With the festive season fast-approaching, I am more than merely excited for the joyous atmosphere associated with Christmas. Not that I am a Christian. I am a Muslim, but like millions of other Western Muslims, that doesn’t stop me enjoying the Christmas season and the spirit of tolerance which goes with it.
Yet among the well-wishers, hot chocolate and Christmas films, there is also the awkwardness derived from people being wary of offending me by celebrating. But what is there to find offensive?
Some employers have been rushing to hush Christmas festivities in the workplace for fear of offending their Muslim and Jewish employees – but they needn’t worry about changing the traditions! In my eyes, watering down religious and cultural celebrations has no logical basis.
David Isaac of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission warns that managers have been guilty of “extreme and disproportionate behaviour” which “could…produce some sort of resentment about special treatment.” In other words, suppressing Christmas generates more turbulence than celebrating it. ‘Taking precautions’ at this time of year is more likely to inflame resentment than give offence.
Let’s not forget how much Christianity and Islam have in common, starting with the name of God. Christian Arabic speakers refer to God as Allah, just as Muslims do. My own name also represents some of the similarities between the two faiths: Hanna-Mariam. It is the Arabic translation of Anne and Mary, two of the most important women in the life of Prophet Jesus, or Issa in Arabic.
Across Muslim-majority countries around the world, especially in the Middle East, there are hundreds of Christian communities who have lived side by side with Muslims for thousands of years. From Bethlehem to Beirut, Christian communities will decorate their homes and cities for the special month and most importantly, for Christmas Day; and they’ll do this in peace, as for the most part they always have. Also, this level of compatibility is not just a tradition in danger of dying out. Watching the stereotype-defying images and celebrations shared on social media is equally remarkable. Arab celebrities often take to their social media platforms to wish a happy Christmas to their followers, including Lebanese singers such as Myriam Fares (Maronite Christian) and Haifa Wehbe (Shia Muslim).
American engineering student, Samer Suleiman (21) had plenty to say about the crossover between Christmas and people of other faiths: “We are not offended! I feel that Christmas is no longer just a part of Christianity, but a part of humanity. Growing up in the United States, my dad used to take us out for a ride around the neighbourhood to look at the Christmas decorations! A lot of my cousins in Ramallah would go to Beit Lahem (Bethlehem) where there is always a Christmas tree and people would gather around to take pictures. There was never any questioning among the Palestinians as to who was Christian and who was Muslim, which is further proof that religious co-existence is very much present. To me, we are a huge part of Christmas!’
