December - the month of revelry
The end of the Gregorian
year is drawing to a close; everyone is so busy, so much that he forgets his
own soul. December is a month of great temptations. Everyone is preparing for
the end of year party, because the fun and entertainment are paramount whatever
the circumstance, as an excuse just to relax after a long year of hard and
stressful job.
Joy or excitation reigns
in the atmosphere especially when people have a lot of money. It’s time to
spend the hard-earned money. Like you know, the last month of the year allows
officials, employees and workers to receive their bonuses or their rewards. So
they feel a desire to buy, spend. But buy what? All they have under the eyes,
little everything and nothingness. This is a first sign of temptation. They buy
clothes and expensive footwear, alcoholic beverages that cost thousands of
rupees, they organize parties, banquets, open buffets that cost a fortune. They
buy firecrackers and fireworks at very high prices. Everyone thinks to do more
than the other, if not to compete for more glory.
As for the
merchant/seller, he is there to attract customers and to satisfy their needs as
much as possible. Often, the (market) place (or place where the sales are being
done) is invaded by loud music or songs that wreck the ears. We find the men
and women mixed, especially in very narrow places. Many of these Muslim traders
do not perform Salat (prayer) or do not close their stores
for Salat-ul-Jummah (Friday prayers); for the simple reason of not
losing a single client and not to leave any money to escape from their crates.
'Celebrating' Christmas
The Christmas festival,
which was only a legend for some time, became international and is even
practiced in many religions. The emphasis is on the Fir tree, Christmas tree,
symbolizing the tree of paradise. It is decorated with balls of all colours,
garlands and small lamps, in such a way to make the wonder of the eyes and to
reinforce this party atmosphere. This festival symbolizes the birth of Jesus at
midnight on December 24-25. As for Santa Claus, his role is to distribute
gifts: toys, dolls, candy for the good and obedient children.
The legend of Santa
Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicolas. The
general thought is that Nicolas was born 280 years AD in Patara, near Myra in
modern Turkey. Admired for his piety and kindness, St. Nicolas became the
subject of many legends. It is said that he gave all his inherited wealth and
travelled the countryside helping the poor and the sick. Over many years, the
popularity of Nicolas spread far and wide and he became the protector of
children and sailors. His festival is celebrated on the anniversary of his
death on 6 December. This was traditionally considered a lucky day to make
large purchases or to get married.
At the time of the
Renaissance, St. Nicolas was the most popular saint in Europe. He made his
first eruption/entrance into American popular culture in the late 18thcentury.
The name Santa Claus evolved from Dutch Sinter Klass, a shortened form
of Sint Nikolass (the Dutch name for Saint Nicolas). Changes in the name of
Saint-Nicolas have been gradually included in the Christmas celebrations. The
story of Santa Claus is therefore invented from scratch. Associated with him is
the marvellous, magical, fantastical, in the same line as fairy tales.
Today this concept is so
ingrained in the imaginary of the child who is completely disoriented, when he
learns while growing up that all along this concept was a lie. The reality is
hard to accept for a child. But while growing, cherishing the memories of their
childhoods dear to their hearts, these children agree in turn on becoming
grown-ups/adults to perpetrate this false notion to their children hoping to
give them a bit of joy while knowing the false notion of the existence of Santa
Claus. In this way a non-Christian festival and which is harmful and contrary
to the teachings of Jesus has taken root in the heart of Christians who without
realizing it are offending their religion. Today it is the same with Muslims
who accept to please their children by agreeing to celebrate Christmas for
them, and play the role of Santa Claus as do the parents of classmates of their
offspring. It is very wrong in Islam to get caught in the traps of Satan’s
temptations that invite believers to abandon their true beliefs.
After Christmas, the New
Year’s party is welcomed with great fervour and enthusiasm. For most people,
this opportunity is very significant because it is widely believed that it
shall bring happiness and prosperity the following year. At night, the 31th December,
many festivals are organized with music, songs, dances, drinks, and fireworks
etc. The most important for these people is that they are ‘amuse’ themselves
completely. These people confirm their misleading ideology through these words
(the reason they give): “We need to have fun in this world as long as we
live.”
Lure of the Satans and the Faith
Islam as a divine
religion, the only true religion that exists on earth, announces that our
purpose in this world is to worship Allah, our only Lord and submit to His
commandments.
This world is certainly a prison for the believer and a paradise
for infidels. New Year celebrations, Christmas Eve, alcoholic drink, music,
dancing etc. are all works of Satan to divert people from the right path.
Billions of rupees are thrown in games of chance, in fireworks and so on, while
Islam forbade us wastages and overspending. But of all the most serious
question is the following: Does the Muslim know that Christmas and New Year does
not concern us? How can it be that many Muslims are ignoring the law of Allah
and His commands?
Implications of Blind Imitations
Allah tells us clearly
that the one to imitate the infidels in their festivals, rites or gestures, is
certainly one of them. “O you who believe, do not take the Jews and the
Christians as allies. They are (in fact) allies of one another. And whoever is
an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is (one) of them. Indeed, Allah
guides not the wrongdoing people.” (5: 52).
Let every believer
ponder serious over this, before it’s too late. Let him disavows with all his
heart all these deceptions that take him away from his Iman (faith).
Let him become aware of these dangers in the course of his life and whose aim
is to drive him to his destruction. We say all that Allah has commanded us to
say:
“Say, “O disbelievers, I
do not worship what you worship. Nor are you worshippers of what I worship. Nor
will I be a worshipper of what you worship. Nor will you be worshippers of what
I worship. For you is your religion, and for me is my religion.” (109: 2-7).
Let us give the best
example for our children, dear parents. Let’s us not be ashamed to fully
practice our religion. Let us spend in Allah’s way to help the needy, the poor
or fund charitable projects and avoid spending that will cause the wrath of
Allah Almighty. We ask Allah to guide us and keep us on the right
path. Ameen.
- Friday Sermon of 19 December 2014 ~(26 Safar 1436 Hijri) delivered by the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius