Month: December 2015

Do Muslims celebrate Christmas?

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In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious The Most Merciful.

Peace y’all! Hope your all well.

It’s December.

giftbx

You know what that means?

Think Britain, national holiday, Christmas, Jesus…

You can argue all you want that it’s been commercialised and it’s no longer a religious thing, but my friend, that’s not the point.

Christmas day, i.e 25th December is attributed to the Christian faith, yet did you know it has its roots in PAGANISM?

 

Let’s have a look at the history of Christmas:

According to Britannica Encyclopaedia, Christmas has become a Christian festival where Christians believe they are celebrating the birth of Christ, or Jesus. Historically, however, the date coincides with pagan Roman festivals which celebrated the winter solstice. It is believed that early Christians wanted to celebrate the 25th to coincide with the pagan festival. There is no clear statement in the New testament supporting the celebration of Jesus’ birth on the 25th. Nevertheless, it is still widely celebrated in that manner.

So basically in a nutshell, Christmas day has pagan origins!

Well,  DO MUSLIMS CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS? 

In all honesty and with due respect, the answer is -they don’t.

Choosing not to celebrate Christmas is NOT a personal attack on those who wish to celebrate it. It’s a personal decision deeply rooted in our internal religious beliefs.

As Muslims, we believe there’s no compulsion in religion. Just as you’re not compelled to believe, we aren’t compelled to disbelieve.  : )

“There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in taghoot (false gods) and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break.” [QUR’AN CHAPTER 2:256]  

“Say: ‘O you mankind! Now truth (i.e. the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad), has come to you from your Lord. So whosoever receives guidance, he does so for the good of his own self; and whosoever goes astray, he does so to his own loss; and I am not (set) over you as a Wakeel (disposer of affairs to oblige you for guidance).’”[QUR’AN CHAPTER 10:108] 

“Whosoever does righteous good deeds, it is for (the benefit of) his ownself; and whosoever does evil, it is against his ownself. And your Lord is not at all unjust to (His) slaves.”[QUR’AN CHAPTER 41:46] 

We highly encourage you to look into Islam though, because we want you to share the delight and happiness, we want the best for all. : D

As Muslims, our life mission is to serve Allah (The One True God) without ascribing any partners/rivals to Him. We are completely MONOTHEISTIC. Anything that opposes the principles of Islamic monotheism is a no-go for us.

Islamic monotheism  entails belief in and submission to Allah (The One True God), by attributing complete Oneness to Allah as He deserves in His Lordship, Names and Attributes and right to be worshipped alone.

And a Muslim, i.e. one who submits to Allah (The One True God), relentlessly steers away from anything that contradicts the principles of Islamic monotheism. Polytheism, idolatry and ascribing partners to Allah are MAJOR SINS! The biggest sin which Allah will not forgive, is ascribing partners to Him !

 

‘Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills; and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin.’ [Qur’an, chapter 4, verse 48- English interpretation]

Allah is so self-sufficient, it does not befit His Majesty to take a son or wife, or to beget or be begotten. He does not resemble His creation, for He is the uncreated Creator, and there is no similitude to Him.

In fact, a remarkably concise description of Allah can be found in chapter 112 of The Noble Qur’an, which is the verbatim words of Allah, and Allah’s final revealed book to mankind.

Have a listen to this chapter here:

Regarding Jesus (peace be upon him), in Islam we believe he was a mighty messenger of Allah. Jesus, or Isa in Arabic, was born a miraculous birth, from the virgin Mary. We refer to Jesus as ‘Isa ibnu Maryam, which means Jesus son of Mary. Jesus did not have a father, and he is not the son of God/Allah, because as we mentioned earlier, it does not befit the majesty of Allah to beget. Allah decreed that Jesus would be born miraculously without a father from the pure, chaste, virgin Mary. We respect them very much and we know that Jesus never claimed divinity, rather Jesus called his people to worship Allah alone, the same message each prophet and messenger of Allah called to. Jesus’ (peace be upon him) story can be found in the Qur’an in numerous places. (for more information, please see the post on chapter 19 of the Qur’an entitled Maryam!)

Incidentally, Paganism supports polytheism. Polytheism means worshipping multiple deities. Therefore, the Christian Trinity is essentially polytheism. And as previously mentioned in this blog, Islam means submission to the One True God, Allah, and our purpose in life is to acknowledge Allah’s complete Oneness, to uphold Islamic monotheism, and to attribute absolute Oneness to Allah in His Lordship, names and attributes and right to be worshipped alone.

handshak

Not celebrating Christmas, is not contrary to British values, it’s contrary to polytheistic & pagan values. That’s it.

It would be hypocritical and contradictory to be a monotheist, but continue to indulge in polytheistic & pagan traditions. Don’t you think?

I hope you understand now, why we don’t celebrate Christmas, why we don’t exchange Christmas greetings and why we don’t give or take cards and gifts on this occasion. It’s nothing to do with you personally, so please don’t take it personally! Because the truth is, as Muslims, the most important One to us is Allah, and the only reason we are alive is for Allah, to serve Him, to worship Him, because we need to worship Him and He doesn’t need us to do that. Whether or not we worship Him, it does not detract or add to His majesty at all. Rather He is The Self-Sufficient, The Majestic, The Rich, Free of all needs. The Lord of all that exists.

