The following is a message from the Claremont Main Road Mosque:

The Claremont Main Road Mosque congregation sends greetings of peace and love to all our Christian compatriots, family and friends. We wish you a blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

The Gregorian year 2014 has been a difficult and strained one for Muslim-Christian relations at the global level. During the past year extremist Muslim groups such as Boko Haram and the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), have targeted Christians in Nigeria, Iraq and Syria for extermination because of their religious beliefs. Moreover, the relations between Christians and Muslims in the Central African Republic reached an all-time low.

All of these tragic events have evoked ubiquitous and sensationalist media exposure and have provoked unprecedented global outrage. The upshot of all of this is that it has resulted in a negative effect on Christian-Muslim relations and perceptions of Islam. To mitigate against this the Claremont Main Road Mosque has redoubled its efforts to nurture and sustain meaningful interfaith dialogue and relationships based on respect, honour and getting to know one another beyond mere toleration.

At this blessed time, we express gratitude to the dedicated Christians and Muslims who work to establish and maintain dialogue and reconciliation between our two faith communities.During this hallowed time, we pray that the Grace of God be with us, and that we establish even greater just and peaceful relations between Muslims and Christians in the New Year. We pray that the New Year bring healing and peace to our suffering world and that we continue to strive towards the ideals of truth, justice and equality.

May the peace and joy of this season be with you always.