Muslim-Christian Relations in the Era of Prophet Muhammad: Review of Najrān Delegation’s Case in Modern Context

Muslim–Christian relations are as mature as Islamic history itself. Historical evidences state the first interaction of Muslims and Christians occurred in 5th year after nabuwwah (615 AD) when Muslims migrated to Ḥabshah (Abyssinia) and second contact was established after immigration of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to Madinah. After getting socio-political stability in 8th hijrī (629 AD), Muhammad (PBUH) sent letters and ambassadors to different statesmen and religious leaders to spread the Islamic Mission and Message globally. One letter was also sent to the chief Bishop of Najrān. In response, the chief Bishop of Najrān accepted the invitation and personally came to meet the Prophet (PBUH) with his reputed delegation. The beloved Messenger (PBUH) warmly welcomed this delegation. As a result, the peace agreement was reached after some theological debate and discussion. Later on, throughout history, the relations between Muslims and Christians have been in situation of up and down. It’s also a fact that over the centuries, the Muslims-Christians relations had sometimes been one of enmity, sometimes one of rivalry, competition, and encounter. In spite of it, the Najrān’s delegation case has a historical significance in Muslim-Christian relations in the literature of both religions. Therefore, in this study efforts were made to explore the event of Najrān delegation as theological foundations for Muslim-Christian relations in times of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and how can we get benefit from it in modern era. Moreover, this study perceives that the case of Najrān delegation was the first practical interaction between Muslims and Christians of that age. Hence, we could get benefit from it with its modern applications and interpretations. The analytical, comparative and historical approaches have been adopted in this study with qualitative paradigm. I compared and analysed the case in Islamic and Christian context and then gave recommendation for its application.

Assessment of Health Status of Captive Pheasants Through Blood Profiling and Fecal Parasite Analysis in the Punjab Province

The present study was designed to evaluate the assessment of health status through blood profiling and fecal parasite analysis in three species of pheasants in captive facilities of Punjab.The total 75 blood and fecal samples were collected to determine hematological parameters and prevalence of parasites. Hematological parameters including Total Red Blood Cell Count, Hemoglobin, Packed cell volume, Mean Corpuscular Volume, Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin, Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration, Total White Blood Cell Count, Platelets, Granulocytes, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, and Neutrophils, and Plasma Chemical parametersUrea, ALT, AST, Creatinine, Iron, Total Protein and Albumin were calculated. The comparison of mean value of all the parameters among male and female in silver pheasants showed that HGB, MCV, MCH, MCHC, Urea, AST, Iron and Total protein was differ highly significantly (P<0.01) and RBCs and creatinine was significantly (P<0.05). In male and female ring necked pheasants RBCs, HGB, MCH, Neut, Urea and Iron was differ highly significantly (P<0.01) and HCT, MCHC, PLT, AST and creatinine was significantly (P<0.05). In male and female green pheasants MCHC and ALT was differ highly significantly (P<0.01) and GRAN, Neut and creatinine was significantly (P<0.05), and all the other parameters in male and female of three species of pheasants were differ non-significantly (P>0.05). The prevalence of endoparasite in all three species was ranged from 36%-56%. The highest prevalence recorded in ring-necked pheasants 56%, followed by silver pheasants 44% and green pheasants 36%. The overall prevalence of endoparasites was 45.3%. The prevalence of endoparasite among all the nine different facilities differ highly significant (P<0.01) and its range from 0-83.3%. The comparison between male and female parasites of all three species shows that females were (48.8%) more infected as compared to male (40%). The total five species of endoparasites in all pheasants were recorded i.e. Ascradia galli (28%), Capillaria annulate (38.2%), Heterakis gallinarum (47%), Strongyloides avium (17.6%) and Eimeria sp (20%). The present study provides base line value of hematology and plasma chemistry of apparently healthy pheasants in captivity and can be used as reference values to improve the management practices of these species. The high prevalence of parasites needs to be re-evaluated to assess efficacy and possible nematodicide resistance of these parasites.