Response to MCA’s Youth National Chairman – Abu Ameen

Initially, I was not that keen to respond to MCA’s Youth National Chairman press statement (http://www.mca.org.my/en/isma-must-learn-to-find-peace-within-themselves-before-their-enmity-enfolds-in-other-segments-of-society/) against my article entitled “Islam and Christmas Celebration” since it is universally known that MCA now is a non-entity as clearly demonstrated during GE13 in 2013.

However, I decided it’s better to clear the air once and for all. After all, when the article was published with its original title in ISMAWeb almost a day passes and it didn’t get much attention. Unfortunately when the article was rehashed and the heading was distorted and sensationalized to “Don’t wish Christians Merry Christmas says ISMA” by The Rakyat Post – everyone then suddenly gets excited within less than an hour after it is published.

Firstly, I hope the esteem Senator Chong Sin Woon has read the original article posted in ISMAWeb http://www.ismaweb.net/2014/12/islam-and-christmas-celebration/ instead of relying on a second hand source.

Secondly, if the kind Senator would read the original source of the article calmly in ISMAWeb, he would surely have noticed that there was not a single sentence alluding to the distorted exaggeration of the title created by The Rakyat Post. Now since the misleading title is already engrained in the Senator’s mind, I’ll summarize and clarify further the article in 5 brief points:

1. Every time Christmas approaches, Muslims will start debating whether to participate in the celebration or not.

2. I then explained that when it comes to wishing Merry Christmas, there are two different schools of thoughts in Islam: classical/traditional approach and contemporary approach. I didn’t expand on this as I mentioned the two different approaches could be searched further in the Internet. However, to save you some time I’ll briefly explain it here:

1. Majority of the scholars are following classical approach which ruled that it is non permissible and this include which I didn’t mention in the article our own National Fatwa Council (http://www.e-fatwa.gov.my/fatwa-kebangsaan/garis-panduan-orang-islam-turut-merayakan-hari-kebesaran-agama-orang-bukan-islam and it is consistent with the first point of the following ruling http://www.e-fatwa.gov.my/fatwa-kebangsaan/hukum-orang-islam-mengucapkan-tahniah-dan-ucapan-selamat-bersempena-perayaan-agama-).
2. However, there are contemporary scholars who ruled that such wish is permissible as has been issued by the European Council for Fatwa and Research. This is also being implied in the second and third bullet of our National Fatwa Council in the latter link.
3. 3. In any cases, one can also refer to ISMA’s position, which is consistent with the National Fatwa Council in the link I provided in the original article, as it is more suited for the multi cultural condition in Malaysia.  Unless you prefer to also write a press statement against the ruling of the National Fatwa Council on this matter, please feel free to do so.

4. I then indicated and elaborated my personal preference to follow the classical/traditional school of thought without neglecting the fact that as Muslims we still need to respect the Christians right to celebrate Christmas and allowed them to believe what they believe. This relationship will need to be mutual for both sides.

5. I concluded my article by quoting a Muslim revert FB status living in the United States which shares my preference to follow the classical approach – Brother Eddie Redzovic the host for the Deen Show which he quoted both the sacred text of Islam and Christianity.

In short as Muslims, we know there are 2 rulings related to this. One mentioned that it is Haram while another mentioned it is Harus (permissible).  I respect both opinions. Though I’m more confident with the traditional approach as does many Muslims out there, I still respect the contemporary view that is also held by many and it is the golden rule that we do not condemn each other for not following the view that we’re holding on to.

Thus, I sincerely hope Senator Chong will not fall into the divisive trap of the various social news media in the future but instead verify first from the original source before jumping to conclusion. Don’t use the same tactics that is being employed by your political opposition to create a political mileage from a non-issue. There are bigger issues that MCA can focus to avoid political extinction. Making a press statement on a sensationalized headline that was not even the main theme of the original article is not one of them.

To conclude, thank you for the salam wishes which I am now reciprocally wishing MCA with peace as well and may Allah guide all of us to the right path. Let me end by quoting the Holy Quran:

Say, “O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you – that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah.” But if they turn away, then say, “Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him].”[Ali Imran 3:64]

Happy Holiday.
Wallahua’lam.

Abu Ameen
ISMA Activist

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