Does Santa Visit Muslims?

 

As-Salam-u-Alaikum wa-rahmatullahi wa-barakatuh ("Peace be unto you and so may the mercy of Allah and his Blessings")!

Islam and Christianity have distinct beliefs and practices, especially in the winter holiday season, but exploring this topic can shed light on the nuances of Islamic teachings and the diversity within the Muslim community. In this blog post, we will discuss whether Muslims can participate in Christmas celebrations and how they navigate their religious beliefs while respecting the traditions of others.

Who celebrates Christmas?

Christmas is primarily celebrated by Christians around the world. However, it is also celebrated by people of other faiths or those who do not adhere to any particular religion, as it has become a widely recognized cultural and festive holiday in many countries. Pew Research Center states that 81% of non-Christians in the United States celebrate Christmas. Further, 87% of the religiously un-affiliated participate in Christmas, 73% of Hindus celebrate, and about a third of American Jews had a Christmas tree in their house. All this is not to say that just because others act one way everyone should (i.e. the old “if your friends jumped off a bridge that doesnt mean you should). However, this research establishes that Christmas, at least the celebrations and practices of the holiday, are seen as more social, not religious. In fact, “most non-Christians see the holiday as more of a “cultural” event than a religious occasion.”

Understanding Islamic Teachings

While Islam does not recognize Jesus as the Son of God, it holds him in high regard as a prophet. However, celebrating Christmas as a religious holiday may contradict the core beliefs of Islam if doing so implies acceptance of Jesus' divinity. Therefore, from a strictly religious perspective, many agree it is not appropriate for Muslims to celebrate Christmas in its truest form.

On one hand, Muslims regard Jesus as a prophet. Overzealous celebration of a prophet can be seen as inappropriate, as Muslims should not make the mistake of seeing a prophet as equitable to Allah. However, many Muslims around the world celebrate Mawlid, the holiday for the birth of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Even Napoleon Bonaparte celebrated Mawlid in Cairo in 1798. Many Muslims may see celebrating Christmas, without any reference to the Christian ideology of the divinity of Jesus, as the celebration of Prophet Jesus’s birth as perfectly acceptable.

On the other hand, it is important to note that there are a few, important reasons why Muslims do not typically celebrate Christmas: (1) Muslims do not consider Jesus as the son of God, so to celebrate his birthday as “the day the son of God was born” is entirely inappropriate for a Muslim. (2) Christmas has strong pagan roots. Banned from Muslims are anything related to paganism because the revelation (the Qur’an) came in response to people’s practices of polytheism. The Qur’an states multiple times that Muslims must avoid polytheism. Christmas practices, such as the Christmas tree and yule log, are pagan. Even the date of Christmas is pagan, as it was used to assimilate pagan peoples into the roman empire by combining the pagan winter solstice to the celebration of Mithras, the Roman sun-god born on December 25 who also died and came back three days later (sound familiar? We’ll explore him another day). (3) Birthdays are not a traditional religious celebration day for early Abrahamic religious followers. Neither early Jews, Christians nor Muhammad’s contemporaries celebrated the birthdays of religious figures (that’s not to say regular birthdays are banned, but that’s for another day). For these reasons, most Muslims avoid the practice of Christmas, as it would be hard to celebrate Christmas and avoid these three issues.

Cultural and Social Considerations

Despite the religious restrictions, some Muslims may choose to participate in Christmas celebrations for cultural or social reasons. Living in multicultural societies, Muslims may find themselves surrounded by the festive atmosphere and may appreciate the opportunity to engage in the spirit of joy, giving, and togetherness that Christmas brings (all perfectly acceptable Islamic practices).

However, it is important to note that any participation should be done in a manner that aligns with Islamic values and does not compromise one's faith. For example, Muslims can join in on the festivities by exchanging gifts, decorate the house for winter, or sharing meals with friends and family, while avoiding the religious aspects of the holiday, like putting out a nativity, singing carols that emphasize the divinity of Jesus, or participating in any pagan references of the holiday.

This is where Santa comes in. There’s not religious reference to Santa. He is an entirely cultural and social figure. Because of this, many Muslim and other non-Christian parents allow Santa-related activities, movies, and decorations. He is, as one of my friends put it, not real, after all. However, because Santa and Christmas are so closely related, many Muslim parents do not participate in Santa activities. They fear a slippery slope between “ho ho ho” and “O Holy Night.” At the end of the day, in my opinion, as long as you communicate with your children, and keep God at the heart of what you do, that slippery slope is nothing to fear.

Respecting Differences and Building Bridges

While Muslims may not celebrate Christmas in the same way as Christians, it is essential to respect and appreciate the religious traditions of others. Islam promotes tolerance and understanding towards people of different faiths, and this extends to their celebrations as well. Muslims can with a Merry Christmas to their Christian neighbors, colleagues, and friends without compromising their own beliefs. Engaging in respectful conversations and fostering interfaith dialogue can deepen mutual understanding and strengthen the bonds of unity in diverse societies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while most Muslims may not celebrate Christmas from a religious standpoint, they can still engage in the cultural and social aspects that promote love, joy, and togetherness. It is important for Muslims to navigate their participation in Christmas celebrations in a manner that aligns with their Islamic values and beliefs, while respecting the religious traditions of others. By promoting tolerance, understanding, and interfaith dialogue, we can foster a society that embraces diversity and celebrates the shared values that unite us all.