Sultan of Brunei bans Christmas 'because it could damage faith of Muslims'

[Zibago]

Frankly speaking i dont think celebrating Christmas will turn you into a Kafir or Munkir

But really the media was reporting it like it was banned for Christians

 

[Indos]

'prohibited' from celebrating publicly... not 'malls are not allowed to decorate during chrismas'
(edit: I meant publicly)

[/QUOTE]

Of course there will be celebration in their CHURCH

The Malls whos customers are 90 % Muslim ( That Mall is Pondok Indah Mall (South Jakarta) with huge Muslim population-not in the North in which many Chinese ethnic living) which is decorated like that shows the tolerated celebration in Indonesia.

And It might be also a reason of that banning (if it is true) TO AVOID their Mall to be decorated like that

I just see the article just a spanning article, discrediting Muslim, and we see that news are so many.

 

[livingdead]

Of course there will be celebration in their CHURCH

The Malls whos customers are 90 % Muslim ( That Mall is Pondok Indah Mall (South Jakarta) with huge Muslim population-not in the East in which many Chinese ethnic) which is decorated like that shows the tolerated celebration in Indonesia.

And It is also a reason of that banning (if it is true) TO AVOID their Mall to be decorated like that

I just see the article just a spanning article, discrediting Muslim, and we see that news are so many.

We can remove any such intention(to discredit muslims) and argue on facts itself. Brunei recently has imposed sharia law in their country and this is just continuation of that.
More than the law, the reasoning is baffling, its direct quote btw from their ministry.

 

[third eye]

Brunei Officially Bans Future Christmas Celebrations

 

[Indika]

Ridiculous decision,faith of muslims is being damaged by muslims themselves than by some outsiders.

 

[Indos]

We can remove any such intention(to discredit muslims) and argue on facts itself. Brunei recently has imposed sharia law in their country and this is just continuation of that.
More than the law, the reasoning is baffling, its direct quote btw from their ministry.

Brunei has given huge prosperity to their people, Muslim and Non Muslim.

 

[livingdead]

Brunei has given huge prosperity to their people, Muslim and Non Muslim.

not denying that... why do we have to go to the extreme(at least they dont kill christians)... is this what we have started to expect from muslims.. is the bar so low?

Its one thing that brunei did it(its a kingdom not democracy so muslims of brunei cant be blamed), I am curious to know what the muslims elsewhere think about it? It is said vast majority of muslims are 'tolerant'

If same happened to muslims in a christian country(by law), we will be condemning it here, not saying 'ah at least they allow muslims to live and prosper'.

 

[Indos]

not denying that... why do we have to go to the extreme(at least they dont kill christians)... is this what we have started to expect from muslims.. is the bar so low?

Its one thing that brunei did it(its a kingdom not democracy so muslims of brunei cant be blamed), I am curious to know what the muslims elsewhere think about it? It is said vast majority of muslims are 'tolerant'

If same happened to muslims in a christian country(by law), we will be condemning it here, not saying 'ah at least they allow muslims to live and prosper'.

I dont see USA and other Western Malls has huge decoration (just like Indonesian one celebrating Chrismast) during Iedul Adha and Iedul Fitri, even there is no Islamic holidays there, so dont put Brunei at such low level either

 

[JonAsad]

Every one should be allowed to celebrate or wear what ever they want to wear -

@Solomon2
France and some other European countries have banned hijab- lets all condemn that as well-

 

[VCheng]

would you be ok if India and Nepal (hindu dominant counties) ban public celebration of Muslim festivals? they can celebrate in secrecy in their own mosques but not outside.

Think about it. if thats not ok to you, then it should not be ok for any other religion to be shut down to secrecy by a muslim ruler.
@Solomon2 @Abingdonboy @Syed.Ali.Haider

What is being done in Brunei is totally abhorrent and should be opposed at every level.

 

[mike2000 is back]

A little correction, my friend. There is a Christian minority in Brunei; about 10% of the population is Christians.

Christianity in Brunei - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Of course Islamist will support this move. If you believe otherwise then i'm afraid you are naive my friend.
However, to be honest, its their country their rule. Not our business. Just like when we start banning stuffs here nobody should complain either. Each country has its laws and should be respected.

What can Brunei possibly contribute , if her entire population is about 700,000? Do you even know that the Royal Bruneian Army has in its employ Nepalese Gurkhas?

2nd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles; formed by renaming the 1st Bn, 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles.

WE ALSO HAVE A MILITARY BASE THERE. HOPEFULLY OUR SOLDIERS WILL BE ALLOWED TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS THERE AT LEAST.




