While holidays like Christmas, New Year's Day, and Valentine's Day have names which indicate either the holiday's origin or its significance, Easter stands out. Most people have no idea what the name Easter means. It turns out that Easter is a corruption of Austre, the name of the ancient pagan Scandanavian goddess of life and fertility.
Many holidays celebrated today represent a synthesis between Christian doctrine and pagan ritual. The basis for most of these "holy" days revolve around natural phenomena such as the autumnal equinox, vernal equinox, summer solstice, and winter solstice. With regards to the spring season and the vernal equinox, pagans, especially the pagans of cold, northern Europe, celebrated the renewal of life, as was demonstrated by the budding of the leaves, blooming of the flowers, return of the birds, and the re-emergence of many mammals previously in hibernation. These celebrations often utilized symbols of fertility and life such as the egg, the baby chick, and the rabbit.
The use of these same symbols in present day celebrations of Easter is quite obvious. Decorating eggs, Easter egg hunts, and the Easter bunny are all familiar icons. These things have carried over from pagan traditions via a synthesis with Christian doctrine. In particular, the worship of the sun god has been incorporated into the once monotheistic Christian teachings. The vernal equinox represents a time in which the hours of daylight equal the hours of night. The days following the vernal equinox mark an increase in the number of hours of daylight over the night. This time, then became viewed as the time of sol invictus or the unconquerable sun, demonstrating its supremacy by conquering the night.
The synthesis with Christian ideas was simple. Just as the sun conquered the night, the son conquered death. Thus, the pagan holidays of fertility and life were replaced with the Christian concept of the resurrection of Jesus (peace be upon him).
"The Church adopted spring equinox celebrations as Easter. As this time had already been one of celebrating the sun?s resurrection and return to prominence, celebrating the resurrection of the son of God required no great change in understanding. In fact, the Easter celebrations were so similar to earlier celebrations - particularly those which recognized the resurrection of the Babylonian Adonis, the Greek Apollo, and the Roman Attis - that a bitter controversy arose with pagans claiming that the Christian Easter celebration was a spurious imitation of the ancient traditions. Vernal equinox bonfires, originally prohibited by the Church, found their way as Easter fires into the official liturgy of Rome by the ninth century. Fertility symbols associated with spring, such as the egg and the incredibly prolific rabbit, survived as well." (Ellerbe p.148)
In fact, the very symbol of the cross is derived from pagan fertility practices. It is known by many that the symbol of the cross was utilized by many civilizations prior to the emergence of Christianity. The ancient Egyptian symbol of the ankh, then, deserves mentioning for its connection to fertility. The ankh is a symbol which resembles the Christian cross, except that it has a loop at the top. Some sources indicate that this symbol derives its shape from ancient Egyptian studies of human anatomy. The loop, it is said, represents the gravid (pregnant) uterus, while the arms of the cross represent the Fallopian tubes. And the base of the cross serves as the vaginal canal. The ankh, then, serves as the ultimate fertility symbol. In support of this theory of the derivation of the ankh, the fertility dolls of many African peoples, in particular the Ashanti, are shaped like the ankh. The animated graphic to the right illustrates the similarities.
The pagan roots of holidays celebrated in the name of Christianity testify to its having been altered. Christianity, as it exists today, does not represent the message of Jesus, the son of Mary (may peace be upon both of them). And this is not merely a Christian issue. This is an issue for all God-fearing people. We, as Muslims, must be aware of the pieces that make up the puzzle that is Christianity, first to protect ourselves and our families, then to warn others and to call them to the right way.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "You (Muslims) will follow the ways of those nations who were before you, span by span and cubit by cubit (i.e., inch by inch) so much so that even if they entered a hole of a lizard, you would follow them." We said, "O Allah's Apostle! (Do you mean) the Jews and the Christians?" He said, "Who else?" Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith, Narrated by Abu Said Al Khudri
Regarding participating in Easter or any of the other holiday celebrations of the kuffaar: It is not permissible for a Muslim to celebrate any of these. The clear evidence of the Qur'aan and Sunnah - and the consensus of the early generations of this ummah - indicates that there are only two festivals in Islam: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Any other festivals that have to do with a person, a group, an event or anything else are innovated festivals, which it is not permissible for Muslims to observe, approve of or express joy on those occasions, or to help others to celebrate them in any way, because that is transgressing the sacred limits of Allaah, and whoever transgresses the sacred limits of Allaah has wronged himself.
There is no "good fun" in displeasing Allah, the Most High. So, we must provide alternative activities for our children; camping trips, sporting events, halaqaat, field trips, etc. We should do our best to avoid television, year-round. And if we find this difficult, we should at least avoid it during these "holidays". If we have non-Muslim family members that celebrate these days of bid'aa and shirk, then we should avoid their homes at these times.
Most importantly, however, we should study our deen and we should surround ourselves with those who do. We should seek righteousness among the righteous. We should seek the pleasure of Allah among those who please Allah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that whoever imitates a people is one of them. Let us imitate those who are on the straight path, not those who have gone astray.
"[Mention] when Allah said, "O Jesus, indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify you from those who disbelieve and make those who follow you [in submission to Allah alone] superior to those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you concerning that in which you used to differ."(3:55)
"And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah ." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain."(4:157)
In the verse ("O 'Jesus, indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself." 3:55) appearing above, Almighty Allah had made five promises in connection with foiling the Jewish plans against Sayyidna Isa (Jesus - Peace be upon him) and protecting him from their hostile intentions:
1. The first promise was that his death will not come at the hands of the Jews through killing. It will be a natural death coming at its appointed time and that appointed time will come close to the Day of Doom, when Jesus (Peace be upon him) will come down from the heavens onto the earth as reported in details in sound ahadith transmitted through unbroken chains.
