Should Muslims Celebrate Christmas?
After All We Believe in Jesus Too
There has always been a debate as to if Muslims, especially American Muslims should celebrate Christmas and or how far should be go in participating in what has now become more of a secular holiday than a religious one.
However, Christmas is not just an American Holiday. It is a National Holiday, and holds many Christian customs and cultural aspects to it.
First and foremost, keeping family ties especially with ones parents is an obligation for all Muslims, and it is the custom of most to spend time with family during the holidays.
In addition, Islam is a complete way of life, and the example of the prophet (pbuh) is the best of all examples. The way of the Sunnah, is the best that there is and there is nothing better.
In addition, Muslims should not close them selves off to non-Muslims, but rather be interactive and proactive within society as a whole. We should also lead by showing a good example to others, inshallah. Islam requires us to be respectful to al people regardless of race and or faith.
Islam being a culture and a life style within its self one must be careful not to over step the limits. There is the halal (permissible) and the haram (impermissible) and it is best to stay away from that which is unknown. So how do we find a balance?
Christmas is not a Holiday of the Muslims, as our Eid's are not the Holidays of any other faith, and when we provide as example of an Islamic way of life to our children, we nee to be sure that the principals of Al Islam, and the Sunnah of the Prophet guide it. By celebrating of the holidays of other religions, our future generations may feel inclined to convert or begin to love another religion due to its Holidays and Customs, which are not of the Sunnah.
And this is a great danger, because in the end it will lead our children away from Tawhid. (The oneness of Allah (swt)) and there is a difference of opinion as to the limits. (4)
A Muslims Celebration of Christmas
Many think that because Muslims believe in Jesus (pbuh) there should be nothing wrong with celebrating Christmas. Yes, as Muslims we do believe in Jesus, however why do we not celebrate the birth of all the Prophets.
Christians celebrate the birth of Prophet Jesus, because of their belief in the trinity, and that Jesus is the Last prophet of Allah (swt). And as Muslims this is against our faith, and in fact a form of idolatry.
Celebrating the holidays of Christians may have a great effect on our hearts and our souls, especially with young children that are prone to love the lights, and songs, and gifts, and the fun things about Christmas, and the material, rather than their own Eids, which are not glamour and glitz, but humble celebrations about remembrance.
A Muslim Attending Family Christmas Events
One opinion is that it is permissible to visit family during Christmas if you intention is not to celebrate Christmas, rather to spend time with your family, for example a Christmas dinner. As long as there is nothing haram at the event such as alcohol than it is permissible.
"If there is, one should neither condone nor participate in them except for the minimum presence that filial respect demands." (1)
A Muslim's Acceptance and Giving of Christmas Gifts
One opinion is that Scholars have agreed that there is no harm in accepting a gift from someone of another faith on their holiday. Families tend to give gifts during the Holiday season, as a way of showing love for one another. (2)
Our neighbors and our families have rights over us, and it is the Sunnah, of the prophet to accept and give gifts. "However, the proper way to give presents during these festive seasons, is to make one's gesture general or seasonal, rather than relating to their specific religious celebrations." Thus, one would say, for example, "Seasons greetings," or "Happy New Year," or other general expressions, as our ulema explain. (3)
The Facts Are:
"Ancient Romans held year end celebrations to honor Saturn, their harvest god; and Mithras, the [sic] god of light...As part of these celebrations, the people prepared special foods, decorated their homes with greenery, and joined in singing and gift giving. These customs gradually became part of gift giving." (13)
"Sometime after the birth of Jesus, three wise men, also known as Magi, came to visit the newborn. According to the Bible, Matthew 2:1-2, "...Magi came from the east to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born the King of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.'" (13)
The wise men brought three gifts with them to honor Jesus, which had prophetic meaning:
- Gold- a gift for a king
- Incense- a gift for a priest
- Myrrh- a burial ointment for one who would die
"When paganism was replaced by Christianity in Rome, the two holidays merged. The gifts that were once given at Saturnalia were now given at Christmas. The same "give and you shall receive" message remained and when the Roman Empire expanded, the tradition followed throughout its Empire." (12)
Associate Content Producer Jennifer Claerr, says it so clearly in her article about the history of Christmas. "Many of the traditions which we hold dear, such as decorating Christmas trees, singing Christmas carols, and giving Christmas gifts are rooted in the traditions of non-Christian religions." (6)
Quotes In The Bible About Christmas
Jeremiah 10:2-4 which reads:
2 Thus says the LORD, "Do not learn the way of the nations, And do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens Although the nations are terrified by them; 3 For the customs of the peoples are delusion; Because it is wood cut from the forest, The work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool. 4 "They decorate it with silver and with gold; They fasten it with nails and with hammers so that it will not totter.
Only acknowledge your iniquity, That you have transgressed against the Lord your God And have scattered your favors to the strangers under every green tree, And you have not obeyed My voice,' declares the Lord.