Besides, our kind behaviour and gifts to you is not supposed to be limited to a certain day of the year, as Muslims we are required to deal with everyone in a just manner at all times, exhibiting the best character.  If we have fallen short in fulfilling our rights towards you as our neighbours, please do forgive us. We make mistakes, after all we are human. Although, we endeavour to follow the best example of excellent moral conduct,as taught to us by Allah’s final prophet and messenger, Muhammad peace be upon him.

I’ll leave you with a verse from the Qur’an to get you thinking.

‘Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): “I am only a man like you. It has been revealed to me that your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God – i.e. Allah). So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord.” ‘

[Qur’an, chapter 18: v110, english interpretation]

Thanks for reading.

Peace.

Thurrock Muslims

 

 

Dear reader.. part 2

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bismillah

 

Dear Reader,

This is my second letter to you.

Hey I know its been a while! Thanks for your patience though.

So you tried getting rich, but failed… or maybe you made it.

So you tried fame, and maybe you got it, but at times, with fame, comes shame…some love you, some don’t…

So you tried getting a degree, but you didn’t quite hack it… or maybe you did, and then a bachelors wasn’t enough, so you got a masters, then a phd, and now you’re very intelligent… well at least you think you are… : )

So can you tell me why you were born the day you were? Can you tell the day you will pass away? Can you tell me what colour my bedroom floor is? Can you?

Nope. Because you can’t see it. But that doesn’t mean you were not born on the day you were, or that you won’t pass away one day, or that my bedroom floor is colourless…

Although you cannot be an eye-witness on many an occasion, nor can you physically witness everything that exists or happens, you do agree with me that these things are true because they have signs which point to their reality.

You know you were born that day, because you have a birth certificate to prove it. You know you will die one day, because you see people losing their lives everyday. You know my bedroom floor has a colour, otherwise it wouldn’t be a normal floor.

So I’m sure you’d agree, you don’t always have to see things plainly in order to ascertain their existence. Yet there are signs which indicate they exist.

The universe and all within it points to the existence of a Supreme Creator.

And the Supreme Creator,is unique, there is no similitude to Allah. Allah is The Supreme One True God, The Uncreated Lord of the universe and all within it, the One who created everything in pairs as a sign to remind us of His Oneness, and His right to be worshipped alone. He is The Rich, The Free of all needs, The Most High. The Self-Sustaining, The Self-Existing, The Universal Witness… The Ever-Living, The Eternal, The One who is not born, nor does He die. He is the First and the Last. The Originator..

And we will return to Him…everything will perish except Him…

Because man is a mere fragile created being…

And our purpose on earth is to establish the remembrance of The Creator, Allah.

Allah is our Provider, our Sustainer, our Helper, our Master, our Lord, our Protector.

We need Him. And we need to worship Him, to fulfil our purpose, because He deserves exclusive worship.

So then, we now know that the purpose in life is to worship Allah (The One True God), Alone.

You see, Allah doesn’t need us to worship Him. He is the Owner of power. Allah is forever Self-Sufficeint. He is not bound by time and location, for He created these. Allah tells us in the Qur’an that He is The Rich, Free of all needs and wants, The Praiseworthy.

He did not need us when we were non-existent, He doesn’t need us now, and He will never need us.

Allah doesn’t need us to worship Him, rather He deserves our worship… and we need Him.. we depend on Him.. He is our Provider, our Protector, our Creator, our Lord.

and we NEED to worship Him… because that is the purpose for which we were created.

 

( 56 )   And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.
( 57 )   I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me.
( 58 )   Indeed, it is Allah who is the [continual] Provider, the firm possessor of strength.
( 59 )   And indeed, for those who have wronged is a portion [of punishment] like the portion of their predecessors, so let them not impatiently urge Me.
( 60 )   And woe to those who have disbelieved from their Day which they are promised.[QUR’AN  CHAPTER 51 VERSES 56-60] 

Whether we worship Him or not, it does not detract or add to His Might and Power whatsoever, Allah is the All-Powerful, the unyielding in strength. Allah possesses the ultimate power, so what are we?… we have to inevitably submit to Him. We have no other refuge, only Allah grants true security.

So won’t we run back to Him?

and with that, I’m going to call it a day, my friend.

With love and peace,

Thurrock Muslims

p.s. guess you’re wondering, how do we worship Allah? Follow our blog, and you’ll find out, God willing : )

I’m in Love….

Thurrock Muslim Community- thurrockmuslims.com2 Comments

bismillah

With this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ybk3Txn3Ls

Sit alone, click play, shut your eyes, listen with your heart…

(Scroll down for English interpretation- I know you’re busy, but DON’T be lazy to read this!)

zariyat 1 zariyat 2 zariyat 3 zariyat 4

Read at QURAN KSU 

In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.

