Celebrating Christmas – The Birth of Eisa Nabi AS

'He (Rasulullah) came with the Truth (haqq) and confirmed the Prophets.'

(Surat al-Saaffaat: 37)

This article was written by Ra'sul Hududil Mayameen Janab Syedi Aziz Bhaisaheb Qutbuddin in 2016.

On the 25^th of December*, millions of Christians celebrate the birthday of Eisa Nabi AS (Jesus Christ) and just a few weeks ago we celebrated the Milad of Rasulullah SA. We too celebrate Eisa Nabi AS – he is our Nabi. Our Nabi, Rasulullah - the seal of the Prophets (khatamul anbiyaa’) – recognized Eisa Nabi along with the other Anbiyaa’, as the Quranic Ayat attests “He (Rasulullah) came with the Truth (haqq) and confirmed the Prophets” (Surat al-Saaffaat: 37). We believe in Eisa Nabi as the 5^th Naatiq (lit. “Speaker” – one who established a new religion). We pray Salawaat on him every Shehrullah on Aakhir Jumoa till the end of the month and remember him and his virtues in Ashara ever year on the 5^th of Muharram. While we assert our belief in Rasulullah and the religion of Islam, we respect the earlier Prophets, including Eisa Nabi as he brought “the word of God” (Surat Aal-Imran: 45). He was a Naatiq, a Prophet, who performed great miracles with God’s permission (Surat Aal-Imran: 49), a Prophet of great wisdom and a Prophet who gave the ultimate sacrifice when he was crucified.

Although there are differences in our belief in Eisa Nabi compared to Christians, we acknowledge and respect him as a great Prophet. Our Hudaat in their kitaabs and their bayaans speak of his life, his wisdom and his sacrifice (for example, read Sijill article 101, 104 and 126).

One such pearl of wisdom from Eisa Nabi is “fear not those who kill the body, but fear those who kill the soul.” This profound saying emphasizes our belief and the belief of all prior Prophets and religions: salvation is of the soul. The body is bound to perish, either naturally or killed by another. The soul has the potential for salvation and eternal bliss. Those who “kill the soul”, draw it away from religion and deny it eternal salvation.

May Allah Ta’ala give us the confidence in our conviction to “adopt the good from everything” and the wisdom to emphasize our similarities and not our differences. May we always be thankful for this immense blessing of ilm, wisdom, and aqeedo, faith, that we receive at the hands of Dai-z-zaman, Syedna Taher Fakhruddin TUS.

* Many Eastern churches celebrate Christmas on the 7^th of January and other days as well