COMMENT | Christmas |  |
A Muslim Christmas greeting
I am very happy to wish my Christian friends and neighbors a hearty "Merry Christmas", for, even though we see Jesus through different religious lenses, our love for Jesus is one.
By Hesham Hassaballa, December 25, 2009
I always get a chuckle from hearing the cries of the "war on Christmas" from some people in our country. They claim that there are forces that are actively trying to extract "Christ" out of Christmas, making it a secular holiday. They may point to the fact that many people choose to say "Happy Holidays" to their friends and neighbors, rather than "Merry Christmas," out of political correctness. Yet, when someone tells me "Happy Holidays," it also gives me a chuckle as well.
I know they mean well: they do not want to offend me if I am not Christian and do not celebrate Christmas. Yet, if a friend, colleague, or patient tells me "Merry Christmas," I would not be offended in the least. I would deeply appreciate it, because that person is wishing that I have a happy day on December 25. It is a very nice gesture.
That is because, throughout my life, Christmas Day is quite boring for me. I do not celebrate Christmas as my Christian friends and neighbors do. Thus, there is basically nothing for me to do, although this year I am taking call, so that will help pass the time at least. Growing up, my parents would attend religious conferences during the Christmas holiday, but, I would rarely attend the lectures. I would rather have fun with my friends and cousins. But, the problem was there was nothing to do: almost every store and attraction was closed for Christmas.
Last year, I took overnight call duty on Christmas night, and I was looking for something to eat before my shift started: the city was a ghost town; not even the Dunkin Donuts or Chinese restaurants (previously my saving graces) were open! Thank God, the Muslim-owned business was open, and I was able to eat something before I started work. So, when someone wishes me a "Merry Christmas," I am very happy.
Yet, even though I do not celebrate Christmas, that does not mean that I do not have Jesus in my life. Jesus Christ is very prominent in Islamic belief, and one cannot be a true Muslim if he or she does not love and believe in Jesus. He is mentioned more by name in the Quran than the Prophet Muhammad himself. There is an entire chapter of the Quran named after his mother the Virgin Mary.
The story of his birth is told twice in the Quran ( 3:42-47 and 19:16-33). In addition to the story of the birth, the Quran recounts how Jesus spoke in his infancy ( 3:46 and 19:29-33), healed the blind, those stricken with leprosy, and raised the dead back to life ( 5:110). The Quran even mentions that Jesus used to fashion birds out of clay and breathe life into them, all by the permission of God Almighty ( 3:49). In addition, the Quran recounts the story of what seems to be the Last Supper ( 5:112-116).
The Quran describes Jesus as being "honored in the world and the hereafter, and one of the intimates of God" ( 3:45) and "in the ranks of the righteous" ( 6:85). He is also described as "a word, from God, which God sent down to Mary, [and] a spirit from him" ( 4:171) and that Jesus was "strengthened with the Holy Spirit" ( 2:253, 5:110). Classical commentators have interpreted the "Holy Spirit" to mean either divine inspiration or the Angel Gabriel. Yet, with all this, Muslims still do not believe Jesus to be divine: "People of Scripture [i.e., Christians], do not go into excess in your religion, and do not say anything about God but the truth. The Messiah Jesus, the Son of Mary, was only a messenger..." (4:171) So, no one should worry about wishing me a "Merry Christmas," because if their prayer is answered, Christmas Day will be a very good one for me. I am also very happy to wish my Christian friends and neighbors a hearty "Merry Christmas" as well, for, even though we see Jesus through different religious lenses, our love for Jesus is one. And it is my hope that this can bring Christians and Muslims together in our country and our world.
(Photo: Materials Aart via flickr under a Creative Commons license. This article was previously published at Middle East Online.)
Hesham A. Hassaballa is a Chicago physician and writer. He is the co-author of "The Beliefnet Guide to Islam," published by Doubleday in 2006. His blog is called God, Faith, and a Pen.
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In what I am sure will be a widely covered story that sort of relates to radicalization, a passenger on a Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines flight tried to detonate an explosive device that was strapped to his leg. His name so far has been indicated to be Abdul Mudallad, a Nigerian. Airplane security is being currently evaluated and additional screening measures are expected to be put in place for domestic and international flights.
That sounds like fun.
Initial reports seem to indicate that has stated an affiliation to Al-Qaeda and that his orders were from Al-Qaeda in Yemen.
