Would you accept a Christmas card from someone?

[Italianguy]

Greetings,

It's difficult to refuse something when someone is trying to be nice, but I would feel uncomfortable if someone gave me a Christmas card. As Woodrow said, it is contrary to what we believe. But I don't understand why people would go as far as sending them - isn't that cooperating in non-Muslim celebrations?

But from the other perspective, how would a non-Muslim react if a Muslim gave them an Eid card? Would you feel awkward/uncomfortable or thankful?

I would accept it wholeheartedly, I would take no insult. I get them from my Muslim friends all the time(EID). I know they have the best intensions when they send them to me.
or at least thats what they say.

God bless

 

[Italianguy]

You know, i never really thought of that. I send multiple Christ-mass cards to all my freinds and family, even my Muslim freinds. Most of them just thank me for the gesture.

I, and my family celebrate Christmas a little bit different. We do not throw parties or exchange gifts (well sometimes). We focus only on the true meaning of Christmas wich is the birth of Christ. For most Christmas is nothing more than presents and parties, and some i speek with just believe in Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas. I will not let my family focus or believe in a fat guy who sqeezes his body through a chimmeny giving gifts. My Nonna (Grandmother) used to say "That is nothing short of idol worship" She only focused on the birth of Christ.

Here is what my family does

1.)Christmas eve, service at church- 3 Hours
2.)Christmas day, Service at church- 5 hours
3.)Christmas night, Personal and family prayer-approx 6 hours

basicly all prayer, my mother will decorate some but i put up no tree. I wake my son up and pray with him, read the Bible about Christs birth and them we go to the food drive to feed the poor and needy. I give my son 4 gifts and he has to pick 1 gift to give a child that does not get the chance to have one. Last year he gave all of his to a Muslim family i am freinds with that had fallen on rough financial times and they just happen to have 4 boys.

I think we as Christians have forgotten what Christmas means. We should not focus on the best gifts idol worship or besting each other with monitary items.

God bless, and for the Christmas card thing...just accept them no one is out to insult you by this, i actually just bought Happy new Year cards this year for my Muslim friends.

Sorry i got a little of topic there. I mean no insult to any Muslim. I know you do not celebrate Christmas.

God bless

 

[Supreme]

think we as Christians have forgotten what Christmas means. We should not focus on the best gifts idol worship or besting each other with monitary items.

Not really. I usually go to the Christmas service on Christmas Day (actually, church attendance goes far higher than usual at Christmas), and this year God willing, I'll attend a Midnight Mass at my local Anglican Church (my usual church doesn't offer it). For me, it's a mixture of both Christian and secular themes.

 

[Esther462]

I would only accept Christmas cards from my family and I will only give Christmas cards to my family. They are Christans and I'm the only muslim in my family so I don't won't to be left out of the family. I give cards saying Happy Holidays, (which I make myself) rather saying Happy Christmas and they are happy with that.

 

[HandOnHeart]

I accepted a Christmas Card today, but she did not know i was muslim. I threw it in the bin, thats what i did with them before I converted to. Really, they are only cards and i don't think they have any significance.

 

[Asimbo]

Asalaamualakum,

I can't help but offer my opinion here. Why does it have to be so bad that someone Christian, or a person simply giving a Christmas card without any religeous meaning behind it, that it needs to be explained to them that we are Muslim and they shouldn't give us a card ever again. That is insane and it is not what we are taught as Muslim's, to accept others for they're own beliefs and hope they accept us for our beliefs. If I sent someone a Eid Mubarak card, do you think they would tell me to never do it again, just cause it's from my religeon? It wouldn't happen. We are too hung up on what is right in Islam and what is really going on in this world. Let's stop imposing and enjoy each other for who we all are and respect each others beliefs. Say thank you for the thoughtful card and don't forget to give them a card and a gift on Eid next year!

