Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
aray chup karo jee. No matter what you say, I am not returning the Santa Claus boxer shorts to my office colleagues that they gave me as a Christmas present. 
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
Every part of Christmas celebration is not religious in nature. Having a tree or eating turkey is not at all religious. Its all in good fun for most of the part. I dont do trees but I certainly take advantage of Christmas sales (dont we all). One can argue that Christmas sale is also shirk as its part of celebrating Christmas . We also watch movies with Christmas themes (Polar Express is our family favorite). Is that Shirk? I seriously doubt but one can argue that each and everything that has anything to do with Christmas is shirk, but as X2 said, there are many core disciplines we need to fix in our faith before we get into such side issues of Christmas trees and Halloween costumes.
to answer your question, Yes it is Shirk (and I'm sure u know tht TLK). But will we still carry on doing it? Probably yes. The problem is with us not being committed enough as a Muslim. But what is shirk is still shirk we shouldn’t try making excuses or make ourselves feel better by giving reasons or look for sympathy from others who do the same.
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
yeah not a good idea because of the skidmarks
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
to answer your question, Yes it is Shirk (and I'm sure u know tht TLK). But will we still carry on doing it? Probably yes. The problem is with us not being committed enough as a Muslim. But what is shirk is still shirk we shouldn’t try making excuses or make ourselves feel better by giving reasons or look for sympathy from others who do the same.
what is shirk, buying from Christmas sale or watching Polar Express?
yeah not a good idea because of the skidmarks
No there are more reasons than just skidmarks but lets discuss them in Life1
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
Damn the tree ! where’s the mistletoe ??? 
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
No one celebrates Eid with us. :(
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
No one celebrates Eid with us. :(
Christmas is one of the best marketed holidays - we Muslims don't market Eid to be a "me too" holiday.
As for non-Muslims celebrating Eid with us, my sister and BIL had an open-house and invited their non-Muslim friends and neighbours to celebrate Eid with them.
No one says no to free food - you have to invite them to share with you.
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
No one celebrates Eid with us. :(
That is actually not true. We now some christian families from Pakistan and they (when in Pakistan) used to celebrate eid. Not only that, I know a lady member of that family who used to fast in ramadan (off course she was doing it as part of her catholic faith and going to church for prayers) cause it was easy for her to fast as so many others were doing it.
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
No one celebrates Eid with us. :(
When in Pakistan I used to celebrate Eid with my Muslim friends, I also celebrated diwali with my hindu friends in Pakistan.
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
i'm not criticizing anyone, people can do whatever they want, they can even start eating sacramental bread and parsaad....wouldn't bother me really. i was only stating my own doings and reasons behind them. sorry if it sounded offensive to anyone.
As X2 said, my comment was also on general note not particularly on anyone.
No one has to be apologetic for their reasoning specially in this confusing and trivial matter. :)
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
No one celebrates Eid with us. :(
People have fasted with me during Ramadan.
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
hilarious thread. i have to email santa about this.
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
being invited to a party is a different thing...i mean i'd go to a christmas party if invited but my point was non-christians on their own accord celebrate christmas(buy christmas cards, tree, decorations etc), not many non-muslims would do that for Eid. A Christian or athiest or jew inviting us to their house to celebrate Eid with them, I'm sorry but it doesn't happen.
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
People have fasted with me during Ramadan.
Yes, even Prince Charles did that to show solidarity with Muslims. It's interesting though.
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
being invited to a party is a different thing...i mean i'd go to a christmas party if invited but my point was non-christians on their own accord celebrate christmas(buy christmas cards, tree, decorations etc), not many non-muslims would do that for Eid. A Christian or athiest or jew inviting us to their house to celebrate Eid with them, I'm sorry but it doesn't happen.
Why should it happen anyway?
Very very naive to comapre a massively commercialised (key word) and even neutralised to some extent, festival with a festival that holds so much religious and spiritual importance to a particular group. You only know what it feels like to have Eid when you fast for an entire month or there's hajj, when non Muslims can't relate to religious aspects of our festivals then why expect them to be enthusiastic about it? Do we market the Eid the way Christmas is marketed? You're throwing the a point for sake of throwing, non Muslims love to drink on Christmas day, its the wine and the food that essentially makes it a sociable and festive gathering, what are they supposed to do with inviting Muslims at their 'party' when we aren't gonna sip some champagns or consume pork? You see the whole idea of Christmas fits with the whole cultural of Western world, its pathetically childish to even think about the idea Eid attracting the Western masses as a festive celebration (you don't see that happening for Jewish festivals - Jews who are very rooted, influential and respect part of Western world as oppose to Muslims to be frank).
