As an American Muslim I celebrate national holidays thanksgiving, Veterans Day, and secular Christmas. I was wondering when the opportunity arises how should I spend and introduce it to my son? (I’d like some suggestions) I was raised in a spiritual Christian family; where we celebrated both the religious and secular xmas. What I have in mind is teaching him about the greater Christmas spirit of giving unto others and volunteering. I also want to introduce him to the Christmas meal, picking a tree and decorating it, the gathering of family, gift giving. I’d tech the Quranic version of the Isha story while teaching him to respect the differences between the verious traditons. Is there anyway to put an Islamic spend on xmas?
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As an American Muslim woman as well I have to say that this is shirk, According to Islamic texts, anyone who commits shirk cannot be forgiven. As Muslims we are not to celebrate this things, they are pagan days. Beside that point the Bible even tells people to not take a tree fasten it down and decorate it with silver and gold this is the way of the heathen. I will pray for you sister that true islam and the teachings of Allah enter your heart so that you do not mislead your son from true islam.
In the my option celebrating a secular Xmas doesn't imply hostility to Allah or Islam, though some Muslims may think so. I am no less a Muslim nor is faith any less for doing so. I send Xmas card to my family and friends Muslim and no Muslim because I want to show them I care and was thinking of them. Shirk is the Islamic concept of the sin of polthism specifically, but in a more general way refers to worshiping other than Allah, associating partners with him, giving his characteristics to others beside him, or not believing in his characteristics. Within Islam, Major Shirk is an unforgivable sin. According to Islamic texts, anyone who commits shirk cannot be forgiven, Allah forgives any sin except for major.
Decorating a tree is in no way form Shirk. I am not worshiping anything not praying to anyone but Allah on any given day. I went to Juma in the ice rain today to pray to god. I am able to separate the religious from a secular Xmas. I spend Christmas eve enjoying dinner with close friends and my brother. If you ever take basic world religion class you'll learn how major world religions have exchange traditions and festivals and influence each other. I hope you can open up to something new.
I am tired and going to take a nap Wasalaam and I am not a sister my name is Bashir
A bit late, but I'd be interested in knowing what you did... Still for next year....
Muslims everywhere follow local traditions -- like Nowruz in Iran. I prefer not to observe Xmas in any way, but I don't have kids so that's an easy choice!
If you choose to observe Xmas I would recommend explaining its seasonal roots. As a winter solstice tradition from the northern latitudes, the lights are to brighten up the long, dark nights. The tree kept inside would dry out and be good for firewood. The feasts are to use up food before it goes bad and layer on fat to protect the body against winter cold.
The Christians in Europe took on these traditions and adapted them to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Of course we understand that even though Jesus was born of a virgin by God's miracle, God was not his father. Still, with proper education, what harm can there be in observing the traditional birthday feast of a prophet? (By the way, Jesus was born in March.)
I would be very careful in explaining the holiday, but also tell the Christian version -- stressing that it's not what we Muslims accept, but knowing what their friends' Christian beliefs are and respecting those will help to avoid arguments about it.