Christmas: Dilemma for the Muslims
Salaams All
Christmas is round the corner and cards are being sent,Christmas parties being organised. Everyone is getting into the festive spirit and we as Muslims sometimes feel left out, either by choice or on purpose. Below is a poem which discusses some of the issues around this festival. Please feel free to publish and circulate as widely as possible. Jzk in advance.
Christmas is here
Tis the season to be jolly
And happy
Peace and good will to all men and women
It’s finally here
But for Muslims it holds many fears
Dilemmas
And tears
How to reject Christmas cards without being rude
Whether to send any in return
To reciprocate greetings
Or just smile and nod and appear non-committal
Christmas party is the highlight of the year
All dressed up and equal
Mistletoe and wine
Women competing to kiss u
Coz u have managed to resist their charms thus far
And they know that u aint queer
Do u say no blatantly?
Or choose diplomacy
Accept, but not turn up
Due to a family tragedy
The choices are simple
Either u fit in
By compromising your iman
Or be the odd one out
By holding onto Islam
Get called names
Killjoy and fanatic
Shamed and marginalised
Subject of gossip, backbiting and slander
Promotion chances destroyed
Labelled a loner
Your career is a goner
Other Muslims quoted as examples
Mo who prays jummah without fail is coming
With his girl friend
So is Aysh who wears the hijab with her business suit
And plucked eyebrows and make up
They’re religious
British and Muslim
Both stand for the customery minutes silence
on 7/7 and 9/11
while u mysteriously disapear to the loo
Why do u have to be an extremist?
They participate
Why don’t u?
You follow Islam completely
No compromise
U know to participate
In the festive season
Is blasphemy
And treason against Allah
Who never had a son
U are convinced of Islam intellectually
And they are scared to debate
U refuted their arguments about evolution
And showed it to be a fallacy
But they persist
And insist
That they are right
As they take flight
Talking about u and sending emails
But they fail
To prove how the universe came into existence
U know that honesty and truth is the best policy
Instead of lying
And playing with words
So u tell them straight
Looking them in the eye
I am a Muslim
We do not celebrate the festivals of other religions
And u feel good knowing
That u have passed a big test
No regrets
And if Allah is pleased with u
Nothing else matters
Author:
4 April 2006
4 hours 19 min
I don't feel left out!
I've already received 2 xmaz cards and many more to come!
24 June 2005
6 days 23 hours
That poem answers absolutely nothing.
Muslims do not celebrate festivals of other religions... but thats technically not what Christmas is all about (not anymore anyway) it no longer seems to represent the birth of Jesus
but tends to be 'good will and joy to others'... whats wrong with that?
Im not saying go home and errect a christmas tree or engage in hanging around the mistletoe; but be nice. Its not that difficult. A smile aint gonna kill ya... so someone hands you a card its not a bomb or something that you should immediately interpretate that as an attempt on your faith.
Aslong as they are not asking you to drink or intermix then whats your problem? Just be you normal charming self.
I can handle clouds, but cant fight with an eclipse.
8 August 2006
1 week 1 day
I agree with Seraphim..
Christmas isnt really Christmas - its so filled with consumerism that we dont know where Christmas begins and where it ends..! Its not about the Christian birth of Isa/Jesus (peace be upon him) any more - thats probably Muslims feel left out - its more to do with the feel-good jolly atmosphere of giving cards and presents to everyone and anyone.. building relations and spirit between faiths, cultures and communities.. almost like a universal eid if you like..
btw, i dont convey a happy christmas to anyone - maybe a seasons greetings or happy holiday, but not happy christmas - thats where we can go wrong..
May Allah shine sweet faith upon you this day and times beyond. May your heart be enriched with peace, and may your home be blessed always. Ameen.
6 October 2006
42 weeks 5 days
Yeah...............'tis the season to be jolly!!! fa la la la la la la la la! I get cards every year!! give 'em out to! even give eid cards!!
we don't have a christmas tree in the house, but defo go to town to see the lights and meet santa!!
live and let live!!!!!!!
24 June 2005
2 min 26 sec
What is the dilemma?
Let the christians celebrate it.
besides we do not drink alcohol (well we are not supposed to anyway...) so no getting jolly...
Yarr!
6 October 2006
42 weeks 5 days
ADMIN!! to me jolly means being happy. without the nasha!!
live and let live!!!!!!!
24 June 2005
2 min 26 sec
Christmas day is probably a good day to catch up on sleep. get some food. relax.
Afterall big Eid is only about a week later.
Yarr!
