SYMBOLISM i HOLIDAYS MYTHS &: SIGNS By Imam Alauddin Shabazz TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION INTRODUCTION ii CHAPTER 1 SYMBOLISM IN SCRIPTURE 1 Astrology & the Zodiac 18 Christian Symbols 23 CHAPTER2 HOLIDAYS 26 Christmas 26 Santa Is Satan 43 CHAPTER 3 Thanksgiving 49 CHAPTER 4 Holloween 57 CHAPTER 5 Easter 62 lent & Easter Sunrise Services 64 Hot Cross Buns & Easter Ham 64 CHAPTER6 SYMBOLISM IN THE WORLD OF BIRDS 70 Designer Jeans 78 "Born Again" Christians 83 Christ Jesus Is Not the Son of God 92 The Historical & Symbolical Jesus 106 Racism in language and Color 113 CHAPTER 7 SUBTLE SYMBOLIC MESSAGE IN "DALLAS" 119 CHAPTER 8 QUR'AN ON SCIENCE, SYMBOLS, & SIGNS 125 BIBLIOGRAPHIES 133 WITH THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE BENEFICIENT, THE MERCIFUL. DEDICATION This book is dedicated to the many savants whose thoughts, words, and deeds have contributed to the sum total of knowledge and understanding of creation, Allah's word and all those whose future activities will be instrumental in helping humanity expand its awareness to the relationship with the CREATOR, the universe, and oneness of man. Recognition is given particularly to the late Honorable Elijah Muhammad (who was on time), AJJamah A. S. K, Joomal, the late Professor Fazlur Rahman, the late great Imam Malik Shabazz, Imam W. Deen Mohammed, Dr. Na'im Akbar, Karimah Shabazz, (formerly Karimah Omar) and Dr. Muhammad Asad. Exceptional scholars whose research, insight and counsel provided accretion and audacity to my being. All praises, however, is due only to ALLAH to whom we all shall return. INTRODUCTION For a successful interface between theology and science, one must connect symbols and myth with known facts. Science and religion, both enterprises make an extensive use of said. Though it may seem at first blush that science deals only with empirically verifiable truths, just a little reflection will reveal that this is really not so. We know that mathematics is involved in the argumentation and development of all the exact sciences. Physics and quantum mechanics could not exist without the calculus. Yet the language of mathematic is symbolism. Philosophers of science readily admit that what emerges from laboratory experiments are not absolute laws dealing with hard and unchangeable and final facts, but rather estimations dealing with the behavioral patterns of matter. And these patterns are able to be explicirared and interpreted in terms of statistical analysis. All analysis has to be communicated and formulated in terms of what really are statistical symbols which proves valuable in the macrocosm in dealing practically with the reactions that were observed and in predicting similar behavior in the future. The symbols and myths of science find companion symbols and myths in the language of theology. Both deal with areas that lie essentially on the borderline of our direct consciousness. Just what is a symbol? "It is a kind of sign. A sign is any reality which, when known, or when entering into our consciousness, leads to the knowledge of another reality apart from it, of which itis seen as the sign," states Dr. Charles R. Meyer, a professor of Systematic Theology at St. Mary of the Lake. Thus when we see smoke, we immediately conclude that associated with it there is fire; this is a natural sign. There are arbitrary signs and symbols, those which become signs and symbols because of human agreement. A traffic signal, a stop sign, or the diamond­ shaped yellow sign which indicates a curve in the road ahead. A symbol is a sign but all signs are not symbols. A symbol is a very special kind of sign. It is a substitute for the thing signified. It is a kind of logical and emotional "stand-in" for what it represents. For a symbol to be truly effective it must be concatenated; the emotion or value associated with the reality it isa sign of must be transferred to the sign. Psychologically, this process is referred to as displacement There are healthy displacement of psychic energy from one object or person to another. Some displacement evidences the beginning of a prejudice, racism, etc. Only if the culture is wholesome will the transfer be healthy and allow release of psychic energy that otherwise would not have been possible. Cathatsis is so commonplace that most people, especially African Americans, scarcely give said a second thought, but simply take it for granted. In ritual and ceremony, catharsis implies a transfer of emotion. But in the symbolism of science and authentic Al-Islam, mathematics, language, etc., catharsis refers to values or significance rather than emotional. The meaning or valence of a thing signified is attributed to the sign. So what is involved is an intellectual rather than an emotional appreciation of the symbol in its relationship to what is symbolizes. To many the word "Myth" conjure up the notion of an fairy tale, a story which, though entertaining, or ever significant in illumining the human condition, contain no truth. There is, however, a technical sense in which the word "Myth" is employed in theology. It is used to designate stories and narratives which are useful both to entertain and shed light upon the vagaries and caprices of human nature, so to speak. George Washington and the cutting down of the cherry tree, is best classified as a myth. Many narratives in scripture are myths, in the technical sense. When the word "myth" is used in its technical sense it refers to a reality that does really exist in some way - but on a plane which we are not completely conscious. It does deal with truth - but not with reality as we are able to readily recognize it, verify it and deal with it in the world in which our consciousness dwells. Mythology treats of a foreign kind of reality, one that most are not conversant with because it does not fit the categories chiseled out in the today's mind, to handle the data of yesterday idioms, concepts, and