Abdur Rahman ibn Yusuf Mangera – Q&A Giving Christmas Cards
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Can I send Christmas cards? Or presents to my Christian
neighbors?
Why don't you send eat cards when it's your eat? Why don't you give
them presents other times of the year? The fact that you probably
giving them during Christmas and again, I'm reading into this
question again, right? Is that you feel it's an obligation. And if I
don't, I'm gonna, I'm gonna look strange. I've got a, I've got a
nun Muslim neighbor, I think she's Catholic. We give them eat
presents, we send them food, like throughout the year, like every
now and then we'll give them something at Christmas. We don't
send them anything. They might send something to us. And I don't
think she has any hard feelings. Why are you stingy all year round.
And then as your neighbor, man, you're supposed to be looking
after them. And then on Christmas, you're gonna give them something
because it's a ritual, that's stupid. That's ridiculous. Go and
be nice to them throughout the year fulfill the rights of
neighborhoods, neighborliness, then when you don't give something
on Christmas, I don't think anybody should be offended. And
you stay away from the whole controversy about whether it's
halal or haram. And is wrong or right or whatever, right? Because
it's a religious festival. So it's best that you just give it at
other times anyway, regardless, that's what we're told to do
things you know, we're not, we shouldn't restrict things to
particular times. Be there when you when they need you. Right, be
there when you need you and be always there for them. And maybe
one time when you're having a nice discussion, you can say, Look, I
know I don't give you a Christmas gifts, because we generally don't
celebrate Christmas, right? And but we, you know, we like to be
you know, we'd like to fulfill these kinds of Rites of
neighborhood of neighborliness of neighbors know, other times as
well. So I had a question recently, from somebody who worked
in a Muslim country for a non Muslim, non Muslim company, he
worked in a Muslim country for a non Muslim company in that, and
all of his other friends or co workers, they always on a WhatsApp
group with their manager, who's from one of the Western countries,
but they're based in a Muslim country. They're all Muslims in
there, the workers generally. And they all on a WhatsApp group. And
at Christmas time, they say, oh, Merry Christmas to you this that.
And other than he feels that if he doesn't say he'll be left out, I
said, this is absolutely ridiculous. I said, Why? Why don't
you instead of WhatsApp go to him at Christmas time, right around
that time he's not on Christmas Day is going to be before that,
and say, Look, I really want to show my appreciation that I work
for you that you've given me this job. I'm very comfortable here.
And I really hope that you have a wonderful holiday. Right? And a
wonderful new year. Wonderful next year, like you know, because you
want the next year to be nice, because in our Sharia there is
this that you can wish somebody a good new year, that may Allah make
it pleasant for you, and so on and so forth. Just keep Christmas out
of it. But that will be much more appreciated than a WhatsApp
message. Right? Even though there's no Christmas in it, unless
your boss is somebody who's looking to see if you talk about
Christmas or not, then then you're in the wrong place. And I've seen
this in many companies. In fact, the companies that I work with the
printers in America, you get cards from them, but they're generally
happy holiday cards, happy festive season cards, because they're a
bit you know that they don't want to offend you. Do you understand
by imposing Christmas on you.
I think if you be nice to somebody throughout the year, and you show
your true appreciation that is much more important than these
ritual. Same I have same problem with eat cards, to be honest. So
it is not just about Christmas, whereas Christmas is another
religion involved here. But I have same issue with EAD cards just as
an obligation.
somebody's done good to you send them a thank you card straight
away. If that's the best way you can do things, nothing wrong with
sending a thank you card. I'll tell you that. Right. Unless
you're doing it ritualistically then it just becomes a ritual and
then it's mundane, be people of substance and people will
recognize that