John said, "Let me ask another." Ask what you will," replied Jesus. "Adultery - what causes it and what makes it recur?" "A glance," said Jesus, "which implants in the heart something that makes it veer excessively toward amusement and self-indulgence, thus increasing heedlessness and sin. Do not stare at what does not belong to you, for what you have not seen will not make you wiser and what you do not hear will not trouble you." (al-Zuhd, Abdallah ibn al-Mubarak)

Jimmy Carter famously told an interviewer, "Christ said, I tell you that anyone who looks on a woman with lust has in his heart already committed adultery. I've looked on a lot of women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times."

What is less often remembered is the context in which the then Presidential candidate made this remark. Mr. Carter went on to say, "This is something that God recognizes, that I will do and have done, and God forgives me for it. But that doesn't mean that I condemn someone who not only looks on a woman with lust but who leaves his wife and shacks up with somebody out of wedlock. Christ says, don't consider yourself better than someone else because one guy screws a whole bunch of women while the other guy is loyal to his wife. The guy who's loyal to his wife ought not to be condescending or proud because of the relative degree of sinfulness."

We will glance, but we need not stare at what does not belong to us. More important is the opportunity even such a glance provides for honest self-reflection, self-correction, and giving thanks for the grace of God.

John son of Zachariah met Jesus and said, "Tell me what it is that draws one near to God's favor and distances one from God's wrath." Jesus said, "Avoid feeling anger." John asked, "What arouses anger and what makes it recur?" Jesus replied, "Pride, fanaticism, haughtiness, and magnificence." (Kitab al-Zuhd, Abdallah ibn al-Mubarak)

It is unusual for me to become angry. But a few weeks ago I was as angry as I have ever been.

A series of events caused me to suspect that a stranger was attempting to defraud my son, and once I became involved trying the same trick on me.

One of the reasons that I generally avoid anger is that I don't think it is worth the time or energy. Creativity is a better application of time and energy.

But in this case there was, I thought, reasonable evidence for a pattern of fraudulent behavior involving a large number.

I specifically considered that this might be a time appropriate for "righteous anger."

My anger produced a few sharp words directed at the suspected individual. But even more the anger produced a sense of pride, haughtiness, and self-righteousness approaching magnificence. I was on the edge of fanaticism.

I was wrong. There was a pattern, but it was one of neglect, poor communication, and bureaucratic thinking and behavior.

My anger just made a difficult situation more complicated. Mostly, my anger fractured the wholeness with which I might have engaged the situation.

The Prophet of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: I was near the House (i.e. Ka'bah) in a state between sleep and wakefulness when I heard someone say: He is the third among the two persons. Then he came to me and took me with him. Then a golden basin containing the water of Zamzam was brought to me and my heart was opened up to such and such (part)... My heart was extracted and it was washed with the water of Zamzam and then it was restored in its original position, after which it was filled with faith and wisdom. I was then brought a white beast which is called Al-Buraq, bigger than a donkey and smaller than a mule. Its stride was as long as the eye could reach. I was mounted on it, and then we went forth till we reached the lowest heaven. Gabriel asked for the (gate) to be opened, and it was asked: Who are you? He replied. Gabriel. It was again asked: Who is with you? He replied: Muhammad (may peace be upon him). It was asked: Has he been revealed to? He (Gabriel) said: Yes. He (Prophet) said: Then (the gate) was opened for us (and it was said): Welcome unto him! His is a blessed arrival. Then we came to Adam (peace be upon him). And he (the narrator) narrated the whole account of the hadith. (The Holy Prophet) observed that he met Jesus and John the Baptist (peace be on both of them) in the second heaven; Joseph in the third; Enoch in the fourth; Aaron in the fifth (peace and blessings of Allah be upon them). Then we traveled on till we reached the sixth heaven and came to Moses (peace be upon him) and I greeted him and he said: Welcome unto righteous brother and righteous Prophet. (The Hadith, 238)

In the Islamic tradition Jesus and John are constant companions, even in heaven.

The Hadith is an authoritative collection of traditional sayings and stories. To my mind it is similar in function to the Talmud.

In the following days we will conclude this study of John the Baptist with the stories of John and Jesus that are found in this tradition.

In these stories we read of two friends -- two partners sharing the ultimate journey -- each actively seeking the insight and support of the other.

Above is a page from an early 16th Century Ottoman Hadith.

