Jesus is not a barrier between the two faiths that influence the views and values of more than 40 percent of the world’s population; he is actually the bridge.

How Muslims and Christians think about one another is one of the most significant issues of our time. Uncovering our shared values and love for Jesus this season may create a needed link.

Together Islam and Christianity influence the views and values of more than 40 percent of the world’s population. Jesus is not a barrier between the two faiths; he is actually the bridge.

Ask any Muslim if he or she loves Jesus and the answer will be yes. The Quran mentions Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, his miraculous birth to the Virgin Mary, miracles and preaching God’s word.

Concepts and areas of belief shared by the two faiths include God, angels, revelation, prophets, Holy Books of God, the Day of Judgment, life hereafter and a divinely inspired moral code.

Recognizing and appreciating our similarities can help us honor and respect one another, which does not mean compromise.

Prophet Muhammad was so accommodating of Christians that he allowed a delegation of 60 Byzantine Christians to worship in his own mosque in Medina. Muslims are required to have good relations with Christians.

“ … and nearest among them in love to the believers will you find those who say, ‘We are Christians,’ ” (Quran 5:82)   »»» The Seattle Times

The official Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church says:

“841. The Church’s relationship with the Muslims.
‘The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day’.”

Source:

That teaching was proclaimed during the Vatican II Council in the 1960s after the bishops present accepted it by a vote of 2,151 for and only 5 against. That’s as strong as the votes in early times that proclaimed the doctrines of Christ’s divinity and the Trinity.

That same Council also declared the following:

“The Church regards with respect the Muslims, who worship the One, Living, Subsistent, Merciful, Almighty God who created the heavens and the earth, who spoke to men. They strive to submit wholeheartedly to
God’s commandments…even as Abraham submitted himself to God, whose obedience is often recalled in the Islamic religion. Although they do not recognize Jesus as God, they do venerate him as a prophet and they
honour his virgin mother, Mary…. They await the Day of Judgment, when God will reward all those risen from the dead. They hold in high regard the moral life and worship God,particularly by prayer, charity and fasting.”

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