بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم
Christmas Morning Message to All
As you gather with loved ones to celebrate Christmas today, I wish to extend a message of unity, understanding, and mutual reverence. For Muslims, the Quran acknowledges the miraculous birth of Jesus, peace be upon him, as one of the greatest signs of God's mercy and power. Jesus is revered as a prophet, a servant of God, and a miracle-worker whose life was a testament to faith, compassion, and humility.
The Quran speaks of Maryam (Mary), peace be upon her, in the highest regard, dedicating an entire chapter to her and describing her as a model of piety and devotion. The miraculous birth of Jesus is beautifully recounted:
"And mention in the Book [the story of] Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east. She placed a barrier between herself and them; then We sent to her Our Angel, and he appeared before her as a well-proportioned man. She said, 'Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, [so leave me], if you should be fearing of Allah.' He said, 'I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy.'" (Quran 19:16-19)
This story reminds us of the divine miracles that bring humanity closer to the Creator and of the purity of faith embodied by both Mary and her son.
While historical details surrounding the date of Jesus's birth may be debated, the spirit of Christmas—a time of family, joy, and generosity—is universally meaningful. It serves as a moment to reflect on shared values: love for one another, care for the less fortunate, and gratitude for the blessings we enjoy.
As Muslims, we believe in a shared light that connects all of humanity, from Jesus to Muhammad, peace be upon them both. This light calls us to embody the best of character: to protect one another from harm, to speak words of kindness, and to extend compassion regardless of faith or background.
Today, let us celebrate what unites us. Let us honor the sacred bonds between us as people of faith and as stewards of this beautiful world. Let this Christmas morning remind us that the love and mercy we extend to others reflect the love and mercy of the Creator.
May this day bring blessings to you and your family. Whether you gather for prayer, reflection, or celebration, know that this message is sent with love, peace, and the hope for a brighter, united future for all.
The Glad Tidings to Mary (Peace Be Upon Her)
The story begins with Mary, one of the most honored women in the Quran. The angels brought her a divine message:
"Behold! The angels said: O Mary! Allah gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and of those nearest to Allah." (Quran 3:45)
This verse reminds us that Jesus was chosen for a mission of unparalleled significance. He was not just a prophet but a "Word" from God, a miraculous creation brought into being by God’s command.
The Miraculous Conception
Mary questioned how she could have a child, given that no man had touched her. The Quran answers with God’s power and will:
"He said, 'Such is Allah; He creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, 'Be,' and it is.'" (Quran 3:47)
This emphasizes God’s absolute power over creation and the miraculous nature of Jesus’s birth, which was unlike any other.
The Birth of Jesus
Mary withdrew to a remote place, and there, under the divine decree, she gave birth to Jesus. The Quran describes her struggle and the miraculous provision:
"And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, 'Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten.' But he called her from below her, 'Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream. And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates.'" (Quran 19:23-25)
This moment shows God’s mercy and care, even in the most difficult circumstances. It also highlights the sanctity of Mary’s role and her unwavering faith.
Jesus Speaks as a Newborn
When Mary brought her child to her people, they accused her of wrongdoing. But in one of the greatest miracles of all time, Jesus himself spoke in defense of his mother:
"He said, 'Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive. And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant. And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive.'” (Quran 19:30-33)
These words of Jesus, spoken as a newborn, affirm his mission as a prophet and his role as a servant of God. They also celebrate the day of his birth as a day of peace, underscoring its significance.
The Quranic Celebration of Jesus’s Birth
The Quran celebrates Jesus not only as a prophet but as a sign of God’s mercy to humanity:
"And We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign and gave them shelter on a high ground with [a place of] rest and flowing water." (Quran 23:50)
This verse reminds us that Jesus’s birth was a miraculous event, a sign for all of humanity to reflect upon the power and mercy of God.
The Message of Unity and Love
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, peace be upon him, let us reflect on his message of faith, love, and devotion to God. His life, like that of all prophets, teaches us to serve humanity, to be compassionate, and to strive for justice. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, reminded us of this unity when he said:
"I am the nearest of all people to the son of Mary. All the prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is one." (Sahih al-Bukhari, 3442)
A Call to Reflection
Today, let us celebrate Jesus’s birth as a reminder of our shared values. His story unites us in faith, hope, and love. Whether you call him Jesus or Isa, peace be upon him, his light continues to guide humanity toward God’s mercy.
May this day inspire us to follow in the footsteps of the prophets, to embody kindness, and to work toward a world of peace and understanding.
Peace be upon you all.
