ISLAMABAD, Feb 18 (APP):Archbishop Dr. Joseph Arshad has extended heartfelt greetings to the Muslim Ummah on the advent of the Holy Month of Ramazan on behalf of the Christian community.
He said in a statement issued here, that this year marks a beautiful and rare spiritual moment as the Christian Holy Season of Lent and the blessed month of Ramazan are commencing at the same time.
Arshad thanked Almighty God and remarked that this convergence is not merely a coincidence of calendars but a divine invitation for followers of both faiths to embark on a shared spiritual journey.
He noted that in the Christian tradition, Lent is a sacred season of prayer, fasting, and charity, offering believers an opportunity for repentance, spiritual renewal, and deeper communion with God. Similarly, Ramazan for Muslims is a month of fasting, prayers, recitation of the Holy Quran, and generosity through Zakat and Sadaqah.
He said that both sacred seasons call for purification of the heart, discipline of the self, and extending a helping hand to those in need.
The Archbishop said that fasting teaches patience, humility, and self-accountability, while prayer connects humanity with the Creator of all. Charity transforms faith into action, building bridges of hope, love, and peace.
He further emphasized that in a beloved country like Pakistan, where people of different faiths live together and share dreams of a better future, this simultaneous sacred season presents a golden opportunity to further strengthen interfaith harmony.
In conclusion, Arshad invited followers of both religions to offer special prayers for peace during this holy season. He expressed hope that through a shared commitment to prayer, fasting, and charity, all can become instruments of God’s love and mercy.
He prayed that these sacred days may purify hearts, deepen faith, unite humanity as one family under the care of Almighty God, and make everyone true ambassadors of brotherhood, peace, and harmony.