Treating Christmas with Respect

[servant_of_Allah]

LAST EDITED ON 07-01-02 AT 03:56 AM (GMT)[p]Assalamu Alaykum !

I found this article on a Muslim website (www.soundvision.com)

Treating Christmas with Respect

Christmas is an annual Christian religious holiday commemorating the birth of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him).

There have been a number of legitimate criticisms of the holiday from Muslims and non-Muslims based on theological and cultural considerations. However, this cannot be seen as an excuse to attack the holiday as an exercise in ancient pagan practices for instance, or excessive consumerism. Muslims have to remember that for many, many Christians, Christmas really is about their God.

God has ordered us to stay away from mocking the religious beliefs of others, no matter how much we disagree with them. He says in the Quran: "And insult not those whom they (disbelievers) worship besides Allah, lest they insult Allah wrongfully without knowledge. Thus We have made fair-seeming to each people its own doings; then to their Lord is their return and He shall then inform them of all that they used to do" (6:108).

We also have to remember that even if for many nominal Christians, the celebration is not really about participating in religious traditions, Christmas is a time for families to get together. In a number of cases it is the only time of year families get together, either because family members are scattered in different parts of the country or the world, or because of communication and relationship problems.

Christmas is a great time to reate to our neighbors. We should not forget though, that Dawa cannot be made in a rude and insulting manner. Allah says in the Quran: "Invite (all) to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful advice, and reason with them by ways that are the best and most gracious: because your Lord knows best, (those) who have strayed from His Path, and those who receive guidance " (16:125).

In particular, when dealing with Jews and Christians, Allah says: "Do not argue with the People of the Book unless it is in the politest manner, except for those of them who do wrong. Say: 'We believe in what has been sent down to us and what has been sent down to you. Our God and your God is [the same] One, and we are Muslims before Him'" (29:46).

A starting talking point on Christmas could be the Islamic belief in all Books revealed by Allah and all Prophets sent by Him. In this discussion, special emphasis could be made on Prophet Jesus. Non-Muslims are often surprised to discover that Muslims also believe in this noble Prophet and his great mother Mary (peace be upon her).

On a social level, you can send neutral cards like season's greetings etc. to non-Muslim family, friends and co-workers.
(Ends here).


I feel that many of us Muslims on this discussion forum, including myself, have forgotten Allah's command.

"Do not argue with the People of the Book unless it is in the politest manner, except for those of them who do wrong. Say: 'We believe in what has been sent down to us and what has been sent down to you. Our God and your God is [the same] One, and we are Muslims before Him'" (29:46).

I would agree with every Muslim that, yes, the Christians on this forum have not displayed the best of behaviour, and have also dared to accuse Prophet Muhammed (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) of lies.
Allah will deal with them for this, Insha Allah.

Allah says : "....except for those of them who do wrong"

I am not a scholar, and i would not know what the verse means over here, and Allah knows best.
But, yes, they have done wrong in making disgusting and evil accusations,
whilst we Muslims have not insulted Prophet Isa (Jesus), peace be upon him, ever.This type of behaviour from Christians is disgusting, but it stems out of ignorance.

Definitely the accusations will make us angry, but we should all remember the Sunnah of Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

Remember the time when he visited Taif, and how badly he was treated by the people of Taif. Yet, even then, he did not curse them, rather asked Allah to guide them, and Allah accepted his dua. Glory be to Allah.
We should all follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammed (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and we should be patient with these Christians and their insults, and we should not behave in the same manner as they have behaved, because, we must remember Allah's command:

"Do not argue with the People of the Book unless it is in the politest manner, except for those of them who do wrong." (29:46)

We must argue with the People of the Book in the politest of manners, except for those of them who do wrong.

We must follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammed (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and we must demonstrate patience, and ask Allah to guide them, Insha Allah.

I know they have done wrong in making false accusations, and we have every right to take appropriate action against them.
But we can also demonstrate patience, and try our best to answer their lies, and gain Allah's pleausre, Insha Allah.

Insulting them will not do any of us any good, for we Muslims are not allowed to insult others. Plus, then, we would be no different from them, in this particular matter.

I seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan, the accursed.

I beg Allah to forgive all my sins, and the sins of my Muslim brothers and sisters throughout the world, whether done knowingly or unknowingly, Ameen. Indeed Allah is Oft Forgiving. Glory be to Him.

In the end, i'd like to ask those who have more knowledge than me to please kindly correct any mistakes i may have made in the article (Note: the article on Christmas is not mine, when i say my article, i mean the part where i started speaking). Plz do correct the mistakes, for i do not wish Allah to be angry with me, and these are sensitive matters. Plz do tell me if i went wrong somewhere, or whether i was correct, and may Allah forgive me for any mistakes i may have made in regard to this article, Ameen.

Wassalamu Alaykum,
Servant of Allah.





________
vapir one (http://www.vaporshop.com/one-vaporizer.html)

[Lulua]

Assalaamu alaikum ya muslimeen.

Greetings and good day to all.

An excellent article, brother, as well as your appeal at the completion.

Many times, we are all caught up in the heat of the discussion or the debate, and tend to forget our manners, and slip into the sin of returning or replying to insulting or degrading comments by the same manner. It is only human nature. But, as we have been warned and guided in the Quran, it is not true islamic behavior to do so. Although we should and must defend Islam under all circumstances, it is not always best (and many times the worst possible choice) to do so in a degrading manner to the attackers themselves.

