Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| SafiaYazmin |
| 12/12/00 at 13:52:14 |
| I'm feeling the pressure. Everyone is chipping in for a present for our boss. They are aware that I don't celebrate Christmas but don't understand why I don't want to participate in the gift giving. Anyone have any suggestions on how I should handle this...professionally? Anyone in a similar situation? |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| Malika |
| 12/12/00 at 15:39:41 |
| slm That's a tough one. My mother's solution for gift giving during this time: My sister receives gifts during Christmas I give/receive gifts for the EID My brother receives his gifts during Kwanzaa Now when they come up to where I am at... that will be a really blessed time for me. :-) |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| bhaloo |
| 12/12/00 at 15:46:11 |
| slm Just tell them you don't celebrate X-mas. Our company is having a "holliday party" within our R&D divison as well where they exchange gifts. I already told them I'm not going. :) |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| Malika |
| 12/12/00 at 15:52:40 |
[quote] They are aware that I don't celebrate Christmas but don't understand why I don't want to participate in the gift giving. [/quote] If they know you don't celebrate, ask them is this a christmas gift? when they respond yes. let them know yet again you don't celebrate their holiday and this includes the gift. to collect for a gift during anytime during the year is a different story. Give your boss some dawah about you and he will understand. |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| SafiaYazmin |
| 12/12/00 at 16:36:47 |
| I've already told them that I'm not going to the Holiday Luncheon and the Holiday Happy Hour, but on this issue, I feel weird. He is my boss. But Islam does come first. Years before I would have just caved in. But this year I'm tring to be more aware of the implications of my actions. (heavy sigh) |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| jannah |
| 12/12/00 at 17:35:39 |
| slm, safia just say you'd like to get your boss something on your own. and then get something and give it to him/her _after_ xmas and say it's to help u celebrate the end of ramadan, eid. |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| Sara |
| 12/12/00 at 20:34:07 |
| Assalam, Everyone at work knows I don't celebrate X-mas. But every year my boss gives out X-mas presents to everyone. And instead of giving me a X-mas present, she gave me a "friendship present" If you feel you REALLY-REALLY have to give your boss something give her a 'friendship present' or a 'friendship card' |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| Aladdin |
| 12/13/00 at 06:54:59 |
| Salaams, Luckily we don't buy xmas gifts for each other at our company (only leaving gifts!). Just one thing though. Why is there such an issue about contributing to a xmas gift? Is this not allowed or something? Most people in our company don't believe in the religious aspects of xmas anyway - they know Jesus wasn't born during this time - xmas for them is just an excuse to pass gifts to each other (although I still haven't seen this happen in our place - they don't even send xmas cards!). A lot of them think of xmas as a time nearing the end of the year where they can spend time with family and friends (because nearly EVERYONE is on holidays). So tell me ... why is it wrong to contribute to a xmas gift? Afterall, xmas isn't a religious celebration (well, I don't know anyone who regards it at such). Wa-Salaams. |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| bhaloo |
| 12/13/00 at 10:51:30 |
| slm Aladdin ??? X-mas is a religious celebration. If it wasn't why call it a X-mas gift exchange? I actually had one Muslim ask me if I had finished my Christmas shopping, I was shocked he asked me such a question. Also, its very disturbing to see Muslims saying Merry Christmas to the Christians. Think about what you are doing. You are congratulating them on their kufr. |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| Zahra |
| 12/13/00 at 11:17:28 |
| slm Aladdin-it doesn't matter how Christians and others view or consider Christmas. It is based on Christian belief. It is not one of our Eid's and so, it is now lawful to take part in it in any way, shape, or form. |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| Saleema |
| 12/13/00 at 12:24:15 |
| Assalam ualykum, If someone says "Merry Christmas," just say in return, "happy holidays." |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| Aladdin |
| 12/13/00 at 13:27:50 |
| Salaams, Woah - perhaps I wasn't clear enough. These people are NOT christians! The majority of non-muslims I work with are not christians ... they have their own belief about God and thats it. They don't believe in any of the doctrines regarding christianty. I tend not to assume things about other people's faith. But I do accept your points that I shouldn't congratulate them on their kufr. Just to stand my ground though - I do NOT celebrate xmas, or any other kufr religious celebrations or observances *phew*. The only reason I posed the question is because I've never been in a situation where people are buying xmas gifts for one another that's all. I guess if no-one used the word xmas, and just said, "hey, lets buy a present for the boss this December" then its ok! Personally though, I think its the bosses who should be buying the presents for us, cause they earn more! :) wa-salaams. |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| SafiaYazmin |
| 12/13/00 at 21:36:21 |
