Muslims Celebrating Christmas?!?

JR Wrote:What about us reverts who come from Christian families?

Salaam J.R,

It's funny you say that..Both my parents are American-Muslims who converted in the 70's, but everyone in my parents families are Christian (my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc). When I was growing up, my father was very adamant that I was not to partake in any Christmas celebrations whatsoever. Every year my grandparents & aunts always tried to give me presents, and every year my father wouldn't accept them...So, because  I raised to believe that Christmas is a big "no-no",  I do not feel comfortable at all with accpeting an invitaion to anyone's house on Christmas Day now that I'm an adult... Even though I'm an adult now, my Christian family STILL inviltes me over to their house on December 25th, they're like "Come over! You dont have to celebrate, just be with us!!"..I know they mean no harm at all and they love me ,but I politely stay home--because it just doesnt feel right to me.

However, I have noticed that Muslims who converted from Christianity--they seem to not be able to completely let Christmas go, and I guess that situation is understandable. I guess if you grew up celebrating it--then  I guess you would feel weird not going to your family's house that day..

I do know that during the Prophet's time, Allah did allow Muslims to gradually come into Islam. I've read that for example, many Muslims used to drink alcohol and ven come to their prayers drunk; but the Prophet didn't instruct them to give up alcohol until years later. Allah does say he teaches man "through stages", and Allah is The Most Wise...I guess this pertains to Christain converts as they are coming to Islam as well.

Let me tell you my first 'Christmas experience'. When I was 5 years old, I belived in Santa Claus.  (Like I said, my family is Christian, and my little cousins convinced me it was true)..As Christmas approached, all of my little cousins were sooo excited about Christmas Day. They all told me that Santa was coming, and I was sooo excited. I imagined him flying thriough the sky, coming through our window, leaving presents.... On December 25th I got up at about 6am, and ran to the living room at full speed. When I entered my parents living room, I was shocked. There was no tree, no presents, no nothing. I knew how to use the phone, so I picked up the living room phone, and called my Aunts house (who was Christian).  I said "Santa didn't come here!". There was this silence on the phone, and we hung up.....Even though I was 5, at that moment I completely understood that I was Muslim, and that meant my life was going to be different. I never looked for Christmas agian.

Good Luck. And I dont think you'll be punished for eating your Mom's food :)

Salaam

Santa Claus, is basically based on Saint Nicholas. He gave gifts to people at night secretly.

The Real Face Of Santa
8:30pm Monday, December 19, 2005


Santa Claus is the world's most famous character, yet little is known about the real man behind the legend. This film reveals to the world the real face of St Nicholas, and pieces together the mysterious story of his life. As the film progresses we peel back the layers of history to tell the controversial story behind the man who inspired Santa.

This Christmas Special applies cutting edge forensics to the bones of this 3rd century saint that lie in his shrine in Bari, Italy to reconstruct his face from his skull. For the first time since his death in 340 AD, the world will see the true face of Father Christmas.

Led by FBI-trained Italian pathologist, Franco Introna who divides his time between investigating Mafia killings and examining saints and their relics for the Vatican, our investigation into the real Santa takes us from the third century Roman Empire via Turkey and Italy up to present- day Manchester where a crack forensic team painstakingly reconstructs the great man's face. Along the way we discover an international jigsaw puzzle of missing bones, fake relics, an audacious seaborne raid to steal Santa's body and the modern day scandal of how the business of miracles is threatening the very survival of St Nicholas's mortal remains.

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/netw/200512/programs/ZY7889A0 01D19122005T203000.htm

above is for a documentary that was on tv, it is very good.

more on the man:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas

http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=23