Brief Facts For Muslims About The History of Christmas:
1. The church did not observe a festival for the celebration of the event until the 4th century.... since 274, under the emperor Aurelian, Rome had celebrated the feast of the "Invincible Sun" on December 25. (5)
2. In the early 17th century, a wave of religious reform changed the way Christmas was celebrated in Europe. When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid England of decadence and, as part of their effort, cancelled Christmas. By popular demand, Charles II was restored to the throne and, with him, came the return of the popular holiday.(7)
3. The pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, (7)Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston.(7)
4. As Americans began to embrace Christmas as a perfect family holiday, old customs were unearthed. People looked toward recent immigrants and Catholic and Episcopalian churches to see how the day should be celebrated. In the next 100 years, Americans built a Christmas tradition all their own that included pieces of many other customs, including decorating trees, sending holiday cards, and gift-giving. (7)
5. Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.(7)
6. Early Romans marked the solstice with a feast called the Saturnalia in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture. The Romans knew that the solstice meant that soon farms and orchards would be green and fruitful. To mark the occasion, they decorated their homes and temples with evergreen boughs. In Northern Europe the mysterious Druids, the priests of the ancient Celts, also decorated their temples with evergreen boughs as a symbol of everlasting life. The fierce Vikings in Scandinavia thought that evergreens were the special plant of the sun god, Balder.(7)
7. All Christians do not celebrate Christmas. (9)
8. Many Christians know of the origins of Christmas and other traditions, and their pastors worn them about it.
Resources Cited
1. Visiting Family On Christmas
Retrieved, November 2, 2009
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?id=3632
2. Accepting of Christmas Gifts
Retrieved, November 2, 2009
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=2769&CATE=138
3. Giving of Christmas gifts
Retrieved, November 2, 2009
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=7&ID=12050&CATE=1
4. Islam Online In Reference To Christmas
Retrieved, November 2, 2009
5. Mission Islam On The History of Christmas
Retrieved, November 2, 2009
http://www.missionislam.com/comprel/easterchristmas.htm
6. The history of Christmas & Its Pagan Origins by, Jennifer Claeer
Retrieved, November 2, 2009
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/440951/the_history_of_christmas_and_its_pagan.html?cat=74
7. The History of Christmas
Retrieved, November 2, 2009
http://www.history.com/content/christmas
8. The History of Christmas
Retrieved, November 2, 2009
http://www.thehistoryofchristmas.com/
9. Good News Magazine
Retrieved, November 2, 2009
http://www.gnmagazine.org/issues/gn61/christmas.htm
10. Christians Who Don't Celebrate Christmas & Why
Retrieved, November 2, 2009
http://www.ucg.org/issues/gn61/christmas_christians.htm
11. Should Christians Celebrate Christmas
Retrieved, November 2, 2009
http://bible.org/article/should-christians-celebrate-christmas
12. Saturnalia
Retrieved, November 2, 2009
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/saturnalia/a/saturnalia.htm
13. History of Christmas Presents
Retrieved, November 2, 2009
http://historicalresources.suite101.com/article.cfm/history_of_christmas_presents#ixzz0VkCZZgam
Published by aishaladon
Jombo, Hola, Shalom, AsSalaamu Alaikum, My name is Aisha. I am a freelance writer/photographer residing in Sacramento, CA. I love reading, writing, and learning new things, especially new languages and cultu... View profile
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7 Comments
Post a CommentI think it's great to learn one's history and the history of what we celebrate. I believe you stated it best in the beginning (paraphrasing) when you said it's no longer a religious celebration, but now has become about spending time with family. I believe that to be true for a lot of reasons, but for myself it's b/c we don't live in an Islam based country. School is out for that time and for those that have to travel to see family, it's convenient for vacation. I also think that we have to be tolerant of others and to show that Islam is not a religion of hate and intolerance. To you be your way and to me be mine, including holidays. Take advantage of those opportunities to share Islam.
Sorry about all the typos :( j
LOVE FOR ALL HATERD FOR NONE
jazakallah islam ahmadiyyat great THE real islam
Very interesting, loved this article. we should all (everyone in the world) respect all faiths. Doesn't mean you have to join or participate. Love is my religon. ;o)
Let's break down the walls of prejudice that divide us and instead focus on building a solid foundation on what we find in common with one another.
Love for ALL, hatred for NONE
The foregoing are some thoughts from this humble one.
Peace and blessings :-)
We should respect all faiths but should not be obligated to participate if we don't want to or if we feel it would compromise our faith.
If one does attend Christmas functions, be sure to invite your hosts to Eid as well... this will foster an environment of mutual care and regard for one another.
Christmas is an excellent opportunity to share the beauties of Islam i.e. the fact that the story of Jesus (peace be upon him) is fully documented in the Holy Quran and that a full chapter of the Holy Quran is dedicated to Mary (may peace be upon her). This is something that a lot of Christians simply do not know and if presented in the proper light, would further relations with other peoples of the Book and inspire peace and love between fellow brothers and sisters in humanity inshallah not to mention demonstrate the tolerance Islam has for all faiths.
Let's break down the walls of prejudice that divide us and instead focus on building a solid foundation on what we find common wit