 

( 1 )   By those [winds] scattering [dust] dispersing
( 2 )   And those [clouds] carrying a load [of water]
( 3 )   And those [ships] sailing with ease
( 4 )   And those [angels] apportioning [each] matter,
( 5 )   Indeed, what you are promised is true.
( 6 )   And indeed, the recompense is to occur.
( 7 )   By the heaven containing pathways,
( 8 )   Indeed, you are in differing speech.
( 9 )   Deluded away from the Qur’an is he who is deluded.
( 10 )   Destroyed are the falsifiers
( 11 )   Who are within a flood [of confusion] and heedless.
( 12 )   They ask, “When is the Day of Recompense?”
( 13 )   [It is] the Day they will be tormented over the Fire
( 14 )   [And will be told], “Taste your torment. This is that for which you were impatient.”
( 15 )   Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and springs,
( 16 )   Accepting what their Lord has given them. Indeed, they were before that doers of good.
( 17 )   They used to sleep but little of the night,
( 18 )   And in the hours before dawn they would ask forgiveness,
( 19 )   And from their properties was [given] the right of the [needy] petitioner and the deprived.
( 20 )   And on the earth are signs for the certain [in faith]
( 21 )   And in yourselves. Then will you not see?
( 22 )   And in the heaven is your provision and whatever you are promised.
( 23 )   Then by the Lord of the heaven and earth, indeed, it is truth – just as [sure as] it is that you are speaking.
( 24 )   Has there reached you the story of the honored guests of Abraham? –
( 25 )   When they entered upon him and said, “[We greet you with] peace.” He answered, “[And upon you] peace, [you are] a people unknown.
( 26 )   Then he went to his family and came with a fat [roasted] calf
( 27 )   And placed it near them; he said, “Will you not eat?”
( 28 )   And he felt from them apprehension. They said, “Fear not,” and gave him good tidings of a learned boy.
( 29 )   And his wife approached with a cry [of alarm] and struck her face and said, “[I am] a barren old woman!”
( 30 )   They said, “Thus has said your Lord; indeed, He is the Wise, the Knowing.”
( 31 )   [Abraham] said, “Then what is your business [here], O messengers?”
( 32 )   They said, “Indeed, we have been sent to a people of criminals
( 33 )   To send down upon them stones of clay,
( 34 )   Marked in the presence of your Lord for the transgressors.”
( 35 )   So We brought out whoever was in the cities of the believers.
( 36 )   And We found not within them other than a [single] house of Muslims.
( 37 )   And We left therein a sign for those who fear the painful punishment.
( 38 )   And in Moses [was a sign], when We sent him to Pharaoh with clear authority.
( 39 )   But he turned away with his supporters and said,” A magician or a madman.”
( 40 )   So We took him and his soldiers and cast them into the sea, and he was blameworthy.
( 41 )   And in ‘Aad [was a sign], when We sent against them the barren wind.
( 42 )   It left nothing of what it came upon but that it made it like disintegrated ruins.
( 43 )   And in Thamud, when it was said to them, “Enjoy yourselves for a time.”
( 44 )   But they were insolent toward the command of their Lord, so the thunderbolt seized them while they were looking on.
( 45 )   And they were unable to arise, nor could they defend themselves.
( 46 )   And [We destroyed] the people of Noah before; indeed, they were a people defiantly disobedient.
( 47 )   And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander.
( 48 )   And the earth We have spread out, and excellent is the preparer.
( 49 )   And of all things We created two mates; perhaps you will remember.
( 50 )   So flee to Allah. Indeed, I am to you from Him a clear warner.
( 51 )   And do not make [as equal] with Allah another deity. Indeed, I am to you from Him a clear warner.
( 52 )   Similarly, there came not to those before them any messenger except that they said, “A magician or a madman.”
( 53 )   Did they suggest it to them? Rather, they [themselves] are a transgressing people.
( 54 )   So leave them, [O Muhammad], for you are not to be blamed.
( 55 )   And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers.
( 56 )   And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.
( 57 )   I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me.
( 58 )   Indeed, it is Allah who is the [continual] Provider, the firm possessor of strength.
( 59 )   And indeed, for those who have wronged is a portion [of punishment] like the portion of their predecessors, so let them not impatiently urge Me.
( 60 )   And woe to those who have disbelieved from their Day which they are promised.

 

 

Oh My God! I’m lost for words…yet bursting to say something…

I keep clicking replay…

I can listen to this all day… I feel something in my heart when I read and listen to this. I see warnings, reminders, promises. I see truth. I see proof. I see meaning. I see no error. I feel a sense of emergency, of urgency. I feel I have to make a move. I have to act upon it. I feel I found the purpose in life.

I feel I need to run back to The One Who gave me life, The One Who will cause me to die, The One Who will resurrect me, and punish or reward me accordingly.

I need to run back to Allah alone.

So do you.

Be objective. Be sincere. Be open minded. I’m sure you’ll feel something too.

Oh Allaah the One Who changes the hearts, keep my heart firm upon Your religion!  Guide us to preserve on Your straight path forever. Allahumma salli wasallim alaa nabiyinaa Muhammad  sallallahu alayhi wasallam. Ameen.

 

With love for the sake of The One.

Thurrock Muslims.