Yemen... Why does it always have to be Yemen these days?
Fortunately he was subdued and no one was seriously injured, save the guy who put himself partially on fire.
I personally hope some passengers got some extra kicks into his hide (do you know how hard it is to get any sleep on a plane?)
Also the Taliban released a video of a captive U.S. soldier today... one can only imagine what his fate will be (or how bad his final moments will be in their custody).
Happy Holidays and have a happy New Year : )
This just in! Latest info on the apparent Christmas greeting card/gift from Al-Qaeda (which I am sure will still evolve into a top story next week)
The person in question who just napalmed his leg in an attempt to take out over 270 passengers on a Detroit airliner has been identified as Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23-year old Nigerian who was an engineering student from the University College of London.
Does anyone know that the University College of London has recently been rated as the forth best university in the world? So I'm guessing he was never impoverished, undereducated or downtrodden as that walking bathroom mop, Richard Reid (the Shoebomber).
Anyways, that's enough talk about former residents of "Londanistan".
The current reports say he got onto the Detroit airliner after he boarded an airplane in Logos, Nigeria and then switched to Fight 253 in Amsterdam. He claims to be affiliated with Al-Qaeda and also claims his orders came specifically from Al-Qaeda in Yemen (popular place these days).
Everyone got all that?
The long and short of it is that this guy is a true frequent flier! He probably has a number of "friends" or "family" with deep pockets (at least deeper than mine).
Passengers claim he appeared dumbfounded and surprised when the incendiary device failed to send any of them to hellfire and damnation or him to paradise.
Even the Soup Nazi who happened to be in the airplane cabin stood up and proclaimed, "No 72 virgins for you!"
Well I am sure Abdul Farouk (or whatever his real name is) will be in a more talkative mood after he has received top-notch infidel medical treatment for his reported second degree burns. Maybe he can keep Nidal Hasan company before their inevitable trials.
After all, Valentine's Day is just around the corner and I think they would make such a sweet couple.
P.S. I want to give the passengers of Flight 253 a special thank you for welcoming this latest foreign tourist with such open arms… which devolved into a spirited chokehold : )
Please Download from website http://www.goldenduas.com relating to GOLDEN DUAS FROM HOLY QURAN FOR PEACE, SECURITY, HEALTH & WEALTH FOR MANKIND.
The same maybe circulated to all concerned based on Quranic Verses 2:2, 10:57, 13:37,17:11&16;, 28:59, 39:55&57;, 65:8
Regards
IBRAHIM ALI
Sakkimangalam, Madurai
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
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altmuslim this week - august 23, 2010 - This week, is there a connection between the heated rhetoric over Park51 and increased hate crimes against Muslims? Also, parallel struggles against anti-Muslim protests in Bradford, England and the innovation (and integration) on display in the 30 Mosques, 30 States and 30 Nights, 30 Grants projects. 
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How Miss USA will push the secret Muslim agenda - A leaked memo confirms a nefarious plot to infiltrate America using the one weapon we can't resist: Total hotness. (May 17, 2010)
South Park: The controversy continues - In a special for Salon.com, our Associate Editor Wajahat Ali offers his take on the controversy over South Park. If you think South Park's Muslim brouhaha was messy, you should see what's going on in the neighboring town of East Park. (April 28, 2010)
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altmuslim review 033 - We're baaaaack! We speak about the ongoing controversy over Park51 and what means for the future of lower Manhattan. Also, a discussion with Farhad Chowdhury of the M100 Foundation, which seeks to change the way Muslims pay zakat (August 13, 2010)
altmuslim review 032 - Muslim writers everywhere! We speak about the new wave of Western Muslim literature and interview two authors with recently released books. Our own Irfan Yusuf talks about his memoir, Once Were Radicals and Reza Aslan tells us more about his second book, How to Win a Cosmic War (June 11, 2009)
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Recent and upcoming talks and offsite articles by altmuslim contributors
It's the occupation, stupid, Wajahat Ali, Salon.com, June 4, 2010
Sex and the City 2's stunning Muslim clichés, Wajahat Ali, Salon.com, May 28, 2010
Draw Muhammad Day: Collectively Punishing Muslim Americans, Shahed Amanullah, Huffington Post, May 25, 2010
Shahed will be a guest on the BBC World Service's World, Have Your Say discussing the proposed French ban on niqab (and fines for husbands who compel their wives to wear them) on May 18, 2010.