2. The second promise was to raise him towards the heavens in the existing situation. This was fulfilled right then. The report of this fulfillment was given in Surah al-Nisa' (4:158) (quoted above) by saying: Certainly, the Jews did not kill him, instead; Allah Almighty raised him towards Himself.
3. The third promise was to have him cleansed of false accusations brought on him by his enemies. That promise was fulfilled when the last of the Prophets (the Prophet Muhammad - Peace and blessings be upon him) came and refuted all false accusations of the Jews. For instance, the Jews threw slanders on the parentage of Sayyidna' 'Isa (Jesus - Peace be upon him) because of his having been born without a father. The noble Qur'an refuted this slander by declaring that he was born without a father because such was the power and will of Allah, the Exalted. And that too does not call for much of a surprise. More surprising is the birth of Adam (Peace be upon him) since he was born without both a father and a mother.
The Jews accused Sayyidna 'Isa (AS) of claiming to be God. There are many verses in the noble Qur'an in which, contrary to this accusation, Sayyidna 'Isa (AS) has been reported to have' publicly confessed his being human and a servant and bondsman of Allah.
4. The fourth promise appears "and placed those who follow you above those who disbelieve" which means that his followers will be made to overcome those who deny and oppose him. This promise was fulfilled in the sense that following here means the belief in and confession of the prophethood of Sayyidna 'Isa (Jesus - Peace be upon him). The belief in and the practice of all injunctions ascribed to him is not a pre-condition. Thus the Christians and the Muslims both fall in this category as they believe in the prophethood and messengership of Sayyidna 'Isa (Jesus - peace be upon him) .
However, this is a different matter that holding this much of belief is not enough to bring forth salvation in the Hereafter. Instead, the salvation in the Hereafter depends on believing in all injunctions brought by Sayyidna 'Isa (Jesus - Peace be upon him). One of the instructions given by Sayyidna 'Isa (Jesus - Peace be upon him) was that his followers should believe and have faith in the last of the Prophets (The Prophet Muhammad - Peace and blessing be upon him), who would come after Jesus departs. The Christians did not follow this instruction in matters of faith and belief, therefore, they deprived them selves of salvation in the Hereafter while Muslims acted in accordance with that too, therefore, they became deserving of salvation in the Hereafter.
But, part of the promise which relates to having dominant authority over Jews was dependent on the prophethood of Sayyidna 'Isa (Jesus - peace be upon him) only. That dominance in the world has always been the 'fate of Christians and Muslims vis-a-vis the Jews, and surely, so shall it be through the Day of Judgement. From the time when Allah Almighty made this promise right upto now it has always been the case that the Christians and Muslims have dominated the Jews. The world has seen the establishment of their empires. The existence of the present state of Israel cannot make the truth of this position doubtful for several reasons. To begin with, and in reality, this state is no more than a manifestation of the military might of Russia and the Christians of Euro-American origin which they have established and maintained against Muslims. As soon as Russia, America and countries of Europe withdraw their patronage, the world will itself witness the instant collapse of this state and its disappearance from the map of the world.
Therefore, people who can see the reality do realise the actual position of Israel or the Government of the Jews. It is by no means a manifestation of the domination of Jews. If; just for the sake of argument, it is taken to be their own state, even then, who would in his right frame of mind deny that, given the totality of Christians and Muslims, they are wielders of lesser influence and are much subjugated with fear. Even if we were to leave this aspect aside, we know that a temporary domination by the Jews close to the Day of Judgement has been reported in the authentic reports of the Holy Prophet . Now if this world is destined to exist for any considerable period of time and if the Day of Judgement is close, that domination too is not contrary to the reports which Muslims consider authentic. Moreover, such shortlived occupation cannot be given the name of a state or government especially when it is based on-a conspiracy hatched by the Christians and the communists.
5. The fifth promise, that of giving a decision in respect of such conflicts in faith on the Day of Judgement will certainly be fulfilled on its appointed time as it has been indicated in the verse: "Then, to Me is your return, whereupon I shall judge between you." (3:55)
While explaining the words of the Qur'an: (but they were deluded by resemblance), master exegete, Dahhak رضي الله عنه says: It so transpired that, following the intention of Jews to kill Sayyidna 'Isa (Jesus - Peace be upon him) his disciples assembled at a given place. Sayyidna 'Isa (Jesus - Peace be upon him) joined them there. It was Iblis (Satan) who gave the address of Sayyidna 'Isa (Jesus - Peace be upon him) to the execution squad standing ready for the mission. Four thousand men surrounded the suspected house. Sayyidna 'Isa (Jesus - Peace be upon him) said to his disciples: 'Is one of you willing to go out and be killed and then be in Paradise with me?' One of them offered to do so. Sayyidna 'Isa (Jesus - Peace be upon him) gave him his shirt and head-cover. Then, cast on him was the resemblance of Jesus and as soon as he came out, the Jews, believing him to be Jesus, caught him and crucified him, and Sayyidna 'Isa (AJesus - Peace be upon him) was lifted. (Qurtubi)
According to some reports, the Jews had sent a person known to Arabs as Teetlanoos to kill Sayyidna 'Isa (Jesus - Peace be upon him). He did not find Sayyidna 'Isa (Jesus - Peace be upon him) in the house for he was already lifted by Allah towards Himself. So, when this person came out of the house, he had been made to resemble the looks of Sayyidna 'Isa (Jesus - Peace be upon him). The Jews took him to be Sayyidna 'Isa (Jesus - Peace be upon him). Thus, they took away their own man and killed him. (Mazhari)
The truth of the matter is that they certainly did not kill Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him), rather Allah lifted him towards Himself.
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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