Comments on: When following them into a lizard hole is NOT an alternative

By: Anna Stamou

Anna Stamou — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:42:38 +0000

I absolutely agree, the date is not significant, I did not mean to have other activities at the same dates with others’ holidays. All I mean is not to wait for special dates to make our children happy. This is a very good chance to improve ourselves as parents living Islam, showing the world our way of living. But without giving too much credit to the others’ celebrations, either positive either negative. All these need more effort from the muslim parents, but it is worth it.

By: ImanK

ImanK — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:23:44 +0000

“If we have no alternative to give to our children why should they lose their chance to play? What do you think? ”

Thanks for your comment, Anna. We definitely should have an alternative. The question is, which is the best method to go about this? We have clear ahadith stating to warn us against imitating the kuffar in things that they are known for (ex. their holidays etc.).

Instead of creating a similar event on the same day to curb the actual event, why not be proactive and educate our community on the pagan ideas of these holidays.

It’s not a problem to take your kids out for fun and festivities, but why not regularly throughout the year instead of specifying the exact same day you are trying to stay away from imitating in the first place?

By: Anna Stamou

Anna Stamou — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:31:39 +0000

Very nice points,
These fests come from ages before christianity, their roots come from older religions, but kept alive for some reasons. That is why I loved Islam, because it was freed from any bond with uknown mysteries that were brought to us as fests to pass through the generations. We don’t have Halloween in Greece but we have Theofania me Kallikatzarous, it is the same basis.
I would say to take the children’s side. All they know that these are fests, happy time for children, a chance to play to laugh, to amuse themselves, and you know well that childern need desperately some fun especially those who live in our huge cities.
So my suggestion is to offer them our nice chances for fun, organizing more children festivals, taking our children more out of the house, sacrifising of our “valuable working time”, show them that we can be also more fun and religious, so these fests like Haloween will become less and less significant to their eyes, and not a forbidden sin that naturally attracts them.
If we have no alternative to give to our children why should they lose their chance to play? What do you think?

By: ImanK

ImanK — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 11:04:22 +0000

“The best offense is the defence. ”

You reminded me of a quote that I heard,

“The best defense is often a well-calculated offense.”

By: Ahmed Eldin

Ahmed Eldin — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 10:45:08 +0000

Apologists are authors, writers, editors of scientific logs or academic journals, and leaders known for taking on the points in arguments, conflicts or positions that are either placed under popular scrutinies or viewed under persecutory examinations. The term comes from the Greek word apologia (απολογία), meaning a speaking in defense.( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apologetics)

I dont think that the above definition is bad for a Muslim, quite the opposite, it is an honor. The Quran is full of “apologetic” statements meaning defending the Prophet and Islam.

I believe that the inferiority complex comes from being quite in front of an accusation made by kafirs against Islam. It is our obligation to explain Islam and defend it. The best offense is the defence.

By: Ghazala

Ghazala — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 06:47:25 +0000

Assalamu alaikum,

Very well stated Iman, mashaAllah!
I believe that instilling a strong Muslim identity in our children has to start from day one (or even before!), if we want to be successful.
May Allah help us all to do this. Ameen.
Having said that, there are many Muslim children who don’t have this upbringing and we must come up with a suitable way to help them too.
May Allah allow us all to work together to do this. Ameen

By: Nadia

Nadia — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 23:52:46 +0000

Jazakallahu Khairun

Nicely put!

By: ImanK

ImanK — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 20:32:58 +0000

I know this topic creating some stir for others. My point of of these type of events is that it all leads to inferiority complex and ma sha Allah for those who left a comment, you agree with me.

This is a much bigger issue that plagues our ummah.

Yasmin, Br. Ahmed and Br. Amir, very good points. Also, Br. Amir, I, too, had that question a while ago about the title “apologetics” that I asked Br. Ahmed because although in the truest definition dating back to Greek roots is fine, when you say it in English, there is a connotation that we have to apologize for our religion, putting us on the defensive instead of the offensive.

I guess theologians and scholars understand the term in the pure form but as a layman, I understand it in the other way with the negative connotation.

By: Amir Abdullah Ibn Yahya

Amir Abdullah Ibn Yahya — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 09:03:23 +0000

Salam aleykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

It’s indeed exactly what you said sister, an inferiority complex. Even the “apologetic” scholars of Islam and so on, I mean, why should we ask for apologies for something we did not do in the first place? We should tell them straight forward to stop acting like children (the Christians mostly) and just stand up for that which we have a right over, and that is living without being oppressed (meaning, without being tyrannized about these terrorist attacks and whatever else).

By: Jasmin

Jasmin — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 04:19:25 +0000

Fantastic article Iman, I couldn’t have said it better. No wonder we aren’t raising the likes of Khalid bin Walid, Umar bin Khatab, Az-Zoubir. We are too busy teaching our children to find the EASY WAY OUT of everything instead of BUILDING TOUGH characters who are not scared to say something is haram.