UPDATE: Surviving the Holidays as a Revert

[This was originally posted Dec. 20, 2005] Assalamu Alaikum! Well...it's December 20th...and I know some of you out there are likely still somewhat perplexed as to how to resolve, for yourself, the issue of how to spend the holiday where it concerns your non-Muslim family members. Since the original post was made on December 8, there have been so many responses, subhan'Allah! So, I wanted to take a moment to share with you the direct link to the original blog in order to offer you another opportunity to read about how others of you have been thinking and feeling during this time.

~*Surviving the Holidays as a Revert*~ (http://aishahsjourney.blogspot.com/2005/12/surviving-holidays-as-revert.html)

The final message being...you are not alone! May those of you who have the good fortune to be able to spend time with your families during this time remember, first and foremost, to do your best to maintain your Islamic identity and to give the best example possible of the kindness, gentleness, peacefulness, and beauty of Islam, and may your non-Muslim family members, through your shining examples, find something in their hearts to make them just a little more curious...and may Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala continue to guide us all. Ameen.

May we also remember those who may not have family members with which to share the bond of family ties, and may we do our best to reach out to them, wherever they are, in whatever way possible, to reassure them that they too, are not alone.

"None of you will believe until he wants for his brother what he wants for himself." Al-Bukhari Please read, "Do You Know A New Muslim?" http://aishahsjourney.blogspot.com/2005/12/do-you-know-new-muslim.html

Ma'Salaama. Allah Almighty says: (Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity. It is only as regards those who fought against you on account of religion, and have driven you out of your homes, and helped to drive you out, that Allah forbids you to befriend them. And whosoever will befriend them, then such are the wrong-doers.) (Al-Mumtahinah 60: 8-9)