Muslim offence at Nutcracker?

[IDreamOfThor]

Evening. Worried I’m about to commit a massive blunder…

instead of a bottle of wine, I’ve bought member of my team (Muslim - says they are not observant, husband drinks etc) a lovely illustrated, pop up book of the Nutcracker for Christmas so they can read to their child.

just checked online and apparently magic is not allowed… any thoughts on what to do? Risk and give the book or scrabble around for another gift in the morning?

If you were going to buy them wine then I'm sure a book is ok. If they don't like it (it's a terrible story!) then they can just not read it.

Don't over think it! It's fine .

Have you never known a muslim Harry Potter fan?

My Muslim niece is a mad keen ballet dancer. Yes it’s in their repertoire at her dance school. They also celebrate Christmas.

don’t overthink it.

Not being funny but not much of a gift to them.. could you not have got them a nice box of Chocolates? Some candles? A scarf?

A pop up book to read with their child is a bit odd imo!

They have the appetite of a tiny bird & never accesorise but get your point about present for them…

English not first language and don’t traditionally celebrate Christmas in home country. I thought it was nice - always loved reading pop up books with my daughter and this is a high quality book that could be a keepsake.

im going with the book. Thanks for inputs x

My Muslim colleague likes all-you-can eat Chinese at Cosmo, including pork, and a couple of pints of Stella. And, yes, they do Christmas.

If they for some reason don't want it, they can regift. But doubt very much they will be offended, as it's a nice gesture.

If they were super observant then ms6be it would be a problrm.

However, they're obviously not and probably will enjoy the gift. Don't worry.

You said she's not observant! It's a Christmas pop up book, why are you worried it's going to offend?

Sounds like a lovely gift and not offensive at all - don’t believe Everything on Google :)

What bit do you think is about magic?

I'm Muslim and would love a pop up book of the Nutcracker.

Don't think any Muslim would take offense to that.

Worse case scenario, if they are really strict, they'll put the book away, but still think your gesture was sweet.

Magic isn't "allowed" in Christianity as well as Islam.

But the Nutcracker isn't about magic. It's a story about a girl's dream (Clara).

It's a story about a girl's dream.

Thank goodness I'm not the only one who knows this!

I once had to explain it to a whole dressing room full of young ballet dancers.

Nah this isn't what they mean when people say magic is haram. For most observant Muslims, they mean avoid engaging in literal sorcery themselves, not reading stories about it. Just like the rules to avoid eating unclean animals means don't eat them, not avoid thinking about pigs ever. The Three Little Pigs is fine. Eating pigs is not fine. Books about Tinkerbell, fine. Actually trying to cast a spell or speak to the dead, not fine.

It was mostly intended to try and put a stop to the amount of people who believe in protection against djinn spells, or doing divination to tell the future, but it hasn't really worked on that count if my friends/extended family are anything to go by.

I think it's lovely.

hi OP no need to worry! I'm observant and even my most devout friends would not be offended by this! it is just a fairy tale. lots of Muslim cultures have similar fairy tales. some of the stories we know commonly in the uk are known in slightly different forms in Turkey for example.

In many islamic cultures it is normal to buy gifts for friends' children. I almost never buy gifts for my friends since they had children, I always buy for their children. they will appreciate it.

I think it's a fabulous choice! A beautiful illustrated book, Christmassy but not religious. It's perfect.