oldrustytulsa, Tulsa (12/11/2008 5:44:26 AM)

What about the other people that do not celebrate Christmas?

Panthera, Tulsa (12/11/2008 6:43:21 AM)

People who don't observe Christmas can ignore OUR celebration of Christ's birth. There is no gun held to their heads.

TulGal, Tulsa (12/11/2008 12:09:00 PM)

To oldrustytulsa: That's the dumbest question I've ever seen posted on this site.

opinionatedmother, Tulsa (12/11/2008 8:12:24 PM)

TulGal,

How can you say that's the dumbest question? I've seen some retarded things on these posts and that can't even hold a candle to them. What if he is truly sincere in his questioning? I can kind of understand where it is coming from. While I celebrate Christmas and the birth of Christ, I don't understand why there are not elaborate celebrations for the other religions practiced here ie: Islam, Kwanza, Honuka, ect. (please forgive my spelling). All I can say is if you practice one of these celebrations, organize something. They can not deny you the right to a parade of your own. You'll just have to go through all of the proper procedures. But as far as this being a dumb question. I never believe others are dumb just because they don't believe the same things I do.

TulGal, Tulsa (12/11/2008 10:49:30 PM)

To om, I didn't say he is dumb. And you are right about some retarded things being posted...and those are generally opinions that are being expressed. But, I think oldrusty already knows the TW will report just about every other type of religious event that is planned. They do it every year. The article is about a Christmas celebration and he asks about those that don't celebrate Christmas. Obviously they won't have a Christmas celebration.

Proud Muslim, Tulsa: Coolest place in the world (almost) (12/12/2008 12:29:47 PM)

Righton, what about people who do believe in God but don't celebrate Christmas? Do we have to work?

zTruth, Tulsa (12/12/2008 2:38:43 PM)

The Quran states it is blasphemy to consider Jesus the son of God.

Sura 5:72-73, 5:75 “They do blaspheme who say: “God is Christ the son of Mary.” They do blaspheme who say: God is one of three in a trinity: for there is no God except one God Allah. If they do not desist from their word of blasphemy, verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them. Christ the son of Mary was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him.”

Sura 18:4-5 “Further, that He may warn those (also) who say, “God hath begotten a son”: No knowledge have they of such a thing, nor had their fathers. It is a grievous thing that issues from their mouths as a saying what they say is nothing but falsehood!”

According to Muslims, each and ever word in the Quran in the word of Allah.

Christians are celebrating this beautiful time of the year in honor of our lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

What will you be doing on Jesus's birthday, Proud Muslim? The Quran claims he is a prophet but do you all even recognize his birthday?

Proud Muslim, Tulsa: Coolest place in the world (almost) (12/12/2008 8:20:24 PM)

zTruth, Muslims do not believe Jesus to be God or the son of God. We believe he was a prophet sent by God to deliver a message of righteousness. Nonetheless, we do respect Christians as people of the book:

[3:113-115]
"Not all of them are alike: of the People of the book are a portion that stand (for the right); they rehearse the signs of Allah all night long, and they prostrate themselves in adoration. They believe in God and the Last Day; they enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and they hasten (in emulation) in (all) good works; they are in the ranks of the righteous. Of the good that they do, nothing will be rejected of them; for Allah knoweth well those that do right."

[5:69]
"Those who believe (in the Qur'an) those who follow the Jewish (Scriptures) and the Sabians and the Christians? any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness?on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve."

[29:46]
"And dispute ye not with the People of the Book, except with means better (than mere disputation) unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong (and injury): but say 'We believe in the Revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you; Our God and your God is one; and it is to Him we bow (in Islam).'"

While we do not celebrate the birthdays of the prophets (not to mention, no one knows exactly when any of their birthdays were), we do celebrate the messages of God that they delivered.

We also show respect to all the prophets by saying "peace and blessings be upon him" after their names. Example, Moses, peace and blessings be upon him.

zTruth, Tulsa (12/13/2008 8:18:08 AM)

Jamal Badawi, who is used by the Islamic Society of Tulsa, from time to time, (the debate?) as a source of Islamic expertise, who is an extremely close associate of Yusef Qaradawi answered the following question about Christmas:

If a Christian fellow says merry Christmas to you, what should you say back to him?

Answer: Happy holidays! The term holiday is now used to refer to any vacation.

