Bi salaam, Allah knows best

Ahmed4002:
I am nonetheless appalled by the unauthentic opinions of some self claimed scholars who equate spending time with one’s non Muslim family during Christmas and the like with shirk or polytheism! This opinion is rather a mere aberration of the true authentic teachings of Islam both in letter and spirit.
Islam is a religion of mercy and it is an all encompassing value which includes all humans regardless of their religious affiliations, cultural differences and ethnic backgrounds and it encompasses plants, animals along with inanimate objects as well. In other words, the concept of mercy in Islam is so grand that it envelopes the whole universe, wouldn’t it apply one’s own mother too?
As a matter of fact, God in the Quran did not only allow us to keep ties with non-Muslim families but He raised the level of recommendation and made it an obligatory act which Muslims should abide by and this is obvious in the Quran when God said:

” But if they (your parents) endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me [in repentance]…” (Quran 31:15)

In this noble verse, God commanded us to keep warm ties with our families even when they exert their utmost efforts and place pressures on us to leave our religion. So what then about those who show respect to our religious choices and do not insult our belief in any way or form? Should we not even be more eager to show extreme kindness, and envelop them with mercy in our sayings and deeds to be a real embodiment of what Islam is all about?
Muslims show utter love to God’s creation in general as a sign of reverence to their divine origin and Islam placed unprecedented importance to the concept of high morals and made a unique connection between good ethical standards and between faith and creed. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said

“The nearest of you to me in the Day of Judgment are the ones who have the highest morals”. Therefore we are commanded to show kindness to all people, and to treat them with mercy and love, and to refrain from discriminating against them based on their religious choices, cultural backgrounds, or the like.
There is no legal impediment to participating in celebrating the birth of Jesus (peace be upon him). Islam is an open system and its followers believe, respect and honor all the prophets and messengers, and treat the followers of other religions with kindness in accordance to the words of God the Almighty:

“And dispute ye not with the People of the Book, except in the best way.” (Quran 29:46)

Jesus the son of Mary, peace be upon him, is one of the Prophets who are characterized with determination, resolution and patience. Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] said:

“I am more entitled to Jesus the son of Mary than anyone in this life and in the Hereafter; no prophet has been sent between us.”

Every Muslim believes that Jesus is a human prophet who performed great miracles, such as reviving the dead and curing the sick by the will of God the Almighty.
This was not because he was a god or the son of God in the sense of physical procreation—God is exalted above this. Celebrating the day of the birth of Jesus is an act of belief regardless of Christian convictions in his regard. Therefore, participate in your friends and family’s celebrations, eat with them and refrain from eating pork and drinking alcohol with tact and civility. Do not pay any attention to anyone who wants to ruin the relation between you and your family and others in the name of Islam because Islam is free from all of this.

Brother thanks for your write up but...
Islam like you said is a religion of tolerance and love
Won't it be beneficial by defining this tolerance
What you are saying in another way is that when the Ogun people are doing their festival or better still when a herbalist prepare rituals at their place of worship one can actually eat with him
If not then the same applies to christmas
On the tolerance and love, Islam has actually legalised the eating of Christians and Jews food so far it's their day in day out food and for their meats just saying bismillahi will suffice.
But when the food is attributed to sango, Ogun and Christmas festivals then it becomes haram(forbidden).
On the Christmas, you can read about the origin which I believe will do you a lot of good, reason why even some sect of the Christians don't celebrate it.
It's not a Christian festival rather a pagan festival adopted into Christianity.
Historically, biblically jesus was not born on the 25th. Of Dec.
Like you said as Muslims we believe in jesus as a prophet born of miraculous birth, did miraculous tins but not as a son of God.
Allah told us that he can forgive all sins if he wishes but he will never forgive shirk if the person doesn't repent before he dies. And also he said indeed my prayers, SACRIFICES, my life and my death is for Allah the Lord of mankind. Peace.

Mubis:

Brother thanks for your write up but...
Islam like you said is a religion of tolerance and love
Won't it be beneficial by defining this tolerance
What you are saying in another way is that when the Ogun people are doing their festival or better still when a herbalist prepare rituals at their place of worship one can actually eat with him
If not then the same applies to christmas
On the tolerance and love, Islam has actually legalised the eating of Christians and Jews food so far it's their day in day out food and for their meats just saying bismillahi will suffice.
But when the food is attributed to sango, Ogun and Christmas festivals then it becomes haram(forbidden).
On the Christmas, you can read about the origin which I believe will do you a lot of good, reason why even some sect of the Christians don't celebrate it.
.

If, however, one accepts the food without agreeing to the Christians’ celebration of Christmas and without having any veneration of Christmas, then the food will not be deemed to be haraam and it will be permissible for him to eat the food. This is, of course, if the food itself is not haraam.

Ahmed4002:



If, however, one accepts the food without agreeing to the Christians’ celebration of Christmas and without having any veneration of Christmas, then the food will not be deemed to be haraam and it will be permissible for him to eat the food. This is, of course, if the food itself is not haraam.

