This article is a collaboration between Harmony Centre and Muslim.Sg.

Christmas is an annual, age-old traditional religious observance celebrated by adherents of the Christian faith, including Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Protestants, and many other denominations. Beyond its religious significance, Christmas is also celebrated culturally and is considered a major cultural holiday in many parts of the world, especially in Western societies. 

Navigating the Festive Celebrations as a Muslim

For Muslims in a multi-cultural society like Singapore, this time of year presents unique opportunities and challenges. How can one respect the celebrations of others while staying true to Islamic principles? This article explores ways to navigate the holiday season as a Muslim while fostering good relations with others.

1. Understand the Commemoration 

Although Muslims don't celebrate Christmas as a religious observance due to its commemoration carrying the belief that Jesus (Prophet Isa a.s) is a Divine God and was born on Christmas Day – which is not aligned with the teachings of Islam, The Prophet Isa (Jesus) a.s. is integral to our faith. He is a Prophet and is to be revered and remembered as a messenger of God: 

قُولُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡنَا وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَىٰٓ إِبۡرَٰهِـۧمَ وَإِسۡمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسۡحَٰقَ وَيَعۡقُوبَ وَٱلۡأَسۡبَاطِ وَمَآ أُوتِيَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَمَآ أُوتِيَ ٱلنَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمۡ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيۡنَ أَحَدٖ مِّنۡهُمۡ وَنَحۡنُ لَهُۥ مُسۡلِمُونَ

“Say, (O believers,) ‘We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us; and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and his descendants; and what was given to Moses, Jesus, and other prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them. And to Allah we all submit.’”

(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:136)

Read: Jesus In Islam: Getting to Know the Miraculous Prophet

Tip: During this period, we can focus on the shared values emphasised during this season such as compassion, charity and familial bonds. These principles align well with Islamic teachings and can be a point of connection with our non-Muslim friends and colleagues. For example, the increased emphasis on giving during the festive season resonates with the Islamic concept of sadaqah (voluntary charity). Meal or communal gathering with friends and relatives is encouraged to foster community bonds - just ensure the food you are consuming is halal and you are not decorating anything with religious symbols. 

2. Community Building in a Multi-Cultural and Multi-Religious Society

With regards to Singapore - a multi-cultural, multi-religious society - Christmas is widely celebrated as a cultural holiday, just like Chinese New Year and Deepavali. And as much as Muslims are not allowed to observe Christmas in a religious capacity, we are to respect the celebration of the holiday when it comes to others’ beliefs.

Read: The Importance of Social Cohesion in Islam

We have seen in the sirah (biography) of our beloved Prophet s.a.w. how he built an inclusive and cohesive society as he established the Charter of Madinah. This historic document brought together Muslims and non-Muslims as fellow citizens, united in the shared responsibility of nation-building. Such examples from the Prophetic tradition set a clear precedent for the importance of social cohesion in Islam.

Kind gestures and acts towards one another are integral to fostering such cohesive communities. As Muslims and members of the community, we are encouraged to understand the practices of people from other groups - religious or otherwise - to foster social cohesion and harmony. The Quran acknowledges diversity in this aspect as part of Allah’s wisdom in His creation, prompting us to learn from one another despite our differences: 

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٖ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلۡنَٰكُمۡ شُعُوبٗا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ أَكۡرَمَكُمۡ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتۡقَىٰكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٞ

“O mankind, indeed, We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.”

(Surah Al- Surah Hujarat, 49:13)

Read: Strengthening Social Cohesion: 5 Lessons from Surah Al-Hujurat

Tip: Simple gestures such as sharing halal snacks with neighbours and colleagues, or participating in local charitable efforts for the less-fortunate demonstrates Islamic values of compassion and social responsibility. 

Living with one another and embracing our communities does not mean we assimilate and dilute our principles and identities. Let us look at how Islam teaches us in our interactions towards people of other faiths.

Islam’s Perspective on Other Religions 

Islam promotes respect for other faiths and by extension, the freedom of others in their belief and worship. As Allah s.w.t mentions in the Quran: 

لَآ إِكۡرَاهَ فِي ٱلدِّينِۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ ٱلرُّشۡدُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيِّۚ فَمَن يَكۡفُرۡ بِٱلطَّـٰغُوتِ وَيُؤۡمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱسۡتَمۡسَكَ بِٱلۡعُرۡوَةِ ٱلۡوُثۡقَىٰ لَا ٱنفِصَامَ لَهَاۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

“There is no compulsion in religion, for the truth stands out clearly from falsehood. So whoever renounces false gods and believes in Allah has certainly grasped the firmest, unfailing hand-hold. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.”

(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:256)

From the above verse, it is understood that there is no compulsion in faith and that people are free to practice theirs. Therefore, as Muslims we are to be tolerant towards others which also extends towards people of other faiths and their practices – for it is a value that the religion encourages.

Read: The Prophet’s Beautiful Compassion Toward Other Faith Communities

As Ibn Abbas reported in a hadith: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“اسْمَحْ يُسْمَحْ لَكَ”

“Be tolerant and you will receive tolerance.”

(Musnad Aḥmad)

The respect for the religious practices of others is key to establishing a peaceful coexistence in a society. When we are all allowed to practice our faith without being judged or prejudiced freely, this will foster a peaceful environment for everyone to practice their respective faith and contribute to coexist in harmony.