I come from a background where I was not religeous but I believed in God, and Christmas was a time to enjoy decorating the house, making good food and pastries, and giving a gift to say thank you for being there all year, and most of all, time to spend together as a family and enjoy friendships, which I have been taught that in Islam is the very same importance, except for decorating and giving gifts(yet people in my Muslim family feel that giving gifts on Dec 26th is Halal)but my values are still directed at what is right about Dec 25th, family and being together. What is most important to Allah subbhanna watallah, is that we do what is right and we take care of our families and pay our zakat and we respect one another. And don't forget to make salat 5 times a day!

 

[Karina]

???

I would accept a card graciously from any worshiper of any religion..... and be grateful and touched that they had taken the time to think of me and share with me their celebration.

Why would I have reason to be offended, simply because they don't share my (non)faith?

I don't understand why you would not wish to be in someones kind thoughts too?

My non-Muslim friend went round to her Muslim friend's house the other week to share in their celebration of Eid - is this wrong too? No sharing of faith, just sharing of food, joy and togetherness.

And little things like that make the world a much nicer place.

*sigh* I'm baffled.
:hmm:

 

[cat eyes]

Asalaamualakum,

I can't help but offer my opinion here. Why does it have to be so bad that someone Christian, or a person simply giving a Christmas card without any religeous meaning behind it, that it needs to be explained to them that we are Muslim and they shouldn't give us a card ever again. That is insane and it is not what we are taught as Muslim's, to accept others for they're own beliefs and hope they accept us for our beliefs. If I sent someone a Eid Mubarak card, do you think they would tell me to never do it again, just cause it's from my religeon? It wouldn't happen. We are too hung up on what is right in Islam and what is really going on in this world. Let's stop imposing and enjoy each other for who we all are and respect each others beliefs. Say thank you for the thoughtful card and don't forget to give them a card and a gift on Eid next year!

I come from a background where I was not religeous but I believed in God, and Christmas was a time to enjoy decorating the house, making good food and pastries, and giving a gift to say thank you for being there all year, and most of all, time to spend together as a family and enjoy friendships, which I have been taught that in Islam is the very same importance, except for decorating and giving gifts(yet people in my Muslim family feel that giving gifts on Dec 26th is Halal)but my values are still directed at what is right about Dec 25th, family and being together. What is most important to Allah subbhanna watallah, is that we do what is right and we take care of our families and pay our zakat and we respect one another. And don't forget to make salat 5 times a day!

as i completely understand your post but i think its a bit to harsh on the muslims that actually really and truly fear Allah that they don't want to accept it until you will reach that level of imaan and taqwa inshaAllah you will be able to understand as me and my friends always talk about this and believe me its really not about showing off or wanting to be ignorant with our non muslims but it is purely the fear of Allah swt that they reject such stuff as its related to the fact that they believe jesus pbuh who they claim is a god and was born on that day so inshaAllah one day you will understand that what i am trying to actually say that they fear Allah so much that even anything remotely related to there beliefs they reject it so we should not judge them brother and pray we should be on the same level as them because it is better for us at the end of the day :wa:

 

[CosmicPathos]

I would not be happy receiving a "Christmas" card from a person who knows that I am not a pagan. To me, giving me a xmas card to me would highlight that the person giving it to me does not really care about what I think is pure and what I think is impure. Rather than take it as a "friendly gesture" I would take it to be a mean and a rude gesture by someone who is insensitive. Of course if the Christian did not know that I am a Muslim, ill pardon him the first time.

 

[Supreme]

Asalaamualakum,

I can't help but offer my opinion here. Why does it have to be so bad that someone Christian, or a person simply giving a Christmas card without any religeous meaning behind it, that it needs to be explained to them that we are Muslim and they shouldn't give us a card ever again. That is insane and it is not what we are taught as Muslim's, to accept others for they're own beliefs and hope they accept us for our beliefs. If I sent someone a Eid Mubarak card, do you think they would tell me to never do it again, just cause it's from my religeon? It wouldn't happen. We are too hung up on what is right in Islam and what is really going on in this world. Let's stop imposing and enjoy each other for who we all are and respect each others beliefs. Say thank you for the thoughtful card and don't forget to give them a card and a gift on Eid next year!

