The perfect Christmas tree is bought. Adorned with ornaments and glittering with tinsel, it stands by the window. The stores are crammed with shoppers hunting for presents and the little ones anxiously waiting for Santa.
Busy with Christmas fever, wonder did you ever, did the Bible or Jesus made any injunction on Christmas ever?
Ponder upon the following analysis on Christmas, and the Truth will become clearer and clearer.
Does Christmas have Biblical Evidence? The word 'Christmas' does not exist in the Bible. The Bible has closed lips on the entire feast of Christmas, with one exception, the decoration of a tree. The Bible itself criticizes the decoration of the (Christmas) trees:
"The customs of the people are worthless, they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel, they adore it with silver and gold, they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter" (Jeremiah 10-3,4).
European Pre-Christian pagans superstitiously believed that the green trees had special protective powers. In fact the use of the Christmas tree began only in the 17th century in Strasbourg, France and from there it spread to Germany, Britain and then to the U.S. "Tree worship was a common feature of religion among the Teutonic and Scandinavian peoples of northern Europe before their conversion to Christianity…German settlers brought the Christmas tree custom to the American colonies in the 17th century. By the 19th century its use was quite widespread". (Compton's Encyclopedia, 1998 Edition)
Was Jesus born on Dec. 25?
Neither the date 25th Dec. nor any other date on Jesus' birth is mentioned in the Bible. It was not until the year 530 C.E. that a monk, Dionysus Exigus, fixed the date of Jesus' birth on Dec. 25th. . "He wrongly dated the birth of Christ according to the Roman system (i.e., 754 years after the founding of Rome) as Dec. 25, 753". (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1998 ed.) This date was chosen in keeping with the holidays already indoctrinated into pagans beliefs.
Roman pagans celebrated Dec. 25th as the birth of their 'god' of light, Mithra.
"In the 2nd century A..D., it (Mithraism) was more general in the Roman Empire than Christianity, to which it bore many similarities" (The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia, 1995 ed.
Other pagan 'gods' born on Dec. 25th are: Hercules the son of Zeus (Greeks); Bacchus, 'god' of wine (Romans); Adonis, 'god' of Greeks, and 'god' Freyr of Greek-Roman pagans.
What about Santa Claus?
If aliens descended on earth during the Christmas season, they would undoubtedly believe Christmas as being Santa's birthday. The words 'Santa Claus', appear nowhere in the Bible.
However, Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus) was a real person, a bishop, who was born 300 years after Jesus. According to legend, he was extremely kind and set out at night to bring presents to the needy. After his death on 6th of Dec., school boys in Europe began celebrating a feast day each year.
Queen Victoria later changed the celebration date from Dec. 6th to Dec. 24th eve.
Did Jesus or his Companions Celebrate Christmas?
If Jesus meant his followers to celebrate Christmas, he would have practiced it himself and enjoined it on his followers. There is no mention in the entire Bible that any of his followers ever celebrated Jesus' birthday like Christians do today.
"The church did not observe a festival for the celebration of the event of Christmas until the 4th century" (Grolier's Encyclopedia)
Thus we see that neither the Bible nor Jesus and his companions say anything about the celebration of Christmas which currently involves fanfare, commercialization, and extravagent spending, devoid of any spiritual relevance.
We'll now analyze the real person of Jesus (peace be upon him), in the light of the Bible and Islam.
What did Jesus Say about Himself? In many places in the Bible, Jesus, referring to himself as a Prophet said:
"A Prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house" (Matthew 13:57),
"Nevertheless I must walk today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a Prophet persists out of Jerusalem". (Luke 13:33).
Jesus Received God's Revelation
Similarly, Jesus Christ too, as a Prophet, received revelations from God: "But now you seek to kill me, a man that had told you the truth, which I heard of God" (John 8:40)
Jesus Prayed to his God
"And when he (Jesus) had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray" (Matthew 14:23)
Obvious question: If Jesus was God, who was he praying to?
Jesus put himself Equal to other Humans
Jesus put himself equal to other humans in the eyes of God.
"My father and your father, my God and your God" (John 20:17)
God does not have a God, But Jesus had a God! Moreover, the gospel writers referred to Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) as the 'son of man' about 85 times in the Gospels, and never once did he explicitly called himself 'God', or 'God the Son', or 'The Begotton Son of God'.