So according to Badawi, Muslims are encourged NOT to acknowledge the words "Merry Christmas", to a Christian, if I read his statement right.

google: Dr. Jamal Badawi, Famous Da'iyah and Member of the European Council for Fatwa and Research

I'm perplexed, though about something else. Mawlid an-Nabi means The Birth of the Prophet in Arabic

Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the primary scholar of the Muslim Brotherhood movement, and other scholars have approved the observance of Mawlid. Jamal Badawi stated it is not a religious requirement, though.

"Actually, celebrating the Prophet's birthday means celebrating the birth of Islam..."

-- Shaykh Yusuf Al-Qardawi

For 2009 the celebration for the Prophet Mohammad birthday is March 9th.

also google: On The Prophet’s Birthday: Lessons for the Ummah

So some Muslims do observe this birthday.

Proud Muslim, Tulsa: Coolest place in the world (almost) (12/13/2008 11:38:49 AM)

Well, zTruth, I always respond to "Merry Christmas" with "Merry Christmas". If that makes Badawi uncomfortable, too bad for him.

As for Al-Qardawi's statement, I must disagree with it. "Islam" is submission to God, so the concept goes much farther back than Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. It goes back to Prophet Adam, peace and blessings be upon him, the first man created.

I do realize that some Muslims celebrate the birthday of Muhammad (didn't know it was March 9th, but does anyone know for sure?), but this celebration was discouraged by the Prophet Muhammad himself, so this is wrong.

Proud Muslim, Tulsa: Coolest place in the world (almost) (12/13/2008 1:01:38 PM)

I'm not uncomfortable at all, Roscoe Toomba. Why should I be? I get several weeks off, look at Christmas lights, play in the snow, drink hot chocolate. It's a blast!

My friends know I'm Muslim, so they're not likely going to invite me to a Christmas Eve service. I wouldn't invite them to the Eid prayer at the end of Ramadan. That, like you said, would just be awkward. They'd feel out of place.

Of course, the rest of the year we can spend together playing ball, studying, or just talking. Just because we are of different faiths, doesn't mean we can't associate with each other. Occasionally, we'll even talk about our different faiths. Several of my friends are Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, or agnostic.

My Jewish friends celebrate Hanukah, my Christian friends celebrate Christmas, my Muslim friends celebrate Ramadan, so on and so forth, and we're all still friends.

Ignatz, Broken Bow (12/13/2008 1:08:50 PM)

Roscoe, if one is comfortable in their beliefs why would they not feel that way when confronted with another's belief system? After all, this is a nation of laws, not men. I am free to my opinions and you to yours, as totally absurd as I may find them. More holidays! more reasons to be kind to people and charities! I say holidays for Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Babe!

Ignatz, Broken Bow (12/13/2008 1:50:51 PM)

I love reading my New Testament, discover something new everytime I do and yet not a shred of belief in divinity in this body. I look for spiritual growth in this world not salvation in the next. My choice.

zTruth, Tulsa (12/13/2008 1:54:34 PM)

Proud Muslim, are you 18 yet?

Proud Muslim, Tulsa: Coolest place in the world (almost) (12/13/2008 2:02:35 PM)

I'll leave you guessing at that one, zTruth.

Lol, okay, I.M. Right, I'll swing by.

zTruth, Tulsa (12/13/2008 2:24:44 PM)

Since you have said you are a freshman in college, Proud Muslim, I'm going to assume you are around 18. Very young.

The reason I ask, is because you sometimes speak sbout Islam, like when you said Muslims don't celebrate the birthdays of prophets without qualiflying how young and inexperienced you really are.

Come to find out many Muslims do celebrate the birth of Prophet Mohammad.

You said the concept of Islam goes way back to Adam, so in essence are you are saying the only true religion is Islam?

Proud Muslim, Tulsa: Coolest place in the world (almost) (12/13/2008 2:32:12 PM)

Young and inexperienced, huh? I suppose I can live with being called young, and I've been called worse things than inexperienced.

As a Muslim, I believe the "only true religion" is Islam, since "Islam" is submission to God. But as I quoted above, Muslims also respect Jews and Christians and believe they too will go to Heaven if they are righteous. Of course, it is God's decision who will go where.

Proud Muslim, Tulsa: Coolest place in the world (almost) (12/13/2008 2:33:47 PM)

Yep, I.M. Right, I think the Political Correctness movement missed a spot.

zTruth, Tulsa (12/15/2008 9:02:58 AM)

Yep, young and inexperienced is how I consider Proud Muslim. But I do admire his/her passion and conviction about Islam.

Can anyone name one Islamic country where Muslims treat Christians and Jews with respect?

No matter how much we are told this in America, if it doesn't match up with reality in Islamic countries, esp. where Islam was born, Saudi Arabia - there's a big problem.