The magi were outside Jesus’ religious tradition. James Newman-Shah offers reflections from Islam

‘God illuminates the path and we must reflect on what that means for our light within.’

Untitled subway drawing of the Nativity, Keith Haring, c1983.

‘Bismillah ar-Rahman, ar-Rameen. In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful.’ This is the line that opens the Quran and is said by me and my fellow Muslims multiple times daily. Every Surah recited starts with a reflection on God’s compassion and mercy. It has been said that the entire Quran can be summed up in this single line. It is on the lips of Muslims before we eat in the morning, and when we head to sleep.

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