Source/Credit: The Times, by: Sarah Carabott

“We believe the message of all prophets sent by God is the same: love God and serve humankind,” Laiq Ahmed Atif says from his office.

“The details and guidelines are different, but in essence the message is the same. Every road leads to the same message: love God and serve humanity.”

Mr Atif is the president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta, which is an Islamic reformist movement founded in the 19th century. It encapsulates a few million people in more than 200 countries.

Six years ago, Mr Atif was asked to emigrate to Malta to be the president of the Ahmadi community here.

“As Muslims we respect founders, prophets and messengers of all religions, and we show respect by joining in celebrations,” he says.

Just as they do on Muslim Holy Days, such as the Feast of Sacrifice, around Christmas time Mr Atif’s community visits homes like id-Dar tal-Providenza and St Vincent de Paul bearing gifts.

This Christmas the community expressed solidarity with the staff and children at Fejda and the St Joseph Home in Santa Venera.

“We don’t traditionally celebrate Christmas, but when we live in another country we respect the traditions and culture of that country. Through our visits to these vulnerable people we hope to extend the message of love. We want them to know there are people who care about them.”

The community also exchanges greetings with State representatives, the Church, neighbours, and anyone they have come across, so the list gets longer every year.

In following local tradition, the community prints its own Christmas cards with a message of love.

On Christmas Day, Mr Atif’s family-of-four exchanges greetings with neighbours and friends.

Sometimes they visit people they know will be alone on the day, taking with them clothes or food, according to their needs.

“The satisfaction you feel when you give or do something for someone else cannot be described in words.”

Although Muslims do not celebrate Christmas like the Maltese, they dedicate their early morning prayers to Jesus’s message, asking God for strength to follow his teachings. When it comes to the Hindu community in Malta, some Indian families join Maltese ones for Christmas Eve Mass and then gather with their relatives for Christmas lunch. Continue Reading…