An interesting interfaith attempt to trace the footsteps of the great patriarch and prophetic figure Ibrahim (Abraham in English), peace be upon him.

[tags]Abraham, Ibrahim, interfaith, Semitic religions[/tags]

Zakariya Calligraphy has an article up on the tradition of the hilye which are word descriptions of (in this case) the Prophet Muhammad , peace and blessings be upon him. Muslims are forbidden from trying to iconise any Prophet, but the word picture painted of him is wonderful.

The Prophet also had many names and titles, apart from his given name of “Muhammad ibn Abdullah”. Here is another list with calligraphic renditions and translations. I remember when I first began to learn about Islam, the lady I was learning from simply called him “Rasul” which means “Messenger”.

His last sermon which was delivered at the occasion of his pilgrimage, as depicted in the movie The Message can be seen here. (It begins with the call to prayer in Arabic and then continues in English). This is the sermon in which he reminded us that there is no place for racism in Islam, and that Islam is the final and complete religion given to humanity by God.

http://www.sunnisisters.com/sunnisister/?p=375

Sunni Sister has a good post up about Jesus, peace be upon him.

I’m going to post here a translation of Ibn Kathir’s rendering of the annunciation and nativity stories. I’ve fiddled around with the order a little to make the story flow and I’ve put Qur’anic verses as blockquotes.

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While Mary was praying in the temple, an angel in the form of a man appeared before her. Filled with terror, she tried to flee, praying:

"I seek refuge from thee to (God) Most Gracious: (come not near) if thou dost fear God." He said: "Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord, (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son." She said: "How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?" He said: "So (it will be): Thy Lord saith, ‘that is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us’: It is a matter (so) decreed."

The angel’s visit caused Mary great anxiety, which increased as the months went by. How could she face giving birth to a child without having a husband?
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Jesus, peace be upon him, was with his disciples
when they passed by a dog in the state of decomposition.
The disciples said: ‘What is worse than the smell of the dog!’
But Jesus said: ‘See the whiteness of its teeth.

This is one of the most famous of Jesus’ sayings in Muslim literature. It is said that Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, would not allow any form of slander, even for a dead dog (considered ritually impure). Another way of looking at it, is that Jesus had such a blessed nature that he would never think or speak badly of anything or anyone.