Cameron in deal to extend British troops' stay in Brunei - Telegraph

 

[Nike]

When people from other country talking about what people from other country should do according to their own taste and value they had shown their arrogance and ignorance

Brunei is a Kingdom, absolute monarch on top of it. The Sultan had an absolute says and order in his own land and it had been happened since their independence from Malaysia. So from beginning people should expect some ridiculous law and acts according to the personal taste and value of the Sultan himself. But fortunately until now, the Sultan is govern his subject with progressive ideas and shown some high degree of knowledge. Brunei itself is one of the most prosperous country in Asia, their GDP is been generated not only by oil rich but from some high degree of manufacturing, services and tourism. Actually the people of Brunei will not affected too much from this ridiculous law

 

[prima99]

Sultan of Brunei bans Christmas 'because it could damage faith of Muslims'
Tiny conservative nation on Borneo warns citizens that putting up festive decorations or singing carols could threaten the country's Muslim faith

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Photo: EPA

By Barney Henderson
4:07PM GMT 22 Dec 2015

Brunei has banned public celebrations of Christmas, warning that putting up festive decorations or singing carols could threaten the country's Muslim faith.

The conservative Islamic country on the island of Borneo allows non-Muslims to celebrate Christmas, but only within their communities, and they must first alert the authorities.

At least 65 per cent of the 420,000-strong population of the oil-rich state are Muslims.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs said in a statement: "These enforcement measures are ... intended to control the act of celebrating Christmas excessively and openly, which could damage the aqidah (beliefs) of the Muslim community."

In a warning to Muslims earlier this month, a group of Imams warned that any celebration "not in any way related to Islam” could lead to "‘tasyabbuh’ (imitation) and unknowingly damage the ‘aqidah’ (faith) of Muslims".

Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah holds the arm of his son Prince Abdul Malik to bless Malik's new wife Photo: Olivia Harris/Reuters

“During Christmas celebrations, Muslims following that religion’s acts – such as using their religious symbols like cross, lighting candles, making Christmas trees and singing religious songs, sending Christmas greetings, using signs praising the religion, putting up decorations or creating sounds and doing anything that amounts to respecting their religion – are against Islamic faith,” the Imams said, according to the Borneo Bulletin.

“Some may think that it is a frivolous matter and should not be brought up as an issue. But as Muslims and as a Zikir Nation, we must keep it (following other religions’ celebrations) away as it could affect our Islamic faith.”

Some Brunei residents rejected the ban, by posting Christmas pictures on social media using the #MyTreedom hashtag.

Brunei, a former British protectorate, is run as an absolutist Muslim monarchy by the Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, 67.

Political discontent is limited thanks to a high standard of living and free education and health care, although members of the royal family have been criticised for their extravagant lifestyles.

Michael Jackson, the late pop singer, was reportedly paid more than £10 million to give a concert in Brunei in 1996 to mark the sultan’s 50th birthday.

(L-R) Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei, his son Prince Abdul Malik, new wife Dayangku Raabi'atul 'Adawiyyah Pengiran Haji Bolkiah and Queen Saleha during the wedding ceremony in the Nurul Iman Royal Palace in Banda Seri Begawan, Brunei Photo: EPA

Last year, the sultan caused controversy by introducing Sharia criminal law, which allows for punishments including stoning, whipping and amputation.

This policy triggered a boycott of the hotel chain owned by the Sultan of Brunei’s sovereign wealth investment agency by a group of celebrities, fashion designers and other famous names.

Backed by the likes of Stephen Fry, Stella McCartney and Sir Richard Branson, the rich, famous and chic were urged not to book into any of the Dorchester Collection venues, including the Dorchester in London, Le Meurice in Paris, the Beverly Hills Hotel in LA and Il Principe in Milan.

backwardiness much of the so called rich country. someone must annex this piece of small land before it becomes an Asian ISIS. it's this kind of thing that is infectious to other neighbouring countries, especially if they are muslim majority.

 

[livingdead]

I dont see USA and other Western Malls has huge decoration (just like Indonesian one celebrating Chrismast) during Iedul Adha and Iedul Fitri, even there is no Islamic holidays there, so dont put Brunei at such low level either

not sure about west but in UK, people are allowed to decorate their house in diwali, eid or whichever festival. As to Malls, it upto mall people, some big commercial establishments in muslim areas do decorate and have special offers during ramadan/diwali. There is no banning however, but govt cant force malls to celebrate eid if they want to.

I think its not possible to have a rational debate on this with you. I tried at least.

It must be really hard to be muslim, apart from usual temptations, they have to also avoid temptation of chrismas. Their innocence needs to be protected.

 

[kuge]

Golden Mosque (Masjid Al-Dahab) in Manila

That is Waqaf Mosque in brunei not in manila...lol