Muslim calligrapher Yasser Abu Saymeh has dedicated the past two months to Christian art, writing the Gospel of Luke in ornate Arabic script to be presented to Pope Benedict XVI when the Roman Catholic leader visits the Holy Land next month.
Abu Saymeh never read a New Testament text before he was picked for the prestigious assignment by Bethlehem’s Christian mayor. He said he has since come to appreciate the shared strands of the two faiths.
Alhumduallah! Barakallahu feek, Abu Saymeh.
Yes, every time a Muslim actually reads one of the Gospels, we should rejoice.
[blockquote] Relations between Christians and Muslims in Bethlehem are generally good, though there is occasional friction, usually involving either land disputes or mixed couples breaking the taboo of marrying someone from another religion.
Muslims make up two-thirds of the population in the town of 30,000 and Christian influence has been receding steadily. [/blockquote]
Somehow these two sentences next to each other beg the question. Why is the Christian influence receding? Are they converting? Are they leaving? If they are leaving, are relationships really that good?