A Message that Resonates
By Dr. Mohiuddin Waseem
Modesto , CA
I would like to start by wishing my Christian friends merry Christmas. Even though within the Christian scholarship there is an unresolved debate of precisely when Jesus Christ was born and therefore his Nativity; and Muslims too may have their own reservation as I’ll explain later, but for me the importance of Christmas lies in his monotheistic message when he proclaimed, “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God the Lord is one”.
This message not only resonates in Christian writings but also in the Muslim book of authority - the Holy Qur’an - which not many of our Christian friends are aware of, and therefore requires our faith sharing.
The fact of the matter is that a Muslim can rightfully boast that Islam is the only religion other than Christianity which requires its followers to believe in Jesus Christ. No Muslim can claim to be a Muslim without acknowledging Jesus Christ and his pious mother Mary. It is because Jesus’ name is mentioned no less than 25 times in the Holy Qur’an and for Mary a whole chapter - Chapter Mary- is named after her.
The Holy Quran says, “God did choose Adam and Noah the family of Abraham and the family of Imran above all people. Offspring one of the other; and God heareth and knoweth all things. Behold! A woman of Imran said: ‘O my Lord! I do dedicate unto thee what is in my womb for thy special service so accept this of me for thou hearest and knowest all things. ‘ "
When she was delivered, she said, "O my Lord! Behold! I am delivered of a female child!" And God knew best what she brought forth "and nowise is the male like the female. I have named her Mary and I commend her and her offspring to thy protection from the Evil one the rejected."
Right graciously did her Lord accept her: He made her grow in purity and beauty; and to the care of Zakariya was she assigned. Every time that he entered (her) chamber to see her he found her supplied with sustenance. He said: "O Mary! whence (comes) this to you?" She said: "From God: for God provides sustenance to whom He pleases without measure" (Holy Qur’an 3: 33-36).
It is believed by Muslims that the house of Imran was descendent from the progeny of Prophet David. Zakaraya was the Prophet of that time and he was Mary’s maternal relative, and as it was a prevailing culture among the Israelites to consecrate some of their children to the services of Solomon’s Temple (Hakel-e-Sulaymani); God’s choice of a prophet, Zakaraya, being responsible for Mary’s upbringing makes perfect sense because the trial Mary was destined to go through and the responsibility she was about to undertake was not an ordinary one.
God further says about Mary in Chapter Al-Imran:
“Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! God hath chosen thee and purified thee; chosen thee above the women of all nations.
"O Mary! worship thy Lord devoutly; prostrate thyself and bow down (in prayer) with those who bow down."
This is part of the tidings of the things unseen which We reveal unto thee (O Mohammad!) by inspiration; thou was not with them when they cast lots with arrows as to which of them should be charged with the care of Mary; nor was thou with them when they disputed (the point).
Behold! the angels said "O Mary! God giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from him: his name will be Christ (Messiah) Jesus the son of Mary held in honor in this world and the hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to God.
"He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity and he shall be (of the company) of the righteous."
She said: "O my lord! how shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?" He said: "Even so: God createth what He willeth; when He hath decreed a plan He but saith to it `Be' and it is!
"And God will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel.
"And (appoint him) an Apostle to the Children of Israel (with this message): I have come to you with a sign from your Lord in that I make for you out of clay as it were the figure of a bird and breathe into it and it becomes a bird by God's leave; and I heal those born blind and the lepers and I quicken the dead by God's leave; and I declare to you what ye eat and what ye store in your houses. Surely therein is a sign for you if ye did believe.
"(I have come to you) to attest the Law which was before me and to make lawful to you part of what was (before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. So fear God and obey me.
"It is God who is my Lord and your Lord; then worship him. This is a way that is straight" (Holy Qur’an: 3; 42-51).
Ibn Hazam, a famous Islamic scholar of Muslim Spain who encouraged literal understanding of Qur’anic text, was of the opinion that as Mary did speak to an angel, which is one of the requirements to qualify as a prophet, she should be seen as a Prophetess. He also believed that Sarah, wife of Prophet Abraham (PBUH), was also a prophetess as she also spoke to an angel. Though his opinion is quite a rational one but unfortunately it did not gain acceptance in the Muslim societies where the majority believe that prophethood is given to men only.
