Editor’s note: This article is from our archive, re-highlighted for its importance
Jesus–a savior to Christians and a prophet to Muslims–plays an often-uncredited role in Islam.
There were a number of Christian tribes in Arabia at the time of the revelation of the Quran, and the still-standing ruins of a 4th century Church outside the town of Jubail [a city in the Eastern province on the Arab Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia] –a Church older than anything we have in Europe–shows that even the pagan tribe of Quraysh, a branch of which Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) belonged, was influenced by Christianity.
One of the Christians that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) encountered was a man named Waraqa bin Nawfal. Originally a pagan, he converted to Christianity (1).
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He also happened to be the uncle of Khadija, Prophet Muhammad’s first wife. And so when the message of Islam came to Prophet Muhammad, and Khadija took him to Waraqa, they both realized that he was indeed a foretold Prophet.
Fast forward to 1915, the infancy of Islam in the UK, where the January edition of the Islamic Review, published in the UK ,includes an account of a gathering of the British Muslim Society at Woking Mosque.
There, Professor H Mustafa Leon PhD LLD PSP pointed out that “he belonged to the ‘Faith most excellent (Islam)’ for thirty-one years and gave an account of the meeting in Morocco at the table of a Jew, a Muslim and as a Christian (as he was then), where, in a friendly way, they commenced to investigate those points upon which they agreed. One learned brother pointed out that all consented to the belief in the One Supreme Ruler of the Universe, the Provider of everything.” (2)
Fast forward again to 2017, with now 3 million Muslims in the UK, the supermarket Tesco comes under fire for broadcasting an advert which shows British Muslims shopping for and celebrating Christmas. (3)
Who Owns Jesus?
Who ‘owns’ Jesus? Who can celebrate the historic personality of Jesus? How are Muslims and Christians (and others) meant to interact with one another? Are Muslims stealing the identity of Christianity? Are Muslims even allowed to celebrate Christmas? And if so, to what capacity? The answer to all of these questions can be understood in the context of the ever-evolving British Muslim identity.
Holistically, Islam was never about removing cultural traditions. After all, Muslims believe that God created all of us in different communities with different customs and traditions, to enrich our lives, to provide diversity and to give humanity something to explore.
What Islam does do is discourage practices which contradict its teachings.
British Muslim charities have taken the lead. Muslim Aid UK is running a program to help the homeless during Christmas. (5)
Human Appeal ran a Christmas-themed fundraiser, complete with a Pakistani Qawali band, British Muslim comedians, a traditional Turkey meal, and a Christmas tree. And the charity Penny Appeal ran a Halal Pantomime: a traditional comedic British theatrical performance.
When asked what she thought guests would get out of it, Anisa Kisson, one of the actresses, said, “We’re hoping they can have fun, they can learn something, but that they can also do something great for other people out there.”
Aamer Naeem, a representative of the charity added, “We’re a confidently Muslim-led organization with a comfortably British culture.
“We’re always looking for ways to do the work that we do, based on that identity. There’s nothing more British than panto at this time of year. We’re here having fun, and raising money for orphans around the world.” (6)
In a climate of fear and suspicion, our government recently ran an All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in which they wrote, “British Muslim charities haven’t received the kind of attention they deserve.”
“At this time of year, when Muslim charities are working alongside many other faith-based charities to spread good cheer, peace on earth and goodwill to all we hope our preliminary findings highlights and celebrates their work. A very Merry Muslim Christmas to all!” (7)
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