Tuesday, December 25, 2007
[[ Treating Christmas with Respect ]]
Christmas is an annual Christian religious holiday commemorating the birth of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) in Bethlehem, who Christians believe is the Son of God. The story of Christmas can be found in two Gospels of the New Testament, the books of St. Matthew and St. Luke. It's from these accounts that many of the symbols and traditions of the holiday grew. For many Muslims who even don't celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) it becomes an issue of what stand they should take.
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 used to disregard the holiday as merely an exercise in ancient pagan practices, for instance, or excessive consumerism. Muslims have to remember that for practicing Christians, Christmas really is about Jesus.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was so accommodating of Christians that according to the two earliest Islamic historians, Ibn e Saad and Ibn Hisham, the Prophet even allowed a delegation of 60 Byzantine Christians from Najran in Yemen to worship in his own mosque in Madinah. Led by their bishop (Usquf), they had come to discuss a number of issues with him. When time of their prayer came, they asked the Prophet's permission to perform this in the mosque. He answered, "conduct your service here in the mosque. It is a place consecrated to God."
God expects 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 God, lest they insult God 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" [Quran, 6:108]
"And argue not with the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), unless it be in (a way) that is better (with good words and in good manner, inviting them to Islamic Monotheism with His Verses) Say: 'We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you; our God and your God is One, and to Him we have submitted (as Muslims)' [Quran, 29:46]
A starting point for a discussion about 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).
Remember that respect does not mean compromise. I'm not asking you to compromise anything. You've freedom of religion given by God to believe in what you believe in. But in a world where conflict is increasing, a Muslim should be a bridge-builder and, a peacemaker.
These are the lessons which need to be learned by those extremists who attack Christians during their worship in Nigeria and those extremists who burn mosques in the USA. Labels: Islam : Christmas
| 12:00 AM |
This is not the end.
This is not even the beginning of the end.
It is, instead, the end of the beginning..
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