by RAJA ABDULRAHIM
Sahira Traband, here with her sons Teo, 10, left, and Mikail, 6, is a Muslim who decorates her house for Christmas, hangs stockings and puts gifts under the tree. She views the holiday as a happy time that doesn’t conflict with her faith in Islam. “The magic of Christmas is the part we celebrate,” said Traband, 45. “We didn’t get into the whole religious thing.” PHOTO/Michael Robinson Chavez
With Christmas comes tradition in the Traband household: A plate of cookies for Santa and carrots for his reindeer. A stocking full of treats for Omar, the family dog. A noble fir decorated with golden garland and keepsake ornaments.
But there is no angel atop the tree.
Sahira Traband feels that would conflict with her family’s faith.
They are Muslims.
“The magic of Christmas is the part we celebrate,” said Traband, 45. “We didn’t get into the whole religious thing.”
At a time when the holiday is being pulled in different directions — some people replace “Merry Christmas” with “Happy Holidays” so as not to offend, while others campaign to “Keep the Christ in Christmas” — it’s not uncommon for Muslims to use the occasion as an entry into American culture, no different from signing up their children for Little League.
Just how many Muslims do observe the holiday is unclear, since it is a personal choice fellow faithful might criticize. But if they were to ask, Muslims might discover they know a family or two who put up trees or send letters to Santa.
That fact may come as an even bigger shock to those outside the community who regard Muslims and their faith as being at odds with Western lifestyles.
“To me, Christmas, unless you’re going to go to church, is a pop culture holiday,” said Maha Awad, a producer and media consultant who is working with the TLC reality show “All-American Muslim.”
Though Jesus is regarded as a prophet in Islam, celebrating Christmas “is not a religious practice,” Awad said.
Los Angeles Times for more
(Thanks to Asghar Vasanwala)