Even Controversial Views Should Be Protected by Freedom of Speech, Asma Uddin, The Huffington Post, May 7, 2010.
What I understand about Faisal Shahzad, Wajahat Ali, Salon.com, May 6, 2010
No freak out about South Park, Zahed Amanullah, The Guardian, Comment is Free, April 23, 2010.
Shahed will be a guest on the BBC World Service's World, Have Your Say discussing the South Park controversy along with Zarqa Nawaz (Little Mosque on the Prairie) and other guests on April 22, 2010.
Shahed will be a guest on NPR's State of Belief discussing Barack Obama's outreach to the Muslim world, April 17, 2010.
Zahed will be attending a panel discussion entitled " Are Islam and Free Speech Compatible?" in London, England on Friday, March 26, 2010 sponsored by The City Circle. He will be accompanied by Riazat Butt (The Guardian), Hamid Khan (Consultant in Offender and Youth Development), Abu Muntasir (JIMAS), and Dr Usama Hasan.
'Jihad Jane': not the usual suspect, Wajahat Ali, The Guardian, Comment is Free, March 18, 2010.
Al-Awlaki, a new public enemy, Zahed Amanullah, The Guardian, Comment is Free, December 30, 2009.
Islamophonic: Review of the year, Riazat Butt, Zahed Amanullah and David Shariatmadari, Cif Belief (The Guardian), December 18, 2009.
Fort Hood has enough victims already, Wajahat Ali, Comment is Free (The Guardian), November 6, 2009
The pitfalls of filming Muhammad, Shahed Amanullah, The Guardian, Comment is Free, November 4, 2009.
Children of Dust (published by HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollins), the first book by longtime altmuslim.com contributor Ali Eteraz, is released in the US, Canada, and the UK on October 13, 2009.
Shahed will be attending the m100 Sansoucci Colloquium in Potsdam, Germany, September 14-16, 2009. He will be moderating a panel discussion on the Danish cartoon crisis with Denis MacShane MP, Jasim Al-Azzawi (Al Jazeera English), and Flemming Rose (Jyllands Posten).
Associate Editor Wajahat Ali's play "The Domestic Crusaders" is having its premiere at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York City, NY, September 11, 2009. The play will continue through Sunday, October 11, 2009.
Shahed will be moderating or participating in three panel discussions at the Islamic Society of North America's annual convention, including Muslim Journalists: The View from the Inside, Supporting Social Entrepreneurs and Civic Leaders, and Blogistan: Muslim Americans on the Web in Washington, DC, July 3-6, 2009.
State-sponsored Sufism, Ali Eteraz, Foreign Policy, June 10, 2009.
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Media appearances and analysis featuring altmuslim editors
Helping U.S. reach out to young Muslims worldwide - Soon after Farah Pandith was named last year as the State Department's first special representative to Muslim communities, she sat down with the editor of an independent Muslim website for her first official interview. Altmuslim.com, a forum for opinion and analysis about current issues facing Muslims, was a fitting choice. Pandith has said a strong focus of her work is to reach out to younger Muslims around the world, often those most likely to use the Internet for news and networking. (June 5, 2010)
Censorship is in the ascendant - Zahed Amanullah, associate editor of altmuslim.com, has argued in a national newspaper blog that, since the warning came from an unrepresentative group, the media interest was not justified. As for events of the past – the fatwa on Salman Rushdie, the Danish cartoons, the murder of van Gogh – they were "three incidents over a 20-year period from amongst 1.6 billion people. These things do happen. But we all need a bit of perspective." (April 30, 2010)
Muslims say new security rules unfair, ineffective - ''Muslims are doing their duty. Muslim parents are being attentive. It's the TSA that's not being attentive. It's the TSA that's not doing its duty," said Shahed Amanullah, an editor at the Web site altmuslim.com. "There's nothing more that Muslims can do than turn in their own families." (January 7, 2010)
US Muslims & media… Lost love - "We have a big problem; it’s that other people are shaping the story about us," Shahed Amanullah, editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com, told IslamOnline.net. (December 16, 2009)
Moves to Seize Mosques Spark Outrage - "I'm extremely skeptical that the link between these mosques and this organization is so strong as to merit the seizing of a considerable amount of assets that do a lot of good for the Muslim community," says Shahed Amanullah, a prominent Muslim blogger based in Austin. "The government better be prepared to make a very good case, because this is unprecedented." (November 17, 2009)
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