I come from a background where I was not religeous but I believed in God, and Christmas was a time to enjoy decorating the house, making good food and pastries, and giving a gift to say thank you for being there all year, and most of all, time to spend together as a family and enjoy friendships, which I have been taught that in Islam is the very same importance, except for decorating and giving gifts(yet people in my Muslim family feel that giving gifts on Dec 26th is Halal)but my values are still directed at what is right about Dec 25th, family and being together. What is most important to Allah subbhanna watallah, is that we do what is right and we take care of our families and pay our zakat and we respect one another. And don't forget to make salat 5 times a day!

I must admit, this is by far the best post on this thread.

 

[Argamemnon]

I would not be happy receiving a "Christmas" card from a person who knows that I am not a pagan. To me, giving me a xmas card to me would highlight that the person giving it to me does not really care about what I think is pure and what I think is impure. Rather than take it as a "friendly gesture" I would take it to be a mean and a rude gesture by someone who is insensitive. Of course if the Christian did not know that I am a Muslim, ill pardon him the first time.

That's not the right attitude because most non-Muslims are ignorant about Islam.

 

[CosmicPathos]

That's not the right attitude because most non-Muslims are ignorant about Islam.

That is the right attitude. Why is not it a right attitude? Am I insulting the Christian? I have no obligation to accept his/her gift in the form of something that promotes paganism. Even if the intention of the card-giver is not to tell me to worship pagan gods, the fact is that Christmas is a pagan holiday. You cannot take away the real meaning of the event by arguing that the person's intention was nto that.

I DO NOT want to give an eid card to a Christian. I would not feel comfortable celebrating my religious event with a non-Muslim. In the same way, I would expect a non-Muslim to feel uncomfortable while trying to celebrate his/her event with me, especially when the cultural norms would dictate that its "rude to not accept gifts."

Just cuz my attitude is different from yours, you call it inappropriate?

 

[Muhammad]

Greetings,

Would you accept a free Christmas dinner on the last day of work as is happening where I work? It is offered to everyone of every religion, colour and nationality.

No, I wouldn't go because this would be like participating in Christmas celebrations and as a Muslim, I am forbidden to do so.

We as Muslims should pass this festival by with dignity, refraining from the office 'parties', Christmas celebrations, the exchange of gifts, and even exchanging Christmas greetings. There are a number of reasons for this: firstly, to become involved in a festival is to sanction the beliefs behind such a festival and as Muslims we are forbidden to sanction anything other than Islam. Just as we as Muslims distance ourselves from celebrations such as Diwali (Hinduism) and Hanukkah (Judaism), we must also do so with Christmas. By celebrating Christmas, not only do we sanction pagan and Christian practices, but we imply that the festival is pleasing to us and that Islam is not complete as it missed out on the festival of Christmas...

From: Christmas and the Paganisation of Christianity

​

Although such things might seem harmless to some Muslims, it is important they refer this back to what the scholars of Islam have said and understand the issue as it should be understood - in the light of the guidance in the Qur'an and Sunnah.

Peace.

 

[Asimbo]

as i completely understand your post but i think its a bit to harsh on the muslims that actually really and truly fear Allah that they don't want to accept it until you will reach that level of imaan and taqwa inshaAllah you will be able to understand as me and my friends always talk about this and believe me its really not about showing off or wanting to be ignorant with our non muslims but it is purely the fear of Allah swt that they reject such stuff as its related to the fact that they believe jesus pbuh who they claim is a god and was born on that day so inshaAllah one day you will understand that what i am trying to actually say that they fear Allah so much that even anything remotely related to there beliefs they reject it so we should not judge them brother and pray we should be on the same level as them because it is better for us at the end of the day :wa:

Please know I'm not trying to make any other brothers or sisters feel bad or angry but I do think we are allowed to have an opinion. I do respect them for they're opinion as well.

