Lauren Booth: A Convert’s Festive Xmas

“I couldn’t find any Christmas crackers,” says Tracey as we sit at the dining table on 25 December to a full roast dinner for seven people.

“We might get some in the sales for Boxing day though.”

This is my seventh festive season as a Muslim. It is also the second year I have joined Tracey and Aminah in Sheffield for a traditional Christmas with (almost) all the trimmings, and none of the downsides.

Hours later, slumped in front of the TV, a dish of fruit pudding swimming in cream before me, it feels brilliant to be comfortable with Christmas again, after my bumpy ride.

In my early days as a new Muslim, I wrote an article giving the strict lines I was following which were so clear to me. They regarded the ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ of Christmas for a monotheist.

Reading it back now, I’m impressed by my determination to please Allah and to avoid ‘shirk’ (joining others with God) with reference to scripture, particularly the Qur’an.

At the same time, I cringe at the lack of context or common sense in my strong counter-reaction to the holiday. A seat of ideals based, not on clerical understandings relative to UK life, but solely on my fear of getting Islam ‘wrong.’

Yet ‘Islam’ becomes just a word for dull dogma unless love for Allah translates into good deeds and kindness; to our families, our neighbors, and our communities.

At the time of writing that passionate article, I was delighted with myself for having no tinsel in my home. Bravo! But I skipped over my refusal to visit my mother and my younger sister over Christmas.

Family members, willing to make concessions to my new faith in order just to see me, were avoided causing them to feel rejected and sad.

Was that really necessary? Was it reflective of the mercy of our faith?

Wakeup Call

Allah Ta’ala brings us guidance in many forms. My seasonal wakeup call came after meeting Ustadha Aminah Blake on the set of a TV show in 2015.

As English as you can get, she horse rides, owns two shaggy dogs and has the typical British non-stop sense of humor. She is also a student of Islamic knowledge.

I spoke to her about the loneliness I felt at Christmas.

“Come round to mine,” She said immediately. “We have a right laff.”

So here’s how our festivities look. I pray you can all take some good from it as a surprise, surprise, Muslims in Christian cities and nations can actually have the best Christmases and New Year celebrations of all – whilst seeking Allah’s pleasure.

1. No Debts, No Needles – Without the need to buy dozens of gifts that mostly end up in a landfill, we get to avoid the stress of the festive fever AND save money. I buy gifts in the Boxing Day sales for my mum and sister that are ‘seasonal’ rather than given ‘for Christmas.’ Plus, no tree, means no endless hoovering of dropped pine needles. Win!

2. Don’t make the halal, haram. Mince pies, fruitcake covered in icing, even crackers. If I can have them year round (I can), then I can have them on the day. Islam teaches that our actions are judged by intentions. Mine is to gather with loved ones for two or three days keeping the bonds of affection and kinship.

3. Prayer – waking up for fajr, re-connecting with Allah over 4 hours eases the heart and keeps us as close to Allah as every other day of the year. Muslims are worshipping God over the holiday period, more than anyone else. Win!

My children, confident in their faith, receive gifts from their non-Muslim family with grace. They share the family time with joy and without guilt or anxiety.

On New Year’s Day, like many British Muslims, we will be out, inshaAllah, serving the poor in our community, preparing food we have made and serving it with love for our fellow human beings of any race and any faith.

Now, what could be more in line with the teachings of Isa (Jesus A.S) than that?

Editor’s note: This article is from our archive