Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby offers Ramadan greetings to Muslim leaders at Central Jamia Masjid mosque, Southall, London, July 22. Picture: Marc Gascoigne/Lambeth Palace

[Lambeth Palace] Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has spoken of the “joyful” work of building Christian-Muslim relationships in his first annual message to Muslims on Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan.

He encouraged the “hard” but also “joyful” work of building “deep and long-lasting relationships” between the two faith communities, which he said he had experienced during his time working in Nigeria.

The festival of Eid Al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calender.

Archbishop Justin said he had experienced the “hard” but also “joyful” work of building deep and long-lasting relationships through his work alongside Christians and Muslims in Nigeria.

He also praised the work of the Christian Muslim Forum, which he became patron of earlier this year.

The Archbishop said reconciliation – which Jesus Christ teaches means “a restored relationship with God and with each other” – has been a recurring theme over his first few months.

Christians and Mulsims have much “in our world and in our history that tries to divide us”, he said, but added: “God is greater!”

“May God bless you in your time of celebration with family and friends, and may God bless all of us in our work together for a reconciled world,” he said.

The Archbishop also praised the work of the Christian Muslim Forum, which he became patron of earlier this year.
Christians and Mulsims have much “in our world and in our history that tries to divide us”, he said. But he added: “God is greater!”

“May God bless you in your time of celebration with family and friends, and may God bless all of us in our work together for a reconciled world,” he said.

Archbishop Justin’s greeting to Muslim friends and colleagues for Eid Al-Fitr 2013/1434

Eid Mubarak! For the first time as Archbishop of Canterbury I wish you warm greetings on this joyful occasion. It has been a privilege over these first few months to get to know more Muslim colleagues, and to see and hear more of the strong network of friendships between our communities.

Reconciliation is a theme that I have returned to often in these months. Jesus Christ calls us to a restored relationship with God and with one another. There is much in our world and in our history that tries to divide us. Negative events, prejudices and fears build walls that are hard to break down.

But God is greater! We, Christians and Muslims, should commit ourselves to draw on God’s strength for the hard, but also joyful work of building deep, long-term relationships with one another. I have personally experienced this joy over many years with Muslim friends in Nigeria, which is a challenging place for Muslims and Christians. I have also seen the efforts made here in the UK by the Christian Muslim Forum in encouraging these deep and long-term relationships.

May God bless you in your time of celebration with family and friends, and may God bless all of us in our work together for a reconciled world!