By Kaleem Kawaja
This year the birthday of Islam’s holy prophet Mohammad is falling on Thursday December 24, and the birthday of Christianity’s holy prophet Jesus Christ is falling on December 25. It is a great and rare coincidence that the birthdays of God’s prophets of the two largest religions on earth are occurring on two consecutive days. We should recognize this great event and observe it accordingly with a view to promote harmony between the billions of followers of these two religious faiths.
In the long chain of God’s prophets who are said to number about 180,000 over planet earth, prophet Jesus Christ was borne about 650 years before prophet Mohammad. Both were sent by God in different parts of earth as His messengers to spread God’s divine message. In many respects the messages between the two scriptures, Bible and Quran overlap, as they should since they are from the same God and are to fulfill the same purpose.
Some Muslim and Christian organizations could hold joint events in the week of December 21-27 to jointly observe these two greatest events from human history. Showing the great commonality between the lives, works and messages of these two all time great prophets will be immensely helpful in removing ill will, tension and violence based on religious differences that has unfortunately become commonplace in today’s world.
Additionally such a joint observance will help goodwill among followers of other religions on earth. Even if this harmony can happen for a few days it is bound to have a lasting effect on mankind.
Happy Eid-Meelad and Merry Christmas to all. Peace and tranquility and goodwill among all on earth.