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Roots in common:
Christianity and Islam
Naheed Gorji
Islam, Christianity and Judaism have roots in common, going back to
the time of the prophet Abraham. Though their paths have remained distinct
and separate, their aim has always been the same; an effort on the part
of the believers to live up to the idea of the One true God and in their
different ways to perfect themselves before him.
There has been much media focus of late on the differences between
these faiths. In my opinion the time would be better spent looking towards
the similarities inherent within them. Christmas, with its emphasis
on peace and love, is a particularly appropriate time for doing so.
A comparison between some verses of St Luke's gospel with others from
the Quran regarding the miracle of the Virgin birth reveal a close harmony
of description between the two:
And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have
found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb
and bear a son, and you will call his name Jesus. He will be great,
and will be called the Son of the Most High.'
And Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I have no husband?'
And the angel said to her, 'The holy spirit will come upon you and
the Power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child
to be born will be called holy, the Son of God'.
Luke 1. 30-35
We sent unto her Our Spirit....
He said, I am but a messenger come from thy Lord, to give thee a boy
most pure.
She said ,'How shall I have a son, whom no mortal has touched, neither
have I been unchaste?'
He said, 'Even so thy Lord has said, "Easy is that for Me; and
that We may appoint him a sign unto men and a mercy from Us; it is
a thing decreed."'
Quran
XIX 16-21
Christians and Muslims alike believe in the miracle of the Virgin Birth
and in the fact that Jesus has been especially appointed by God to help
mankind. However, whereas Christians believe that Jesus is the living
incarnation of God, to Muslims he is, rather, a divinely conceived prophet,
entrusted with a powerful message for mankind. Islam and Christianity,
though sharing much common ground, remain fundamentally separate. What
surely must be desired and sought after however is the recognition and
appreciation of the validity of both these great disciplines within
which differing cultures and societies express their belief in the One
God. |
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