🏵️🏵️🏵️ Dear Diane, I want to start by expressing my gratitude for your thought-provoking article. Your words have resonated deeply with me, and I must acknowledge the parallels that exist between our faiths. In Islam, we believe that drawing near to God is a fundamental aspect of our spiritual journey. We do this by performing acts of worship, such as prayer, fasting, and charity, which help us cultivate a sense of closeness to Allah.

However, I would like to offer a different perspective from an Islamic viewpoint. In Islam, we do not believe that Jesus is the son of God or that he is worthy of worship. Rather, we believe that he was a righteous prophet and messenger of God, just like many other prophets before him. We also believe that he was born of the virgin Mary, as described in the Quran (19:16-21).

As Muslims, we are called to draw near to God through our deeds and actions, rather than through ritualistic practices or emotional experiences. We believe that the ultimate goal is to achieve a state of spiritual closeness to Allah, known as "wusul" or "itqan", which is achieved through the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad and the practice of his teachings.

I would like to respectfully disagree with your statement that "we draw near to Jesus Our Lord". Instead, I believe that we draw near to God through our faith in Him and our obedience to His commands. As the Quran says, "And whoever hopes to meet His Lord, indeed He should work righteousness and associate none as a partner in worship with His Lord" (18:110).

In conclusion, I urge you to consider the teachings of Islam and the beauty of its spiritual practices. May we all strive to draw near to God in our own unique ways, and may we find peace and guidance in our spiritual journeys.

Mohamed, Ph.D

May God guide us all towards righteousness and forgiveness.