Islam and Christianity: Towards Understanding, Trust, & Cooperation

Mon Jan 12, 2026 12:00 p.m.—2:00 p.m.
the domes of a mosque and church accompanied by event information
Show All Dates
Hide All Dates
Add to Calendar
Register on Eventbrite

Religious leaders today face the challenge of guiding their people to affirm their tradition while understanding, respecting, and building cooperative relationships with people of other traditions. This unity without uniformity is vitally needed in our society as we strive to create safe and mutually beneficial communities.  This course takes a deep dive into the history and spirituality of Islam to encourage and offer guidance to religious leaders who seek to build trust and strengthen relationships with Muslims in their local community. 

Topics include: 

  • The historical roots of Islam 
  • Islam’s place among Abrahamic traditions 
  • Historical relations with Christian and Jewish communities 
  • Theological points of convergence and divergence 
  • Rumi and the Sufi spiritual tradition within Islam 
  • Contemporary inter-religious dialogue efforts 
  • Resources to guide and support conversations between Christians and Muslims 
  • Practical examples of how to engage at the local level  

Course objectives: 

  • Strengthen religious leaders’ understanding of Islam 
  • Reveal theological and spiritual common ground 
  • Provide leaders with practical ways to create and/or strengthen Christian-Muslim relationships and cooperative projects at the local level 

About the instructor:  
The Rev’d Canon Masud Ibn Syedullah, TSSF is an Episcopal Priest and Interim Canon for Ministry of the Diocese of New York; a professed member of The Third Order, Society of Saint Francis, a Christian Community in the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion; and is the Founder and Director of Roots & Branches: Programs for Spiritual Growth (roots-branches.org), providing a range of conferences, retreats, spiritual pilgrimages, and spiritual direction. He was born into an interfaith family (having a Christian mother and a Muslim father) and was raised in both the Christian faith and Islam from childhood. He was a founding member of the Episcopal-Muslim Relations Committee of the Diocese of New York in 1991 and has served as its Chair from time to time since. Masud has created and led many interreligious conferences and retreats, including being a guest presenter at the Abo El Nour Mosque in Damascus, Syria.