Christmas, Islam and Jesus

The people of Islam must wonder what is going on at Christmas time. They hear the words Season’s Greetings, Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukah and Merry Christmas. They know it all points toward December 25, Christmas Day, which celebrates the birth Of Jesus. It is a government sponsored holiday where people are off from work, banks and government offices are closed, and even mail delivery ceases.

What must Muslims feel, hearing and seeing all this good cheer, felicitous greeting and a sense of good will toward all? Yet they know that their mosques are being desecrated in the United States, much like synagogues are burned and desecrated. They know some Americans voice aloud hatred and fear of all Muslims because some people professing that religion murder, destroy and persecute Americans, Europeans and other Muslims. Some politicians openly exploit hatred of Muslims for votes.

The religion of Islam respects and reveres Jesus, a Jew, as he and Muhammad both believed in one God. Jews also are monotheists believing in one God. Some Christians and Muslims believe Jesus is the Messiah. Here are some quotes from the Koran that sound disturbingly like the words of Jesus:

None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.

The merciful are shown mercy by the All-Merciful. Show mercy to those on earth, and God will show mercy to you.

God does not judge you according to your appearance and your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and looks into your deeds.

Jesus quoting from the Old Testament says, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God…and thy neighbor as thyself.”

“Jesus said unto him, ‘If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”’

The Koran, like the Bible, has passages of punishment, revenge and approval of mayhem. But the people of Islam, like followers of the Bible, pick and choose those passages which they prefer to follow. The vast majority of the people of Islam are law-abiding, peace-loving, caring people like the Jewish, Christian, non-believing and secular citizens of the United States.

This Christmas season is again a reminder that we are people of good will to all our neighbors, and especially this year our Islamic neighbors in the United States and throughout the world.

RWC