Christmas
Page 6
“Le dernier?”
The last?
“Depuis quand vous écoutez tout ce qu'elle a à dire?”
Since when do you listen to anything she has to say?
“Daniel?”
She smiles to herself.
The frown returns.
“Ma, s'il vous plait, qui est... l'oublier.”
Ma, please, that is... forget about it.
“Il est Noël, Maman, ne laissez pas ce qui est arrivé parce que tu vivre dans la peur.”
It's Christmas, Mama, don't let what happened cause you to live in fear.
She sighs.
“Vous savez que je ne peux pas... pas cette année.”
You know I can't... not this year.
She sighs more.
“Ma, s'il vous plaît, il y aura plus Noëls... vous verrez.”
Ma, please, there will be more Christmases... You'll see.
She breathes deeply.
Starts.
“Tout va bien se passer. Promesse.”
Everything is going to be fine. Promise.
“Oui?”
Yes?
She listens expectantly.
“Bon, ma. Très bien.”
Good, ma. Very good.
She smiles.
“Je voudrais être là aussi.”
I wish I was there too.
“Tu me manques.”
I miss you too.
She sighs.
“Je vous aime.”
I love you.
She nods her head. Smiles.
“Joyeux Noël.”
Merry Christmas.
Surah Maryam (Mary) 19:16 - 36
And mention in the Book the story of Mary, when she withdrew in seclusion from her family to a place facing east.
She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our Spirit [angel Gabriel), and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects.
She said: "Verily! I seek refuge with the Most Beneficent (Allah) from you, if you do fear Allah."
The angel said: "I am only a Messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son."
She said: "How can I have a son, when no man has touched me, nor am I unchaste?"
He said: "So it will be, your Lord said: 'That is easy for Me (Allah): And We wish to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (Allah), and it is a matter already decreed, by Allah.' "
So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a far place (i.e. Bethlehem valley about 4-6 miles from Jerusalem).
And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a date-palm. She said: "Would that I had died before this, and had been forgotten and out of sight!"
Then the babe Jesus or Gabriel cried unto her from below her, saying: "Grieve not! Your Lord has provided a water stream under you;
"And shake the trunk of date-palm towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-dates upon you."
"So eat and drink and be glad, and if you see any human being, say: 'Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the Most Beneficent (Allah) so I shall not speak to any human being this day.'"
Then she brought him (the baby) to her people, carrying him. They said: "O Mary! Indeed you have brought a thing Fariya (an unheard mighty thing).
"O sister (i.e. the like) of Aaron [not the brother of Moses, but he was another pious man at the time of Mary! Your father was not a man who used to commit adultery, nor was your mother an unchaste woman."
Then she pointed to him. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?"
"He [Jesus] said: Verily! I am a slave of Allah, He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet;"
"And He has made me blessed wheresoever I be, and He has enjoined on me Salat (prayer), and Zakat, as long as I live."
"And dutiful to my mother, and made me not arrogant, unblest.
"And Peace be upon me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive!"
Such is Jesus, son of Mary. It is a statement of truth, about which they doubt (or dispute).
It befits not the Majesty of Allah that He should beget a son [this refers to the slander of Christians against Allah, by saying that Jesus is the son of Allah]. Glorified and Exalted be He above all that they associate with Him. When He decrees a thing, He only says to it, "Be!" and it is.
Jesus said: "And verily Allah is my Lord and your Lord. So worship Him Alone. That is the Straight Path.
(Allah's Religion of Islamic Monotheism which He did ordain for all of His Prophets)."
[Tafsir At-Tabari]