Is it ok for a Christian to say 'God Bless' to a Muslim?

[thankyouforthedayz]

I'm a Christian and I feel I have more in common spiritually with other people of faith (particularly other People of the Book ie Abrahamic faiths) than people who have no or nominal faith. I will often say "God bless" (ie God Bless you") or "Gods hand is on X " to Christian friends/family, but would Muslim people be offended if I said this to them? I believe there is one God but different paths. I wonder if I should revert, as I whilst I love Jesus Christ as a prophet, a spiritual man committed to social justice in a time when people of faith were oppressed by pagans (Romans) I find it hard to believe the literal truth of the Virgin Birth and Resurrection (though I believe in them as powerful metaphors).
I work in the NHS with lots of Muslim colleagues. I have asked, and she was so kind and accepting and said she felt happy for me to say it, but I think she was speaking as a kind friend rather than theologically.

That could have just been because this friend was having a hard time and so was receiving support in the context of the conversation. If my friend was ill and I said "Get well soon", I wouldn't expect her to say it back.

@Nannyfannybanny she told me she is. We have discussed the importance/reveration of Motherhood in Islam; that she wishes her relatives didn't feel the religious need to fly their deceased back to Pakistan for burial as the whole world is Allah's and lots more.

@wateraddict thank you for you lovely kind response

In terms of general politeness to near strangers, it's not appropriate to talk of religion - many individuals have a mixed experience of religious institutions and by extension god, its unfortunate, but especially in a work setting can be very unwelcome.

Once you know someone and can share this level of a relationship - I can't see a problem in sharing well wishes this way, but I'm not of faith, and your instinct for questioning should give you pause, this forum will never make up for an individuals perspective.

That's fair. My post was made on the assumption that OP and her friend have had more conversations and have known each other for longer than this crisis point and that a blessing/similar hasn't been offered historically.

@thankyouforthedayz I just seen your update about it being after her sharing a family difficulty with you. I definitely took your OP to mean you were just expressing it to everyone 😂
In the circumstances you described I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that at all. It’s clear that you both know about either others faith and beliefs. I’m assuming if you shared something personal with her and she expressed something similar towards you then you would take that well?

I've a feeling that some replies on this thread aren't from Muslim women, so I'll stop holding back, even though I too am not a Muslim (my heritage is Christian).

One of the significances of religion is just to hold and cherish the warmth that we seek to feel for one another. So conventional faith-based greetings just feel like an exchange of loving warmth - they don't seem to be pushing beliefs that I don't happen to share.
It has sometimes happened,eg at the schoolgates, that I have been present when two Muslim women meet, eg in the mum-gaggle, and exchange the greeting that begins with “Salam alaikum”. It feels so warm and lovely. I can absolutely understand why they would feel it inappropriate to extend it to the group generally, but if they did I would be very far from being offended. And I kind of imagine that Muslim women would often feel the same in the reverse case - ie a Christian woman using a Christian formula to them.
I would be a bit freaked out by less conventional expressions, like "God's hand is on X", but this isn't what the OP is proposing to share.

Can we no longer say “bless you” when someone sneezes? How ridiculous

@NewGreenDuck I do not proselytise at work. I do not engage with members of the public about faith. People of faith can talk together in breaks about this aspect of their lives in any workplace.

I’m not particularly religious.

I work in a school and every time someone sneezes, I will say “bless you.” I think it’s polite. However, I once had a Muslim girl ask me not to say that to her. I still find it hard but guess we have to respect other people’s feelings.

@Pumpkinseason3 I would be very happy for reciprocation Thank you for your update.

In a personal conversation with someone you know, yes it's fine as they believe in the same god, but not acceptable to talk about Jesus unless it's specifically a faith conversation. God bless you is colloquial enough not to offend but I'd leave "gods hand is" at home as less acceptable.

@hairbrarbunches if are Muslim I would be really interested in discussing this maybe on a different thread. She is a sincere person.

@ShortNTall thank you for your response

@thankyouforthedayz

As to her query, flying bodies is cultural and not religious, they are returning them to their home soil with their ancestors usually. With other faiths from the Indian subcontinent it's common too but they practice cremation so at least it's easy to transport their remains.

I used to do some work with a funeral director who had an international repatriation division and 80% were to Pakistan, the remaining to India. Family ties to the ground in the village are strong even 2,3 generations later.

The ties to the exact villages fascinate me as i feel no bond with anywhere I lived. It's similar in India too, such strong feelings of home, I love it.

Well, clearly I feel religion is left at the door. He wasn't proselytizing BTW, but his faith meant that every decision had to be ruminated on by wondering what God wanted. And, yes, he did start blessing people.
Edited to add, many subjects aren't suitable for work. Our personal lives, political opinions etc.

@ReadWithScepticism thank you that is a really helpful insight.

Shall we also stop saying bless you when someone sneezes in the vicinity of Muslims? Just want to make sure I'm not offending anyone.

@NewGreenDuck I'm nothing like your colleague, but thank you for sharing

To me that's like asking someone to not say "Goodbye" because it comes from "God be with you". "Bless you" when someone sneezes is just a part of standard English lexicon.

@hanali

Nobody is being offended by bless you when someone sneezes, it's a colloquial expression of this country. Sometimes people really do overthink things

@mitogoshigg yes 'gods hand' is a bit more hardcore! Thanks for you thoughts about funeral/burial

When my son had taken an OD, a nurse in A&E asked him why he had done it and told him that God loves him. I found it offensive in that context. Very offensive.

I wouldn't see an issue with this. I have a Muslim friend, I'm not really anything, and she will often say God bless, or that she prays for us. To me, it's just like endearment. It's a display of fondness as far as I feel.

I have cancer. I've lost count of the number of (wellmeaning) people who have said they're praying for me
It makes me cringe!

Keep your religion to yourself. It's insulting to those who dont share your beliefs