Jesus Preached God's Oneness
Jesus Christ, as a true Prophet of God, taught monotheism. When asked, 'What is the first of all commandments', Jesus replied:
"...The first of all the Commandments is, Hear O Israel; the Lord our God is One Lord" (Mark 12:29)
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent" (John 17:3)
Prophets of God
God, by his mercy, sent numerous Prophets throughout history to all nations as guides and role models. Some of the prophets were Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Jesus and the Last Prophet Muhammad (peace be on all of them). They all came with the same basic message, which is the Oneness of God, without any partners, sons or daughters.
This Oneness of God in its complete essence, preached by all prophets, was later distorted by some segments of humanity and naming these 'distortions' as 'religions', they left the worship of one true God and replaced it with worshiping humans, cows and fire. To purify humanity, God sent His last Prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a guide for all mankind and through him revealed in His last Messge, The Quran:
"They have adopted their scholars and monks as lords besides God and (also) Christ, the son of Mary, although they have been ordered to serve only God alone. There is no god but Him. Glory be to Him ! He is beyond what they associate (with Him)...." (Quran 9:31)
This utmost obedience and worship to one God, in its truest sense forms the basis of Islam. The entire Quran has been committed to memory by millions of Muslims around the world and preserved by God Himself from any interpolations, unlike previous scriptures, to provide guidance for all ages.
What Does Islam Teach?
Islam calls humanity to the service of the One, Omnipotent Creator ('Allah' in Arabic). Islam teaches the oneness of mankind in the eyes of God regardless of superficial differences such as race & nationality. In Islam there is no superiority of whites over blacks or vice versa. Anything that disrupts society's harmony and deviates humans from worshiping one true God is disliked in Islam. Thus Islam recognizes the evils of alcohol, drugs, premarital sex, gambling etc. and advises humans to stay sway from these Satan's handiwork. Islam further provides detailed instruction about a person's relationship with God, with his family and the society. Thus no aspect of a person's life is outside of the guidance provided by God.
Born Sinless!
Islam teaches that every child is born sinless with a pure heart and an inner instinct to realize the oneness of God. It is the parents or the environment that deviates this child to associate partners with God (in the form of multiple gods) or to reject God altogether.
No Mediator
There is no mediator between God and man. There is no need of one, for God, the All knowing, can listen and answer our sincere prayers regardless of our state and place.
Salvation comes through submitting to the pure belief in One God and following His guidance as revealed in the Quran, and not through the vicarious sacrifice (murder) of an innocent human being. Thus Islam is a rational religion based on justice and self accountability, and not on unjust and mysterious doctrines formulated by humans. Islam provides solutions to all the ills plaguing humanity. An example of Islam's stand on racial justice is provided below.
Islam Dispels Racis
One person's superiority over another is not based on his race, economic status or nationality but on his God-Consciousness and purity of character. God proclaims in the Quran:`"O mankind ! We have created you from a single (pair) of a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other and not that you may despise each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is the most righteous..." (49:13).
Likewise Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) proclaimed:"No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over a black man, or the black man any superiority over the white man. You are all the children of Adam, and Adam was created from clay."
After studying Islam, Malcolm X, became a true Muslim. He remarks:
"...America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem..."
The Quran was revealed in the Arabic language, but translations of its meaning are available in English and other languages for non-Arabs. Likewise Islam is not restricted to people of the east or Arabs, it is a universal religion revealed for all of mankind.
We invite all sincere humans to study Islam with an unbiased mind. Don't blindly follow the whims and paganistic influences of the environment around us. God bestowed upon us this superb mind to seek and live the truth; for we all will be accountable on the Day of Judgment for our beliefs and deeds. Don't delay your salvation.
And verily for everything that a slave loses there is a substitute, but the one who loses Allah will never find anything to replace Him.” [Related by Ibn al-Qayyim in ad-Dâ' wad-Dawâ Fasl 49]
Do you know what the word veneration means? Because to encase a stone in silver, put it on public display in a sacred place, and then have thousands of people eagerly touch and kiss it seems a lot like veneration.