Besides, what are the chances of Christmas competing with Eid in Pakistan or in any Arab country? I think we should respect the common culture and traditions of majority of any country instead of drawing us vs them battle lines. Just like in Pakistan, the Christian community simultaneously lures into the spirit of Eid, similarly Muslims are bound to be touched by the whole magic of Christmas in West.
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
Why should it happen anyway?
Very very naive to comapre a massively commercialised (key word) and even neutralised to some extent, festival with a festival that holds so much religious and spiritual importance to a particular group. You only know what it feels like to have Eid when you fast for an entire month or there's hajj, when non Muslims can't relate to religious aspects of our festivals then why expect them to be enthusiastic about it? Do we market the Eid the way Christmas is marketed? You're throwing the a point for sake of throwing, non Muslims love to drink on Christmas day, its the wine and the food that essentially makes it a sociable and festive gathering, what are they supposed to do with inviting Muslims at their 'party' when we aren't gonna sip some champagns or consume pork? You see the whole idea of Christmad fits with the whole cultural of Western world, its pathetically childish to even think about the idea Eid attracting the Western masses as a festive celebration. What are the chances of Christmas competing with Eid in Pakistan or in any Arab country? I think we should respect the common culture and traditions of majority of any country instead of drawing us vs them battle lines.
It's even more naive to accept a religious festival just because it has been massively commercialised. And where did the respect factor come from in all of this? I didn't say we should disrespect their festivals.
Are you saying that just because someone don't wanna put a christmas tree in their house, they're disrespecting Queen Victoria(as you mentioned that tree is not even a religious thing, it was Queen Victoria's idea). Gosh, sounds like you're forcing me to celebrate Christmas.
My point was not that I want them to be enthusiastic about Eid but I am asking why we are enthusiastic about Christmas when they have no enthusiasm about Eid?
About pork and champagne on Christmas? Where are you getting this from? Okay may be in America. Anyway, you have proven yourself that we don't(can't) celebrate each others festivals. Thank you.
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
It's even more naive to accept a religious festival just because it has been massively commercialised. And where did the respect factor come from in all of this? I didn't say we should disrespect their festivals.
To me the festival is also very neutralised, it may its religious origins but today its a very cultural event. I don't 'celebrate' Christmas but I have nothing against those who want to eat Turkey or put up a fancy tree. Your actions are judged by your intentions. Sending or recieving couple of Christmas won't make me a bad Muslim or you a better for doing the opposite. Whats next? We shouldn't live in England as its national flag represents Sain't George's cross? Or sing God save the Queen as she's the "defender of (Christain) faith"?
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
I don't 'celebrate' Christmas
Fair enough.
"Your actions are judged by your intentions"...that's exactly the point. What possible intentions could there be for having a Christmas tree? And how would those intentions be made obvious to the society? "I'm a muslim and I don't celebrate Christmas but here's my tree"???
Living in a country is about respecting its rules and be faithful to the society not worshipping its flag. There's no basis for the flag argument anyway.
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
It's even more naive to accept a religious festival just because it has been massively commercialised. And where did the respect factor come from in all of this? I didn't say we should disrespect their festivals.
Are you saying that just because someone don't wanna put a christmas tree in their house, they're disrespecting Queen Victoria(as you mentioned that tree is not even a religious thing, it was Queen Victoria's idea). Gosh, sounds like you're forcing me to celebrate Christmas.
My point was not that I want them to be enthusiastic about Eid but I am asking why we are enthusiastic about Christmas when they have no enthusiasm about Eid?
About pork and champagne on Christmas? Where are you getting this from? Okay may be in America. Anyway, you have proven yourself that we don't(can't) celebrate each others festivals. Thank you.
LOL...
Again, why should the Western world show enthusiam about Eid? Are we that desperate? Are we prepared to *******ise the concept of the Eid they way did with Christmas so it can appeal the masses? We settled in this country 20-30 years ago and we want them to have our religious festivals as national holiday because we are 'forced' to celebrate their festivals? Do you see Arab world being enthusiastic about festival of other Abrahamic faiths? Who is asking you to get 'enthusiastic' about Christmas? They create an atmosphere and some people get swept away and some don't, and its fine if you don't as long you don't demean those who do. Are you saying you have a problem with UK/USA getting all cheered up and lighten up for festivals thats generally been part of their culture for centuries (besides the inventions of the tree)? Do you think Christains in Pakistan should also moan about the whole country getting dolled up in Eid seasons?
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
In case you missed my very first post in this thread:
I like christmas tree but I don't have one in my house and I don't know why I should put up one? Though, my kids watch classic cartoons of Snowman and Santa Clause every year and I read to them Narnia and Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I think we should know about Western culture so we can live in peace and get along with each other and also because my children are Western(so there's nothing wrong with being Western) and they should know their culture, we don't really need to indulge in each and everything they do, for example, drinking and premarital sex as well as religious things associated with Christianity to maintain our Islamic identity.