All praise is due to Allah who has created us and prescribed a perfect way of life for us i.e. the religion of Islaam. We implore Allah (SWT) to bless his beloved messenger Muhammad (SA) who has practically exemplified this perfect way of life. We also ask Allah to bless and have mercy upon the noble family and illustrious companions of the holy prophet Muhammad (SA) who lived and died for the sake of Allah, and also upon the pious scholars who have nurtured and preserved the knowledge of Islaam.

Allah States in the Holy Quraan: "Verily the religion with Allah is Islaam." (3:19) It is the declaration of Allah that Islaam is the only Deen (Way of life) that is recognized, acknowledged and prescribed by Him. Adopting the dictates of Islaam and accepting it's profound teachings are not just a good choice of a religion from among the many religions that exist, but it is the only resort for the one whose objective is to obey his creator and secure an abode in paradise. We do not accept the concept that there are many alternative ways of life that one may follow in order to please his lord. Therefore it will be totally incorrect to assume that one will please his creator and thus enter paradise by adopting any religion, or their practices, other than Islaam although their principles and teachings may promote good character, decency, discipline, kindness, charity, love, peace etc.

Allah says in the Holy Quraan: "Whosoever desires other than Islaam as a religion it will never be accepted from him." (3:85) This is so because all action performed by people of a religion other than Islaam, regardless of how good and sincere they may be, has as their underlying motive the pleasure of the particular deity or false god associated with their religion and as such Allah will not accept those actions. For example, a person will not accept a gift presented to him that is addressed to another. Therefore we need to understand that Islaam is not just the best, but it is the only way of life that is condoned and accepted by Allah, and all others are false or have deviated from its original state.

Islaam, being the perfect way of life that it is, not only outlines our duties to our creator, Allah, but it also takes into consideration all of our needs as human beings. Therefore our emotional, political, and social needs etc. have been fulfilled and catered for by the Shariah (law system of Islaam). It will therefore be correct to conclude that in Islaam we have a total and complete way of living, thinking, feeling etc. In addition, we need to realize that all action will only be rewarded when invested within the sanctuary of Islaam. For indeed, true guidance is that which comes directly from Allah and remains unchanged. Allah says in the Quraan: "Say, Verily the guidance of Allah it is the (only) guidance." (2:120)

Therefore we as Muslims need to acknowledge that all other religions e.g. Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism etc. are categorically false or have deviated.

Let us therefore be utterly thankful to Allah and let us also demonstrate our thankfulness by acknowledging, cherishing and loving our religion. How unfortunate will it be if we as Muslims, who are upon (truth), hanker over what people of other religions practice, which is in fact false e.g. Christmas, Divali, and Carnival etc.

Therefore we should not have an inferiority complex, nor should we feel the need or want to resort to any avenue other than Islaam to fulfill our emotional, psychological, or social desires. Allah says in the Holy Quraan: "Would you exchange that which is better for that which is inferior?" (2:61)

It should be noted that we as Muslims have an identity, a culture and a way of life of our own. The most predominant and basic of all of these is to believe in the oneness of Allah and in the Prophethood of his beloved prophet Muhammad (SA). Islam dictates the major aspects of our lives. It addresses in details our beliefs. It ordains the particulars of our worship, charters the direction and course of our lives, and yet it gives us much freedom and breathing space as human beings. We are told what parts of our bodies must be covered and thereafter, individual preferences can be pursued. We are told what not to eat, leaving a variety of choices that can be relished in whatever manner so desired. The general principle is that whatever Islaam does not prohibit is allowed. This being so, we will notice that there are a very few number of things that are prohibited, thus leaving a host of permissible alternatives.

Moreover, we must have the correct perception and attitude towards other religions, their followers and their practices. As Muslims we are convinced that Islam is the only correct way of life and all others are wrong. Although this may be factual, we should be humble and not haughty, thankful and not arrogant, concerned and not hostile, towards the other religions. As Muslims we maintain relationships, dealings, interaction, socializing etc. with the non-muslims, providing they are not hostile to Islaam. We also maintain links with them as long as when they do not entail trampling on the tenants of Islaam or desecrating its principles.

Allah says in the Holy Quraan: "Allah forbids you not with regards to those who fight you not." (60:8) We are therefore permitted to participate in activities together with the non-believers (once it is not of a religious nature or unislamic). However it must be noted that it is not permissible to indulge ourselves directly or otherwise, in such activities of other religions that are of a religious nature e.g. Christmas, Divali, Carnival etc. More so those activities that are against the Islamic Shariah, especially when it involves Haraam (prohibited things) and shirk (associating partners to Allah). The relation that we have with the people of other religions extends only to a point where we observe their human, family and social rights etc. However an overriding principle is that 'There is no obedience to the creation when it involves disobedience to the creator.'

Therefore it is most important what we obey Allah in all affairs and be not swerved into disobedience under the guise of maintaining relationships etc. In addition, we need to clearly demonstrate the break of point with the non-believers and their activities, without alienating or fostering enmity with them, by adopting as our principle 'For you is your religion and for me mine.'

We must realize that by participation, (in whatever way), in the observances of others we will infact be acknowledging, condoning and propagating that which is false. Let us also not degrade ourselves by hankering or even participating in their activities and in so doing being ungrateful to Allah.

In conclusion let us understand that Islaam is the only way of life accepted by Allah and that we must be thankful to Allah for it. Also, we as Muslims have an identity of our own and we must not adopt or follow the customs of others.

Finally let us neither compromise nor sell ourselves cheap and let us also relinquish even the desire to involve ourselves in unislamic activities e.g. Christmas, Carnival, Easter, Divali etc.

May Allah give us strong faith, and unshakable resolve to practice all of Islaam.

Aameen.