Dear Editor,
I know it’s a little late to be writing about a holiday that happened just about two weeks ago, but after reading an Atheist’s perspective on Christian celebrations, I thought it would be an interesting idea to present a Muslim American’s perspective on yearly Christian holidays.
I’m sure we all remember growing up singing Christmas carols in school and going on Easter egg hunts. To many who are not in the Christian faith, Tthese times of the year are not out of the ordinary to many who are not in the Christian faith. Because of the society we live in, we cannot help but feel that these times of the year are significant.
As a Muslim growing up and being in these environments, I cannot help but reflect on the personality of Jesus when Christmas and Easter come by. After all, we Muslims accept him as the Messiah and one of the greatest Prophets that ever lived. Although the Muslim and Christian perspectives of Jesus are drastically different, the peoples of both faiths agree that the message he brought was of love and compassion for humankind.
Even though Easter holds no significance to me, I can still reflect upon the character of this Prophet and aspire to be as compassionate and positive as he was. As a small example, Jesus once came across a dead rotting dog, and his companions commented on the maggots that were eating away at its flesh and its exposed ribs. Rather than seeing this experience as an entirely negative one, Jesus instead focused on the positive, commenting on the pearly white teeth this decaying animal had. From this experience, we brothers and sisters of the human race can try and learn to be more positive in our attitudes toward even the worst situations.
I would like to invite everyone in the community to come out to Sciences Lecture Hall 123 on April 29 at 7:30 p.m. for a dialogue on the personality of Jesus in the Muslim and Christian traditions. Dr. Enderle from the Chemistry department will be presenting the Christian perspective while Ali Ataie will be presenting the Muslim perspective. Most if not all readers know what the Christian perspective is, but many may not know the Muslim perspective, which is drastically different.
I highly encourage people of other faiths or even atheists to come by and challenge the views that are presented. There is nothing more eye-opening and beneficial to intellectualism than a different perspective on life.
MEHDI KAHN
Master’s student
Geotechnical engineering