O John, you shall uphold the scripture, strongly. We endowed him with wisdom, even in his youth. And (we endowed him with) kindness from us and purity, for he was righteous. He honored his parents, and was never a disobedient tyrant. Peace be upon him the day he was born, the day he dies, and the day he is resurrected back to life. (Quran 19: 12-15)

He was given the capacity for wisdom, kindness, and righteousness. In another translation it is wisdom, compassion, and purity.

We are each unique expressions of God. But we all may share in these capacities, and living coherently with these we may find peace.

Wisdom is knowledge applied with compassion and without self-interest. Sounds simple enough.

But knowledge is infinite. Compassion can be treacherous. Avoidance of self-interest is exceedingly difficult.

Dear God open me to your grace, the only path by which these capacities can be claimed.

A narration about your Lord's mercy towards His servant Zachariah. He called his Lord, a secret call. He said, "My Lord, the bones have turned brittle in my body, and my hair is aflame with gray. As I implore You, my Lord, I never despair. "I worry about my dependants after me, and my wife has been sterile. Grant me, from You, an heir. "Let him be my heir and the heir of Jacob's clan, and make him, my Lord, acceptable." "O Zachariah, we give you good news; a boy whose name shall be Yahya. We never created anyone like him before." He said, "My Lord, will I have a son despite my wife's sterility, and despite my old age?" He said, "Thus said your Lord: `It is easy for Me to do. I created you before that, and you were nothing.' " He said, "My Lord, give me a sign." He said, "Your sign is that you will not speak to the people for three consecutive nights." He came out to his family, from the sanctuary, and signaled to them: "Meditate day and night." (Quran 19:2-11)

It might be said of each of us, "we never created anyone like him or her before."

We are each a unique expression of God. We are each presented with unique opportunities and challenges. We are each responsible for crafting our purpose in coherence with God's intent.

What will today bring? What resolution or new beginning? What is God's intention for this day?

This will be a day of miracles. But too often we do not notice and fail to do our part in fulfilling the miracle intended.

May we approach this day expectantly, watchfully, and enthusiastically ready to do our part.

Those who believe, and do not pollute their belief with idol worship, have deserved the perfect security, and they are truly guided. Such was our argument, with which we supported Abraham against his people. We exalt whomever we will to higher ranks. Your Lord is Most Wise, Omniscient. And we granted him Isaac and Jacob, and we guided both of them. Similarly, we guided Noah before that, and from his descendants (we guided) David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron. We thus reward the righteous. Also, Zachariah, John, Jesus, and Elias; all were righteous. And Ismail, Elisha, Jonah, and Lot; each of these we distinguished over all the people. (Quran 6:82-86)

While this is not all of the prophets mentioned in the Quran - this sura does not, for example, mention Mohammed - it does suggest the continuity of the Abrahamic faiths.

The two listed here that we do not know from Hebrew scripture are John and Jesus. And the Zechariah listed is almost certainly the father of John, not the Hebrew prophet of the Babylonian exile.

Despite (or because) of having so much in common, we squabble and worse over our shared heritage and destiny.

The sixth sura is mostly about distinguishing between false faith, especially idol-worship, and true faith in God.

Speaking of the prophets and principles shared by Jews, Christians, and Muslims we are told, "These are the ones guided by GOD; you shall be guided in their footsteps." (6:90)

Dear God help us celebrate what we share, rather than be preoccupied by what separates.

That is when Zachariah implored his Lord: "My Lord, grant me such a good child; You are the Hearer of the prayers." The angels called him when he was praying in the sanctuary: "God gives you good news of John; a believer in the word of God, honorable, moral, and a righteous prophet." He said, "How can I have a boy, when I am so old, and my wife is sterile?" He said, "God does whatever He wills." He said, "My Lord, give me a sign." He said, "Your sign is that you will not speak to the people for three days, except through signals. Commemorate your Lord frequently; and meditate night and day." (The Quran 3: 38-41)

We have read of John from Christian and Mandaean scripture and in the histories of Flavius Josephus.

Known in Islam, as by the Mandaeans, as Yahya, John is a prophet, the son of a prophet, and the companion of the prophet Jesus.

Jew, Christian, and Muslim claim the same God and many of the same stories. But each of us prefer our way of telling the story to that of the others.

Each of us bring to any story a particular perspective, it makes sense that we will have preferences in how a story is told and what to make of it.

But all of us may be enriched by listening to how others tell the story and knowing what meaning others derive.

Dear God, help me to listen carefully for your voice.