Coming back to the Qur’anic story of Jesus’ birth the Holy Qur’an further says in Chapter Mary, “Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East. She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them: then We sent to her Our angel and he appeared before her as a man in all respects.
She said: "I seek refuge from thee to (God) Most Gracious: (come not near) if thou dost fear God."
He said: "Nay I am only a messenger from thy Lord (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son."
She said: "How shall I have a son seeing that no man has touched me and I am not unchaste?"
He said: "So (it will be): thy Lord saith `That is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us': it is a matter (so) decreed."
So she conceived him and she retired with him to a remote place.
And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: she cried (in her anguish): "Ah! would that I had died before this! Would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!"
But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): "Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee;
"And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee.
So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye. And if thou dost see any man say `I have vowed a fast to (God) Most Gracious and this day will I enter into no talk with any human being.' "
At length she brought the (babe) to her people carrying him (in her arms). They said: "O Mary! truly an amazing thing hast thou brought!
"O sister of Aaron! thy father was not a man of evil nor thy mother a woman unchaste!"
But she pointed to the babe (Jesus). They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?"
He (baby Jesus started speaking miraculously and) said: "I am indeed a servant of God: He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet;
"And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I be and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live;
"(He) hath made me kind to my mother and not overbearing or miserable;
So Peace is on me the day I was born the day that I die (on his 2nd coming)
and the Day that I shall be raised up to life (again)"!
Such (was) Jesus the son of Mary: (it is) a statement of truth about which they (vainly) dispute.
It is not befitting to (the majesty of) God that He should beget a son. Glory be to him! When He determines a matter He only says to it "Be" and it is.
Verily God is my Lord and your Lord: him therefore serve ye: this is a way that is straight (Holy Quran 19: 16-37).
And it was indeed a miracle that Jesus Christ spoke from the cradle which was definitely the need of the hour as Mary’s chastity was questioned by the people who started raising the finger of blame and slandered her of having an illegitimate relationship. Unfortunately despite seeing all of the miracles, what the disbelievers did not comprehend was the obvious sign of omnipotence of God who earlier had created Adam without father and mother and created Eve out of a man’s side.
The Holy Qur’an further elaborates this point in the following verses:
“This similitude of Jesus before God is as that of Adam: He created him from dust then said to him: "Be" and he was.
The truth (comes) from God alone; so be not of those who doubt. (HolyQur’an 3: 59-63).
Lastly, as I mentioned earlier, the exact date of Nativity is not known to religious scholarship. Few passages are frequently being quoted for Luke’s Gospel which points to a certain season and is a source of controversy even within the Christian community. It reads that at the time of Nativity “... there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the lord ( Holy Bible: KJV: Luke: 2; 8-11).
To the critical Christian scholarship ‘the shepherds grazing their cattle out in the open fields at night’ implies that it must be one of the hot starry summery nights and not the white snowy cold nights of December as has been told traditionally. Even to this day the tradition is alive that the shepherds residing in Palestine sent out their flocks into the mountainous and desert regions during the summer months and took them up during late October and early November when the cold weather starts.
The Qur’an also testifies to the fact that Jesus Christ was born during the months of summer with a beautiful clue hidden in the following verses, “So she (Mary) conceived him and she retired with him to a remote place. And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: she cried (in her anguish): "Ah! Would that I had died before this! Would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!" But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): "Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee; "And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee” (Chapter Mary; 19; 16-25).
People from predominantly hot climate like Middle East, Iran, India and Pakistan are well aware of the fact that the dates ripen during the summer season and here the Bible and the Qur’an are in agreement that Jesus Christ the mighty messenger of God was born not in December but some time during the months of summer.
In conclusion regardless of religious differences in the details of Nativity, one thing which is common in Muslims and Christians is the belief in Jesus Christ. Accepting the religious differences as they are Muslims should actively participate in their communities helping the less fortunate ones and thus keeping the message of both Prophet Mohammad and Jesus Christ alive which will help foster friendlier relationships .
