I was brought up a Christian. I took my faith seriously, and at one point thought about becoming a nun. Then I made the decision to become a Muslim. That decision, 21 years ago, has given me the privileged position of authentically knowing and loving two religious traditions.
Christians and Muslims constitute more than half of the world's population. Sadly, there is a long history of misunderstanding and mutual hostility. Recently there has been talk of a clash of civilisations. Yet there is so much that unites the two traditions; first and foremost being a belief in the oneness of God. Yet I believe it is the shared narrative of the life of Jesus which can really help provide a bridge between us.
Jesus is mentioned more in the Quran than the Prophet Mohammed. He is called the Word of God and the Spirit of God, but most often, the son of Mary. Christmas is a time when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. And although most of the traditional Nativity story is not in the Quran, Muslims believe profoundly in the Virgin Birth of Christ.
In the third chapter of the Quran, the Angel Gabriel visits Mary and says, "O Mary! Behold, God sends thee the glad tiding, through a word from Him, of a son who shall become known as the Christ, Jesus, son of Mary." Mary is naturally stunned by this news and wonders, "O my Sustainer! How can I have a son when no man has ever touched me?" And the angel replies, "Thus it is: God creates what He wills. When He wills a thing to be, He but says unto it 'Be' - and it is."
From this amazing beginning, Christ grows up to be a noble man. God promises that Jesus will perform miracles; and he does - healing the blind and the leper, bringing the dead back to life. He performs these miracles "all by God's leave", according to the Quran.
For Muslims, the miracle of Christ's birth and the miracles Christ performs during his life are all examples of God's absolute majesty and omnipotence. God can do anything that He wills - He created the whole cosmos from nothing; He created Adam with neither a man nor a woman, thus to create Jesus without a father was not difficult. However, the Virgin Birth and Christ's miracles do not indicate to Muslims that Christ is divine.
Muslims do not believe in the crucifixion either. To a Christian it is fundamental that Christ died for our sins and rose again, conquering death, so that we might have eternal life. To a Muslim the idea that God, the Creator of the Universe, can have a son, who shares in His Divinity, and that the Creator becomes part of the creation and dies, is heresy of the highest order. Indeed, the Biblical and Quranic accounts of Jesus's death are irreconcilable.
How, then, is it ever possible to imagine that Christ could be a bridge between people? I would contend that, although the two traditions will not agree on his death, it is in his life where common ground is to be found. Indeed, the narrative of his life to be found within Christianity and Islam could provide a healing balm for the whole world, and not just Muslims and Christians.
In both traditions Christ called people to the service of God through service to humanity. He called us to love our neighbours as ourselves. He helped and loved the poor, the sick and the outcasts in society. We can all strive to do the same. And in reaching out to those less fortunate than ourselves, and in our service to others, we can be united by our common endeavours.
Christ led a simple life: he rejected the acquisition of material possessions as a route to happiness. The Islamic tradition says Christ had only three possessions: a robe, a bowl and a comb. He gave away his bowl and comb believing these to be unnecessary. In today's world, where our cars, computers and gadgets can become part of who we are, Christ taught that peace and contentment are to be found in having less, not more. Given the pressing needs of the planet vis-à-vis climate change, and the call by environmentalists for us to consume less, Christ's message seems of vital importance. The lifestyle changes necessary to halt global climate meltdown will be hard, but if we re-educate ourselves in the path of the Prophets to realise that our role is as stewards of the Earth not as consumers of the Earth's resources, then maybe we will be able to make a positive difference.
Christ spoke out against violence, scolding a follower who drew his sword in the Garden of Gethsemane saying, "Put your sword back into its place; for all who live by the sword will perish by the sword." Yet in our world today violence is often the first, not the last, resort in the way we deal with each other. We spend billions on weapons that can destroy all of us many times over. Maybe Christ's narrative can help us find a common voice to resist our dependence on war and violence to solve our problems.
In both traditions, Christ spoke out against excessive signs of outward religious ritual. He taught that the most holy place is our heart, for it is in our heart where the holiness of God and our dignity as human beings is to be found, no matter what our beliefs, or our race. Yet we have reduced our religions so that we judge each other not by the quality of our hearts but on the clothes we wear or which building we worship in. Can we not recognise each other's fundamental human dignity?
Muslims do not believe that Mohammed came to change Christ's message. Rather, Muslims believe that Mohammed came as a seal of his teaching and his ministry. For Muslims, the Quran is the fulfilment of previous revelation, not an overturning of it.
However, there is no denying that Muslims and Christians deeply disagree about the nature of Jesus. I believe, though, that if we look beyond the differences and chose to examine Christ's life together and to learn from each other, then his life's narrative of surrender, service and sacrifice; love and compassion can provide the most amazing starting point for a life-, even world-changing discourse.
As an article of faith, Muslims must believe in and love Jesus Christ. And the best form of love is to see his message active in our lives. He asked us to look at and inside ourselves and see what changes we could make for the good of all. Christ, like the Prophet Mohammed, brought a message that is relevant for us today. A message which has the potential to spread hope and harmony.
As we near the end of 2009, and as I look back over the past decade, it is one that seems scarred by violence, financial meltdown, environmental problems and discord among peoples.
I believe that Christ's life can provide a framework for people to imagine another future. Other worlds are possible - but we need to have the imagination and the courage to forge them.
Sarah Joseph, OBE, is editor of the lifestyle magazine Emel. She was a member of the Muslim delegation invited to 10 Downing Street after the London bombings of July 7, 2005
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
The%20Mother%20
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Company%20Profile
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The specs: 2018 Renault Koleos
Price, base: From Dh77,900
Engine: 2.5L, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 170hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 233Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.3L / 100km
Racecard
6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes (PA) Group 3 Dh175,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile (TB) Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
The National selections
6.30pm: Chaddad
7.05pm: Down On Da Bayou
7.40pm: Mass Media
8.15pm: Rafal
8.50pm: Yulong Warrior
9.25pm: Chiefdom
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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From Conquest to Deportation
Jeronim Perovic, Hurst
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Company%20Profile
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SCORES IN BRIEF
New Zealand 153 and 56 for 1 in 22.4 overs at close
Pakistan 227
(Babar 62, Asad 43, Boult 4-54, De Grandhomme 2-30, Patel 2-64)
OTHER IPL BOWLING RECORDS
Best bowling figures: 6-14 – Sohail Tanvir (for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)
Best average: 16.36 – Andrew Tye
Best economy rate: 6.53 – Sunil Narine
Best strike-rate: 12.83 – Andrew Tye
Best strike-rate in an innings: 1.50 – Suresh Raina (for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2011)
Most runs conceded in an innings: 70 – Basil Thampi (for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018)
Most hat-tricks: 3 – Amit Mishra
Most dot-balls: 1,128 – Harbhajan Singh
Most maiden overs bowled: 14 – Praveen Kumar
Most four-wicket hauls: 6 – Sunil Narine
Company%20Profile
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
Founder: Mamta Arora
Based: Dubai
Sector: Clothes rental subscription
Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
SPECS
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THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 258hp at 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.4L/100km
Price, base: from D215,000 (Dh230,000 as tested)
On sale: now
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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