Christmas is a dangerous time for Muslim school children in the West

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