Salaam dear young friends. Greetings to all Christian youngsters in the West who are preparing to celebrate Christmas next Sunday.
In the Islamic Republic of Iran also there are some Christian sects that mark the 25th of December as birthday of Prophet Jesus (AS), while for others like those of the Armenian and other eastern Churches (Russia, Ukraine, the Balkans), January 6 is Christmas Day.
At any rate, since these are hypothetical dates of the birth of the Virgin-born Messiah who is considered one of the five greatest Messengers of Islam – the other four being Noah, Abraham, Moses, and the Last and Greatest of them all, Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) – we wish peace and happiness for all followers of Jesus (AS).
As many of you devout Christians may be knowing, till this day the Jews, especially the Zionists, continue to slander the Messiah and his chaste mother, the Virgin Mary (peace upon her).
Jesus (AS) is definitely not happy with the blood being shed in his homeland Palestine by his avowed enemies, the Israelis. He is aggrieved at the killing of children by the American-backed Zionist entity, which is in occupation of Jerusalem (Bayt al-Moqaddas) – a city in which he preached the message of monotheism, and which is sacred to both Muslims and Christians.
Those of you who have read the Bible, Jesus admonished the various Jewish sects, such as the Scribes and the Pharisees, for their tampering of the laws of Prophet Moses (AS).
Therefore, the conscious and conscientious youth of the West, who are indeed the hope of the future, while celebrating Christmas, should not forget the plight of the Palestinians, especially children, whom Jesus likes.
Well friends, as you all know tonight is “Shab-e Yalda” or the winter solistice, which starts on the eve of 22nd December (1st of the Iranian month of Dey).
For your information it is the year’s longest night which heralds the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere, while in the southern hemisphere it is the beginning of summer. The winter solstice occurs exactly when the axial tilt of the Planet’s polar hemisphere is farthest away from the sun around which it orbits.
These are all the signs of the Majesty of the One and Only Creator of the universe, Who sent for our guidance a long line of Messengers, some of them with heavenly books, culminating in the universal mission of Islam entrusted to Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).
Allah the Almighty in the Holy Qur’an mentions: “He made subservient the night and the day for you, and the sun, the moon and the stars are subservient by His command. There are indeed signs in that for a people who apply reason.” (16:12)
Iranians also use the purely Persian term “Shab-e Chelleh”, meaning the night of forty, which refers to the forty days of winter that are supposedly the coldest and initially hardest to bear. “Chelleh Neshini” or sitting for “chelleh” is a social occasion when families and friends gather usually at the house of an elder (grandparents, aunts or uncles) on the eve of winter. “Ajeel”, which is a mixture of dry fruits, edible seeds and nuts, along with fresh winter fruits are served to the guests. Watermelon and pomegranates are the traditional fresh fruits of this night.
Well friends, this was all for this week’s edition, good-bye until we meet again on next Wednesday.