Christmas Innovation in Islam
Monday, December 20, 2010
Some Good Maths Games
A large number of Muslims today, especially those living in Christian countries or those strongly influenced by Western culture, have come to believe that part of the celebrations Christmas with friends and relatives is a harmless pastime or a form of entertainment for children and adults.
In many cases, the pressure to accommodate the practices of the society is too great for those of weak resolve. Parents are often tempted to yield to the entreaties of her children who have been invited to a party or are unable to understand why they can not enjoy the holidays they observe around them or why they can not receive gifts on such occasions as the other children.
In fact, the Christmas season has been aggressively promoted by merchants, schools, in every public place. The high-pressure tactics of the sales have invaded the homes through television, radio, magazines and newspapers, captivate the imagination with all sorts of attractions, day and night, throughout the year.
Among earlier generations, Christmas was an occasion that had a largely religious. Gifts, trees, decorations and feasts assumed a minor role. But now all that has changed. As highlighted in an American publication, Christmas has taken over many other aspects of society, becoming an element in the cultural background, which allows each station manufacturers and traders make millions of dollars through an elaborate system of gift exchange.
The idea is commonly accepted that happiness is derived largely from possessions and that entertainment is the driving force behind month long preparations and festivities continue until year's end. This, despite being objectionable in itself, has managed to capture many Muslims in the delusion that Christmas is a religious occasion and therefore does not conflict with Islamic belief.
The materialistic atmosphere surrounding the celebration of Christmas is actually a manifestation of pagan culture (Jaahiliyyah) at its best . This can only be perceived by the Muslim conscious as a frantic race designed and implemented by Satan to make a big waste of time, effort, money and resources, while countless families can barely survive in a state of extreme poverty in many regions world.
In addition to the commercial side of Christmas, though less obvious to the casual observer, there are certain religious aspects that should be noted. The celebration was and remains a Christian practice as marking the birth of Jesus, peace be upon him, who is considered by many as "God incarnate" or the second person of a trinity, and so they celebrate the birth of "divinity." The word itself is an abbreviation of "Christ Mass", ie sacrament commemorating Christ. Although has been adopted by Christians to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the actual date of the celebration, on December 25, appears only around the fourth century after Christ. Ironically, this day is also considered the birthday of Hindu god Krishna, and Mithra, the Greek god of light. It also coincides with the Tree Festival, held annually for a long time in northern Europe before the Christian era, and has recently been revived in some Arab countries in an attempt to encourage the celebration disguising the religious significance of it.
The Christmas tree is the most obvious aspect of this pagan celebration, which was built along with its completion date, December 25, to the rites of the church. The pagans, before the Christian era, believed that the pine, because it keeps its green spikes during the winter months, she had special powers of protection against the forces of nature and evil spirits. The end of December marked the beginning of a visible lengthening of daylight hours: the return of heat and light, and defeat the evil forces of cold and darkness. At a particular stage of development, the church is known for taking some of the popular pagan practices into Christianity for political or social reasons.
Thus, in some ways more than others, Christmas is deeply rooted in the worship of different forms of creation rather than the Creator same. A Muslim can not adopt such beliefs or practices from them. Anyone with the slightest knowledge of Islam reject insurance kufr (disbelief) and shirk (idolatry or associating partners to Allah) in all its forms. Only through ignorance or neglect can anyone continue to participate in activities that reflect the acceptance of both. Muslims must be firm in rejecting everything that is contrary to the concept of "La ilaha il Allah, Allah" (there is none has the right to be worshiped except Allah).
Consideration for others is good, but with the proviso that Islamic principles are not compromised. Allah, Exalted and Glorified be He, says (what means in English): {And if you obey those who are most of the earth [the unbelievers] will lead thee away from the path of Allah ...} [Quran 6:116]
And Order: {Follow what has been revealed from your Lord, and do not take any protector beside Him ...} [Quran 7:3]
Although some, in all honesty support its continued weakness against peer pressure, others defend their participation by using the excuse that part of the occasion out of respect to 'Isa (Jesus), peace be upon him, a Prophet of Islam. If such a practice, with the appearance of Islamic atmosphere, is invalid for the Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam, how then can be reasonably valid for other prophets who did not practiced or encouraged such practices, which were devised later by who abandoned the prophetic teachings to follow their own inclinations and preferences?
{Have you not [O Muhammad] from those who follow their passions as if they were a god? Allah decreed by His divine knowledge that go astray ...} [Quran 45:23]
Once again, the Muslim must remember the hadith where the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam, warned of imitating the unbelievers, and encouraged them distinguished in dress and manner.
Whether taken from a materialistic point of view or religious, Christmas can not take place in either the heart or the Muslim home.
Any Muslim, young or old, who has a safe place in a community or Islamic group that has regular activities and is a source of fellowship, will find little difficulty in rejecting what is harmful to himself and his family, despite the apparent attraction. In some countries, denial and resistance may require a true jihad, but those who seek the acceptance of Allah and fear Him, will overcome the task with the knowledge that they are working for their salvation, and so be firm and resolved. Allah, Blessed and Exalted, calls believers saying (what means in English): {O you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is men and stones ...} [Quran 66:6]
And Paradise is achieved by avoiding Hell.
Source: http://www.islamweb.net/esp/index.php?page=articles&id=155777
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