| My co-workers seemed to be oddly consumed with the matters in regards to my fast. So, I thought a good way to give dawah would be to give little Eid gifts to my immediate co-workers and bring in treats. I thought this is kind of a way to help them feel apart of the celebration. They have been telling when the sun is down (the windows are in an odd place) and they offer to get me food to break my fast. I shared publications explaining Ramadan to them and Islam. I kind of wanted to top it off with something big. Anybody have any suggestions or have experience with doing this a work? |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| jannah |
| 12/13/00 at 22:16:45 |
| salam safia, i usually bring in two big trays of something good like baklava and invite my whole department and the one next door to come eat with me to celebrate the end of ramadan.. and they all come and enjoy it... |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| Kathy |
| 12/14/00 at 09:02:18 |
| slm Aladin- you are right- According to office edicate (sp?)- you are not supposed to buy for your boss- they are to buy for their employees. |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| Malika |
| 12/14/00 at 11:07:09 |
| slm Safia, My co-workers are oddly comsumed with my fast also. If I forget for some reason I have at least 5 people telling me isn't is time to break your fast now? They have been bringing in things left and right and I can only pack mine for later. I have to hear "you can't eat that now" Jannah, my questions for both of you is I would also like to bring in something for them for the EId but when do you do it. I am out of the office for the EID. Do you do it the day before? However the day before this time is x-mas and we will also be closed. |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| jannah |
| 12/14/00 at 14:19:56 |
| I did it for the start of ramadan this year b/c i won't be here for eid... but why not a few days before or a few days after eid..and remember to tell them why! usually i just put the stuff in my cube and email everyone... 'i brought baklava in today..come help me celebrate the end of ramadan... etc' and ppl stop by and get something and usually ask questions about ramadan too... |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| abc |
| 12/14/00 at 14:42:30 |
| Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah I was reading this thread with interest and i was wondering what the reaction of the Christians to the sweets at Eid time is. I mean, don't some of them at least go like "you didn't care about christmas so why should we care about eid??" I hope this isn't a stupid question. lol if it is then just ignore it ok? wassalam |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| Malika |
| 12/14/00 at 15:27:50 |
| slm ABC sometimes they act ignorant but overall they are frequently a people with common sense. People always look for an excuse to eat around here. If you bake something because you were in a good mood they will be there to help you celebrate :) |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| BrKhalid |
| 12/14/00 at 17:35:05 |
| Asalaamu Alaikum I'm planning on bringing in some sweets the day after Eid this year Generally offering free food to your non muslim colleagues always goes down a treat and the sweeter the better! Forgive the pun but it keeps 'em sweet :) |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| SafiaYazmin |
| 12/14/00 at 17:55:58 |
| If there is food around here...they will come. People from other departments start pouring in, people you've never even met!! :) |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| Sara |
| 12/14/00 at 21:20:18 |
| Assalam, Sorry for getting way off subject here, but one thing that really irks me is when it's time to break my fast,I'll go in the kitchen and eat my dinner that I brung from home. One day I bought in this arabic dish(I don't know the name of it),it's grape leaves stuff with rice and it's ssoooooooo goood! But I got soo mad when 3 of my co-workers came in and were like-EW!WHAT IS THAT!It looks gross!That looks like dog poop!Even though they were teasing,I had to bite my tongue soooo hard not to snap at them. I explain what it was and told them that'you don't know if it tastes bad if you never tried it'.I had to try real hard to control my anger. But I did bring in sweets one time(my mom made me!:)and everyone did like it and I got no rude comments when they saw it. |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| SafiaYazmin |
| 12/15/00 at 11:42:30 |
| Sara, That is something I really can't stand. I am always telling people that is very, very rude to comment on anyone's food. I don't even allow people to stand near me while I eat, so that they can't compare my food to anything gross. And I know what food you are talking about. Stuffed grape leaves, I used to eat them almost every Friday after Jummah...my mouth is watering. But I'm fasting! :( |
| Re: Group X-mas Presents for the Boss |
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| SafiaYazmin |
| 12/28/00 at 11:08:01 |
| Eid Mubarak!!!!!! I brought in European pastries, juice and milk today and sent around an email explaining what the food was in celebration of. I also attached an informational document to the email for those that wanted more information (about Ramadan, Islam and Eid). Most of my co-workers read the attachment and asked me lots of good questions. It was really great they kept telling me Eid Mubarak. I could have shed a tear. Everyone is just talking about Ramadan and Eid and Islam...but in a positive way. That's really nice to hear. |
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