THE ENLIGHTENED THINKER
Every year
in December, we feel strong pressure around us. The streets, shops, offices,
and schools become full of lights, songs, and decorations that do not come from
Islam. We see people celebrating beliefs that are not our beliefs, and values
that are not our values.
Many
Muslims feel confused. Some join because they feel shy. Some join because they
think it is "just fun." But deep inside, we feel that something is
wrong. We feel that our identity is being pushed. December is not only a month.
December is a message from another way of life. It is the message of Western
culture, telling us: "Follow our festivals. Join our habits. Be like
us."
This
message enters our workplaces, our schools, and even our homes. And if we are
not careful, it enters our hearts. Christmas is a Christian festival. It is
based on the belief that Allah swt has a son. Islam clearly rejects this. Allah
swt says: "He neither begets nor is born," (TMQ S112 V3). "Allah
did not take any son." (TMQ S23 V91).
When
society promotes Christmas, it promotes this belief. Even if we do not believe it,
joining the celebration makes this belief look normal. We cannot treat such a serious
matter as "just culture." As for New Year, it is not a religious
celebration, but it comes from a Western secular system. This system teaches
people to enjoy life without limits, to follow desires, and to remove Allah
swt's rules from public life.
New Year
parties carry this idea. The message is: "Enjoy today. Forget tomorrow. Live
for yourself." This message goes against Islamic values. End-of-year
parties also follow Western corporate culture. Many of these parties have free
mixing, singing, dancing, alcohol, and no Islamic limits. Even when these
things are not present, the style and meaning come from a way of life outside
Islam.
Allah swt
warns us: "O believers, do not take close friends and influences from outside
your community." (TMQ S3 V118). The Prophet s.a.w said: "Whoever imitates
a people is one of them." (Abu Dawood). This is a strong warning. Imitation
is the first step of losing identity. When the Prophet s.a.w arrived in Madinah,
the people had two days festivals practised at the time of Jahiliyyah.
He s.a.w
said: "Verily, Allah has replaced these two days with two better days: Eid
al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr." This shows that Islam does not accept the
festivals of other nations. Islam gives us our own days, our own culture, and
our own identity. O Muslims, we must stand firm. We must protect our hearts and
our families.
December
is not harmless. It invites us to follow a way that is not from Allah swt. Let
us stay clear, stay proud, and stay committed to our Deen. Do not let December
take your identity away.
COMMENTS