I do understand, and yes I am still learning to be a better Muslim, everyday, but if there is one thing I do know, it's that many things in our life are taken out of context. I understand the fear of Allah and I respect that, but I also don't believe that someone who only believes this, should impose and make another feel bad about accepting a card from a non-muslim. I'm sorry if this bothers a brother or sister, I don't mean to, but I think we all need to lighten up a little and just be proud of who we are and not lose sight of what we are here to do on earth, for Allah.

 

[Grofica]

That is the right attitude. Why is not it a right attitude? Am I insulting the Christian? I have no obligation to accept his/her gift in the form of something that promotes paganism. Even if the intention of the card-giver is not to tell me to worship pagan gods, the fact is that Christmas is a pagan holiday. You cannot take away the real meaning of the event by arguing that the person's intention was nto that.

i am not sure how you see christmas as a pagan holiday... the winter solstice is on the 21st (or sometimes 22nd) of december not the 25th.

I dont mind if i get a x-mas email from family friends whom ever has good intentions as long as they are equal with all holidays... (we get a lot of mass emails at work) the only part that bothers me is if people are going to send out happy anything they should send it out for every holiday... once i start getting Bajram emails and hanaka emails and kwanza emails then i will stop complianing... i think everyone has a right to say happy holiday i just think we should be equal...

i just hate feeling pushed and suffocated by the x-mas stuff. and dont get me wrong im not saying one is wrong or right im just saying if people dont want to send a holiday greeting for EVERY holiday then none should be sent... (to other then family)

 

[Italianguy]

Not really. I usually go to the Christmas service on Christmas Day (actually, church attendance goes far higher than usual at Christmas), and this year God willing, I'll attend a Midnight Mass at my local Anglican Church (my usual church doesn't offer it). For me, it's a mixture of both Christian and secular themes.

Of course its far higher at christmas, Christians shouldn't wait for His birthday to come to church.
Wow thats a twist on Christmas, i mean the Anglican church. Sounds like a good way to worship.

 

[Supreme]

Of course its far higher at christmas, Christians shouldn't wait for His birthday to come to church.

Going to church does not mean you are not a Christian.

Wow thats a twist on Christmas, i mean the Anglican church. Sounds like a good way to worship

I do hope that's not sarcasm.

 

[Italianguy]

That is the right attitude. Why is not it a right attitude? Am I insulting the Christian? I have no obligation to accept his/her gift in the form of something that promotes paganism. Even if the intention of the card-giver is not to tell me to worship pagan gods, the fact is that Christmas is a pagan holiday. You cannot take away the real meaning of the event by arguing that the person's intention was nto that.

I DO NOT want to give an eid card to a Christian. I would not feel comfortable celebrating my religious event with a non-Muslim. In the same way, I would expect a non-Muslim to feel uncomfortable while trying to celebrate his/her event with me, especially when the cultural norms would dictate that its "rude to not accept gifts."

Just cuz my attitude is different from yours, you call it inappropriate?

This does not sound like the "brotherhood" in humanity i hear so much about from my Muslim friends. Sounds as if you have some hostility towards others? Why?I am at a crossroad right now and these kind of responses are the ones that steer me more in the direction i am in now.

God be with you. May Allah give you peace.

 

[Italianguy]

Going to church does not mean you are not a Christian.



I do hope that's not sarcasm.

No sarcasm at all brother. I would never joke about this. I don't understand the statement of "Going to church does not mean you are not a Christian." Did you mean going to church doesn't make you a Christian? This I know, i notice some of whom just go through the motions; attending church, acting, and speaking of the word without knowing it first.

God bless you.

 

[Supreme]

No sarcasm at all brother. I would never joke about this. I don't understand the statement of "Going to church does not mean you are not a Christian." Did you mean going to church doesn't make you a Christian? This I know, i notice some of whom just go through the motions; attending church, acting, and speaking of the word without knowing it first.

God bless you.

Oh yes, my mistake. I meant Not going to church...

God Bless you too...