Bro what I think is next to tell you is to fear Allah and fear the day you will meet with him.
If you feel being accepted is what defines your faith then I tell you no.
If that's how the person gives you food everyday and you accept, but also make it clear to him that you are a Muslim, you don't celebrate Christmas and you hope the food is not for the celebration.
But what is best to me is to reject any SPECIAL attention, greeting or food on this day to show you abhor the celebration. Allah knows best
Like I said earlier fear your Lord and know that he knows what is in the deepest part of your soul.

Mubis:

Bro what I think is next to tell you is to fear Allah and fear the day you will meet with him.
If you feel being accepted is what defines your faith then I tell you no.
If that's how the person gives you food everyday and you accept, but also make it clear to him that you are a Muslim, you don't celebrate Christmas and you hope the food is not for the celebration.
But what is best to me is to reject any SPECIAL attention, greeting or food on this day to show you abhor the celebration. Allah knows best
Like I said earlier fear your Lord and know that he knows what is in the deepest part of your soul.

Have you read the tittle of the thread brother.

Ahmed4002:



If, however, one accepts the food without agreeing to the Christians’ celebration of Christmas and without having any veneration of Christmas, then the food will not be deemed to be haraam and it will be permissible for him to eat the food. This is, of course, if the food itself is not haraam.

you just have to watch what you say brother..Allah has warned us not to call what is halal haram and not to call haram halal..now let me ask you can we participate when it is Eyo festival?

abuhubaidah:
you just have to watch what you say brother..Allah has warned us not to call what is halal haram and not to call haram halal..now let me ask you can we participate when it is Eyo festival?

It's not a matter of debate. Allahu A'alam
And please check the tittle of the thread.

Ahmed4002:


It's not a matter of debate. Allahu A'alam
And please check the tittle of the thread.

i think you need to seek more knowledge about Islam.jaza'ka llahu kayran

abuhubaidah:
i think you need to seek more knowledge about Islam.jaza'ka llahu kayran

thank you .
bi salaam

Nice one OP... Jumah Kareem!

Mubis:

Bro what I think is next to tell you is to fear Allah and fear the day you will meet with him.
If you feel being accepted is what defines your faith then I tell you no.
If that's how the person gives you food everyday and you accept, but also make it clear to him that you are a Muslim, you don't celebrate Christmas and you hope the food is not for the celebration.
But what is best to me is to reject any SPECIAL attention, greeting or food on this day to show you abhor the celebration. Allah knows best
Like I said earlier fear your Lord and know that he knows what is in the deepest part of your soul.

baarokaLlaahu feekum

Mubis:

Bro what I think is next to tell you is to fear Allah and fear the day you will meet with him.
If you feel being accepted is what defines your faith then I tell you no.
If that's how the person gives you food everyday and you accept, but also make it clear to him that you are a Muslim, you don't celebrate Christmas and you hope the food is not for the celebration.
But what is best to me is to reject any SPECIAL attention, greeting or food on this day to show you abhor the celebration. Allah knows best
Like I said earlier fear your Lord and know that he knows what is in the deepest part of your soul.

baarokaLlaahu feekum

Ahmed4002:
I am nonetheless appalled by the unauthentic opinions of some self claimed scholars who equate spending time with one’s non Muslim family during Christmas and the like with shirk or polytheism! This opinion is rather a mere aberration of the true authentic teachings of Islam both in letter and spirit.
Islam is a religion of mercy and it is an all encompassing value which includes all humans regardless of their religious affiliations, cultural differences and ethnic backgrounds and it encompasses plants, animals along with inanimate objects as well. In other words, the concept of mercy in Islam is so grand that it envelopes the whole universe, wouldn’t it apply one’s own mother too?
As a matter of fact, God in the Quran did not only allow us to keep ties with non-Muslim families but He raised the level of recommendation and made it an obligatory act which Muslims should abide by and this is obvious in the Quran when God said:

[” But if they (your parents) endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me [in repentance]…” (Quran 31:15)

In this noble verse, God commanded us to keep warm ties with our families even when they exert their utmost efforts and place pressures on us to leave our religion. So what then about those who show respect to our religious choices and do not insult our belief in any way or form? Should we not even be more eager to show extreme kindness, and envelop them with mercy in our sayings and deeds to be a real embodiment of what Islam is all about?
Muslims show utter love to God’s creation in general as a sign of reverence to their divine origin and Islam placed unprecedented importance to the concept of high morals and made a unique connection between good ethical standards and between faith and creed. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said

“The nearest of you to me in the Day of Judgment are the ones who have the highest morals”.

Therefore we are commanded to show kindness to all people, and to treat them with mercy and love, and to refrain from discriminating against them based on their religious choices, cultural backgrounds, or the like.


[s] There is no legal impediment to participating in celebrating the birth of Jesus (peace be upon him). Islam is an open system and its followers believe, respect and honor all the prophets and messengers, and treat the followers of other religions with kindness in accordance to the words of God the Almighty:

“And dispute ye not with the People of the Book, except in the best way.” (Quran 29:46)

Jesus the son of Mary, peace be upon him, is one of the Prophets who are characterized with determination, resolution and patience. Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] said:

“I am more entitled to Jesus the son of Mary than anyone in this life and in the Hereafter; no prophet has been sent between us.”

