Mosque issues fatwa on Christmas

  • Thread starter Thread starter dolphinlove
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
I don’t understand why people find this unbelievable or disturbing?

I don’t celebrate Christmas, either. That doesn’t make any difference to my neighbors who do.

I will wish someone a Merry Christmas, because I find courtesy doesn’t cost anything and pays great dividends.

I also will wish Muslims a Happy Eid, Hindus a Happy Diwali, Jews a Happy Chanukah, etc. I don’t have to practice any of those faiths to wish those who do well.

Also, as someone pointed out, this is one imam in one mosque. It isn’t reflective of all Muslims.

Peace,

Seeker
 
CatholicSheila said:
I don’t see why this is an issue. Christmas is a christian holiday. I wouldn’t expect Muslims to celebrate it in. Just as I don’t expect Buddhists, atheists, Jews, Hindus etc. to celebrate it.
Click to expand...
I think that part of the fatwa is reasonable. But from the news article, it seems the iman is saying that Muslims should not even say “Merry Christmas” to persons who do celebrate Christmas. If the article is accurate, then that part of the fatwa seems excessive.

But, honestly, we see the same kind of thinking here at CAF. For example, people who refuse to recognize Protestant clerical titles such as Archbishop of Canterbury or Bishop TD Jakes. Or in a thread about celebrating a Muslim holiday, some members will decide to denounce that religion instead

Politeness and common sense should prevail, but there are always a few ideologues. It sounds as if Sheikh Yahya Safi may be one of them.
 
Christians here might recall Melito of Sardis and his invective against Christians celebrating Passover—along with the events surrounding the Quartodeciman controversy (which lead to excommunications and even violence).
 
Reuben_J said:
Some do, some don’t.
Click to expand...
Muslim business owners hate it. Productivity drops. By the end of the month, people are not functioning that well. Also, the number of bombings rises. I don’t know if it is a causal relationship.
 
Dale_M said:
I think that part of the fatwa is reasonable. But from the news article, it seems the iman is saying that Muslims should not even say “Merry Christmas” to persons who do celebrate Christmas. If the article is accurate, then that part of the fatwa seems excessive.

But, honestly, we see the same kind of thinking here at CAF. For example, people who refuse to recognize Protestant clerical titles such as Archbishop of Canterbury or Bishop TD Jakes. Or in a thread about celebrating a Muslim holiday, some members will decide to denounce that religion instead

Politeness and common sense should prevail, but there are always a few ideologues. It sounds as if Sheikh Yahya Safi may be one of them.
Click to expand...
I believe Benedict addresses this somewhat in his recent address to the Curia.
 
Yeah, I think these folks who issue ‘fatwas’ have too much time on their hands. I am at this moment in Afghanistan, and working on an Afghan base. I have had Muslims telling me ‘Merry Christmas’ all day long today. I suppose if he didn’t have a full belly and a warm house to sleep in he would have more important things to worry about than issuing fatwas on Christmas.

I am issuing a fatwa now. I would like to issue a fatwa on the tuna casserole that they continue to serve in the dining facility here! Tabasco is not helping! :whackadoo:
 
sgwallace1227 said:
I am issuing a fatwa now. I would like to issue a fatwa on the tuna casserole that they continue to serve in the dining facility here! Tabasco is not helping! :whackadoo:
Click to expand...
Could be worse. You you could be at an FOB.

I recommend Camp Warehouse, Camp Souter, and ISAF headquarters. If you like BBQ, check out Camp Phoenix.
 
I also don’t understand why this is a big deal.

Muslims believe that worshipping Jesus is a sin, tantamount to idolatry. They believe that the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation (which Christmas commemorates) is blasphemous. Why should they be expected to do something that violates their conscience?

“Fatwa against Christmas” is a misleading headline, obviously created by the newspaper to create scandal and attract readership. The imam was just telling Muslims that they shouldn’t say “Merry Christmas.” There’s nothing wrong with that.

Those Catholics on here who are upset about this, let me ask you this:

Would you wish a Hindu a happy birthday of the monkey god Hanuman?

Would you wish a Wiccan a happy Samhain?

Would you wish a Lutheran a happy Reformation Day?
 
I don’t see anything strange about it. If I lived in a Muslim country I’m sure my priest would advise against taking part in Muslim holidays and/or rituals. Oh, wait, if I lived in a Muslim cuntry I would not be allowed to practice my faith… Never mind.
 
dolphinlove said:
THE Lakemba Mosque has issued a fatwa against Christmas, warning followers it is a ‘‘sin’’ to even wish people a Merry Christmas.

The religious ruling, which followed a similar lecture during Friday prayers at Australia’s biggest mosque, was posted on its Facebook site on Saturday morning.

