Ten things we should know about Muslims and Christmas

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Dispenser of Grace. Jesus is much loved by Christians and the festive season is upon us right now. Millions of Christians would celebrate Christmas. Even though Christmas may not appear to many to have any religious significance, it is nevertheless a major tradition of many Christians around the globe. We, Muslims should never deride our Christian friends’ and neighbours’ festival. Many Christians and Muslims do not understand the shared status of Jesus in both the traditions. I have listed 10 things that Muslims and Christians should know about Jesus from Islamic perspective below:

1. Muslims believe in Jesus:

Muslims believe that Jesus was one of God’s special Prophets sent to the Jewish people similar to the earlier Prophets including Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David, Solomon and Moses for spiritual and material guidance of humanity. They all invited people to one God and life of decency, fairness and compassion.

2. Muslims believe in Jesus’s miraculous birth:

Muslims believe that Jesus was born of a virgin mother and had no father. His birth was miraculous but no more miraculous than the birth of Adam, the first human being, who was created without a mother or father. God is the Creator and Originator of all things and in the miraculous birth of Jesus there is an extremely powerful sign of God’s existence.

3. Muslims love Jesus:

Muslims love Jesus as the messenger of God like they love Noah, Abraham, David, Moses and Zachariah, to name just a few other Prophets. They make no distinction between the Prophets and have deep reverence for them all. Every time they mention the name of the Prophets they say “May God's peace be upon them”.

4. Muslims believe that Jesus could perform miracles:

By the Will of God Jesus was able to perform miracles including, raising the dead to life, and healing the blind and those with leprosy. Jesus’s power to perform miracles were special gifts from God, similar to the miracles performed by previous Prophets such as Abraham walking out of the blazing fire without a single hair on his body being burnt or Moses parting the sea to save the Jewish people from the Pharaoh of Egypt.

5. Muslims believe in virgin Mary:

Muslims believe that Mary was a chaste, pious and noble women whose status with God is the most high and superior over all other women of the world. She was totally devoted to the service of God and God chose her to be the mother of one of the greatest Prophets. Mary was told by the Arch Angel Gabriel of God’s order that she shall be pregnant and her baby will be called Jesus, though no man has ever touched her. Muslims love Mary, the mother of Jesus.

6. Muslims believe that Jesus was not the son of God:

Jesus was not the son of God, he was the Prophet of God. Sons and daughters are human attributes; God is so powerful and self-sufficient that He is above these human traits. He does not need a son or any kind of partners. He does not have a father or mother, as He is the beginning and there is no beginning before Him. He has created human relationships for life to sustain and continue on this earth.

7. Muslims believe “Injil” – the Bible

Muslims believe Jesus received revelation from God and it was continuation of the previous revelations such as the Torah of Moses and Psalm of David. The message contained in the heavenly revelation was all the same. Jesus taught his followers the same Ten Commandments as Moses. His teachings are found in the Quran too and Prophet Muhammad referred to them as the words of God. Muslims believe that over time the Bible as taught by Jesus has been lost, no longer exist in full or intact and was corrupted by human interventions.

8. Muslims believe Jesus did not die on the cross:

Quran states - “They did not kill him or crucify him (Jesus), but we raised him”. Jesus was being chased by the Roman soldiers, who had planned to capture and execute him for his message against their corrupt ways but God saved him. His enemies became confused about him and mercilessly killed another man who appeared like Jesus. He was raised up by God to Heaven and shall return to this earth towards the end of time to complete his earthly lifespan and die a natural death.

9. Muslims believe that Jesus was a Muslim:

Jesus was inviting people to accept and surrender to One God and not to associate any partners with God. The Arabic word Muslim means anyone who submits to one God. Jesus’s entire mission was about bringing God back in the centre of people’s lives. He taught a life of decency, God consciousness and service to humanity. Islam teaches exactly the same.

10. Muslims practice the commandments of Jesus fully:

Jesus never ate pork Muslims do not eat pork. Jesus did not drink alcohol Muslims do not drink alcohol. Jesus never dealt in usury (interest); Muslims are strictly prohibited from dealing in usury. Sex outside marriage was condemned by Jesus Muslims are prohibited from sex outside marriage. Jesus would fast regularly; Muslims are required to fast in the month of Ramadan and encouraged to fast once or twice a week or couple of days a month.

11. Muslims believe Jesus championed social Justice:

Jesus spent his entire life is promoting social justice and moral and ethical value based lifestyle; Muslims are required to actively promote justice, excellence and benevolence and stand against shamelessness, evil and oppression. Human beings are all equal in the eyes of God with the same worth and dignity. These are shared values. This was the message of Jesus and Muhammad, peace and blessings of God be upon them.

I would like to finish by quoting the greetings of two of the greatest Prophets of God, Jesus and Muhammad - “may God’s peace and blessings of God be upon you all” and I pray that you all have a brilliant festive holidays.