Muslim Calligrapher Writes Luke's Gospel for Pope

This is a good example of why Islam is not all that bad. I am glad to see that some Muslims are able to do good works despite their violent Prophet and the lack of innovation since they stopped stealing ideas from conquered lands.

May Allah bless Abu Saymeh for his good works.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518080,00.html

Mayor Victor Batarseh said he chose Luke among the four Gospels because he felt his writing contains the most detail about Jesus' time in the city. And he picked Abu Saymeh not just because of his talent, but to send a message of peaceful religious coexistence.

"It's a message to the world that Bethlehem is the city where Christianity was born," he said. "It's also the place of brotherly relations between Muslims and Christians."

Relations between Christians and Muslims in Bethlehem are generally good, though there is occasional friction, usually involving either land disputes or mixed couples breaking the taboo of marrying someone from another religion.

Muslims make up two-thirds of the population in the town of 30,000 and Christian influence has been receding steadily.

The issue of interfaith relations will be high on the pontiff's agenda during his May 8-15 tour, which includes several meetings with Muslim leaders.

Among many Muslims here resentment is still festering from 2006, when Benedict linked Islam and violence. The pope quoted a Medieval text that characterized some of the teachings of Muhammad as "evil and inhuman," particularly "his command to spread by the sword the faith."

Benedict long ago expressed regret for any offense his words might have caused, but his comments on the upcoming trip will be watched closely by Muslims and Chrisians in the Palestinian territories. Any misstep could upset the delicate relations between the Muslim majority and a dwindling Christian minority.

The calligrapher said he took on the mission, in part, because he wanted to send a conciliatory message and distance himself from extremists.

"I would like this to be a message from a Muslim artist through this simple work that the Muslim artist is tolerant and not aggressive, despite abuses that may come from here and there from extremists who use our religion for their own interests," he said.