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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| "Merry Christmas!" |
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| Kathy |
| 12/22/02 at 10:33:33 |
| [slm] :o What do you say when they wish you to have one? |
| Re: "Merry Christmas!" |
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| BroHanif |
| 12/22/02 at 11:48:07 |
| I've said the following sorry mate don't celebrate since I'm a Muslim and they've gone oh... also said yeah I'll enjoy the break but I don't celebrate xmas. |
| NS |
| Re: "Merry Christmas!" |
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| Abdullah |
| 12/22/02 at 18:12:06 |
| [slm] I don't think its a big problem actually. And there's no need to reply Merry Christmas back, and worry what to say. You can just say,"thank you", or have a good holidays (as the brother before mentioned- wsup man) , or even if you say "wa alaikum", "you too", like we are insructed to do with non-muslims who salaam us. Its not like you'll be participating in their thing or something. I guess if you know the person, explain perhaps, but generally, I just stick to a smile and thanks. |
| Re: "Merry Christmas!" |
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| Barr |
| 12/22/02 at 19:33:19 |
| Assalamu'alaikum :-) I'd say... Thanks, I'd enjoy the holiday. Merry Christmas to you too. :) Yusuf Al-Qaradhawi said in his fatwa at www.islam-online.net on the issue [color=blue] "(greeting non-muslims during their religious festivals) is a shared right among all. if a people of the book comes and congratulates you for your `ied, shares you happiness with greeting and your calamity with condolence, what stops you from congratulating him for his religious festival and offer condolence for calamity happened on him. Allah says 'When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally. Certainly, Allah is ever a careful account taker of all things." (An-Nisa' : 86). This does not mean that we celebrate with them but we only congratulate and greet them. This is considered as good deed and just conduct which this religion comes with." [/color] |
| 12/22/02 at 19:33:38 |
| Barr |
| Re: "Merry Christmas!" |
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| bhaloo |
| 12/22/02 at 23:39:49 |
| [slm] I do not return the greeting to them when they say "Merry Christmas" or other similiar phrases for this or any of the other kafir hollidays. The opinion I follow is based on this. Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy on him, said in Ahkaam Ahl al-Dhimmah: "Congratulating the kuffaar on the rituals that belong only to them is haraam by consensus, as is congratulating them on their festivals and fasts by saying ‘A happy festival to you’ or ‘May you enjoy your festival,’ and so on. If the one who says this has been saved from kufr, it is still forbidden. It is like congratulating someone for prostrating to the cross, or even worse than that. It is as great a sin as congratulating someone for drinking wine, or murdering someone, or having illicit sexual relations, and so on. Many of those who have no respect for their religion fall into this error; they do not realize the offensiveness of their actions. Whoever congratulates a person for his disobedience or bid’ah or kufr exposes himself to the wrath and anger of Allaah." i don't even acknowledge what they say, and depending on the situation say either nothing, bye dude- see ya later, gotta go, etc. |
| 12/22/02 at 23:42:35 |
| bhaloo |
| Re: "Merry Christmas!" |
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| eleanor |
| 12/23/02 at 07:35:31 |
| [quote author=bhaloo link=board=bebzi;num=1040571213;start=0#4 date=12/22/02 at 23:39:49when they say "Merry Christmas" or other similia] i don't even acknowledge what they say, and depending on the situation say either nothing, bye dude- see ya later, gotta go, etc.[/quote] well that's great dawah, thanks for the tip. Sorry but I can't imagine Muhammad [saw] acting in this manner and it is his example we should follow. |
| Re: "Merry Christmas!" |
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| jannah |
| 12/23/02 at 10:29:16 |
| [wlm] I usually say.. I don't celebrate christmas but thanks.. <smile> ;D and occassionally someone will say "oh why not" and boom ... it's the dawah opportunity wormhole.. take it and go.... |
| Re: "Merry Christmas!" |
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| Kathy |
| 12/23/02 at 10:40:02 |
| [wlm] Yesterday I was in the laundromat and a lady wished me a Merry Christmas. Â I know the fatwa that Bhaloo posted and it was running through my mind. [i](Which is why I started this post)[/i] On the other hand, the dawah aspect and Barr's post, makes alot of sense too. So I did what Jannah suggested and sure enough we got into a long conversation about the craziness of the holidays and how we have, as mothers, get so caught up in the hecticness of it and often fail to remember the spiritual aspect. We traded our "set backs" in the celebrations and rememberances. I think it was comforting for both of us to realize that although we may be of different faiths we have the same struggles. Meanwhile I had all my Hajj books on the table , working on my presentation... and this induced much curiosity too. It was a great dawah opportunity... all because she wished me a Merry Christmas. |