Do you understand what I meant when I wrote, if it weren't in existence it wouldn't make a difference all together? To kiss is considered an innovation and if you knew anything about tawheed or fiqh you'd realize, that, that is in fact disallowed. Its purpose is the starting point of the kaaba no more no less!
I'd say even as secular historians of no religious affiliation are concerned...
yeah, we have heard of the two of them, sad, how even that fails to avail you....
You know we have had many christians on board and for years.. I'd live for the day when one of you surprises me with something a little less... well... indoctrinated!
all the best
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
Hehe, well at least you have a sense of humor despite trying to evade a straightforward reading of the text. You can always accept what it says and still claim some Christian forged it
Yeah dude.. I found the Canterbury tales more consistent, I am yet to see you give a cohesive reply to the integrity of your bible and its authenticity for any English content or Latin.. *you know the language that Jesus spoke/the language of heaven* or was it Hebrew? or Aramaic? or Greek ..
You need to look up 'fact' in the dictionary.. I don't think you are quite familiar with what it means and how to sustain it!
all the best
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
Do you understand what I meant when I wrote, if it weren't in existence it wouldn't make a difference all together? To kiss is considered an innovation and if you knew anything about tawheed or fiqh you'd realize, that, that is in fact disallowed. Its purpose is the starting point of the kaaba no more no less!
You're mistaken, kissing the black stone is not "bidah" or "shirk":
Narrated 'Abis bin Rabia:
'Umar came near the Black Stone and kissed it and said "No doubt, I know that you are a stone and can neither benefit anyone nor harm anyone. Had I not seen Allah's Apostle kissing you I would not have kissed you."
You're mistaken, kissing the black stone is not "bidah" or "shirk":
Narrated 'Abis bin Rabia:
'Umar came near the Black Stone and kissed it and said "No doubt, I know that you are a stone and can neither benefit anyone nor harm anyone. Had I not seen Allah's Apostle kissing you I would not have kissed you."
Sahih Bukhari Volume 2, Book 26, Number 667
I don't have time to look at the hadith in Arabic to see it word for word.. but it is unimportant, think this is the part you should have rather bolded .'you are a stone and can neither benefit anyone nor harm anyone'
I fail to see how a stone that benefits nor harms anyone as per hadith, is akin to this:
you should try harder, you always seem to come up empty.. taking statues for gods me thinkus is far grievous than looking at an age old stone and acknowledging it for what it is .. just that!
all the best
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
Very good and interesting thread Masha'Allah. I ask so many people what is christmas why do u celebrate it and they answer with one word: Presents! Some do say they think it to be the day Jesus (pbuh) was born. Anyhoo its clear that the bible does not suggest the celebration of christmas at all yet people make it out like its a christian celebration. It doesn't make sense lol
We HaVe OnE LiFe; iT SoOn wiLL Be PaSt; WhaT wE dO FoR ALLAH iS aLL ThaT wiLL LasT
Walking around a cube and venerating a black stone are examples of Pagan rituals that Muslims still hold on too.
It's a stone and nothing more then that. It can neither hear nor see nor help us or bring us relief from distress. We do not take it as a god, an intecessor or an intermediary with god or anything of the sort. The great companion Umar came to the Black Stone and kissed it and then he said: "I know that you are only a stone which can neither bring benefit nor cause harm. Were it not that I had seen the Prophet () kiss you, I would not have kissed you."
I don't know where you got this myth from, but worshipping it something we certainly don't do.
Last edited by 'Abd-al Latif; 10-22-2009 at 12:21 AM.
And verily for everything that a slave loses there is a substitute, but the one who loses Allah will never find anything to replace Him.” [Related by Ibn al-Qayyim in ad-Dâ' wad-Dawâ Fasl 49]
I don't know where you got this myth from, but worshipping it something we certainly don't do.
My point was that Pagan practices can also be found in Islam, and I don't think anyone has claimed that you worship the blackstone, but it can be said that you venerate it.
Someone said to the Prophet, "Pray to God against the idolaters and curse them." The Prophet replied, "I have been sent to show mercy and have not been sent to curse." (Muslim)
Circumventing the Ka'ba and venerating the Black Stone are practices that the Pagans of Mecca performed.
