In the Name of God, the Subtle, the Loving

“Do you celebrate Christmas?”

This is a frequent question asked of me. When I answer in the negative, many people will then tell me, “Happy Holidays,” so as not to offend me. I answer them by saying, “Merry Christmas.”

No, I do not celebrate Christmas, but it does not mean I don’t love Jesus. It does not mean that Jesus is not on my mind. It does not mean that Christ is not in my heart. In fact, as I was driving into work on Christmas Day, I was motivated to play a beautiful song by Muslim country singer Kareem Salama, “Lady Mary.” It brought tears to my eyes:

I also wish I was there to defend my Lady Mary. I can imagine the anguish and pain she felt knowing that she will bear a child with no father. I can imagine what it must have been like knowing that she will be accused of a horrific thing. I wish I was there to tell the people that she is not what they were saying. She is an honorable woman, a mother of a Prophet, the mother of the Messiah, a woman chosen by God above all others.

What a wonderful woman, and I am filled with love for her. So, even though I did not celebrate Christmas with my Christian friends and neighbors, I am still filled with the thoughts of Lady Mary and her blessed son. I would not be a true Muslim if I did not.