(This article can be read in Malay. CLICK HERE to malay version)
[You are also encouraged to forward this article to other Muslims]
Christmas season is upon us.While the rest of the world is busy in these celebrations, what does Muslims do? Can Muslims participate in Christmas celebrations or any other similar events such as Halloween and Easter? We need to look at the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) to find an answer. A fundamental question may have to be addressed here before saying anything else. Under what conditions can a Muslim live in a non-Muslim society? This issue requires a careful and detailed answer, which we shall leave for future issues.
Many have asked about Christmas, especially the rules to say “Merry Christmas” to friends who Christians. Too many opinions issued causing Muslims now little doubt about the opinion of any one the right. Most say they would like to say Haram (prohibted) “Merry Christmas”, “Merry Christmas” or “Congratulations” to those who are Muslims.
However, I would not dare to say the actual law on this matter. Let it be discussed by those who are more discerning. Here, I gave little guidance on how we as Muslims we should be when the Christmas are around the corner. This guidelines maybe important, especially to those muallaf, who still have Christian families or relatives, also to our Muslim brothers and sisters who are live in a Christian majority country.
Indeed, every religion and people have can their celebration. Islam as a religion of pure, fair, and be open, giving freedom to all people to celebrate their celebration respectively. Such organized by Islam through Al-Qur’an verses, Surah Al-Kafirun.
1. Say : O ye that reject Faith!
2. I worship not that which ye worship,
3. Nor will ye worship that which I worship.
4. And I will not worship that which ye have been wont to worship,
5. Nor will ye worship that which I worship.
6. To you be your Way, and to me mine.
As Muslims, we never asked to prevent other people practice their religion, as long as they do not threaten our security and our religion. So they are free to celebrate their festivals.
First, we must understand, there are Muslims who have relatives who are Christian, there are some among us who live outside Malaysia and more importantly, we live in Malaysia, with various races and religions.
Islam is a religion for all nations and the human race. Islam is a religion that recognizes the diversity of race, ethnicity, skin color and language in humans. In fact, Islam considers diversity as a sign of Allah (SWT) is comparable to the creation of the heavens and the earth. Wisdom of the signs that can only be observed and understood by human thought.
“And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colours: verily in that are Signs for those who know”
(Qur’an, Surah Ar-Rum, 30: Verse 22)
1. The principle of Surah Al-Kafirun.
For them their religion, for us our religion. We can not prevent them Christmas. However, if in their celebration of Christmas, they use to mislead Muslims and attacking our religion; we can not remain silent. That is.
If we truly adhere to the principles of Al-Kafirun, there is no reason for us to do things done by those; like wearing Santa Claus hats, decorate the house with Christmas tree, give gifts and do or wear anything that can be defined as a special symbol for Christmas and Christianity.
To read more about the act, dress and symbols of other religions, you can read the guidelines issued by Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM)- The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia.
2. Moderation, Toleration and Be Wise.
Islam is a religion of moderation and wisdom. If we do not have a strong and urgent reasons, we do not need to wish Happy Christmas. Only, If we have parents or relatives who are Christian, may be appropriate for us to wish them Happy Christmas Day. At the same time, pray that Allah will guides them.
Similarly, if we are a leader, as our Prime Minister, he may need to wish the people who celebrate Christmas. This is to fulfill his duties as a leader who leads people in various races and religions. He cannot boycott people other than his religion.
You may also have friends who are Christians and their good relations with you. To maintain the relationship, you have to wish them. Also, At the same time, pray that Allah will guides them.
But, be careful when saying ‘Merry Christmas’. Maybe, better and smarter to wish them with such; ‘Happy Celebrate Your X-Mas’, ‘Happy December 25 and New Year’ or ‘Happy X-Mas to you’.
3. Muslims respect non-Muslims as long as they will not break with Islam.
As long as non-Muslims not attack Muslims, didnt destroy the Muslims and not interfere with Islam and Muslim, we as Muslims will respect them. In fact, as humans, we should love them and strive and pray that they will receive guidance from Allah (SWT).
Their Celebration such as Christmas, can become opportunities for us to communicate and demonstrate to them the pure and beautiful of ‘Islamic Akhlaq’ (well-mannered). Islam never commanded his followers to disrupt and insulting other religions.
4. Muslim Identity.
If we are invited to the Christmas party, dinner, banquet etc; the first thing we need to make sure that is about the meals. What food and drink served and is it halal for us or otherwise? We are responsible to explain to our Christians friend (or family) about food and drink in Islam. Second, make sure that the party, is not religious rituals. Then, where is the place? If the party is in the church, than better to think twice (Malay says, ‘Fikir Dua Kali’).
