COMMENT | Every Christmas, as I am setting the turkey to roast, I am reminded of the time when my children asked me why God made them Muslims and not Christians.

It all happened about eight years ago, my girl was then 12 and my boy, 10. We were sitting in a restaurant at Mid Valley Megamall when the three of us were in awe, admiring the gorgeous Christmas tree displayed at the mall.

“Christians are so lucky, Ma. They get to receive lots of presents on Christmas while we have to fast one whole month before Raya,” my boy grumbled.

My girl then reminded her little brother not to say such things, because God would not be pleased.

“Nanti masuk neraka (You will end up in hell),” she said.

I laughed and told both of them that it is the same God who had created both Christians and Muslims.

“But God must have wanted you to be a Muslim, that’s why He decided to put you inside my tummy – because I am a Muslim mother.

“If God wanted you to be a Christian, he would have chosen a different tummy,” I explained.

I asked my children if they had any regrets being born Muslims. Both of them agreed that they cannot imagine not being Muslims.

“I want to be a Muslim, but it’s still nice to have a Christmas tree in our house and get presents,” my little munchkins said.

On that day, we went home with our first Christmas tree and its ornaments, and on the Christmas Eve a few days later, we had our first little Christmas dinner.

As the tradition continued in my house year after year, I have received a lot of flak, especially from those who cannot fathom why a Muslim has to adopt a festival which is synonymous with Christianity.

Trees, presents and Christmas eve dinner are apparently not Islamic, they say.

And with the Islamic clerics in our country drawing thicker lines to segregate Muslims from non-Muslims, more family and friends began to debate on whether it was permissible in Islam for Muslims to celebrate Christmas.

Honestly, I never thought anyone would frown at me for having a Christmas tree in my own house, but I guess as people begin to become increasingly devout, they just become adamant in forcing their own beliefs onto others.

“Are you planning to have your Christmas thing again this year? Don’t forget you are a Muslim.”

“You are teaching your children to love another religion! This is not the right way to raise your children.”

“Why can’t you choose some other day to have your party and exchange gifts? Why does it have to be on Christmas?”

As some of them begin to give me “gentle reminders” around Christmas season, “advising” me not to celebrate the festival lest it tarnish my faith in Islam, I tried my best to ignore them.

But that’s in the past, for things have changed now.

Today, I see the same people who once took one look at my Christmas tree and asked if I was losing my faith taking selfies with Santa’s red hat. I see Christmas presents changing hands among Muslim families, Christmas cookies being made in Muslim kitchens, and Christmas trees standing in corners of rooms, next to a framed picture of the Kaaba.

Somewhere along the line, people began to understand that no festival can shake one's faith, as long as one holds firmly to that faith.

Like many Muslims around the world who celebrate Christmas in order to share the joy of the season, more Muslims in Malaysia are beginning to understand that celebrating Christmas does not make them any less of a Muslim.

I feel my heart ballooning with so much warmth and joy that I cannot describe it in words. Our society is changing. And it is changing for the better.

Alhamdulillah. This is the best Christmas present.

Merry Christmas!

FA ABDUL is a passionate storyteller, a growing media trainer, an aspiring playwright, a regular director, a struggling producer, a self-acclaimed photographer, an expert Facebooker, a lazy blogger, a part-time queen and a full-time vainpot.

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