| 12/23/02 at 10:41:53 |
| Kathy |
| Re: "Merry Christmas!" |
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| Halima |
| 12/23/02 at 12:42:17 |
| I received Eid cards, not electronic ones but real cards from colleagues who are Christians. I also received Christmas cards from the same colleagues and our clients. They all know I am a Muslims hence I take no offense just accept the Christmas cards and throw them away in any case. I did not give any Christmas cards to them in return. Their intentions are not bad. They are all just being friendly. May Allah continuously guides us in the right path, INSHA-ALLAH. Wasalaam. Halima |
| Re: "Merry Christmas!" |
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| Anonymous |
| 12/23/02 at 15:25:02 |
| slm] Hmm. I'm inclined to agree with that fatwa... Standard dialogue for me goes something like: [Non Muslim] "Merry Christmas!" [Me] (smile) "You're so sweet. I dont celebrate Christmas, but I wish you a good holiday inshallah. God bless you!" [Non Muslim] "What's 'inshallah'?" (Leads to questions like "why dont you celebrate Christmas?" and then "So what do you celebrate? Why?" etc) [Me] (Dawah opp...oh yeah! ;D) [wlm] |
| Re: "Merry Christmas!" |
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| Tesseract |
| 12/24/02 at 02:39:02 |
| Assalamu 'alaikum wa Rahmatullah, [quote]i don't even acknowledge what they say, and depending on the situation say either nothing, bye dude- see ya later, gotta go, etc. [/quote] Bro. bhaloo, with all due respect, that looks rude man! very rude. Atleast they(Non-Muslims) deserve the right to know why u are not responding back and wishing them. I respect all the opinions of the scholars, and Ibn Al-Qayyim's opinion that u have posted clearly mentions of 'not wishing' back, but doesn't say anything like not even explaining them why we don't celebrate or wish them on their festivals/celebrations. Wallahu A'lam. Wassalam. |
| Re: "Merry Christmas!" |
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| daisynova |
| 12/24/02 at 17:32:17 |
| A Cristian come to me and shake my hand and say Merry Cristmas. My answer is : Merry Cristmas for you. But I dont celebrate. |
| Re: "Merry Christmas!" |
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| bhaloo |
| 12/26/02 at 01:09:23 |
| [slm] [quote author=Tesseract link=board=madrasa;num=1040658406;start=0#10 date=12/24/02 at 02:39:02] but doesn't say anything like not even explaining them why we don't celebrate or wish them on their festivals/celebrations. [/quote] In general what Jannah and Kathy said and practice is correct, alhumdullilah. I was primairly thinking of situations at stores when one shops, and the person has returned your change said the greeting and is about ready to go onto the next customer. Saying something like thank you but I don't celebrate it, and then not having the opportunity to explain why may have an adverse affect especially if others standing by hear this. |
| Re: "Merry Christmas!" |
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| elite_ansaar |
| 01/03/03 at 12:33:55 |
| [slm] --------------------------------- i don't even acknowledge what they say, and depending on the situation say either nothing, bye dude- see ya later, gotta go, etc --------------------------------- With all due respect brother, that really is a horrible way to respond to someone who is simply being freindly to you. I work mainly with non-muslims, and at Eid, they all wish me Happy Eid, some even say Eid Mubarak. Even though i am a muslim, and they dont have the same beliefs as me, they still have the courtesy and decency to wish me a "happy holiday/happy festival". Its that kind of politeness, friendliness and respect i feel some muslims should start showing to people of other beliefs. Its sad that so soon after eid we seem to be so disrespectful to the others when its time for their celebrations. A simple smile, or a "Thank You", or "Have Fun" or "Hope you have a good time" would be a far more pleasent way to respond, and effortless way to respond! ;-) Maasalaam Ansaar |
| Re: "Merry Christmas!" |
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| Umm_Nasirah |
| 01/11/03 at 22:37:27 |
| [slm] Insha'Allah our :-) kathy and Jannah are correct we should say "Thank you , But I dont celebrate Christmas , but you have a great day." Wishing them a good holiday is condoning the holiday which is Haraam. May Allah enrich us in our Deen ameen :-* I love u for the Pleasure of Allah Ta'ala sister umm Nasirah [wlm] |
| Re: "Merry Christmas!" |
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| ltcorpest2 |
| 01/12/03 at 12:10:41 |
| Umm nasirah, I am not sure what you mean by condoning the hoidlay and why it is Haram. If you are greeteed on your special holidays by someone who isn't a Muslim how does that make you feel? Would you rather that they not condone it also? I hope to honor everyone and their traditions whenever I get a chance. I had posted earlier on some other thread but nobody responded about what special days there are for muslims and what would be the proper greetings and nobody responded , so i might ask it again so that I could respond properly. Not agreeing with their theology and respecting other traditions I would think are 2 different things. And wouldn't the only single virgin birth that God has allowed be somewhat important to you? (not that it actually happened on Dec. 25th |
