- A British journalist, known for his Islamophobic views, suggests that Muslims refraining from saying “Merry Christmas” should face deportation
- .Some Muslims in the West sense pressure to partake in Christmas celebrations. Yet, what potential repercussions might arise from such participation?
In the heart of Houston, Texas, I once stumbled upon a true holiday paradox: a queue at a halal butcher shop, stretching the length of the river Nile. Muslims on a Christmas Eve quest for a Halal Turkey.
Needless to say, the Muslim community in Houston exhibits considerable diversity in their religious observance. However, this practice finds acceptance among a minority within the global Muslim population of 2 billion, emphasising Islam’s distinction as the sole unaltered religion. Muslims stand out as the only community on Earth authentically preserving their religious identity.
“There’s no harm in celebrating Christmas. After all it’s only a Turkey dinner!”
Indulging in a fancy roast dinner with all the trimmings won’t harm your soul or make you any less Muslim, some may say. It’s the universal 25th of December tradition after all! Who can blame you? A nice roast beats daal any day of the week! Your mum, the culinary genius, tossed a bag of Tesco’s Finest Yorkshires into the oven and now you can’t wait!
Hold up! Let’s flip the script for a second; Dave down the road certainly won’t be whipping up a bowl of Semiyah on Eid ul Fitr or bringing out the tray of baklava.
However, the true rationale behind refraining from celebrating Christmas is about avoiding imitation and because it’s not a part of our faith. Moreover, (and perhaps the most important reason that should make our spine shudder), is that it’s a grotesque insult to Allah azza wa Jal, our maker who blessed us with this life.
Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus (AS), acknowledged as the son of God. The distinctive essence of Islam lies in unwavering monotheism. As adherents of Islam, the concept of Allah having a son remains inconceivable. Consequently, the celebration of Christmas is inherently incompatible with Islamic beliefs. Therefore, Christmas can never be a celebration for Muslims.
We each navigate our unique spiritual journey, I understand. However, the repercussions of participating in a festival outside our own faith could have more significant repercussions than you might realise.
As Muslim sports stars enthusiastically embrace Christmas, and notable Bollywood stars such as Shah Rukh Khan have been participating in Hindu rituals this week, there’s a palpable expectation for Muslims to emulate their role models. The prevailing message is clear: “Blending celebrations and customs from diverse faiths doesn’t diminish your Muslim identity.”
On the converse end of the spectrum, we frequently encounter Islamophobes vehemently suggesting that we must either ‘assimilate’ or ‘F off back to wherever we came from!’ Yesterday, the far-right Islamophobe and hate preacher, British ‘journalist’ David Atherton, responded to a post from our brother discussing the religious prohibition of celebrating Christmas. Atherton wrote on his X handle:
’An Islamic cleric tells us that everything about Christmas is not Halal or permitted to Muslims. Wishing people a merry Christmas, giving presents, putting up a Christmas tree, tinsel, attending Christmas parties, & sending cards. An instant deportation for me’
Notably, compelling a religion onto others appears incompatible with the core tenets of British values and British law. Here’s why: Under the Equality Act 2010, religion is one of the 9 protected characteristics.
The Equality Act 2010 says you must not be discriminated against because: • You are (or are not) of a particular religion • You hold (or do not hold) a particular philosophical belief • Someone thinks you are of a particular religion or hold a particular belief (this is known as discrimination by perception) • You are connected to someone who has a religion or belief (this is known as discrimination by association)
You’re a born Muslim who loves celebrating Christmas
For individuals born into Islam who haven’t distanced themselves from Christmas, they might discover inspiration in reverts who have effectively relinquished the observance of the holiday. Take our brother, YouTuber/Da’ee ‘The Muslim Cowboy,’ who posted a YouTube video today entitled ‘The real reason why Muslims don’t celebrate Xmas’.
With that said, we ought to be respectful and patient with new reverts who come from Christian families and grapple with how to navigate around the holiday season. May Allah make it easy for them.
In championing the significance of Eid celebrations, Muslims enrich the experience for their children, avoiding any sense of deprivation. The unwavering commitment to observing only what aligns with our faith not makes our own practice of Islam authentic and untarnished but also fortifies the identity of Muslim children. On a side note, I find Turkey a tad dry anyway.
In the midst of the holiday season, our hearts are heavy with the ongoing tragedy in Gaza. While I’d like to leave you with a “Happy Holidays” message, it’s time for collective action, not relaxation. May Allah bless all the Muslims and protect us from harm. #FreePalestine