Read: Religious Freedom: Islam and Religious Minorities

3. Gift-giving and Receiving

The practice of giving gifts during the season spans from even before Christmas was commemorated, dating back to ancient Romans¹. In Christianity, gift-giving also holds its religious significance to the birth of Jesus.

However, the act of gift-giving itself is not exclusively a Christian practice. Giving gifts in general signifies a tangible expression of a social relationship  and is a way we establish and maintain our relationships with others. Essentially, it is how we express to another person that they are meaningful to us, and that we value our relationship with them.

In Islam, giving gifts is also an encouraged deed to foster good ties with others and in this context, with our neighbours. The Contemporary Irsyad Series by the Office of the Mufti points out that it is, in fact, encouraged for us to exchange gifts with others in their festive season, not as part of endorsing their beliefs, but as a gesture of goodwill and cementing better social relationships.

Thus, it is perfectly fine for us to give or even exchange gifts with others even during the Christmas season - as it is a kind gesture that fosters a sense of friendship and cohesion between two parties. This includes participating in social gatherings or dinners, as it too fosters and promotes understanding between groups.

Should you receive a less than appropriate gift such as wine, consider exchanging or giving the gift to a friend or neighbour rather than discarding it. Communicate your preferences to avoid awkward situations.

As a general rule, as long as a certain practice does not defy the teachings of the Islamic faith or Tauheed, it is something that us Muslims can partake in. 

Conversely, there are some traditions that contradict Islamic teachings. Christmas carols, for instance, do contain elements of the divinity of Jesus and praise him as the Lord. As such, it is best to avoid partaking in such activities.

4. Wishing Well to Others

The annual issue of wishing “Merry Christmas” has become a topic of conversation every time the season rolls around, and it is important to understand that the act of wishing “Merry Christmas” is permissible, so long as the intention is to foster goodwill and as a gesture of respect to those who celebrate it. 

This act should be looked through the lens of wishing another a happy celebration of their holiday, rather than an acceptance of the beliefs associated with it.

Read more: The Contemporary Irsyad Series

Nonetheless, it is understandable there may be some who have their reservations about wishing “Merry Christmas” specifically. An alternative to consider is simply wishing your Christian neighbours and friends “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings”! The key intention (niat) here is to acknowledge their celebration of the occasion and to wish them a meaningful celebration of their faith.

Food For Thought

While we do not celebrate Christmas as a religious observance, it is an equally important reminder to not, in ignorance, criticise the faith and beliefs of others – no matter how different they may be from our own. We have observed instances during the festive seasons of other faiths where certain statements were publicly shared, not with the intention of fostering understanding or education, but rather rooted in resentment and aimed at mocking others. Such actions not only undermine the spirit of mutual respect but also hinder efforts to build a harmonious and inclusive society. The Quran reminds us:

وَلَا تَسُبُّواْ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَيَسُبُّواْ ٱللَّهَ عَدۡوَۢا بِغَيۡرِ عِلۡمٖۗ كَذَٰلِكَ زَيَّنَّا لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ عَمَلَهُمۡ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِم مَّرۡجِعُهُمۡ فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ

“(O believers!) Do not insult what they invoke besides Allah or they will insult Allah spitefully out of ignorance. This is how We have made each people’s deeds appealing to them. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them of what they used to do.”

(Surah Al-An’am, 6:108)

The above verse reminds us not to admonish those who do not share the same faith – as this may tarnish the view of Muslims and what Islam represents, inciting further conflict. Furthermore, Islam teaches us to be gracious and kind to people, even if they may differ on the basis of religion. 

Rather than focusing on our differences when it comes to our respective faiths, we should look at the commonalities between the faith of others and celebrate these shared values. For example, the value of generosity and kindness is shared between Islam and Christianity; both encourage charity to the needy.  

Read: What Does Islam Really Say About Muslim-Christian Relations?

Similarly, the value of family and fostering bonds with others is shared between the two religions. Islam emphasises the importance of the family unit, holding high regard for respect towards one’s parents and fostering bonds through congregational prayer. Similarly, Christian teachings promote affection and gratitude towards family members and encourage family prayer as well.

Watch: Muslims & Christians Get Together to Talk About Food & Faith

Both these values are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the commonalities between the two religions. If you are curious and would like to know more, try asking a fellow Christian - be it a neighbour or a friend - more about their faith! This simple exchange could potentially be an avenue to learn more about different religions and may dispel any myths or stereotypes that you may have heard about them.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there needs to be a clear understanding and distinction between what is a religious ritual and a cultural celebration – so long as they do not go against Islamic principles. We hope this article has managed to offer a better understanding of this matter.

As Muslim minorities living in a multi-religious society, it is imperative that we uphold our identity and our faith. However, in doing so, we must also be mindful of the religious sensitivities of others by respecting their traditions. Such graciousness will in turn build a sense of mutual understanding from members of other faith groups.

Mutual respect between people will go a long way in understanding others from different religious communities, which will spur on meaningful dialogue and cultivate meaningful relationships – all to foster and maintain a harmonious society in which we live. 

References:

¹ Sherry, J. F. (1983). Gift Giving in Anthropological Perspective. Journal of Consumer Research, 10(2), 157–168. 

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