should you give Muslim neighbours a Christmas card?

[grannyinapram]

YABU
you shouldn't as they don't celebrate
YANBU
you should or else its excluding them

I work with a JW and she doesn't get offended by being given a card, she says the person is being kind to think of her. Another colleague always buys a little gift for everyone and gives her one with a thank you card and she always says how thoughtful it is. Once someone made a big drama on her behalf saying she would be offended and she found that really uncomfortable. I think the previous posters have come across some not so nice people which unfortunately can be found in all religions.

If you are someone who "does" christmas cards for friends and neighbours then I think it would be silly to exclude someone because they are Muslim. I bet half of your neighbours don't believe a word of the bible but will still be doing Christmas and would appreciate the card.

If your neighbours are offended by receiving a Christmas greetings card then they probably aren't worth worrying about anyway.

@HeretoThereandBackAgain

A muslim friend of mine is the most Christmas-mad person I know. She’s always first to give out cards, loves decorating, buying presents, enjoying Christmas events etc. I always give her a card.

I genuinely don't understand this! Does she believe in Jesus??

I'm Jewish and I avoid Christmassy stuff. I don't particularly love receiving Christmas cards but the gesture is well-meaning.

@PussyMalanga

Christmas hasn't been about Jesus in the mainstream for a long time.
Also, Muslims do believe in Jesus, I think they say he was a prophet of Allah!

My Buddhist neighbours gave us a card last year.

I'm not at all religious - should we not do Christmas?

@NatriumChloride
I was speaking more in behalf of Islam. Because of the belief behind it and the history eg santa and going down that rabbit hole. I'm on Montessori groups and parents on there don't teach it to their children either because of the history and also only saying the truth. I was actually surprised it's a big belief in Montessori.

But to the OP, the pure Islamic view is not to celebrate Christmas even with cards because of the belief of Christmas from the core, many may not believe in it here but there is still a large population who do and for Muslims associating partners with God is something we have to distance ourselves from.

BUT that doesn't mean a Muslim will get offended. My neighbours have posted cards through the door. We went through Christmas at school etc growing up. I see it as something you celebrate and that's it. No further thought. If a card comes I wouldn't be offended but it probably won't go up on display. We don't really have the concept of cards for Eid either and prefer to just gift/be neighbourly throughout the year rather than just Eid/other occasions.

Yes of course there are Muslims who will celebrate Christmas but it isn't from Islam so the ruling is not to celebrate it because the core Islamic belief is God is one and the religious Christians I know tell me Jesus wasn't even born on Christmas and all the symbolism of the tree etc isn't from the religion so I see it from that angle. I would say donate the card money to charity instead and continue with friendly greetings! But a Muslim is not going to be offended. We live in the UK we are used to celebrations from all faiths.

I'd feel patronising not giving them a card. It's not as though you're stuffing Christian propaganda information in the envelope.

I'd feel patronising not giving them a card.

Oh. I wonder if people think that about me. I haven't sent a Christmas card for a good 10 or so years now.

If it helps, Muslims believe in Jesus and their holy book includes him. According to Islam he will return at the end of days and was a very important prophet, just not the last.

The major difference is that they don't believe he is the son of God.

I hope that helps.

I think if you know your neighbours you will know if they join in Christmas celebrations, and whether to include them.

Been in the Middle East 15 years now have I have to say for the vast majority of my Arab Muslim friends and colleagues, if it is a holiday that involves decorations, lights, presents and food, they are all for it and will happily participate.

My Muslim colleagues are the ones who organize the yearly Secret Santa.

I was speaking more in behalf of Islam

You're clearly not speaking for the other Muslim posters itt though

You could give a "seasons greetings" or a blank filled with "happy holidays" im sure it would be appreciated, I once received a lovely card for Eid with a lovely little gift and one christmas an acqaintance (who is muslim) gifted our family some chocolates x

One of loveliest, bizarre Christmas moments was visiting the Big Buddha and Po Lin monastery in Lantau Island by cable car and arriving at this sacred Buddhist site to the sounds of O Come All Ye Faithful being blasted out over the loudspeaker system and artificial snow being blown across the site. It didn’t settle because it was about 29 degrees.

The idea any ordinary person could be seriously offended is silly. Religious tolerance and understanding is so important. Goodwill to all is the key Christmas message.

Where's LeanneB, the poster who said that Christmas was haram (forbidden) for Muslims. She lobbed that grenade & then left the thread and then had her arse handed to her on a plate by other posters!!

Yes.
I say that as someone brought up in a Muslim family. My parents love receiving them from neighbours.

I think people are conflating Christmas as a religious observance and the cultural/secular angle.

A large percentage of people will celebrate secular Christmas, whether they be Christian, any other religion or atheist.

A small minority of people celebrate Christmas as a religious festival- i.e with Church, observing Nativity Fast etc etc.

Secular Christmas is for everybody, and no, it hasn't been hijacked. It's the remnants of a pagan festival that religious Christmas was randomly tacked on to ages ago.

The only neighbours who give us a Christmas card are the Muslim ones.

Of course. Most will do something for Xmas. When I lived abroad I used to get Chinese New Year cards and Eid cards (lived in Singapore). All very colourful.

DontStopThinkingAboutTomorrow To an extent I think you’re right but Christmas is very much a religious feast. It may have traditions and origins that are secular but the very word Christmas is religious just as Easter.

If we are celebrating the winter solstice, then move the date and celebrate the solstice. If it’s a Druid festival, get rid of brightly lit stars and jump over sticks and decorate with just greenery.

Call it Christmas and it is about the birth of Christ.

If you don't know them well enough to know the answer then you just take a chance.

They probably celebrate Christmas, as a holiday if nothing else!

Our lovely Muslim neighbours bought us lovely food and small gifts at Eid. We'll certainly be giving them a Christmas card and some gifts (might draw a line at food though my cooking is appalling!!)

@CherryPavlova

DontStopThinkingAboutTomorrow To an extent I think you’re right but Christmas is very much a religious feast. It may have traditions and origins that are secular but the very word Christmas is religious just as Easter.

If we are celebrating the winter solstice, then move the date and celebrate the solstice. If it’s a Druid festival, get rid of brightly lit stars and jump over sticks and decorate with just greenery.

Call it Christmas and it is about the birth of Christ.

Interestingly "Easter" has also been hijacked into a secular holiday- how many do you know who observe it as a religious holiday as opposed to those who do the whole hats, easter bunny, chocolate thing? Christmas (and Easter) are definitely religious holidays to me, but a lot more people celebrate the secular parts.

@snookercue

I'd feel patronising not giving them a card.

Oh. I wonder if people think that about me. I haven't sent a Christmas card for a good 10 or so years now.

I think you've missed the point completely.

The OP (not that they bothered returning) was talking about inclusion.

If you don't send cards to anyone, you're not 'leaving out' your Muslim neighbours so it couldn't possibly be seen as patronising.