Muslims express extreme love forJesus and Mother Mary
But some people remain alive after their death and they live in the hearts of millions of people for thousands of years; they rule on minds and hearts’ of millions of people. The world had seen such influential and remarkable people throughout the human history, but some left unforgettable, impressive and extraordinary remarks on the hearts and memories of people. Moses, Buddha, Krishna, Jesus and Mohammad (peace be upon them all) were among the most influential and extraordinary people of the human history. They gave so much, through out their lives, for the good of mankind. With the start of December, every year, streets and homes are decorated with colorful lights and designs, and everywhere you can see the colors and trees of Christmas. Many Companies prepare year long for shopping spree during the holidays. With celebrations in the air, People rush to markets in December, for their shopping, to select gifts for their family, friends and loved ones. Markets become filled with people and public is offered with variety of goods to shop. During Christmas time, many people ask, do Muslims celebrate Christmas? The simple answer, which almost every Muslim tries to give, is that, Muslims do not celebrate Christmas like Christians do. However, Muslims do cherish the message, and benefit from the teachings and character of the Jesus Christ, may peace be on him. And Muslims hold great love, respect and honor not only for Jesus but also for his mother, remembering mother Mary as a role model for them, as described in the Holy Quran. Jesus in the Holy Quran: One can assess the importance of this by the fact that the Holy Quran, the Divine Book for the Muslims, has mentioned the name of Jesus Christ nearly 25 times and also mentioned his mother the Holy Mary for couple of times, in different chapters of the Holy Quran. The Quran makes it obligatory for the Muslims to believe in all the prophets and messengers of God, including Jesus. There is no denying the fact that the Holy Quran makes it incumbent on every Muslim to believe in all the prophets, but as Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, the IV Caliph of the Promised Messiah, peace be with him, beautifully says:
The Holy Quran states:
Mother Mary in the Holy Quran: The Holy Quran extended great honor and respect to Mary, to such a high extent that God has named an entire chapter of the Holy Quran by her name, ‘Sura Maryam’, and Maryam is an Arabic name for Mary. The Holy Quran has given a great status to Mary and refutes all the charges raised against her, and says that the mother of Jesus was righteous woman and that Satan had no share in his birth. The Holy Quran states:
The Holy Quran bears constant testimony about chastity and noble character of mother Mary and condemns the Jews, when they accuse mother Mary:
Furthermore, the Holy Quran pays such great tribute to Mary, that it gives two examples for the Muslim believers, both men and women, as role model, wife of Pharaoh and mother Mary – the mother of Jesus. The Holy Quran says:
Mary, the mother of Jesus, represents those righteous servants and believers of God, Muslims, who having given up all sin and having made peace with God, are blessed with Divine inspiration. I believe that, this is a true manifestation of love with Jesus and Mary to exhibit through our deeds the noble character and example they have set forth for us, and to live a pure, pious, righteous and virtuous life, striving in the way of God the Almighty.
By Laiq Ahmed Atif, President Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Malta |