Meaning of Christmas for a Muslim Canadian
Message of holiday is universal, bringing peace, harmony and unity among all mankind
Being a Muslim in a predominantly Christian country, especially during Christmas, can be quite a daunting experience.
In my neighbourhood, Christmas always starts early: every mid-November, neighbour Greg, dubbed “selfstyled Santa,” sends a personal note, eagerly reminding everyone on our cul-de-sac that it was time to decorate for the festive season. He couldn’t care about the mounting power bills, or that some seniors in the neighbourhood couldn’t afford to light up so early or that some of us were Muslims and so Christmas had no major religious significance.
“When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” I told my family. So, in the spirit of good neighbourliness and in the spirit of Xmas, I would religiously — no pun intended — decorate our home. After all, we Muslims do not want more trouble than we already have. After 9/11, those “freelance terrorists” have smeared our reputation, bringing disrepute to our religion. I dare not aggravate the situation.
I recall our first Christmas in Canada in 1972. We were respectfully called New Canadians then instead of Pakis. My son, who was two years old at the time, wanted a Christmas tree. We wanted to “Canadianize,” so I didn’t object, but some friends who heard that a Muslim believer has a Christmas tree in the house were outraged.
A Christmas tree has nothing to do with religion, was my reply. We should appreciate Canadian traditions while not forgetting our religion and culture. My response didn’t satisfy them.
The message of Christmas is universal, bringing peace, harmony, and unity among all mankind. In today’s world, plagued with pandemics, wars, destruction, poverty and terrorism, such goodwill is necessary. Christmas creates an atmosphere of kindness, brotherhood and benevolence, thus energizing our society, which is indifferent to caring values.
I always enjoyed watching the Canadian TV show “Little Mosque on the Prairie,” shot in a fictitious town called Mercy, where a Christian church offers space to Muslims to hold their services. What a superb gesture of religious co-operation, comraderies and non-denominational brotherhood. “Little Mosque on the Prairie” may be a fictional sitcom, but its message — religions working for everyone’s betterment — is applicable to present-day Canada and the world.
Racism raises its ugly head in different Canadian cities from time to time. In Edmonton, two hijabwearing Somali Muslim women were victims of hatemotivated assault when a man approached them, yelling racial obscenities before smashing a window of their car.
In Calgary, the daughter of an Alberta cabinet minister was attacked in broad daylight on Stephen Ave., which has some of the city’s finest restaurants and bars. No bystanders stepped in to help. It’s unfortunate that Muslims and other racialized people are not safe even in public places in broad daylight.
Muslims are hated because of the terrorist attacks undertaken by the so-called jihadists who have no legitimacy to unleash a reign of terror in the name of Islam. They are a bunch of hooligans causing death and destruction, in accordance with their own political agenda.
Muslims may look distinct, may pray differently, and may not eat the same food as the majority community, but underneath they are the same as anyone else. They are the same people who are our doctors, taxi drivers, lawyers and cleaners. They should be accepted and welcome as Canadians. This diversity is Canada’s greatest strength and for which Canada is widely respected and applauded; this Canadianism and the Canadian way of life should be cherished and treasured.
All Canadians should be able to live and move around freely in safety. Canada is renowned for welcoming immigrants and refugees. Let’s not tarnish Canada’s glittering image, which is the envy of the world, as a multiracial nation, portraying diversity and multiculturalism.
Christmas doesn’t come from a store or from under a tree; as Bob Hope said, “My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others.”
Some friends who heard that a Muslim believer has a Christmas tree in the house were outraged. A Christmas tree has nothing to do with religion, was my reply. We should appreciate Canadian traditions while not forgetting our religion and culture