Firm Believers

Earlier this year, British Muslim Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan, who was a second place runner up in the Roadhouse Poetry Slam, used her poetry to ask why British Muslims are under so much pressure to present themselves as outstanding members of society.

Part of her poem reads, ‘Because if you need me to prove my humanity, I’m not the one that’s not human.’ (8)

The harsh reality is that in a climate of fear, suspicion, and doubt, a Muslim needs to do more than just follow the Prophetic example of sharing the food you have just made with your non-Muslim neighbor. Nor it is about standing up out of respect for the funeral procession of a non-Muslim.

It is about being firm in belief, confident, compassionate, kind, loving and being involved as a positive member in society.

As a recent poster Christmas campaign by the Muslim Council of Britain read, ‘Don’t Panic, Christmas is not Banned’. (9)

Earlier this year, The Guardian newspaper reported a story where a Muslim foster couple were raising Christian children.

The wife, Riffat, said, “We are Muslims and we’d never had a Christmas tree in our home. But these children were Christian and we wanted them to feel connected to their culture. I had never seen that kind of extra happiness and excitement on a child’s face.” (10)

Muslims & Christmas

Sadly, the hysteria in some quarters has led to fake news implying that Muslims have banned Christmas which really is nonsense.

This is evidenced by the fact that almost every shopping mall across the Middle East and Southeast Asia is full of Christmas trees, and the fact that most British Muslims, in varying capacities, celebrate Christmas.

The 2015 winner of the Great British Bake Off, Nadiya Hussain for example, spoke to The Big Issue, answering a number of questions, my favorite being, “For me, it’s about eating roast potatoes. I love them any time of year, but especially Christmas. I roast them in butter, so they are yummy: crisp around the edges, fluffy in the middle, really well-seasoned.” (11) Who wouldn’t love the tradition of roast potatoes on Christmas?

In a video that has been viewed more than 200,000 times, British Muslim Tez Ilyas, comments on whether Muslims are trying to ban Christmas. While at times his language is rude, the substance of his message is spot on:

From the earliest groups of British Muslims who would play the piano and sing Hymns (12) to today, we have always been involved in celebrating Christmas in one capacity or another. Why? Because underneath what has become a very commercial celebration, this time of year reflects the birth of a person many of us hold dear: Jesus, peace be upon him.

In the spirit of British Muslim heritage, the January 1915 edition of the Islamic Review published a prayer: “O God, we pray for Thy Almighty protection and assistance in our present struggle for freedom and honor. May we continue to tread with confidence the difficult and thorny path – directed by Thee alone – and may we endeavor to learn the lesson Thou has set before us with humility and patience, and with the full assurance that Thy All-Merciful care will ultimately guide our feet into the way of peace.

“Following in the footsteps of Thy Holy Prophets, may we endeavor to forgive our cruel enemies, but, mindful of the teachings and example of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, may we be firm in the suppression of all that is unjust, unmanly, and cruel.” (13)

Islam came to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) because of his personality and character, and Muslims should be willing to acknowledge the Prophet’s respect towards Christians, their traditions, and their customs, that helped shape his wife, Khadija, in which he found comfort and strength, before she became the first convert to Islam, enabling him to become the Prophet we all know today.

This is why it is important for us to recognize, honor and celebrate the birth of Jesus. Merry Christmas.

Refrences:

(1) ‘Corrie Block, The Quran in Christian-Muslim Dialogue: Historical and Modern Interpretations, p25’

(2) http://aaiil.org/text/articles/islamicreview/1915/01jan/islamicreview_191501.pdf

(3) https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/nov/13/threats-boycott-tesco-muslim-family-christmas-ad

(4) https://twitter.com/amirkingkhan/status/942956538297233408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.co.uk%2Fentry%2Fit-shouldnt-be-wrong-to-celebrate-christmas-as-a-muslim_uk_5a393e85e4b0cebf48e9f7c0

(5) https://twitter.com/Muslim_Aid/status/943817739080294400

(6) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIWpvlDkzwo

(7) https://static1.squarespace.com/static/599c3d2febbd1a90cffdd8a9/t/5a38feee53450a36410e66c8/1513684791406/Report+I%3A+A+Very+Merry+Christmas+

(8) https://youtu.be/G9Sz2BQdMF8

(9) http://www.mcb.org.uk/keep-calm-christmas/

(10) https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/dec/03/muslim-foster-parents-it-has-been-such-a-blessing

(11) https://www.bigissue.com/interviews/bake-merry-little-christmas-bake-off-champion-nadiya/

(12) http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/12/victorian-muslims-celebrate-christmas-171214134651020.html

(13) http://aaiil.org/text/articles/islamicreview/1915/01jan/islamicreview_191501.pdf