From: "amatullah76"
Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 03:49:37 -0000
Subject: Christmas
The following is taken from an article reprinted on the Seeking the
Path to Jannah website
Home for the Holidays,
or
Christmas is here! How do I deal?
Every year, about the time that Halloween ends, the season of ho-ho-
ho is thrust upon us. Everywhere we go, we see signs advertising
Christmas sales, every radio station plays Christmas carols, and
every television station airs Christmas Specials. You can't seem to
go anywhere, not even the gas station, without being offered "Happy
Holidays," or "Merry Christmas." [Even in hijab, you will find that
people extend holiday greetings to you.]
It's a Celebration of Prophet Jesus' (peace be upon him) Birthday!
Isn't That OK For Us?
Some non-Christians (including some Muslims) argue that Christmas, as
it is celebrated in North America and other parts of the West, is
a "cultural" holiday, alongside a religious one, and use that as a
justification to celebrate it. Christmas may or may not be
a "cultural holiday," but from the Shari'a (Islamic law) point of
view, celebrating it is haram (forbidden).
The holiday of Christmas is intended to celebrate the birth of the so-
called "Living God," therefore, it is a holiday of shirk [associating
partners with Allah ta'ala], and kufr [disbelief in Allah as He Says
He Is]. It is believed, by Islamic and Christian scholars alike,
that Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) was born sometime in late
summer, not the beginning of winter. However, it's a well known fact
of history that the Church set December 25th for Christmas in order
to placate Pagans that they were hoping to convert. December 25th
had long been a holiday celebrating the birth of the sun-god (Sol
Invictus), as well as a holiday celebrating the birth of the Pagan
deity Mithras.
Not only that, but Christmas as it is celebrated today is more likely
to be "X-mas," a celebration of the god of the shopping mall, a
festival of consumerism. Anywhere you go, you hear kids saying "gimme
gimme gimme." Although we might hear slogans like "Jesus is the
reason for the season," the fact is that the almighty dollar is the
reason for the season. The emphasis is on shopping and decorating
and drinking alcohol at the office party.
Although Jesus (peace be upon him) is one of Islam's most important
prophets, the fact of the matter is that we do not celebrate his
alleged birthday, as we have our own major holidays in Islam: Eid Al
Fitr at the end of Ramadan, and Eid Al Adha at the end of Hajj. When
you feel that it is "ok" to celebrate Christmas and put up lights and
trees, etc. for the sake of "culture" you are saying, to yourself, to
your family, and to others, that our holidays are not good enough for
you as a Muslim. So of course, the answer to the question is no.
Of Course, You Still Have a Family to Deal With
Of course, the fact that celebrating Christmas is haram in Islam
doesn't mean that you still don't have a mother with hurt feelings,
or a grandmother to think about. Often when discussing Christmas and
Islam, Muslims forget that you still have to deal with a familial
obligations and such during this season... and it isn't easy either.
There is no way of getting around the fact that many Westerners think
of the "holiday season" as a time to be together with family. It is
important for your family to know that you are not rejecting them.
It helps when Ramadan or Eid al Adha fall during the same time as
Christmas and Chanukah. Having two holiday seasons coinciding
lessens the impact that much, since your family may be more aware of
other people during this season of generosity.
You can use the fact that you are celebrating your own holidays to
illustrate that although you no longer put up a Christmas tree or
menorah, you, as a Muslim, do have special holidays of your own.
You can draw parallels for them between similar aspects of the
holiday season and Ramadan: thoughts of the poor, increased giving to
charity, an emphasis on spirituality, instead of focusing on the
negative aspects of the Christmas season (greed, shirk, and
alcohol).
You can also show charity for your parents during this season in
other ways. For instance, cleaning the house or cooking dinner for
your mother after she has been stressing out at the mall or post
office is a way to extend kindness while avoiding doing things which
compromise your Islam. Taking care of younger siblings or cousins
while your family attends holiday parties is another example. If
your parents are the type who donate to charity at the end of the
year, you can help them out by giving away old clothes, or furniture
together. Doing things like this softens the blow that has been
dealt to them.
What about Christmas Day?
It may be a little harder to deal on the 25th of December than you
anticipated. You have to decide for yourself how you are going to
handle this. I don't know your family, and neither does any other
Muslim out there who is telling you what you should and shouldn't do.
Take some time before Christmas to think about family dynamics, your
relationship not just with Mom and Dad, but with your grandparents,
siblings, aunts and uncles, and cousins. If someone in your family
is seriously or terminally ill, you have to take into account that
this could be your last family get-together with them. If you are a
teenager living with your family, this might be even harder.