| Re: "Merry Christmas!" |
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| jannah |
| 01/12/03 at 15:46:39 |
| Hey ltcorpest.. true we believe in Jesus and the virgin birth, but the reason we don't celebrate christmas is that it is celebrated because christians believe that Jesus is the holy spirit/god etc. and since we believe Jesus is a prophet only , peace be upon him, it wouldn't be befitting to attribute godliness to him and celebrate this date in that fashion, especially when it isn't even an authentic date. I have no problem with other people celebrating their own holidays and all though.. I just want them to know that other people do not celebrate christmas (b/c believe me ppl have told me "I thought everyone celebrated christmas") and that even if I don't I don't mean them any ill will. |
| Re: "Merry Christmas!" |
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| zomorrud |
| 01/12/03 at 15:53:05 |
| [color=blue] bismillah.. [[i]trans: in the name of Allah[/i]] assalamu alaikum [[i]Peace be upon you[/i]] [quote]...what special days there are for muslims and what would be the proper greetings [/quote] There are 2 Eids [[i]festivals[/i]] in the Islamic calender. The first Eid is Eid el-Fitr. It falls on the the first 3 days of the 10th month (Shawwal), while the second Eid is Eid el-Ad-ha and begins on the 10th day of the 12th month (Thu Al-Hijjah). In both occasions, a proper greeting would be Eid Mubarak (pronounced: eed moo-baa-rak), meaning [i] have a blessed Eid[/i]. If you are wondering about the significance of these festivals, please read the following. The Muslim lunar year consists of 12 months. [list][*]The 9th month is called Ramadan and it is the month of fasting. Muslims observe a daily fast -i.e., from dawn to dusk- durning the month of Ramadan. The month of Ramadan is a month of blessings and mercy and Muslims treasure its occurence. A happy occasion in itself, many muslims wish each other best during the month of Ramadan by saying Ramadan Mubarak. At the conclusion of the month of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate Eid el-Fitr. This is the 1st festival. [*]The 12th month is called Thu Al-Hijjah and is the month during which pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca) takes place. The pilgrims perform the Hajj [[i]pilgrimage[/i]] on the first nine days of the 12th month. Hajj, required once in a lifetime, is a great act of worship to muslims that erases all previous sins if performed properly and devoutedly. At the conlusion of Hajj, i.e., on the 10th of Thu Al-Hijjah, the rest of the muslims in the world (and the pilgrims themselves) celebrate Eid el-Ad-ha . The 3 following days are also celebrated. This is the 2nd and last festival[/list] THE END! take care P.S. Eid el-Fitr already passed this Muslim year - it was in the 1st week of December. Eid el-Ad-ha will take place around the 12th of Feb 2003. [/color] |
| 01/12/03 at 17:03:30 |
| zomorrud |
| Re: "Merry Christmas!" |
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| panjul |
| 01/13/03 at 01:21:50 |
| [slm] I say "thank you but i don't celebrate christman" and then they ask, "why not?" and i then tell them why not. but ppl shouldn't say merry christmas to everyone, cuz u don't know who's christian and who's not. someone we know got *yelled* at for saying "merry christmas." It was an eldery lady. she said to the man, " don't u know that this is america, and there are a lot of people living here that are not christian?" the man," i'm sorry. i did't know u were christian. are u a muslim? happy ramadan" the lady, "no! i'm a jew!" the man:" happy chanukah" |
| Re: "Merry Christmas!" |
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| Halima |
| 01/13/03 at 03:46:53 |
| Muslims also celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad [saw]. It is a national holiday in predominantly Muslim countries and but Muslims celebrate it too in countries where they are minorities. It is celebrated here. The birth of the Prophet [saw] is known as Maulid-al-Nabi. Another interesting point is that The UN Secretary General, Koffi Annan made the two Islamic holidays, Eid-el-Fitr and Eid-el-Adha UN official holidays in 1998. Before that, we Muslims would take leave on these days. Now, they are mandatory among the other UN official holidays. Wasalaam. Halima |
| Re: "Merry Christmas!" |
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| Kathy |
| 01/13/03 at 08:33:38 |
| [wlm] As a clarification: Many Muslims do not celebrate Prophet Muhammads [saw] birthday. He [saw] did not tell us to celebrate this day, and he [saw]himself did not celebrate it, nor did the sahabah. |
| Re: "Merry Christmas!" |
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| Chris |
| 01/13/03 at 15:12:23 |
| Why not just accept it in the spirt in which it is given? Chris |
| Re: "Merry Christmas!" |
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| jannah |
| 01/13/03 at 21:28:34 |
| We do accept it Chris.. that's why we say we don't celebrate xmas... but thanx :) |
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