As Muslims, keep our good akhlaq and well-mannered when we were at the party. If Muslims also drink alcohol, so what else we can say?
Christmas party can also be an opportunity for us to communicate and demonstrate to them the pure and beautiful of the Islamic Akhlaq. Again, Islam never commanded his followers to disrupt and insulting other religions.
5. Take care of ourselves, Insya Allah, they will respect us.
If we as Muslims didnt keep our aqidah, our dignity and akhlaq, then what are we entitled to expect others to respect us? Wherever we are, keep our aqidah, our dignity and akhlaq. With the help of Allah, Insya Allah, they will respect us.
References below may help you:
1. Garis Panduan Orang Islam Turut Merayakan Hari-Hari Kebesaran Agama Orang Bukan Islam
2. Aidilfitri Mengekori Krismas
If you have any questions and problems, do not hesitate to email me to ustazcahaya@gmail.com. Or, drop your questions and problems in the comment field below.
Hopefully this guide is useful and helpfull. Until we meet again. I pray, may Allah always love you and your family. Ameen.
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hi! just read this interesting blog post.
just a short comment on the wishing your friends/relatives part :
if you are not sincere in wishing your friends i feel it’s better not to do it rather than saying “happy X-mas” because christmas is not X-mas : it’s CHRIST-mas. you can’t cross-out CHRIST during christmas because he is the reason for the celebration.
“happy dec 25″ is also inappropriate….. you wouldn’t want anyone wishing you on your birthday – “happy may 10th” or even your friends wishing you on hari raya “happy september 20th” ???
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Little Mama™ Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 10:02 AM
hui-wearn, you’re right. i only saw x-mas written in cards/emails/banner (maybe the person in a hurry to write or to make it look modern?) but never heard christmas been said as x-mas.
Selamat Hari Natal and Happy New Year!
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UstazCahaya Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 9:05 PM
Little Mama, thank. Penambahan yang baik dan bijak. Sepatutnya, kita kan boleh gunakan ucapan ‘Selamat Hari Natal’
.-= UstazCahaya´s last blog post ..Panduan Menyambut Krismas Kepada Umat Islam =-.
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UstazCahaya Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 9:00 PM
hui-wearn,you are right madam;-)
Thank you for reading this article. What I write above, is my personal opinion so. I apologize if my opinion offends you.
We muslim, believe Isa more than Jesus Christ.
Happy New Year.
PS: You are eBay seller, rigth? I wish you all the best and good luck, and also may you more successful in your business in 2010
..
.-= UstazCahaya´s last blog post ..Panduan Menyambut Krismas Kepada Umat Islam =-.
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sy ada 1 kemusykilan la ustaz. lecturer hsbnd sy jemput ke rmhnya krismas ni. psl mknn tu settle dh sbb request veggies. yg duk musykil ni, kami ingt nk bg hamper..bkn nk meraikn diorg cuma sbg buah tgn dtg ke rmh org. rs tak sedap pulak kalau pergi dgn tgn kosong je. mcm mana ye ustaz? blh ke?
.-= Nadiah Sidek´s last blog post ..Outdoor winter activities =-.
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UstazCahaya Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 9:14 PM
Puan Nadiah, duk kat US ya? Anda adalah duta Islam di sana. Jadilah duta yang baik ya
Tentang ke majlis tu, rujuk panduan 3 dan 4.
Tentang beri hadiah, jika difikirkan tak masalah kerana ia bukan ciri ‘original’ perayaan Krismas, setahu saya. Cuma, cadangan saya, semoga puan dan suami bijak memilih hadiah yang hendak diberi. Berilah hadiah yang baik. Mungkin ada hadiah lebih baik daripada hamper.
Seingat saya, saya pernah terbaca kata-kata hikmah yang berbunyi; “Seseorang boleh dinilai daripada hadiah yang dia berikan kepada kamu”.
.-= UstazCahaya´s last blog post ..Panduan Menyambut Krismas Kepada Umat Islam =-.
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hmm.. ever since I knew my hubby, every year we surely celebrate christmas…
Christmas Day is his Birthday..
Selamat Hari Natal juga dan Selamat Menyambut Tahun Baru pada yang menyambutnya
.-= nadnye´s last blog post ..MedaiStore Lucky Draw..STICKY MODE =-.
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UstazCahaya Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 9:08 PM
nadnye
Unik nickname kamu. Selamat hari jadi kepada En. Suami kamu. Sampaikan salam saya kepada beliau
.-= UstazCahaya´s last blog post ..Panduan Menyambut Krismas Kepada Umat Islam =-.
