By Diane Alter

Madaba, Jordan

A Jordanian mosque has made history in the Arab world by naming itself after Jesus Christ.

Located in the town of Madaba, south of the capital Amman, The Mosque of Jesus Christ is the first such Islamic house to take the name of Jesus Christ, Christianity's central figure. It is being hailed by the international media as the first and only mosque in the modern Arab world to ever be named after Jesus Christ.

In Islam, Jesus is a prophet and is the central figure in its religious teachings and beliefs.

The Mosque of Jesus Christ is located near a famous church, and religious leaders in the surrounding area hope that the mosque will bring people of all faiths together. Already, "both Muslim and Christians have shown appreciation for it," according to reports from the newspaper A-Quds Al-Arabi.

The name came to the mosque's imam (the person who leads prayer in a mosque) who said, "the mosque wishes to send out a message of tolerance and togetherness, particularly about the tensions between the two religions over two offensive caricatures of Prophet Muhammad."

 

Available at Amazon.com:

Aftermath: Following the Bloodshed of America's Wars in the Muslim World

Displacement and Dispossession in the Modern Middle East (The Contemporary Middle East)

Enemies of Intelligence

The End of History and the Last Man

The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order

The Tragedy of Great Power Politics

World - Jordanian Mosque Named After Jesus | Global Viewpoint