Jordan: Muslim Santa Claus created to help poor children

[Mabsoot]

Jordan: Muslim Santa Claus created to help poor children

Amman, 14 March (AKI adnkronos.com) - A Jordanian charity has created an Islamic Santa Claus to help poor and disadvantaged children.
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The organisation believes such a character can exist without affecting the cultural identity of the Muslim world.

The project was discussed by Amal Issa from the organisation when she appeared on the Arab television station al-Arabiya on Friday.

Under the proposal, the Muslim Santa Claus, to be called Abu al Aid has Islamic characteristics and dress, and is 'big' like the western one.

"We thought that our society needed a figure similar to that of Santa Claus, who can help us with the social work we do," said Issa.

"We need a character who is similar to the one in the West, but one that has Arab characteristics and wears the typical dress of our region."

Abu al Aid has been registered in Jordan's ministry of culture office so that the Muslim Santa can be considered a modern figure in Jordanian culture.

"Moreover, we have decided to raise our own finance so we can buy the presents for Abu al Aid to distribute to orphan children and the poor." said Miada Qablawi, also a member of the womens group.

"To make this project official, we have created a charitable organisation, in order to bring joy to many children."

The Muslim Santa has already been used in an experimental phase, to mark the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, and for visits to orphanages and hospitals in the Jordanian capital Amman, in Zarqa and Salt.

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Assalamu alaykum,

I think it is good people help the poor and the needy. This is essential for Muslims to do.. Giving gifts is really good too. But, we should not copy the pagan ideas like St Nicholas (Father Christmas).. and to make children believe in a fictitious character is also wrong.

Also notice they say it is a "Muslim santa-claus", then they say they want him look Arab. Wake up, most Muslims not Arab.

Anyway instead, we ALL should be working together to do good as a community. Why leave it to one or two individuals or to one organisation??? It is a duty for every Muslim man and woman, rich and poor to help one another in any way possible. It does not have to be financial, maybe you help teach someone to read the Quran, maybe you help take children to museums, even helping our ownselves and families in learning Islam is important.

Due to Muslims being far from the original teachings of Islam, there is the unfortunate effect of our Ummah becoming more distant. People not caring as they should be and instead copying the disbelievers, who in reality can never never match the greatness that is the Islamic Society and all the benefits it gives.


Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: You would tread the same path as was trodden by those before you inch by inch and step by step so much so that if they had entered into the hole of the lizard, you would follow them in this also. We said: Allah's Messenger, do you mean Jews and Christians (by your words)" those before you"? He said: Who else (than those two religious groups)?

(no. 6448 - The Book of Knowledge (Kitab Al-`Ilm)' Sahih Muslim)

When we do return to Islam, things will correct themselves, Alhamdulillah. We will regain our power and our status as Muslims who are leading the world in science, discoveries, and in good manners! Thats how it was not too long ago.. and inshaAllah that time will come again.

 

[Summer03]

'''Also notice they say it is a "Muslim santa-claus", then they say they want him look Arab. Wake up, most Muslims not Arab. '''

thts the STUPIDEST thing i have ever heard of. omg...i just cant see how these people view themselves.

 

[A Kashmiri]

I see it part of the big picture............. Read below..............

Jordanian Christians are up in arms over the activities of foreign missionaries in the conservative Muslim kingdom, which is rich in biblical sites, including the spot where Jesus was baptized.

The dispute erupted after the government announced last month that it had deported an unspecified number of expatriates for carrying out Christian missionary activities under the guise of charity work.

The move was welcomed by several Christian figures, with many voicing concern that foreign missionaries were seeking to upset the traditionally stable ties between Muslims and Christians in Jordan.

"Missionary groups have hidden agendas and are close to Christian Zionists," said former member of parliament Odeh Kawwas, a Greek Orthodox.

Fellow Christian Fahd Kheitan, an outspoken columnist at Al-Arab Al-Yawm newspaper, said the majority of Christians are "very suspicious and worried."

"The [missionaries] target the strong beliefs of traditional churches in Jordan and try to create religious links with the Zionist movement, which is extremely dangerous," Kheitan said.

Some Christian supporters of Israel, notably a segment in the US, believe the return of Jews to the Holy Land and the 1948 creation of the Jewish state are in line with biblical prophecy.

Acting Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh told parliament last month that "some foreign groups have come to Jordan under the cover of doing charity, but they broke the law and did missionary activities." He did not give figures.

Converting from Islam to Christianity is prohibited in Jordan and foreign missionary groups are banned from seeking converts, although they can run schools, charitable organizations, hospitals and orphanages.

"For years we have been urging the government to close such Christian shops that have nothing to do with Christianity and tolerance," said Kawwas, referring to missionaries who convert Muslims in violation of the law.

"It is an old problem," he said.

"They create sensitivities and provoke discord among Jordanian Christians, not to mention their threat to Muslim-Christian coexistence," he said.

"These groups don't belong to any church, but they try to hunt followers of other churches and trick some of our Muslim brothers to convert them," he said.

Christians represent around 4 percent of Jordan's population of nearly 6 million, including Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Armenian and Latin rites.

They are well integrated in the kingdom, where one Christian holds a ministerial post while 8 percent control seats in the 110-member lower house of parliament.

The kingdom is home to Mount Nebo overlooking the Dead Sea and the hills of Jerusalem, where according to biblical tradition God showed Moses the Promised Land.

It is also where Jordanians say Jesus Christ was baptized by his cousin St John and where the latter preached and was beheaded by Herod the Great.

After the 1994 Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty, archaeologists found ancient churches and baptismal pools on the east bank of the Jordan River, leading them to conclude they had found the place where Jesus was baptized.

The kingdom is also home to several tombs of the Prophet Mohammed's companions and Mount Nebo is a destination for Christian, Muslim and Jewish pilgrims alike who revere Moses.

Kheitan says the US has put pressure on its allies in Amman to allow missionaries into the country, where he says these groups have used their relations with some officials to "build a base."

"But the kingdom has realized now that the situation threatens the internal front," Kheitan said.

The authorities have not provided figures about the number of missionaries operating in Jordan, but a 2006 report by the US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor said there were 42 groups.

The decision to deport foreign missionaries came as Jordan's Council of Churches warned last month about what it called 40 sects that "threaten national security and create religious discord at the heart of the Christian community and between Muslims and Christians."

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2008/03/16/2003405787

 

[shari]

I think its silly Idea!!

 

[soeurette]

I think the article makes a good point, its not necessarily the religion that causes the problem its political agenda's that cause the problem. I guess Colonialism will never die, its just disguised so people can feel better and truly believe they aren't actually reverting to this. *sigh*

 

[ripefig]

Santa?

Santa is a lie that has been, and is being told to millions of children all over the world. This emulation and innovation can bring no good to our children:astag:We will follow them even if they go down a lizard's hole.

 

[Greek_Rose_2005]

This is so sad, like ok to help orphans and poor its a great cause and should be done but not to dress someone up ....and to link it to Santa, comeon! This is ridiculous we need to be putting ourself far from all pagan holidays and anything thats not islamic...