Now that Christmas festivities are behind
us it is a good time to reflect on the effect they may have had on the next
generation of Muslims growing up in the West.
Christmas is a well established religious
and cultural event in the West. Though a majority of the population has
rejected Christianity as a belief system, the Christian religion has had a
profound effect on western culture. In the run-up to Christmas it is usual to
enact the mythical stories relating to the birth of Christ and to venerate him
as “son of God” by singing hymns and carols.
For nominally Christian families it is all
good fun as they participate in the playacting and singing of hymns and
carols. They simply do not let
their absence of belief affect their enjoyment of the music and the playacting,
which are treated merely as cultural phenomena. This may, at best, be
considered mildly hypocritical for people who have lost faith in Christianity
and pass themselves off as agnostics or atheists.
What about Muslim children though? That is,
children from families who are staunchly Muslim and the concepts of
Tawheed [توحید :
Oneness، divinity belonging to a single God, the One – الواحد ] and
Shirk [ شرک - attributing divinity to a created being]
are absolutely fundamental to
their Islamic faith.
In the Quran, Shirk is referred to as unpardonable. For a
Muslim child to engage in the “celebrations” in the traditional Christmassy
manner would be not just hypocritical but sacrilegious and blasphemous. Playing
fast and loose with Quranic injunctions makes a mockery of God’s Guidance for
mankind, which is what the Quran is.
This is a growing problem as an increasing
number of Muslim families fail to get across to their children the essential meaning of
Kalimah Tayyeba [کلمہ طیبہ ] and Surah Ikhlaas [سورہٴ اخلاص ]. The concept of a God who is beyond their senses but can be
perceived through the many Attributes or Beautiful Names [ اسماء الحسنیٰ ] appears to be alien for most Muslim children. Influenced by the prevailing
atmosphere around them, more and more Muslim parents seem to be taking a
relaxed view as their children cavort around on the school stage in much the
same way as non-Muslim children do. At home, a glowing Christmas tree holds out the promise of presents from Santa Claus on Christmas Day!
Is Islam dying in the West, knocked out by
the double whammy of modernist parents and mullah-worship of ignorant
Muslims?
FOOTNOTE
Below are some of the “Beautiful
Names” ( اسماء الحسنیٰ ), Attributes of God, which are mentioned in the Quran. There are many more. These
help Muslims to understand the Majesty, Power, Mercy and Justice of the One
God, the Creator of all that exists.
Ar-Rahmaan The Exceedingly Merciful/Compassionate الرحمان
Al-Khaaliq The Creator الخالق
Al-Vaahid The One/Unique الواحد
As-Salaam The Peace السلام
Ar-Razzaaq The Provider/Sustainer الرزاق
Al-Jaleel The Majestic الجلیل
Al-Hakeem The Wise الحکیم
Al-Vadood The Loving الودود
Al-Haadi The Guide الهادی
Al-Muhyi The Giver of Life المحیی
An-Noor The Light النور
Al-Haqq The Truth/The Reality الحق
Al-Hakam The Judge/Arbiter الحکم
As-Samad The Eternal/ Everlasting الصمد
Al-Hafeez The Protector الحفیظ
Al-Kareem The Bountiful/Generous الکریم
Al-Aziz The Powerful/ Irresistible العزیز
Ar-Raheem The Merciful/ Compassionate الرحیم
Al-Avval The First الاول
Al-Aakhir The Last الآخر
Az-Zaahir The Outermost/ The Evident الظاھر
Al-Baatin The Innermost/ Hidden الباطن
Al-Ghafoor The One who Forgives الغفور
Al-Aleem The Possessor of Knowledge العلیم
As-Samee The One who Hears السميع
Al-Hameed The Praiseworthy الحمید
Al-Vaase The Vast/All-Embracing/The Omnipresent الواسع
Al-Valee The Friend/Helper الولی
Al-Qaadir The All-Powerful القادر
Al-Mutakabbir The Supreme المتکبر
