The Nigerian Muslim ummah, under the leadership of the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), the Sultan of Sokoto, H. E. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, has congratulated its Christian compatriots on the occasion of 2014 Christmas.
In a letter signed by its Secretary General, Prof. Is-haq O. Oloyede, and addressed to the President, Christians Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the NSCIA said that “As you celebrate this important religious milestone, the Muslim community wishes you God’s guidance and abundant blessings embedded in the festive season.
It said that the occasion of the commemoration of the birth of Jesus (PBUH) offers Nigerians another opportunity to renew their prayers for the restoration of peace in the country. “We join you in prayers as we beseech the Almighty God to extricate Nigeria from the shackles of her current challenges.
“Prophet ‘Isa (PBUH) or Jesus is one of the top-ranking Prophets of God that all Muslims venerate.
In fact, the Qur’an mentions his name more than 25 times (i.e. Q. 2:87; 2:136; 2:253; 3:45; 3:52; 3:55; 3:59; 3:84; 4:157; 4:163; 4:171; 5:46; 5:78; 5:112; 5:114; 5:116; 6:85; 19:34; 33:7; 42:13; 43:57; 43:61; 43:63; 57:27; 61:6 and 61:14).
“Though his personality or divinity may be viewed differently by the teeming adherents of Christianity and Islam, the fact remains that in Jesus Christ, all of us, Christians and Muslims alike, have a role model, an exemplar and a symbol of our commonality as a people of faith.
“As millions of Christians in our country mark the birth of Jesus (PBUH), we pray that the occasion signal the beginning of more peace, more understanding, more security and more faithfulness to the true teachings of God as preached and lived by Jesus (PBUH) among us all.”
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