6 October 2006
42 weeks 5 days
yeah..........and xmas means boxing day. boxing day means SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALES!!!! AND it's all b4 eid!! so me doing my eid shopping in the sales!!! yep me one of the sados that ques up in the early hours!!!
live and let live!!!!!!!
13 August 2006
2 hours 12 min
Why? Do you not get any at other times of the year?
24 June 2005
2 min 26 sec
I also relax all year round, but it did not stop me from listing it.
For me every day is a day of rest.
PS when is Eid?
Yarr!
13 August 2006
2 hours 12 min
Relax Admin - it was a joke. Oh sorry, you relax everyday.
To quote yourself - the tenth of Dhul Hijjah.
24 June 2005
2 min 26 sec
yup, stepped right into that one.
Yarr!
4 April 2006
4 hours 19 min
Eids on New years eve or day.
25 June 2005
5 hours 31 min
Salam
There is nothing wrong with celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
I love him because God loves him.
Omrow
---
24 June 2005
2 min 27 sec
good!
I forgot to book any hols this time, so I will be covered for the first day atleast.
Yarr!
24 May 2006
1 day 7 hours
when i was younger christmas meant gud films on tv woohoooo lol
but thas out the window now (not the tv- the gud films) nuthing decent cums on anymore.. shall hav to wait n ccccccccccccccccc this yr
To be beautiful is to expect nothing in return.
12 August 2006
24 weeks 4 days
u can count on home alonee it sure to be on every year . seen it 100 times still love ittt
A rose protects its beauty with thorns..a woman protects hers with a veil
6 November 2006
1 year 42 weeks
yep i love home alone too even though i ve been watchin it since i was 5 i still think its pretty cool
the only the only nisha not Nasha
28 October 2005
2 days 7 hours
right i just come from a talk where most well all where agreeing that christmas cards are not alowed because we are agreeing that jesus was born on that date. What i was saying is that we need to explain to the non-muslims as nice as possible that we dont believe this we dont celebrate this in order for them to understand that we cannot reply to there greetings and cards and presents for the simple reason we dont celebrate christmas. Backing up that point in hadiths it has said that we do not celebrate in such things wich involve other religions or prmote other religions.
People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid.
6 November 2006
1 year 15 weeks
I personally do not accept that giving a Christmas card implies Christian beliefs. Non-Jewish people have often given me cards for the Jewish holidays and there was no suggestion that they shared my beliefs.
Also a lot of cards just say "Season's Greetings". Might it be acceptable to give these, or a blank card with a personal message for a happy holiday?
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.
Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)
28 October 2005
2 days 7 hours
yes but even true christians as it where dont believe jesus was born on that date but on another 1 so i think the whole celebration is a capitalist scheme to make money wheter it was intregated into christianity is another i dont know but im almost certain it is a money making scheme
People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid.
6 November 2006
1 year 15 weeks
Well whatever, all special days are money for the greetings card and gift industries, that's a different issue.
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.
Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)
6 October 2006
42 weeks 5 days
home alone is on this xmas?? could you tell me when, coz my little boy wants to see it!! all time hit from my days!! lol!
live and let live!!!!!!!
6 November 2006
1 year 15 weeks
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is on this Sunday at 5.15pm on Five.
West Ham v Man Utd kicks off at 4pm on Sky Sports 1. Plan ahead as necessary.
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.
Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)
6 October 2006
42 weeks 5 days
when is home alone 1 cuming on?
live and let live!!!!!!!
23 October 2006
1 year 3 weeks
Nah i dont think accepting xmas cards have anything to do with us accepting that prophet Isa (as) was born on xmas day. Most of the time, xmas cards have pics of fat santa, teddies etc. Only the classical xmas cards had pics relating to the nativity story.
8 August 2006
1 week 1 day
I buy cards that say "seasons greetings", "winter wishes" or "happy holidays" instead and send these out when needed.. (sadly these cards are HARD to find!) As far as i have understood (from muslim scholars) it is generally acceptable to send these types of cards out
Its the polemics of it being either an imitation of another's religion vs. just following innocuous social traditions and customs of British society..
May Allah shine sweet faith upon you this day and times beyond. May your heart be enriched with peace, and may your home be blessed always. Ameen.
6 November 2006
1 year 15 weeks
Thanks Amal.
Two weeks time peacegirl. Wednesday 27th at 7.05pm on C4. (And the only footie is Charlton v Fulham at 8pm.)
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.
Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)
6 October 2006
42 weeks 5 days
thank u mr!!!! you're like a tv guide arn't you??!!! cool!
live and let live!!!!!!!
10 May 2006
7 hours 18 min
Speaking of tv guides, here's a link to a good one:
http://www.onthebox.com/partner/otb/