It is acceptable to exchange gifts with your family, as long as you
are both clear that the gift giving is being done out of love, and
with the intention of showing affection and gratitude, not
celebrating Jesus' alleged birthday. One thing that some Muslim
converts have done is accept the Christmas gifts as early or
late 'Eid presents; they also give their parents "'Eid gifts." There
are a few other things that I can tell you.
Most importantly, you should not attend church [or temple] services
with your family at this time. Besides being forbidden, attending
religious services will encourage your family in thinking that: (a)
Muslims are the same as us, (b) she / he isn't really serious about
all this Islam anyway. If you attend services, you will be doing
something that you have to answer for later on. You can offer to
stay home with the younger children while your family is at church,
to watch the turkey, etc. If you don't live with your family, the
issue is simple: you don't show up until they have already gone.
Food, and a Few Other Matters
The traditional Christmas dinner in the United States is ham, and
depending on your family's traditions and ethnic background, there
might also be sausages, bacon, chorizo, chuletas, pasteles, pigs
feet, and who knows what all else from the pig. One thing that you
can do is simply request that your mother (or whoever) cook turkey or
chicken. Another thing is to suggest that you will bring the bird
(or steak) and cook halal meat for the family. If neither of these
suggestions flies, then go vegetarian at dinner. Make sure, however,
that the stuffing, or whatever else you are eating, does not have
pork in or on it (some people are known to put the bacon drippings on
vegetables).
Naturally, avoiding alcohol is an absolute must for Muslims. This
may mean that you decline invitations, or do not attend the office
party, but that is what you have to do. Attending parties or get-
togethers in a bar is not okay. Many of these parties are an excuse
for people to get drunk (or worse) and we all know how many
embarrassing and compromising situations can occur when people's
judgment is impaired ("Did you hear what happened at the Christmas
party?") You may be accused of being a party pooper, but guess
what? There are worse things that could happen in this world, and
next.
One thing that you can do is volunteer to be a "designated driver"
for your family and friends. Make sure that they have your phone
number with them, and if they call you at 3 a.m. asking for a ride,
DO IT. By avoiding alcohol and Christmas parties, and offering to
drive those who are too drunk to drive themselves, you're not only
doing what is Islamically correct, you are helping prevent any
alcohol related fatalities! [And don't forget to ask about the
ingredients before you drink the eggnog!]
I haven't forgotten about New Year's Eve, and my advice is the same,
times ten. New Year's is basically yet another excuse for people to
get drunk and obnoxious, and there is no reason for a Muslim to
celebrate it. After all, we have our own New Year Day, and the New
Year celebrated on the Western calendar is based on Christian beliefs
and methods of keeping time. The best thing you can do on this night
is spend it in prayer, reading Qur'an, etc. Don't forget to volunteer
to be a designated driver again.
Show Your Islam! (a.k.a. "There's nothing to do!")
So it's Christmas Day (or Eve), and there's "nothing to do," eh?
Well sure, the mall is closed, as are 98% of business. However,
there remains quite a few options for you on this day.
For one thing, it's a day off for Muslims like it is for everyone
else, so more than likely your masjid will be having lectures. Many
of the bigger masajid hold conferences and lectures on Christmas Day,
as well as Christmas Eve. The same goes for New Year's Eve.
Other things which you can do: spend the day on the internet (who?
you? ha ha), reading books, cleaning your house, volunteering at a
soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or hospital. Volunteer for a
local "SADD" or "MADD" designated driver program. Volunteer for
a "meals on wheels" program and help distribute food to the sick and
elderly. By participating in community activities, you are not only
not celebrating Christmas, but you are showing your Islam by showing
concern for the community. Work on your homework. Take a drive up
to the mountains or to the beach. Go to the movies (movie theatres
are open on Christmas), or rent a video. Visit with Muslim friends.
Sleep late! (who? you?)
© 1998 - 2004, Saraji Umm Zaid.
Salaam (Peace be upon you), Andrea (Saleema) "To God belongs all that is in
the heavens and all that is on the earth. Whether you show what is in your own
selves or conceal it, God will call you to account for it. Then He forgives
whom He wills and punishes whom He wills, for God is Able to do all things."
(Qur'an 2:284).
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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom
(i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue
with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone
astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in
His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites
(men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I
am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if
Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of
camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever
calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who
follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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