Muslims and Western Celebrations pdf download

Muslims and Western Celebrations

MUSLIMS AND WESTERN CELEBRATIONS

From the Book: Muslims Eids Western celebration Which one for my kids?

–           Mommy?  Why are you not eating anything today?  Aren’t you hungry?

–           I am preparing myself for the fasting month of Ramadhan. You can also fast with me twice a week if you want to my pearl.

–           But you are fasting more than that this month, aren’t you, mom?

–           Well… The months before and after Ramadhan are sacred months; we must fast as much as we can!  Besides, I slowly get used to not eating and drinking during daytime, so that, when Ramadhan comes, it does not seem that hard.

–           I always wondered. Why are we the only people in the neighborhood to do Ramadhan?  Everyone here is preparing for the celebration of Halloween, for a lot of fun, not for fasting.  And when Halloween is finished, there is Thanksgiving, and then Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and everybody is having so much fun!

I cannot wait till our Ramadhan is finished!  And you know what?

–           What dear?

–           Teacher said I would have presents for my birthday.  It’s almost time for it. All the children have already gathered some money, and when it will be my birthday, I will get what I want. Cool! We just have to ask for it!

–           Do you enjoy to have everything you want all the time, dear?

–           Sure, mom!

–           Well, I do not!  I think it is more fun to be surprised by people, like when you receive something and it is not a special occasion, you know that people give you something because they really want to give it to you, not because they have to…

–           Well… That’s true, in a sense.

I like Fatimah’s gifts because she always makes them themselves.  She spends hours for me, thinking about me, drawing and crafting just for me!  When you feel you have to give something because everybody does it, that’s true, I feel forced!  That’s fun to give too, but I feel better when I give whenever nobody is watching, and I am not obliged to give to Amy or Melissa.  But some time, I’d like to have my very own computer too!  Like everybody!

–           Do you really need one, Su?

–           Well, everybody has one!

–           Ah! Ah!

–           Ok, mom, I do not really really absolutely need one, but what I want to know is why are we always different? For instance, why are we always staying at home when people are outside enjoying themselves?  I mean, sometimes it is good to do like others, to socialize!

–           Su!  It is because we are Muslims; it is not our ways.  Besides, do you enjoy it better when we go outside together and we play our own games, not everybody’s games?We speak about important things and we can decide to change our plans anytime. Don’t you like meeting other Muslims and having picnics together?

–           I like that too, Mom. But does that mean Muslims cannot have fun like anybody else?

–           No, it doesn’t mean this. It means that Muslims have joy and happiness, not fun!  Fun is like the smoke coming from a fire; it disappears as soon as burned.