Venerate is quite simply the wrong terminology to use in this context; respect would be more appropriate.
Why is that more appropriate? The black stone is enshrined in silver, on public display in the holiest sanctuary of the Islamic religion, and the focus of ritual attention when Hajis walk by it to kiss it or touch it.
Circumventing the Ka'ba and venerating the Black Stone are practices that the Pagans of Mecca performed.
Please provide evidence that pagans did this and specifically WHEN. Sheik google only provides a list of hate sites, so I would very much like to know more about this ''pagan'' ritual.
Why is that more appropriate? The black stone is enshrined in silver, on public display in the holiest sanctuary of the Islamic religion, and the focus of ritual attention when Hajis walk by it to kiss it or touch it.
Take care,
Sojourn
Veneration 's meaning is too close to ''worshiping'' - which is only done to Allah, NOT the stone.
Someone said to the Prophet, "Pray to God against the idolaters and curse them." The Prophet replied, "I have been sent to show mercy and have not been sent to curse." (Muslim)
Please provide evidence that pagans did this and specifically WHEN. Sheik google only provides a list of hate sites, so I would very much like to know more about this ''pagan'' ritual.
I'm actually surprised you are unaware of this Aamir. Surah 7 aya 31, according to Ibn Kathir, addresses the Pagan practice of going around the Kaba in barren clothes, or even naked:
And here is a quote from the Sealed Nectar:
"People of pre-Islamic period, whilst believing in superstition, they still retained some of the Abrahamic traditions such as devotion to the Holy Sanctuary, circumambulation, observance of pilgrimage, the vigil on ‘Arafah and offering sacrifices, all of these were observed fully despite some innovations that adulterated these holy rituals." http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/B...s of the Arabs
The author of the above quote acknowledges circumbulation around the Ka'ba was performed by the mushrikin, but he attributes it to an Abrahamic tradition.
Veneration 's meaning is too close to ''worshiping'' - which is only done to Allah, NOT the stone.
Most Muslims I know don't distinguish between veneration and adoration but they are different. Western and Eastern Christians are familiar with this distinction. I think Fr John Hardon S.J.'s definition is sufficient and useful to explain this distinction:
ADORATION
The act of religion by which God is recognized as alone worthy of supreme honor because he is infinitely perfect, has supreme dominion over humans, and the right to human total dependence on the Creator. It is at once an act of mind and will, expressing itself in appropriate prayers, postures of praise, and acts of reverence and sacrifice.
VENERATION OF SAINTS
Honor paid to the saints who, by their intercession and example and in their possession of God, minister to human sanctification, helping the faithful grow in Christian virtue. Venerating the saints does not detract from the glory given to God, since whatever good they possess is a gift from his bounty. They reflect the divine perfections, and their supernatural qualities result from the graces Christ merited for them by the Cross. In the language of the Church's liturgy, the saints are venerated as sanctuaries of the Trinity, as adopted children of the Father, brethren of Christ, faithful members of his Mystical Body, and temples of the Holy Spirit.
http://www.catholicculture.org/cultu...x.cfm?id=37057
I'm actually surprised you are unaware of this Aamir. Surah 7 aya 31, according to Ibn Kathir, addresses the Pagan practice of going around the Kaba in barren clothes, or even naked:
And here is a quote from the Sealed Nectar:
"People of pre-Islamic period, whilst believing in superstition, they still retained some of the Abrahamic traditions such as devotion to the Holy Sanctuary, circumambulation, observance of pilgrimage, the vigil on ‘Arafah and offering sacrifices, all of these were observed fully despite some innovations that adulterated these holy rituals."
[URL="http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/SM_tsn/ch1s3.html#Religions of the Arabs"]http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/SM_tsn/ch1s3.html#Religions of the Arabs
The author of the above quote acknowledges circumbulation around the Ka'ba was performed by the mushrikin, but he attributes it to an Abrahamic tradition.
Meaning, the pagans COPIED the Arabs. So the act of circumventing the Kaba is not a pagan ritual; it is an Islamic ritual (via connection to previous abrahamic faiths, all from the same God) that the pagans b*st*rdized. The Ayat concerning the wearing of adornments was then revealed to prevent further b*st*rdization and to correct the people.
