This piece from Arzu is a prelude to her piece ‘Have a Very Muslim Christmas?’ from 2020. In this she reflects on Muslim trends for ‘celebrating’ Christmas.
“Peace be upon me the day I was born and the day I will die, and the day I will be raised up alive.”
Surah Maryam, ayah 33
I have two confessions to make. The first: I celebrated Christmas until my teens; I had no idea even what Eid was until I was 14. The second, is that I have only recently read a translation of Qur’an (this one) from start to finish, rather than dipping in and out.
The whole Christmas as child without knowledge of Muslim festivities, made me determined to be ‘Eid only’ as a parent. And I am happy that I did (Dhulhijjah in our house is replete with decorations and lights from Eid al-Adha to almost the end of the month). Reading that translation of Qur’an now, I have realised just how important and how much mentioned are Hadrat Maryam (a.s.) and Hardat Isa (a.s.). I knew it in theory, we have learned it many ways, but experiencing it as a read through, it is immense and beautiful. But this doesn’t mean that we as (a) community / ies living in minoritized situations, reach out to Christian communities, by attending church services on Christmas Eve. It makes no sense to celebrate Hadrat Isa (a.a.) this way. It subordinates our understanding, which is distinct and wide, under something that at the end of the day we do not accept as authentic.
That doesn’t mean we don’t reach out, discuss and share with Christians over this topic. Just that we don’t need to be either in their faces on their special day, or show inadvertently that we are prepared to subordinate our beliefs.
Christmas as a day off – we all celebrate that. It is a secular holiday of TV, food and family time. But we should be wary of the religion of consumerism, and the deep problems of repeating the culture, using the reason, “We also believe in Jesus.” Becoming embedded in cultures of Christmas trees, presents et al., we are not celebrating the birth of Hadrat Isa (a.s.) but unrestrained capitalism exploiting the winter solstice.
There are many things Muslims do at this time of year that need celebrating and repeating.
Help those in need, those living rough with soup kitchens etc. Do it!
(Re)discovering what Islam has to say about Hadrat Maryam (a.s) and Hadrat Isa (a.s.). ABSOLUTELY.
Enjoy your day off. Why not?
AND
Do reach out to Christians in this period BUT reject the colonialism of capital and the remnants of Christendom that require us to submit. That is the least holy of all the options.
Arzu Merali is a writer and researcher based in London, UK. Read her previous piece on Islam, Christmas and communication between practicing Muslims and Christians here.
Image: From ‘Mother and Child – Bethlehem, 2024’ © Rawan Anani, Instagram rawan_anani_artgallery (DM artist for Pricing)
