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.

I'd say a majority (if not all) of the things that are asked on mumsnet have no universal answer.

There is no universal answer but Op wanted Muslim opinions and we are happy to give her that.

As a Muslim, yes it is absolutely OK .

People are free to say it and you're free to ignore it.

To someone who has a faith, telling a friend you'll pray for them isn't spiritual pride at all. It's basically the only authentically caring thing a believer could say in such a context.

Yes you can ignore it. But what I could not do at work would be to engage in a discussion about why I found it irritating. As I have said, work isn't the place for some comments or discussions. So, it's incumbent upon the party who wants to make the comment to refrain. Actually offering up a silent prayer doesn't involve me in knowing they have done it.

I'm an atheist but I try not to be a bitch about it.

I work with a diaspora of people with different religions and none. Our common goal is the work we do, not what religion or belief system (or not) we follow. We don't tend to talk about our beliefs at work. We talk about many other things instead.

I have found colleagues, or more commonly customers, who want to pray or exercise an aspect of their faith on my "shop floor" creates an awkward situation, which can be unwelcome or even downright offensive.

My motto as an atheist is, if in doubt, just don't say it. Best avoided.

Hi @thankyouforthedayz sorry you're not getting the answers you're looking for but as a Muslim I wouldn't find it offensive and assume it's well meaning.

I'm the same - atheist, I actually take it as their way of wishing you good.

Oh bore off.

It’s relevant to the OP whose first statement was “I’m a Christian” 🤷🏼‍♀️

I don’t agree.

And what about all the Jewish children who were murdered by the nazis in the holocaust? By your definition, the only way to achieve salvation is through Jesus Christ. Therefore by your own words you believe those children went to hell?

They had been born Jewish and had not had time to find Christ before being murdered.

In that situation I believe God would have granted grace to them. Despite their not believing in Jesus.

Please do expand, as i'd like to understand why you think this. My understanding has always been that the only difference between the Jewish, Christian and the Islamic faith is just the name God is known by, but all three faiths believe in the same one God, the creator, the owner.....

I wouldn’t engage with them, they’re nuts.

I think that anyone coming on to the Muslim MNetters board to post what @AgileGreenSeal did is being offensive, and I'm saying that as a Christian.

Yep exactly my thoughts. I’m sorry that person felt the need to do that.

@thankyouforthedayz Assalamu alaikum. I wouldn't find it offensive in a personal conversation. It's a phrase many people use and depending upon culture many people with faith may use phrases like that in normal conversations all the time. If your colleague says she's comfortable with it, that's fine.

The God of Jews and Christians is יְהֹוָה , the name by which He made Himself known to Moses, usually translated in Christian scriptures as LORD. He is also known as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, (whose name was changed by God to ‘Israel’).

“Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?”

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM ( Hebrew הָיָה) has sent me to you.’ ”

Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The LORD ( Hebrew יְהֹוָה ) God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’ “
Exodus 3:13-15

Christians believe Him to be One God in three Persons- as the scriptures teach, that is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Triune God - יְהֹוָה

“Therefore by your own words you believe those children went to hell?

I said no such thing.
Please do not put words in my mouth.

Since you have stated in another post that people sharing my beliefs “are nuts” and advise against engaging with us I will save you the trouble.
I won’t be engaging any further with you. Have a good day.

Assalamu alaikum, the 3 Abrahamic faiths - Judaism, Christianity and Islam - all have the same roots and have much in common.

Allah is Arabic for God, so some Arabic Christians will also use Allah rather than God when speaking and in worship.

There is a lot that the three faiths have in common, but there are some differences. For example, in Christianity, Jesus (pbuh) is considered to have been/to be divine; however, in Islam, Isa (pbuh) (Arabic for Jesus, other transliterations are used too) is highly respected and beloved as a Prophet but not considered to actually have been divine himself. That means some Christian groups can feel that we can't have the same God due to this difference of belief.

I'm not overly religious but culturally Christian and raised going to faith school. I work with Muslims approx 50:50 split. They often use expressions of faith when talking (insha'Allah, mashallah, bismillah etc) and I have been prayed for many times. Does it bother me, absolutely not! It makes me feel cared for and cherished. We all give Christmas cards even if many don't celebrate. It's seen as thinking of a friend. We have an very much older Carribbean lady who frequently says God bless etc and no one bats an eye lid. It's part of their vernacular and said with love. We chat about the differences and similarities between our religions and cultures regularly. I suppose the difference is we have worked together for years and I view many as friends.

I am Christian and used to live in a Muslim country - people used to bless each other often.

I am now in the UK and work in the NHS. Would I say it to a colleague at work? Probably not. I think it's important to be sensitive to the culture we are in.

Oh sorry! I see I have posted in the Muslim mumsnetters section.

My apologies, and wishing you all many blessings ❤

Gods don't belong in any workplace that isn't a religious setting - keep any religious thoughts to yourself. You can use your faith to help you get through your challenges, but don't* *offer it to others.

Anyone posting with respect and sensitivity is welcome, no need to apologise! It can be tricky because the board still appears in 'Active' so people often post without realising the board.