Most Muslims I know don't distinguish between veneration and adoration but they are different. Western and Eastern Christians are familiar with this distinction. I think Fr John Hardon S.J.'s definition is sufficient and useful to explain this distinction:
ADORATION
The act of religion by which God is recognized as alone worthy of supreme honor because he is infinitely perfect, has supreme dominion over humans, and the right to human total dependence on the Creator. It is at once an act of mind and will, expressing itself in appropriate prayers, postures of praise, and acts of reverence and sacrifice.
VENERATION OF SAINTS
Honor paid to the saints who, by their intercession and example and in their possession of God, minister to human sanctification, helping the faithful grow in Christian virtue. Venerating the saints does not detract from the glory given to God, since whatever good they possess is a gift from his bounty. They reflect the divine perfections, and their supernatural qualities result from the graces Christ merited for them by the Cross. In the language of the Church's liturgy, the saints are venerated as sanctuaries of the Trinity, as adopted children of the Father, brethren of Christ, faithful members of his Mystical Body, and temples of the Holy Spirit.
http://www.catholicculture.org/cultu...x.cfm?id=37057
Some muslims may venerate it but that does not mean it is to be venerated in Islam - it is an act of Sunnah to touch the stone, but some muslims misunderstand this and take it too far (which can lead to veneration). It happens on Mt Hijrah as well, when people start praying towards the ''birth'' place of Adam [PBUH]. I know because I have seen it.
In either case they are both merely parts of Islamic history: important to be aware of but NOT obligatory (in relation to any rituals), so I again stand by my previous comment of venerating being innapropriate on this matter.
p.s; Birds do tawaf around the kaba - guess they are following pagan traditions too
Someone said to the Prophet, "Pray to God against the idolaters and curse them." The Prophet replied, "I have been sent to show mercy and have not been sent to curse." (Muslim)
Meaning, the pagans COPIED the Arabs. So the act of circumventing the Kaba is not a pagan ritual; it is an Islamic ritual (via connection to previous abrahamic faiths, all from the same God)
The Islamic position is that Abraham is the source of these practices, and the Pagans simply continued them unknowingly. It is ultimately a position of faith, and serves to explain the continuation of these practices.
Some muslims may venerate it but that does not mean it is to be venerated in Islam - it is an act of Sunnah to touch the stone, but some muslims misunderstand this and take it too far (which can lead to veneration).
My point was that Pagan practices can also be found in Islam, and I don't think anyone has claimed that you worship the blackstone, but it can be said that you venerate it.
If you have a dictionary then look up the meaning of words 'worship' and 'ritual' and you'll see what the difference is. There is a fine line between worshipping something and taking it as a god and treating something as a part of a package of practices performed to attain a single goal - coming closer to god.
The saying of 'Umar you quoted in your own post proves that even the companions of the Messenger of God see the stone as nothing but a stone.
Where then do you find this as a pagan practice and veneration of a rock?!
And verily for everything that a slave loses there is a substitute, but the one who loses Allah will never find anything to replace Him.” [Related by Ibn al-Qayyim in ad-Dâ' wad-Dawâ Fasl 49]
If you have a dictionary then look up the meaning of words 'worship' and 'ritual' and you'll see what the difference is. There is a fine line between worshipping something and taking it as a god and treating something as a part of a package of practices performed to attain a single goal - coming closer to god.
I'm noticing a common misunderstanding, and that is using the words "worship" and "venerate" interchangeably. Worship basically means to honor, and in contemporary English it has been narrowed to the supreme honor given to God because He has supreme dominion and all creatures are dependent on Him. But then there is a lesser form of honor that is given to Saints, Angels, and certain objects worthy of this honor (i.e. fragments of the true cross,) and this lesser form of honor is called veneration. The reason why veneration doesn't detract from the supreme honor given to God was already mentioned above.
The saying of 'Umar you quoted in your own post proves that even the companions of the Messenger of God see the stone as nothing but a stone.
You don't have to recognize an object as Divine to venerate it.
Where then do you find this as a pagan practice and veneration of a rock?!
I say it's a Pagan practice because Pagans were venerating the Black Stone even before Muhammad.
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yeah, we have heard of the two of them, sad, how even that fails to avail you....
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