The New Year and Christmas celebrations have passed. Many of us shared these occasions with our friends, wishing them a happy New Year out of the conviction that we are all humans living in one world. Those of us who greeted others on Christmas and New Year did not take a day off work for the occasion, did not buy new dresses, did not prepare a Christmas tree, did not buy gifts and wrap them in fancy paper for distribution. We did not do these things because we have our own occasions to celebrate and when we do celebrate them, we buy new dresses, exchange greetings and visits and distribute gifts.
But this does not mean we should not love other people and share with them their happy occasions? Are we doing something wrong when we reach out to others? Are we committing a sin when we exchange greetings with others? Why are those who reach out to others always put in an unflattering spotlight when they use such words as Merry Christmas or Happy New Year?
It is now usual to hear people tell you that you behaved wrongly by sharing in non-believers’ special occasions and that by doing so, you have fallen under the wicked influence of foreign culture while as a Muslim, you must know that in Islam there are only two occasions to celebrate: Eid Al-Fitr which comes at the end of the Ramadan and Eid Al-Adha which coincides with Haj.
Can wishing others happiness really mean you have fallen under the influence of foreign culture? Now I begin to understand why a Filipina nurse looked at me with surprise when I said “Merry Christmas” to her a few years ago. No doubt she never expected anything like that; maybe she was even suspicious of my intentions since she was not used to hearing Muslims greet her on such occasions.
I wonder how and why we have reached a point in our relations with others at which we scarcely acknowledge their presence among us, let alone share their happy moments. I wonder why any initiative or move from our side toward them is interpreted as meaning we have done something wrong because we were influenced by foreign cultures.
Wishing people well on their special occasions does not mean we share their beliefs nor that we have fallen under any influence except that of simple humanity. My mother was a devoted and devout Muslim and yet she always bought our Filipina maid presents on Christmas and gave her the day off to celebrate the occasion with her friends. Does this mean my mother was under the wicked influence of foreign culture?