Every Muslim believes that Jesus is a human prophet who performed great miracles, such as reviving the dead and curing the sick by the will of God the Almighty.
This was not because he was a god or the son of God in the sense of physical procreation—God is exalted above this. Celebrating the day of the birth of Jesus is an act of belief regardless of Christian convictions in his regard. Therefore, participate in your friends and family’s celebrations, eat with them and refrain from eating pork and drinking alcohol with tact and civility. Do not pay any attention to anyone who wants to ruin the relation between you and your family and others in the name of Islam because Islam is free from all of this.

[/s]

Bi salaam, Allah knows best

Bro, you've muffled everything up whereas the matter is clear & simple.

Yes, islaam encourages us to keep family ties, but you can keep family ties & spend time with them but not at the time when they're being disobedient to Allaah. in fact it'll be better to even stay away from them during such time to show disapproval of such acts.
.
.another point of concern is this "Christmas",
1. The 'Jesus' we know in islaam is different from the 'Jesus' they're celebrating.
2. They're own 'Jesus' is a god, is your's a god ?
3. They're own 'Jesus' was crucified on the cross, was your's crucified ?
4. they worship their own 'Jesus', do you worship your's?

I can go on and on with all the differences. You should know that once you choose to congratulate them and celebrate with them on this day & event, then you're approving of what they're ascribing to their own 'Jesus'.

I hope you'll understand the little I've tried to explain and also from what those who posted before me made clear.

AlhamduliLLah. Our brothers have done adequate justice in response to the issue you raised. I will advise you do away with the ego and take heed of those corrections.

Islam is not a religion where we can scramble together some verses of the Qur'an and the Hadith to support our random ideas and opinion, without seeking to learn the teachings of our righteous predecessors and learned scholars on that matter (May Allah bless them all for their sincere efforts).

Do not get it wrong, there is no obedience to the creation in disobedience to the Creator. Your family can not disprove of you if you show love to them through out the year and refuse to join in acts that defy Allah every once in a while. In fact, no one has said you should take a break from showing love to your non-Muslim family during the Christmas celebrations; just ensure it is in the normal form you've always done it, but making your utmost efforts to avoid anything that has to do with the Christmas or any other festival of such. You could give them a phone call or visit them as you have regularly done throughout the year and spend as much time as you want during the period, but avoid your salutations or discussions from shifting to the celebrations at hand. It is simple, sincerely, as long as you have already established your dos and don'ts. If there is sincere affection, they will respect your position.

AlhamduliLLah, you also quoted in your post the hadith where the Prophet (Peace be upon him) talked about his affinity with Prophet Eesa (Peace be upon him). It is therefore evident that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) is even more entitled to hold whatever celebrations in his honour, if it were truly the right thing to do.

From the foregoing, the truth of this matter is evident and we should, as true believers, stick with that, no matter how emotionally difficult it is for us.

May Allah grant us Istiqomoh, Aamiin.

Luckysbab, Aameen.

dragnet:


Bro, you've muffled everything up whereas the matter is clear & simple.

Jakallahu Khairan

Luckysbab:
AlhamduliLLah. Our brothers have done adequate justice in response to the issue you raised. I will advise you do away with the ego and take heed of those corrections.

Islam is not a religion where we can scramble together some verses of the Qur'an and the Hadith to support our random ideas and opinion, without seeking to learn the teachings of our righteous predecessors and learned scholars on that matter (May Allah bless them all for their sincere efforts).

Do not get it wrong, there is no obedience to the creation in disobedience to the Creator. Your family can not disprove of you if you show love to them through out the year and refuse to join in acts that defy Allah every once in a while. In fact, no one has said you should take a break from showing love to your non-Muslim family during the Christmas celebrations; just ensure it is in the normal form you've always done it, but making your utmost efforts to avoid anything that has to do with the Christmas or any other festival of such. You could give them a phone call or visit them as you have regularly done throughout the year and spend as much time as you want during the period, but avoid your salutations or discussions from shifting to the celebrations at hand. It is simple, sincerely, as long as you have already established your dos and don'ts. If there is sincere affection, they will respect your position.

AlhamduliLLah, you also quoted in your post the hadith where the Prophet (Peace be upon him) talked about his affinity with Prophet Eesa (Peace be upon him). It is therefore evident that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) is even more entitled to hold whatever celebrations in his honour, if it were truly the right thing to do.

From the foregoing, the truth of this matter is evident and we should, as true believers, stick with that, no matter how emotionally difficult it is for us.

May Allah grant us Istiqomoh, Aamiin.

Jazakallahu khairam, thank you

Ahmed4002:


Jakallahu Khairan

Aameen wa antum fajazaakaLlaahu khayran.
we all face such issues & though it may not go well with us, we can only pray Allaah makes it easy for us to abide by his rules.

Ahmed4002:

Jazakallahu khairam, thank you

Waiyyakum. It's my pleasure dear brother.