This is my gift to you on this day two gaze
On the verses about the birth of Jesus (peace be upon him) in both Arabic and English:
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1. The Glad Tidings to Mary
Quran 3:45
Arabic:
إِذْ قَالَتِ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَـٰمَرْيَمُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍۢ مِّنْهُ ٱسْمُهُ ٱلْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَجِيهًۭا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَمِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ
English:
"Behold! The angels said: O Mary! Allah gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and of those nearest to Allah."
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2. Jesus Will Speak from the Cradle
Quran 3:46
Arabic:
وَيُكَلِّمُ ٱلنَّاسَ فِى ٱلْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلًۭا وَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
English:
"He will speak to the people in the cradle and in maturity, and he will be of the righteous."
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3. The Miraculous Conception
Quran 3:47
Arabic:
قَالَتْ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى وَلَدٌۭ وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِى بَشَرٌۭ ۖ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكِ ٱللَّهُ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًۭا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ
English:
"She said, My Lord, how will I have a child when no man has touched me? He said, Such is Allah; He creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, 'Be,' and it is."
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4. Mary Withdraws and Receives a Divine Message
Quran 19:16-19
Arabic:
وَٱذْكُرْ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مَرْيَمَ إِذِ ٱنتَبَذَتْ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا مَكَانًۭا شَرْقِيًّۭا
فَٱتَّخَذَتْ مِن دُونِهِمْ حِجَابًۭا فَأَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْهَا رُوحَنَا فَتَمَثَّلَ لَهَا بَشَرًۭا سَوِيًّۭا
قَالَتْ إِنِّىٓ أَعُوذُ بِٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ مِنكَ إِن كُنتَ تَقِيًّۭا
قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ رَسُولُ رَبِّكِ لِأَهَبَ لَكِ غُلَـٰمًۭا زَكِيًّۭا
English:
"And mention, [O Muhammad], in the Book [the story of] Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east. She placed a barrier between herself and them; then We sent to her Our Angel, and he appeared before her as a well-proportioned man. She said, 'Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, [so leave me], if you should be fearing of Allah.' He said, 'I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy.'"
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5. The Pains of Childbirth and Divine Comfort
Quran 19:23-26
Arabic:
فَأَجَآءَهَا ٱلْمَخَاضُ إِلَىٰ جِذْعِ ٱلنَّخْلَةِ قَالَتْ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى مِتُّ قَبْلَ هَـٰذَا وَكُنتُ نَسْيًۭا مَّنسِيًّۭا
فَنَادَىٰهَا مِن تَحْتِهَآ أَلَّا تَحْزَنِى قَدْ جَعَلَ رَبُّكِ تَحْتَكِ سَرِيًّۭا
وَهُزِّىٓ إِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ ٱلنَّخْلَةِ تُسَـٰقِطْ عَلَيْكِ رُطَبًۭا جَنِيًّۭا
فَكُلِى وَٱشْرَبِى وَقَرِّى عَيْنًۭا ۖ
English:
"And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, 'Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten.' But he called her from below her, 'Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream. And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates.' So eat and drink and be contented."
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6. Jesus Speaks in the Cradle
Quran 19:30-33
Arabic:
قَالَ إِنِّى عَبْدُ ٱللَّهِ ءَاتَىٰنِىَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَجَعَلَنِى نَبِيًّۭا
وَجَعَلَنِى مُبَارَكًا أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُ وَأَوْصَـٰنِى بِٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَٱلزَّكَوٰةِ مَا دُمْتُ حَيًّۭا
وَبَرَّۢا بِوَٰلِدَتِى وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْنِى جَبَّارًۭا شَقِيًّۭا
وَٱلسَّلَـٰمُ عَلَىَّ يَوْمَ وُلِدتُّ وَيَوْمَ أَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ أُبْعَثُ حَيًّۭا
English:
"[Jesus] said, 'Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive. And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant. And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive.'"
Conclusion
As we celebrate the spirit of Christmas and reflect on the teachings of Jesus and Muhammad, peace be upon them both, let us remember the profound unity that their lives exemplify. They both called humanity to worship the One God, to love and serve one another, and to build a world of justice, compassion, and peace.
This day serves as a reminder of the shared spiritual heritage between Muslims and Christians, rooted in the principles of mercy, humility, and devotion. May we all strive to embody these virtues, using the light of faith to guide our actions and inspire harmony among us.
In the words of the Quran:
"Indeed, this is your religion, one religion, and I am your Lord, so worship Me." (Quran 21:92)
May this season
of celebration bring us closer together, strengthen our bonds, and renew our commitment to a world of understanding and goodwill.
Merry Christmas and peace be upon you all.