As Christians around the world celebrate Christmas, they reflect on the birth of Jesus (peace be upon him) — a figure deeply revered not only in Christianity, but also in Islam.
Muslims honor Jesus as a prophet of compassion, humility and justice, one who stood with the vulnerable and spoke truth to power.
This shared reverence matters today more than ever.
Jesus’ story is one of being born into displacement. His family fled persecution. He preached mercy toward the stranger, care for the poor and dignity for the marginalized. These teachings are guideposts for how societies should treat those in need.
Yet, in our country today, our immigration system is contradicting those values….
In honoring Jesus (peace be upon him), let’s honor the values he embodied: mercy, justice and love of neighbor. Anything less is a betrayal not only of faith, but of our shared humanity.
Zainab Chaudry is the director of CAIR Maryland.