Bridging Faiths: What Visitors Discover at Al Mirani Fort

Many foreign visitors to Al Mirani Fort are often surprised by the deep reverence Muslims have for the Prophet Jesus Christ and Mary, as taught in the Qur’an.

This conversation comes up frequently near the small church by the fort, which dates back to the 16th century and has remained intact. It is believed that Sultan bin Saif Al Ya’rubi chose not to demolish it out of respect for the remains of saints buried there—something I personally see as the main reason for its preservation.

I’ve often wondered how much misunderstanding has accumulated in European consciousness about Muslims over the centuries. From the Crusades to the harsh colonial eras, generations inherited the mistaken belief that Muslims reject Jesus—far from the truth.

It’s a kind of inherited ignorance that shaped perceptions. That’s why many are genuinely surprised when I sometimes share Qur’anic verses that speak with great reverence about Jesus and his mother Mary—detailing even the moment of childbirth and his miracles, including raising the dead.

For example, the Qur’an in Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:110) recounts God reminding Jesus of His blessings upon him and his mother: that he spoke as an infant, was taught scripture and wisdom, and performed miracles—creating a bird from clay, healing the blind and the leper, and bringing the dead back to life—all by God’s permission.

Interestingly, the miracle of raising the dead also appears in the Gospel of John (chapter 11), where the story of Lazarus is told. Lazarus, a close companion of Jesus, had died and been buried for four days. When Jesus arrived, people believed his body had already decayed. Yet Jesus asked for the stone to be removed, looked up to heaven in gratitude, and called out: “Lazarus, come forth.” And he emerged from the tomb, still wrapped in burial cloths, to the astonishment of all present.

Historical sites like Al Mirani Fort carry deeply meaningful stories that reflect the essence of our values as Muslims. They quietly reveal to those unaware how religion was often used by colonial powers as a political tool to justify domination and violence—while the true human message within our sacred texts remains clear and luminous.