Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year for Christians. And for Muslims, yeah sort of. It’s the most wonderful time of the year to explain Islam to the Non-Muslims because belief in Jesus as God’s messenger is one of the common beliefs shared between Islam and Christianity. There may be differences but if explained properly, it is hoped that you, the reader, will make much sense about how Islam views Jesus Christ and why Muslims do not celebrate Christmas.
JESUS IN ISLAM.
Muslims believe that Jesus performed miracles such as healing the sick, feeding large number of people by making little food enough for them and of course, giving life to the dead. Muslims believe in it too, except that we believe that it was done with the permission of Allah and not because of his divinity or being son of God. Allah said in the Quran,
“Jesus will be a messenger to the Children of Israel, who will say, ‘Indeed I have come to you with a sign from your Lord in that I design for you from clay that which is like the form of a bird, then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird by permission of Allah. I cure the blind and the leper, and I give life to the dead – by permission of Allah . And I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you are believers.’” ~Quran 3: 49.
WHY IS THERE NO CHRISTMAS IN ISLAM?
In spite of the love of the Muslims to Jesus we do not celebrate Christmas because of reasons that we want you to understand.
- DID JESUS CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS?
According to Historians, the Bible never even mentioned that Jesus celebrated his birthday. Moreover, his disciples and his early followers never did the same. Indeed we can find the best example from our prophets. If he is the truth, the way, and the light, why do we do something he did not order us to do?
- WHEN WAS CHRISTMAS FIRST CELEBRATED?
The Roman Catholic Church first celebrated Christmas on a festivity they call as the Feast of the Nativity in 336 AD. The word Christmas only entered the English language in the year 1050 AD in the form of the word christes maesse, which means THE FEAST OF CHRIST.
Jesus did not celebrate Christmas and this is a festivity invented by man only. In Islam man cannot invent matters of religion because it will only lead him astray from the straight path and he will only do harm to himself by doing so. Any innovation in religion is not acceptable even if we have the best intentions. Does not Allah know His religion better than us humans? Allah said in the Quran:
“Are you teaching Allah with your religion while Allah knows whatever is in the heavens and the earth, and Allah is Knowing of all things?” ~Quran 49:16.
So what is the use of adding or subtracting to God’s religion? Indeed Christmas is only an innovation in religion.
- WHAT IS THE REASON FOR ESTABLISHING CHRISTMAS?
Although the bible mentions about the birth of Jesus in some detail it never mentioned the exact date of this event…The Roman Catholic Church chose December 25 as the date of the birth of Jesus SO THAT THEY CAN ATTRACT THE PAGANS INTO EMBRACING THE CHRISTIAN FAITH BY ALLOWING THEM TO PRACTICE THEIR PAGANISTIC RITUALS WHILE THEY ARE GLORIFYING THE DAY OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS.
As you have seen here this is a clear deception wherein some people sacrificed their faith in order to attract more members and for some material gains, how could we allow ourselves to be deceived?
This kind of deception is not acceptable in Islam and it is a major sin that we lie about and change the matters of our religion even for good intentions.
- WHAT ARE THE EVIDENCES THAT DECEMBER 25 IS THE BIRTHDAY OF JESUS?
Actually, there is not a single evidence. First, all the circumstances involving the birth of Jesus in the Bible and in the Qur’an (Surah Maryam:25) all proves that Jesus was not born in the winter season.
Secondly, before the establishment of Christmas, every year, from December 17, the Romans celebrate a feast for Saturn, the ancient god of farming in a feast called SATURNALIA. This celebration lasts for about 7 days and ends on December 25…most of the Romans also celebrate the long day after the winter solstice by participating on rituals dedicated to MITHRA, the ancient god of light of PERSIA.
There are no historical accounts of December 25 before the institution of Christmas other than the Pagan rituals.
Why do we have to imitate the pagans? Why do we have to lie that this is the date of birth of Jesus?
- DOES CHRISTMAS BENEFIT THE SOCIETY?
The Bible neither gave any regulation on how Christmas should be performed nor does it indicate anything that suggests that it could ever be a religious celebration.
Rise of crime rates during Christmas season is alarming and this is because people have different interpretations of what Christmas is. People see Christmas as a time for excessiveness in material things by wasting money on food or even vice such as alcohol, fornication, and others.
Excessiveness is not a part of Islam. Therefore, there is no Christmas in Islam.
It is clear in the teachings of Islam that Jesus is only a prophet and not God and not a god. Muslims love and respect Jesus the way we love and respect all the prophets. In fact, Jesus was mentioned by name 25 times in the Quran, only mentioning good things about him, but we do not worship him or celebrate his birthday.
For more information about Islam, watch Mensahe TV at Cignal Channel 184. For your comments, questions and suggestion please drop me an email at mujahidnavarra@gmail.com. Have a nice day.
