New Muslims & The Festive Period

Written By: Brother Tom (A Fellow Revert to Islam, Alhamdulillah!)

A Complicated Time

Although the impermissibility of celebrating Christmas and other such non-Muslim festivals is clear and straightforward, for many Muslims living in a Western or Christian country, Christmas can be a difficult time to navigate. This is especially true for reverts who might feel torn between not wanting to betray their faith and not wanting to alienate their non-Muslim families, no matter how accepting or not they may be. Throw into the mix the online discourse around the permissibility of saying Merry Christmas or Happy New Year, eating Christmas dinner, and exchanging gifts, and Christmas can be a truly head-scrambling time of year, leaving reverts feeling confused and isolated at a time where we may feel the absence of our past lives most acutely.

Stay Consistent, Every Action Helps

My advice to (especially more recent) reverts at Christmas is the same as my advice to reverts throughout the year: stay consistent but go at your own pace. If something doesn’t feel right to you for the place you’re at, don’t do it. Building long-term habits for practising Islam comes differently to everyone, if you’re very new to the Deen and learning your prayer, continue doing that throughout Christmas in whatever capacity you can manage, if you’re reading a Juz (chapter) of The Quran per day in Arabic continue with that. Do what you can to keep connected to your faith no matter what stage you’re at and no matter how small it feels.

Establishing Islam in a society where so much is Haram (Islamically impermissible) and the temptations of this Dunya (worldly life) are constantly thrown in your face is tricky enough in normal times but during the Christmas period – for many new Muslims – it’s even harder, with pressure from work, family, and friends to spend time in situations we’re not entirely comfortable with. Keeping up that regular connection to your faith, therefore, is essential both for being true to yourself and for keeping you steadfast against temptation. And do not be put down by what people online or in the community are saying about the details: You are on your journey and alhamdulillah (praise to Allah) the will of Allah was for you to become a Muslim so trust that to guide you on in a way that feels right for you and your journey.

To Each Their Own Journey

There is certainly no one-size-fits-all approach to navigating the Christmas period as a revert. It brings the things we may be struggling with all year round to the fore because it intensifies the tension between our past lives and our present. Try to keep your connection to Islam strong however you can manage and make lots of Du’a (supplication) for Allah to make it an easy and beneficial time for you. Although these festive periods come with their difficulties, holidays in general are an opportunity; As Muslims we are obliged to keep good relations with our family, and at this time many people are off work or school and cherish the opportunity to catch up and spend time with loved ones. We should not shy away from that just because it happens to be associated with a holiday that we don’t recognise.

Use this time to show off the discipline and refinement in character that has accompanied your journey in Islam; apply the framework of Islam to the best of your capacity, keep your boundaries and the sanctity of your faith in place, and know that Allah is the most Merciful.

Understanding From Those Farther Along The Path

And to those born into Islam, please remember that for some reverts this may be an especially painful time either because they haven’t yet told their family, or they have and they’ve rejected it. If you know someone like that keep them in your Du’a and go out of your way to check in on them and spend some time with them if you know they have nowhere else to go. Please also show understanding of their context, perhaps they are not yet ready to establish clear boundaries with their family regarding Christmas and elements of participation, perhaps they are – let them decide and show support. The journey is a long one, not defined by a simple day or two.