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X-Mas tree is installed on the wellhead at the oil platform ahaks
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UstazCahaya Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 9:21 PM
Mommy Lyna, saya sambung ya..
In petroleum and natural gas extraction, a Christmas tree, or “Tree”, (not “Wellhead” as sometimes incorrectly referred to) is an assembly of valves, spools, and fittings, used for an oil well, gas well, water injection well, water disposal well, gas injection well, condensate well and other types of wells. It was named for its crude resemblance to a decorated tree.
.-= UstazCahaya´s last blog post ..Panduan Menyambut Krismas Kepada Umat Islam =-.
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Mommy Lyna Reply:
December 25th, 2009 at 1:44 AM
wah ustaz ada tokoh jadi engineer oil & gas nih. hehe.
.-= Mommy Lyna´s last blog post ..Cutest Baby Of The Planets 2009 =-.
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UstazCahaya Reply:
December 25th, 2009 at 6:43 AM
Psst, Mommy Lyna.. itu Wikipedia yang ada tokoh jadi ensiniur tu;-)
.-= UstazCahaya´s last blog post ..Rezeki Daripada Menulis Ulasan Buku =-.
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very informative, ustaz. i agree that giving well-wishes ni to maintain good relationship – hantar sms, msg di wall facebook.. sekadar ucapan selamat untuk kawan2 rapat beragama christian
.-= syigim´s last blog post ..Happy Birthday, Kahfi : You’re ONE! =-.
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UstazCahaya Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 9:25 PM
Terima Kasih, Syiqim. Nickname anda unik juga ya.
Iye bener. Dalam keluarga saya, ada beberapa orang Muallaf. Saya juga kenal ramai Cina Muslim dan Muallaf bangsa lain, yang mereka ini masih mempunyai keluarga yang menyambut Krismas.
Happy Birth-Day to ‘Your Kahfi’. Semoga manjadi anak yang soleh, Amin;-)
.-= UstazCahaya´s last blog post ..Panduan Menyambut Krismas Kepada Umat Islam =-.
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Thanks Ustaz for this guideline. Ya, to maintain goodwill, we can always wish them for THEIR Celebration just like receiving their well-wishes when we celebrate Hari Raya.
Ehemm..Ustaz, I still will celebrate but just it goes coincidentally with Christmas Eve coz..it’s my birthday!!!
.-= Hanz´s last blog post ..Today is MY BIRTHDAY =-.
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UstazCahaya Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 9:19 PM
Thank Hanz
Selamat hari jadi. Semoga Hanz, anak-anak dan suami sentiasa disayangi Allah (SWT). Dimurahkan oleh-NYA rezeki anda dan ditambahkan iman anda, Amin
.-= UstazCahaya´s last blog post ..Panduan Menyambut Krismas Kepada Umat Islam =-.
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salam ustaz..sebelum ni pun ade kawan2 beragama kristian yg ajak g open house mereka..dulu2 masa muda2 dulu ade gak pegi…dan bw buah tgn..niat kita nak berziarah tak pe kan..bukan niat nak sambut hari krismas tu…
.-= catlina´s last blog post ..9 bulan… =-.
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UstazCahaya Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 9:28 PM
Salam Puan Lina.
Rujuk jawapan saya kepada Nadiah Sidek di atas.
Betul pendapat Puan Lina, kita nak jaga hubungan. Dalam sirah Rasulullah (SAW) banyak sekali contoh yang menarik bagaimana cara Baginda menjaga hubungan dengan orang lain.
.-= UstazCahaya´s last blog post ..Panduan Menyambut Krismas Kepada Umat Islam =-.
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Ustaz kata “We muslim, believe Isa more than Jesus Christ”. Isn’t Nabi Isa = Jesus Christ?
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UstazCahaya Reply:
January 5th, 2010 at 11:52 AM
Isn’t Nabi Isa = Jesus Christ? Ya bener, Nabi Isa dan Jesus Christ tidak sama.
Mungkin tidak sesuai dibincangkan di sini saudari Marina;-)
.-= UstazCahaya´s last blog post ..Do I Make you Proud by TAYLOR HICKS =-.
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Penerangan yang baik ustaz.
.-= unlisted_one´s last blog post ..Cutest Baby of the Planet 2009 =-.
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UstazCahaya Reply:
January 5th, 2010 at 11:54 AM
Terima kasih, Insya Allah, pada masa akan datang saya cuba menulis dengan lebih baik, amin;-)
.-= UstazCahaya´s last blog post ..Do I Make you Proud by TAYLOR HICKS =-.
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