‘Salam Alaykum’, Your Majesty

Present or former Bishops saying silly things is part of the rich fabric of our national comedy in Britain. Historically their silliest pronouncements are those which appear to disprove their own faith.

But in recent years an unamusing silliness has also entered into this. For instance there was Rowan Williams’ fateful pro-Sharia comments some years ago. A point he reiterated and dug himself deeper into recently when he said, in retirement, that pupils in Britain should not be concerned to be taught by teachers wearing full face veil coverings.

But the former bishop of Oxford, Richard Harries, has now taken this further. Earlier this week in the House of Lords he suggested that the next coronation (of the present Prince of Wales) at Westminster Abbey should include readings from the Quran. His suggestion is that given Britain’s diverse modern makeup this would be a wonderful thing.

Of course you have to wonder whether he had thought any of this through. If Muslim scripture were read at the next coronation then surely Hindus, Sikhs, animists and others ought to have readings from their texts too. Oughtn’t atheists, Britain’s largest growing ‘faith’ – or non-faith – have readings from their foundational texts so that they should feel ‘included’? Something from the Origin of Species perhaps?

More seriously there is the matter of Islam and reciprocity.

Everyone surely now knows – especially the former Bishop of Oxford – that no Christian can even go to Mecca, let alone pray there. But let’s bring the same point closer to home. All synagogues in Britain include a prayer for the Queen in their services.

Why should mosques across Britain not do the same?

If there is to be representation it must be reciprocal. It’s not enough to be represented. The favour must be returned. When it is successful, outreach is a two-way street. So here is a proposal. In return for readings from their scripture in the coronation service, Britain’s newest faith communities must commit every week to offering up a prayer for the future King, as defender of the faith and head of Britain’s armed forces.

Nobody could possibly have any objections to that. Could they?