The head imam at Lakemba, Sheikh Yahya Safi, had told the congregation during prayers that they should not take part in anything to do with Christmas.

Samir Dandan, the president of the Lebanese Muslim Association, which oversees the mosque, could not be reached for comment on Saturday.
Advertisement

The fatwa, which has sparked widespread community debate and condemnation, warns that the “disbelievers are trying to draw Muslims away from the straight path”.

Read more: smh.com.au/nsw/no-merriness-here-mosque-puts-fatwa-on-christmas-20121222-2bsk2.html#ixzz2FouPushU

Unbelievable!
Click to expand...
May God take away the hatred in their hearts and soften it to Him.
 
dolphinlove said:
The fatwa, which has sparked widespread community debate and condemnation, warns that the “disbelievers are trying to draw Muslims away from the straight path”.
Click to expand...
Maybe Muslims are following what God has written on their hearts…it’s not the disbelievers drawing Muslims but God himself. 👍

No fatwa can stop God.
 
I, too, don’t see the big deal in this. Remember that protestant pastor in Florida that wanted to burn copies of the Qu’ran? Same thing.

Let’s get over ourselves and not take things too personally.
 
Domnall said:
I, too, don’t see the big deal in this. Remember that protestant pastor in Florida that wanted to burn copies of the Qu’ran? Same thing.
Click to expand...
How is this the same thing? The imam isn’t burning Bibles. He simply told his flock, “Don’t say Merry Christmas.”
 
sgwallace1227 said:
I am issuing a fatwa now. I would like to issue a fatwa on the tuna casserole that they continue to serve in the dining facility here! Tabasco is not helping! :whackadoo:
Click to expand...
Be careful! I might issue a fatwa on using Tabasco on tuna casserole 😛 (I admitt I’ve tasted some tuna casserole . . . ):D:p:whacky:
 
epan said:
Muslim business owners hate it. Productivity drops. By the end of the month, people are not functioning that well. Also, the number of bombings rises. I don’t know if it is a causal relationship.
Click to expand...
There are those who get cranky because of hunger due to the fast and the financial loss that their businessmen suffer. And of course the militants and perhaps it is best not to include that here as these have agendas of their own. But credit also to those who have become more patience during Ramadan due to the spirit of fasting.

When we look at it - the reason for fasting is not much different from that of Christians. We may not agree on how they institutionalize it as it seems to be more by force while for us it is strictly voluntary. Voluntary it is, we are exhorted to fast though either from food or in kind.
 
Horatius said:
I also don’t understand why this is a big deal.

Muslims believe that worshipping Jesus is a sin, tantamount to idolatry. They believe that the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation (which Christmas commemorates) is blasphemous. Why should they be expected to do something that violates their conscience?

“Fatwa against Christmas” is a misleading headline, obviously created by the newspaper to create scandal and attract readership. The imam was just telling Muslims that they shouldn’t say “Merry Christmas.” There’s nothing wrong with that.

Those Catholics on here who are upset about this, let me ask you this:

Would you wish a Hindu a happy birthday of the monkey god Hanuman?

Would you wish a Wiccan a happy Samhain?

Would you wish a Lutheran a happy Reformation Day?
Click to expand...
Well, if the Pope issued a judgement saying that Catholics were forbidden from doing the above, then it would be a big deal too.
 
Agnes Therese has a good point.

However, given the killing of Christians in Nigeria on Christmas Day and the rising intolerance toward Christians in many Muslim lands (remember that tolerance toward Christians is an ordinance in the Qur’an), this is a troubling matter.

On the other hand, when I was a Baha’i, Baha’i authorities routinely discouraged Baha’is from celebrating or even participating in Christmas, but even Baha’is of several generations often had Christmas trees, sang carols, etc. I remember an actual Christmas carol night organized by the Baha’i community.
agnes_therese said:
You DO realize, don’t you, that this was one guy at one mosque? You really can’t generalize to ALL Muslims from him.
Click to expand...
 
Usbek_de_Perse said:
Agnes Therese has a good point.

However, given the killing of Christians in Nigeria on Christmas Day and the rising intolerance toward Christians in many Muslim lands (remember that tolerance toward Christians is an ordinance in the Qur’an), this is a troubling matter.

On the other hand, when I was a Baha’i, Baha’i authorities routinely discouraged Baha’is from celebrating or even participating in Christmas, but even Baha’is of several generations often had Christmas trees, sang carols, etc. I remember an actual Christmas carol night organized by the Baha’i community.
Click to expand...
To be more accurate Baha’is don’t celebrate Christmas with other Baha’is but we can particpate say with our Christian relatives.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top