idolatry. It is truth about reality on a primitive level, radically different from todays. Religious myths are often not precise and vague. Many are highly subjective in their interpretation and interpolation and application. The religiosity of a person will be influenced by their particular culture, indoctrination, and degree of education. The periphery of one's religious consciousness rest entirely on one's ability to decipher signs, symbols, myths, etc. In the following chapters, Dr.Alauddin Shabazz, an ordained. minister, certified Imam, Degreed scholar of religious studies and historian, explore some of the diverse matrices out of which many were born. A prolific writer and potent speaker, Imam Alauddin Shabazz presents an insightful and enlightening treatise on a pertinent issue. Imam Yaqub Atxlul-Aziz Bilal Oluster,Florida CHAPTER 1 SYMBOLISM IN SCRIPTURE "On the earth are signs for those of assured Faith, also in your own selves: Will you not Then see?" Holy Qu'ran 51:20, 21 ALLAH (SWT) in His final divine message to humanity imparts levels of knowledge to those with in­ sight. This verse directs the human being to indulge in introspection. ALLAH (SWT) in the verses (86:5/90:8, 9) directs human beings to conduct inventory of self. When one adhere to the directives of ALLAH, intuition, equilibrium, DNA, psychology, physiology, heredity and other related subjects become very important cyno­ sures (focal points of attention). The more we become acquainted with the world in which we live, ourselves in particular, the more we confirm the reality of the CREATOR. The planetary system, our respiratory system, etc., in which we are placed are examples. The former includes the sun and earth are in precise relative. A little nearer the sun and we have tropical heat, a little further away and there is arctic winter. One need not look far off to be convinced of the reality of the Creator. The verse that begun this exposi­ tor speaks to that fact. The human body itself is replete with manifest ongoing miracles. This is not to say that miracles are outside of, or contrary to natural laws. They are based in said laws. ALLAH (SWT) equipped the human being with two technologically intricate cameras which enable us to see, and with a set of complex, stereophonic receivers with which to hear. A highly efficient temperature regulating system causes our bodies to heat up and cool down, according to need. A sophisticated communication network gathers information, processes it, and transmits from a control panel in the brain to every part of the body. An amazing immunization system constantly creates different types of antibodies to destroy life-threatening bacteria. In the brain there is a memory bank beside the learning capacity, etc., etc. Muslims must seriously reflect on ALLAH'S Revelation in order to relish the multiplicity of blessed information there-in that leads to lucrative production and human service. More Muslims, especially Imams, school teachers and college students must prepare and submit papers, books, etc., on the sciences and humanities that will spur our Muslim youth in the path of creativity. The state of apathy witnessed in the Muslim Ummah is appalling; this is not to say that no one is pursuing of said fields, but to emphasize the need for far more endeavors in such field. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, according to some reports, that "Knowledge is the lost property of every Muslim..." He is reported to have also said "Seek knowledge even into China ..." Again, he allegedly said "It is more value-able to spend one hour in the pursuit of knowledge than to pray all night:" These "Ahadith" are well-known among Muslims and accepted as authentic. But how many Muslims seriously believe them to be worthy directives? Belief, is seen in behavior. When Imams, teachers, and others in leadership positions are asked to discuss the dynamics of Al-Islam, or to expatiate on the relevance of science to Al-Islam; to expound the philosophy of our Deen, our Iman; to dilate on the psychology or sociology of our Deen, or to en­ lighten us on epistemology and Al-Islam, etc., they should be able to give an extemporaneous discourse on these aspects. QUalified leadership is a desideratum if 2 the Ummah of today is to grow and recapture the glory and warranted esteem the world of humanity bestowed on our Muslim forebears. No longer must we tolerate the mere status of "Museum - Muslims," basking in the fonnaldehyded memory of their amazing accomplish­ ments. We must excel as they did, and stand on our own merits. Our task is great. AI-Balaagh, a scientific Islamic publication, (in 1987) carried an article by its editor, Brother A. S. K. Joommal, an authentic Qur'anic-Muslim with a patent desire to advance Al-Islam in its pristine purity, that be­ speaks of the calibre of scholarship needed by our Ulema today: Imam A. S. K. Joommal related that once Allamah Iqbal (R) was invited to Aligarh University to lecture to the students. The subject was kept a secret from him. When he got on the podium, he inquired from the M. C. as to what the subject was. A covered blackboard was shown to him and the M. C. removed the cover to reveal the subject of the lecture: A full cir­ cle, no words, no explanation.... just a plain circle. Allamah Iqbal smiled; then went on to deliver a three­ hour lecture on the cosmos, the microcosm and macro­ cosm, the universe, its Creator, the place of Muslims in the "circle", and delighted the audience with a variety of mathematical dissertationsvis-a-vis Al-Islam, In deed there is wisdom in all things; even an empty circle, nothingness, water, myths, holidays, sea­ sons, gender, rituals, etc. History is the index to the future, and causes of the present. The history or religion, holidays, etc., is indis­ pensable if we are to understand their purpose and func­ tion. Whence come these things? Religious symbols, etc., have histories that lay 3