Muslim scholar: Share the message of Jesus

And there is no better occasion than Christmas, says Islamic scholar Imran Hosein.

Delivering the Kutbah or sermon at last Friday’s Juma’h (congregational) prayer in San Fernando, Hosein noted that in the western world, the birth of Jesus is celebrated in December, but people in the east do so in January. Hosein, who is an Islamic scholar and author of Jerusalem in the Quran, told worshipers that perhaps the first lesson that should be taught was whether Jesus would have celebrated Christmas if he was alive in today’s modern world.

Addressing the congregation at the Jama Masjid, Mucurapo Street, San Fernando, Hosein related the birth of Jesus in which he said that Muslims and Christians share the story of Jesus’ birth, but differ on whether he was crucified.

Saying that prophet Muhammad predicted that Jesus would return to earth and condemned the lies perpetrated against him, Hosein said, “That is why we ask the question — whether Jesus and Muhammed would have sanctioned the celebration of Christmas. Especially, in the manner in which the modern world today lavishly and deceptively celebrate in Jesus’ name.”

Hosein, who has travelled worldwide during which he published 16 books, will on Christmas Day, tell stories about Jesus’ miraculous birth of the virgin Mother Mary. He announced at the prayer service that he would conduct the story-telling exercise to children at his home in San Fernando from 6 pm.

He said, “We must share with our Christian brothers and sisters at this time, what the Quran says about Jesus and what Muhammed predicted would happen. We must do so with respect in order to establish friendly relations with them.”