From Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter five:
“We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4)
If you’ve spent any time studying Islam, you know that Muslims hold Jesus in remarkably high regard. Indeed, Jesus’ name appears in the Qur’an more often than that of Prophet Muhammad (PBAH). The same cannot be said of the Apostle Paul, though. Indeed, many Muslims suspect Paul of steering the Christian community off course by focusing too much on Jesus instead of focusing on the God of Jesus.
I’ve always felt that this low regard for Paul is a shame, because if Muslim scholars—particularly Shia Muslim scholars—would spend more time with Paul, they would find in him a profound companion in their own theology of suffering.
Now … my aim in these reflections is specifically to help illuminate the Christian Scriptures, but if there was ever a moment for Christians to deepen their understanding of Islam—particularly of Shia Islam—that moment is surely now.
Only ten to thirteen per cent of the world’s Muslims are Shia, yet they make up ninety to ninety‑five per cent of the population of Iran, and given that America and Israel have now gone to war with Iran, and given that our own prime minister has publicly expressed Australia’s support for this war, it strikes me as essential that we learn something about the people we are possibly preparing to fight.
As you probably know, I’ve travelled to Iran numerous times. I’ve lectured at Iranian universities and have been broadcast on national television there twice. Back in 2006, I helped found the Australia–Iran Friendship Association (in Australia), and in 2019 I fought the amateur boxing champion of Mashhad (in northeastern Iran).
I will never forget that fight, as, after the final bell tolled, all the boxing officials in their white shirts and black bowties lined up across the ring, facing me, and each of them then gave me a red rose and a kiss on each cheek! I went back to my hotel with a big bunch of roses, two red cheeks, and an even deeper love for the Iranian people.
Anyway … I don’t claim to be an expert, but I know enough about Iran to say these verses from Saint Paul would resonate deeply with almost every religious Iranian.
“Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
On April 3rd this year, we’ll celebrate Good Friday. On August 3rd, Shia Muslims will celebrate Arba’een, and I must say that the first time I attended an Arba’een service, I was struck by how much the atmosphere reminded me of our Good Friday service.
On Good Friday we remember the death of Jesus—an event both terrible and holy. Shia Muslims, in Ashura and Arba’een, remember the martyrdom of Imam Husain at Karbala in the year 680.
I won’t go into the details here, but I would encourage you to read about it or attend an Ashura gathering this August. Let it suffice for the moment to say that nothing is revered more in Shia Islam than Husain’s example of suffering for the sake of truth, which, I believe, was exactly what Saint Paul was also focusing on in Romans five.
Saint Paul could be mistaken for sounding like a motivational speaker – “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” – but there is more to what Paul is saying here than “when the going gets tough, the tough get going” because Paul is not describing the ordinary mechanics of human psychology where, a lot of the time, suffering doesn’t lead to hope at all but leads to depression, self-harm and death! Paul is describing the mysterious way that God can reshape us from within through our most painful experiences. He says, “Suffering leads to hope—when God pours His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 5:5)
Paul spoke with authority on the subject of suffering, and he lists his own sufferings without embarrassment: “Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked…” (2 Corinthians 11:25), and so the list goes on!
You can almost hear Paul’s critics whispering in the background, “God is clearly not with this guy—everything he touches ends in disaster!”, and we can understand that. When life keeps going wrong, we assume we’ve done something wrong. Bad karma. Divine displeasure. God must be against me! But Paul begins his thinking with Christ crucified. And from that vantage point he sees that suffering—when endured in faith and for righteousness’ sake—not as a sign of God’s absence but of God’s presence.
Shia Muslims would not use Paul’s language, of course, but they walk the same path, as their entire devotional imagination is shaped by Husain’s willingness to suffer and die rather than compromise truth.
I have no doubt that the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei chose to remain at his desk and embrace his fate rather than flee. I’ve heard that he was warned repeatedly of the imminent attack and replied that if all ninety million Iranians could be moved to safety, he would go with them, but that otherwise he would remain at his post.
The Ayatollah knew that his death would galvanise his people, and I believe it has. If Donald Trump had even a rudimentary understanding of Shia theology, he would never have targeted the second most senior cleric in Shia Islam for martyrdom.
Much of what passes for religion—Christian or otherwise—is little more than an attempt to control the uncontrollable. We want health, wealth, and safety for ourselves and for our children, and we hope that by pleasing God (or “the gods”) we can secure a peaceful life and a happy hereafter.
Saint Paul would be the first to say that if you’re looking for a quiet life, free from stress and pain, following Jesus is not a good option, and Shia Islam isn’t either. But while following Jesus (or following Imam Husain) will not make life easier, it will make life larger and will fill life with meaning, courage, and hope.
“And that hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” (Romans 5:5)
First published in Father Dave’s weekly newsletter – March 7th, 2026
