On replying back Christmas greetings
By Cinthia Mascarell
Christmas, for Christians, and by Christmas I mean the whole month of December until 25th Dec, is a time of joy and colour in the city. Bright decorations hanging everywhere, in every store, colored flashing lights on the trees in the streets. The city transforms, and people too.
As Muslims, we believe that Jesus (peace be upon him) was born miraculously from his virgin mother Mary. He was a prophet and he did a lot of miracles with the permission of God. He preached One God and not a trinity and he did not die for our sins on the cross as Christans believe.
Therefore, many Muslims do not agree on whether it is permissible or not to respond to the Christmas greeting of Christians, because they think that by doing so they may acknowledge what Christians believe about Jesus (PBUH). Therefore, Muslims do not celebrate Christmas.
I have been living in a Christian majority country, being a Muslim, and having to spend Christmas there. I know what it is when all your family, all your neighborhood and all your city is Christian, having to live with them and their customs. And I know the awkward feeling one as a Muslim gets when you see everyone in the streets and you have to receive a lot of “Merry Christmas” and you remember those sheikhs (Muslim scholars) in the videos of YouTube saying it is haram (forbidden) to celebrate Christmas, which is true and we should not celebrate it. However, “does replying the greeting with another ‘Merry Christmas’ make me join this celebration?”, “Should I reply?”, “should I not reply?”, “What can I say to avoid being rude and to avoid compromising my faith?”
The Christians when they wish us a Merry Christmas to the Muslims, they do it for several reasons: because they do not know that we do not celebrate Christmas, or because they feel uncomfortable to have to congratulate everyone and not to us, maybe because out of habit, or because they want to make us part of their joy.
As a Muslim one should always be well-mannered, and leave a greeting without replying or replying dryly explaining that one does not celebrate Christmas is rude. One, being part of a minority or a majority, is an ambassador of Islam at all times. Whether you are with a non-Muslim or a Muslim, you are setting an example of how to behave. Like it or not, it’s like that. The non-Muslim is evaluating you all the time or almost all the time, and another Muslim can imitate you when facing the same situation.
Personally speaking, I receive more Christmas and New Year greetings than greetings in Ramadan and Eid. Knowing how to act in these situations without dying in the attempt has been very useful.
Here I’m trying to give a solution to this issue:
Reply, greet them back, but be careful what you say.
One can answer in different ways, it’s just a matter of thinking a little. They tell you “Merry Christmas”, you can answer politely with:
“As a Muslim I do not celebrate Christmas or New Year, but I wish you enjoy a great night with your loved ones”.
“You look so happy these days, may you be this happy the entire year. Have a wonderful night”.
With this greeting, you politely say that you do not participate in these celebrations, but that you wish them a happy night. You, in addition, arouse their curiosity and you may get an excellent opportunity to make da’wah (invite them to Islam).
“Hey!, Muslims do not celebrate Christmas? Why? “…
By saying this, you are not congratulating for the birth of Jesus (peace be upon him), neither you are making an acknowledgment that Jesus (peace be upon him) was born on December 25th 2018 years ago, you are simply wishing your Christian friend or relative a good time, you are wishing him happiness that night in the company of his family.
I wish the best for the people around me, whether Muslim, Christian or any other faith. My response to any greeting, whether or not I participate in the celebration, will be the same:
“I may not agree with your celebration, but I wish you happiness “.
That is the message we are giving them.