On December 16 Muslims the world over celebrated the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr to mark the end of Ramadan, the dawn-to-dusk month long period of fasting, prayer and contemplation. The same time Jews celebrated Hanukkah to celebrate the re-dedication in 165 BCE of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. Earlier this week Christians celebrated the miraculous birth of Christ. The air has been awash with the lights, sights and smells of holiday season.
But in reality the holiday cheer goes beyond the outward trappings of good food and expensive gifts. It is the revival of the faith at a very personal level. By coincidence these three holidays fell within a ten-day period this December. While Christmas is celebrated on the same day every year, Jewish and Muslim holidays are calculated according to the lunar calendar. Hanukkah falls within a four-week period in winter according to an arrangement that adjusts discrepancy between the two calendars on an ongoing basis. Muslims on the other hand celebrate holidays strictly according to moon cycles and thus our holidays come ten days earlier every year. It would be another 36 years when this rare religious constellation of Christmas, Hanukkah and Eid ul Fitr will happen again.
Since all the three monotheistic religions-Judaism, Christianity and Islam- trace their roots to patriarch Prophet Abraham, one would expect that at such rare coincidence the followers of these religions would jointly celebrate their shared values and their common origin. This would be a message to the extremist fringe elements within their respective folds that we do not stand for bigotry, militancy and intolerance.
Such a show of solidarity is desperately needed because the world is falling into distinct camps separated along religious lines. Already the zealots in all religions are painting the picture in intolerant colors. While the Muslim clergy in many Muslim and Arab countries are blaming the Christians and Jews for their misfortunes, close to home in America some Christians clergy are also preaching the gospel of hatred.
Reverend Franklin Graham (the son of Billy Graham) crossed the line by calling Islam an evil and wicked religion. His bigoted remarks were greeted by an ear-deafening silence. A number of years ago Lois Farakhan, the leader of Black Muslims called Judaism a gutter religion. He was condemned in no unclear terms and very rightly so. It is this kind of thoughtless and bigoted pronouncement by some men of the cloth that re-enforces religious prejudice and propagates intolerance.
Compare Mr. Graham’s diatribe with the reaction of our community when some self-proclaimed patriot took pot shots at the Islamic Center in Perrysburg after the September 11 events. At the request of YES-FM, a Christian radio, more than 1500 people of all faiths, majority of them Christians came to make a symbolic human chain around the Center to show their solidarity. Or when the clergy of all faiths gathered at the Center to pray together for the victims of the terrorist attacks. All our faiths were enhanced and strengthened by such gestures.
Why not show that spirit at the time of holidays also? Won’t it be wonderful if Christians and Jews would come to the Muslim places of worship to pray and the Muslims would reciprocate by visiting churches and synagogues to pray with their monotheistic cousins? Why can’t we demonstrate that spirit in our every day life instead of being forced into it as a result of a national calamity?
We have a lot in common. The Muslims accept much of the Old and New Testaments, obey the Mosaic laws and venerate Jesus and ancient Jewish prophets. In the early part of Ummayyad rule (661-750 ACE) Muslims and Christians worshiped at the great basilica of Saint John in Damascus. Franklin Graham would be well served if he would read the writings of Saint John of Damascus. Our imams, rabbis and priests should also take note.
A very merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Eid Mubarak to one and all.
Amjad Hussain’s most recent book The Taliban and Beyond was recently released by BWD publishing <bwdpublishing.com> and is also available on <amazon.com>