Building Bridges of Faith: The Vision and Impact of the Abrahamic Family House

By housing a church, a mosque, and a synagogue, the Abrahamic Family House has established itself as a central hub for promoting peace.

by Eleanor Forshaw, 2024 Fall Associate

“Diverse in our Faiths. Common in our Humanity. Together in Peace.” This powerful motto defines the vision of the Abrahamic Family House (AFH), a beacon of hope in a region and era often clouded by despair. My introduction to this remarkable project came at an event hosted at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) titled “Sacred Sites Promoting Pluralism.” Among the panelists was Abdulla Al Shehhi, the Acting Executive Director of the Abrahamic Family House, whose words immediately inspired me. 

The AFH, located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), stands as a unique interfaith complex that houses a synagogue, a church, and a mosque. The project was conceived by Pope Francis and Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb, and was officially inaugurated in 2023. 

The UAE, with its abundant resources and diverse population–including adherents of the three Abrahamic Faiths–was an ideal setting for this ambitious endeavor. Though its people represent a mosaic of cultures and religions, they live together in harmony and embody the values the Abrahamic Family House seeks to promote.

Each house of worship is constructed in accordance with its respective religious traditions and in consultation with specialized religious leaders. Yet, no one structure is taller, wider, or deeper than the others; instead, they stand as equals, symbolizing mutual respect and coexistence. The work of the AFH has become so notable that it was honored on TIME’s 2024 annual list of the World’s Greatest Places. 

St. Francis Church

Named after St. Francis of Assissi, a 13th century monk, St. Francis Church is formally a Catholic church but welcomes worshippers from all Christian denominations. The space accommodates up to 300 worshippers and holds daily mass, including a monthly service conducted in Arabic.

The church’s intentional design is rich with symbolism. The exterior features a striking “forest of columns,” whose ascending form reflects the Christian principles of incarnation and resurrection. Inside, over 13,000 meters of timber cascade from the ceiling, evoking rays of light and referencing the iconic altar at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. 

Enhancing its spiritual symbolism, the church is oriented toward the rising sun. This reflects the Christian faith's focus on the Son of God, who ascended into Heaven and points followers to the light.

Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue

The synagogue is named after Moses Ben Maimon, the renowned 12th-century Jewish philosopher also referred to as Maimonides. It is the first synagogue in the UAE designed specifically for worship, with a capacity to host up to 200 congregants at once. The space includes a large sanctuary, a mikvah (ritual bath), and a beit midrash (study hall). 

The design draws deeply from Jewish tradition. It symbolizes the Sukkah, the temporary shelter used during Sukkot, the Festival of Booths. Its crisscross diagrad façade and soffit evoke the palm trees traditionally used in Sukkah construction, allowing protection from sunlight while also revealing the stars at night.

Inside, a bronze chainmail feature reflects the tent-like structure of a Sukkah, enhancing the space’s symbolic warmth. A central skylight evokes the chuppah, the canopy used in Jewish weddings where couples stand beneath a star-filled sky.

Finally, the building's orientation toward Jerusalem connects it to the heart of Jewish worship and tradition.

Eminence Ahmed El-Tayeb Mosque

The mosque at the AFH is named in honor of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed El-Tayeb. Like the church, it can accommodate up to 300 worshippers at a time.

The mosque’s design is plentiful in symbolism. Its exterior features seven arches, a number deeply significant in Islamic tradition, a number which represents holiness and perfection in the Islamic tradition. Inside, nine ascending vaults converge into a single sail vault, creating a sense of unity and spiritual elevation.

A striking feature of the mosque is its mashrabiya–a latticework screen designed to filter light into the interior. This element allows worshippers to feel a connection to the outside world while maintaining the sanctity of the space. As is customary, the mosque is oriented toward Mecca, anchoring it in the historic direction of prayer.

The Forum

There are two shared spaces at the AFH. The first is the parking lot–aptly described by Abdulla Al-Shehhi as a space of conflict, if there ever were one.Yet, it is purposeful that all three traditions utilize the area collaboratively. The second space is the Forum, a neutral area dedicated to educational programming, community initiatives, and interfaith interactions.

The Forum hosts regular workshops open to all, regardless of faith. Workshop sessions may include making candles with essential oils tied to themes of healing and renewal, paired with reflections on forgiveness. Another could focus on photography, where participants capture images that reflect on letting go and reconciliation.

A significant emphasis is placed on engaging younger generations. As Knox Thames, an author and advocate pioneering an initiative on sacred spaces, highlights,

“Sacred heritage spaces can remind youth of the generations that came before them, and hopefully inspire them towards living together in peaceful pluralism. There are lessons to be learned, good and bad, from the sacred sites. They can be a useful teaching tool for youth to learn about how their community has grappled with diversity in the past and what it means for them today.”

Abdulla shared a powerful story about children participating in the Forum’s workshops. These sessions intentionally bring together children of different faiths and assign them simple tasks, like building something collaboratively in teams. While the activity may seem straightforward, its impact is profound: breaking down barriers of communication, challenging biases, and dismantling the “othering” that is so prevalent in society today. These workshops are so popular that the waiting list now exceeds 500 participants.

Abdulla also recounted a moment during the close occurrence of the holidays Easter, Passover, and Ramadan in 2024. Children of all faiths were invited to their respective houses of worship to work on holiday-related crafts. When one group finished their project early, they asked to visit the other groups and offer help. By the end of the day, Muslim, Christian, and Jewish children had interacted directly with faiths other than their own. These experiences fostered meaningful exposure to diverse traditions, cultivating understanding and respect.

Such interactions underscore the hope children represent. Free from entrenched biases, they leave these workshops with even greater openness, often influencing their families as well. Parents from different faiths, through shared interactions–whether picking up their children or engaging in casual conversations–build connections.

This sense of community is crucial for promoting peace. When divisive narratives arise, individuals who have built relationships across faiths can counter them by saying, “I know that person. They’ve treated me with kindness. Why should I believe otherwise?” These personal connections break down hatred and replace it with understanding, emphasizing our shared humanity.

Carrying the Work Forward

Abdulla was asked whether there has been opposition to the work of the AFH. He acknowledged that there is, but that facing opposition often signifies the value of the work being done. He emphasized that such resistance can be seen as an opportunity–an opportunity to clarify that religious differences need not be points of division but can instead serve as openings for collaboration. It is also a chance to highlight the importance of initiatives like the AFH, which are increasingly emerging around the world.

As Abdulla pointed out, these efforts deserve global support and promotion. However, his ultimate hope is that one day projects like the AFH will no longer need to be highlighted as extraordinary. Rather, it will be self-evident that houses of worship from different faiths can coexist peacefully, side by side–not as a symbol of competition, but as a beacon of harmony.

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Sources

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