity today.
Photo credit featured photo: Boubloub