As we have been reminded in the quran, 'Ye have indeed in the messenger an excellent exempler.'...we should look to the example that he set in his dealings with non-muslims, and try our best to follow suit. Many muslims sadly do not. And that is a detriment to Islam, chasing many away from even learning what Islam is about.

As I have the vantage point of coming from a Christian background, I will relay some of my most cherished memories. My family, although Christians, were not always strictly religious. Believing as they always were...there was always a degree of freedom of belief, and that is what allowed me to follow my own beliefs and desires to even investigate Islam.

I can remember at Christmas time and Easter...that we would attend special church services for the occasion, and there would be an amount of time (perhaps two weeks to one month) of services dedicated to learning about the occasion, and it's importance to us as humans and it's religious significance. My own family would encorporate that into our homes during the holiday seasons. Although there was an air of festivity in the air, and naturally social gatherings for the holiday itself, and there was always a commercial side to it (which included shopping for gifts and decorations and special foods)...still there was always even the slightest religious emphasis brought on the event. The decorations that my mother would encorporate into the home would try to convey the meaning and message of the holiday concerned, and my parents would always incorporate a prayer into the main meal of the holiday in remembrance of the occasion, as well as reminding us of the need of poor people for our help and donations. This in mind...my parents would throughout the year emphasize with me as a child...sometimes picky in what I would accept to eat and refuse to finish...that there were ppl somewhere in the world that would give almost anything for that bite that I was wishing to throw in the trash. Thereby enforcing upon me the shame in attempting to throw away some of God's blessings which we were endowed with and that others had been deprived of.

In general, the basic elements of Christians as well as others around the world are very near the same...although the approach that they take to reaching the goal of communication with their Creator or their attempt to pleasing their Creator or acceptance into heaven may be different. But the human element is the same. And the inclination towards attempt at communication with the divine is similar with all peoples.

As always, the guidance that we find within the Quran is speaking to mankind in a way that no human can improve upon it. We are advised to speak in the best of manners...with muslims and non-muslims alike. What better advice can be other than that? But so many muslims are not taking heed. We are told that there is tolerance in religion...that all men (mankind, actually) have free will to choose as they desire. The guidance is there, in the form of the Quran...for those who will take heed. For those who refuse...that is their choice. Part of the plan of the scheme of things by the Creator. Free choice...and the balance of right and wrong according to that free choice...and the balance of the reward and punishment according to the action taken because of that free choice.

Please do continue, br. servant of Allah...and all others as well.

A basic and major lesson that I learned from my parents is the 'golden rule'...and something which I have cherished all my life...before becoming a muslim, as well as my life as a muslim. Simple, really...and if one takes it to heart...it will help avoid so many conflicts. If only leaders of the world would take heed from such messages. 'treat others as you would have them treat you'. Excellent message, really...and excellent guidance for a life of peace. Makes you think before doing something...'what would I feel if he or she did this to me?' And then ... sometimes...makes one refrain from doing something non-beneficial to all combined.

Lulua.

[seekeroftruth]

Mashallah, good responses from both my sister in islam and the brother who started the thread.

Just want to add few hadiths that should 'help' us all!!

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle kissed Al-Hasan bin Ali while Al-Aqra' bin Habis At-Tamim was sitting beside him. Al-Aqra said, "I have ten children and I have never kissed anyone of them," Allah's Apostle cast a look at him and said, "Whoever is not merciful to others will not be treated mercifully."

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Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah:

The Prophet said, Enjoining, all that is good is a Sadaqa."

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Narrated Abu Musa:

The Prophet said, "A believer to another believer is like a building whose different parts enforce each other." The Prophet then clasped his hands with the fingers interlaced. (At that time) the Prophet was sitting and a man came and begged or asked for something. The Prophet faced us and said, "Help and recommend him and you will receive the reward for it, and Allah will bring about what He will through His Prophet's tongue."

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Narrated Masruq:

We were sitting with 'Abdullah bin 'Amr who was narrating to us (Hadith): He said, "Allah's Apostle was neither a Fahish nor a Mutafahhish, and he used to say, 'The best among you are the best in character (having good manners)."'

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Narrated Anas bin Malik:

Allah's Apostle said, "Do not hate one another, nor be jealous of one another; and do not desert one another, but O Allah's worshipers! Be Brothers! And it is unlawful for a Muslim to desert his brother Muslim (and not to talk to him) for more than three nights."

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Narrated 'Abdullah:

The Prophet said, "Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to Al-Fajur (i.e. wickedness, evil-doing), and Al-Fajur (wickedness) leads to the (Hell) Fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written before Allah, a liar."

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Narrated Tariq:

'Abdullah said, "The best talk is Allah's Book (Qur'an), and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad."

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The last hadith i want to give;

Narrated Anas bin Malik:

The Prophet said, "Make things easy for the people, and do not make it difficult for them, and make them calm (with glad tidings) and do not repulse (them )."

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I hope we have a 'good' bond amongst the members here, whether we are muslims or not, but remember (including myself) the rules are rules, OK?

Salam and keep up the good WORK, EVEryOne!!

sadiQ!!