Subject: [Masjid Tucson] Submission weekly reminder

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

December 25 is observed as Christmas by many. But what was Jesus' message and have we lost sight of it? Studying the Bible and the Quran, we see the central theme of Jesus' message was teaching the people to devote their worship absolutely to God alone (John 12:44-50, John 5:30, Mark 10:17-18, John 11:41-42, Luke 9:48, John 20:17, Quran 3:51, Quran 19:36, Quran 43:64, etc.).

In Matthew 22:37-38, Jesus teaches the people: ... "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment."

[Quran 3:51] "GOD is my Lord and your Lord;* you shall worship Him alone. This is the right path."

Jesus proclaimed aloud: "Whoever puts faith in me believes not so much in me as in him who sent me; ..... For I have not spoken on my own; no, the Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to speak. Since I know that his commandment means eternal life, whatever I say is spoken just as he instructed me." [ John 12:44-50 ]

     On The Day Of Resurrection
[Quran 5:116-117] GOD will say, "O Jesus, son of Mary, did you say to the people, 'Make me and my mother idols beside GOD'?" He will say, "Be You glorified. I could not utter what was not right. ... "I told them only what You commanded me to say, that: 'You shall worship GOD, my Lord and your Lord.' ...

As he was setting out on a journey a man came running up, knelt down before him and asked, "Good Teacher, what must I do to share in everlasting life?” Jesus answered, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone." [ Mark 10:17-18 ]

"None of those who call me 'Lord' will enter the kingdom of God, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." [ Matthew 7:21 ]


Would not the best way to observe December 25th be to follow the most important commandment Jesus taught? To make it a day devoted absolutely to God alone (Matthew 22:36-37, Quran 5:117).


References:
The Plain Truth About Christmas, http://www.masjidtucson.org/publications/books/sp/2008/dec/page1.html
Christmas Morning, http://www.masjidtucson.org/publications/books/sp/2010/dec/page1.html
Jesus, http://www.masjidtucson.org/quran/appendices/appendix22.html


Peace.