Mosque Renamed To ‘Mary, Mother Of Jesus’ In Dubai

 

A mosque in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, has been given a new name that honors a Christian figure. The mosque, which was formerly known as Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Mosque, is now called ‘Mariam, Umm Eisa’, which means ‘Mary Mother of Jesus’ in Arabic.

 

The name change was ordered by Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, as a gesture of “consolidating bonds of humanity between followers of different religions,” according to Gulf News.

 

The move was welcomed by Christian leaders in the city, who expressed their appreciation for tolerance and cooperation shown.

 

“We are delighted that we are celebrating something that we have in common between both our faiths. Mary, as the mother of Jesus, is a holy, special figure in our communities. She is a woman who symbolises obedience to God. ” said Andrew Thompson, a senior chaplain at St Andrew’s Church.

 

In conclusion, Jeramie Rinne, senior pastor of the Evangelical Community Church in Abu Dhabi, also praised the decision.

 

“Mohammad has made another generous gesture of religious tolerance in renaming the mosque. The UAE continues to set the pace in this region for peaceful coexistence and cooperation. We are very encouraged and feel blessed to be a part of this nation,” he said.