Rasulul A'azam Foundation (RAAF), national leaders, branches and chapters, co-ordinators and its entire members in Nigeria, rejoice with the Christians in Nigeria and the world on the 2022 Christmas celebrations.
In a statement sing by secretary General Sheikh Saleh Sani Zaria, Thursday in Kano said, The Christmas festival marks the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ (Prophet Isa Almasih A.S), which the Islamic teachings recognized. Islam hold Jesus with high regard, as the name Jesus (Isa) is mentioned 25 times in the Qur’an: with Jesus the Son of Mary 16 times, the Apostle 1 time and the Messenger 1 time.
Similarly, an extraordinary importance is given to his mother, the Virgin Mary, to the extent of which the Qur’an attribute an entire verse of Qur’an to her Name (Surat Maryan), which is the 19th Chapter of the Holy Qur’an, and it contains 98 verses (with 972 words and 3835 letters). Included therein is the miraculous birth of Jesus (from verse 19 to 34).
Hence, Jesus extraordinary birth is shared by Muslims and they ponder him as one of the purest, virtuous and greatest personalities ever known in human history. Likewise, he is considered by Muslims to symbolize the peak of compassion, love and peace.
The Qur’an teaches Muslims to base their relationships with the People of the Book (namely the Christians and the Jews) on mutual esteem, it also emphasizes the closer relations between Muslims and the Christians, as the Holy Qur’an posits: “…and thou wilt certainly find the nearest in friendship to those who believe are (to be) those who say; ‘we are Christians.
This because there among them are priests and monks and because they are not elated with pride” (Qur’an:7/82).
Two things, among others, can be deduced from the said verse: one, as some exegetists observe, is that this verse depicts one of the unique teachings of Islam, which is the recognition of goodness from whoever it might manifest, as the brighter side of the character of the Christian priests has been referred to in the Qur’anic discourse.
On the other hand, the verse recognizes that the Christian creeds, which base on devotional love, made some of their pious ones to be humble, lenient, tolerant and open to reason and accept the truth as described in another place in the Holy Qur’an.
On these basis, the ground of peaceful coexistence between Muslim and Christians is prepared by the Holy Qur’an.
Thus, the followers of both religions in Nigeria have to understand that what bring them together are numerous, so there is no ground for crises and violence between them in the name of religion.
We still remember how the Holy Qur’an, in another verse recounts the permission of God to David to fight against the Philistines mischief in order to supress and to defend the people against their mischievous and aggressive enemies, and concludes that “...And had repelled not God some people by others, verily have been pulled down the cloisters (quadrangle or colonnade), and churches and the synagogues and the mosques in which God’s name is much mentioned; and verily God will help he who helpth Him (His cause), for verily God is Strong, Mighty” (al-Hajj:22/40).
In this trial times, when we suffer from numerous security challenges that threaten all of us, there is need to work together to defend ourselves. Let’s stand side by side to defeat the challenges. Together we are stronger, divided we are weak. Merry Christmas.