I, a Muslim, would like to wish all of my Christian brothers and sisters a Merry Christmas 2008 and a Happy New Year 2009. A quote from John Greenleaf Whittier should represent your joy,
A little smile, a word of cheer, A bit of love from someone near, A little gift from one held dear, Best wishes for the coming year… These make a Merry Christmas!
Can Muslim Say ‘Merry Christmas’?
Yes, you can. Mahmudi Asyari and Muizzudin write a good piece appeared on the Jakarta Post (24/12/08):
Indonesian Muslims still have very different opinions about wishing someone “Merry Christmas”. Some of them believe it is OK to do so, while some others see it differently.
Actually, what all Indonesian Muslims do now is to refer to the Holy Koran, Mary Chapter, verses 33-34. “Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive! Such was Jesus, son of Mary: (this is) a statement of the truth concerning which they doubt.”
The two verses do not ban Muslims from wishing “Merry Christmas” as long as they mean to confess that Jesus is just a human and not God (Tafseer Ibn Katsir, Vol. III/127). M. Quraish Shihab even mentioned that the human aspect is significant in Islam. If there is no problem with the human aspect, there is no problem then for Muslims to extend a congratulations to anyone who celebrates the birthday of someone who later became a Prophet and a Messenger.
