For some, Christmas can’t be Christmas without a few hours spent lounging on a couch, hands in a bowl of popcorn, watching whatever cheesy movie is on TV with the rest of the family. For others, this time of year wouldn’t be the same without seeing Mo Salah’s social media profiles flooded with a flurry of creatively scathing comments the moment he posts his annual holiday greetings.
Almost a tradition in itself, Egypt’s star forward has become the target of relentless online hate almost every Dec. 25 for the past few years. Why, you ask? Because (surprise, surprise) internet sheikhs just can’t resist getting involved in other people’s business. According to them, a practicing Muslim—and a recognized role model—shouldn’t be observing or acknowledging a non-Islamic holiday, as it would allegedly go against their interpretation of the Quran.
What’s more, some of the criticism directed at Salah is for seemingly putting more effort into celebrating Christmas—a holiday he’s under no obligation to observe—while his Eid celebrations are perceived by many as understated, with accusations that he does little to honor his own religious beliefs. But who knows? The reality might be that his Christmas celebrations look so polished on Instagram because they’re carefully staged and part of a greater PR strategy he has close to no control over, while his Eid celebrations, on the other hand, are more genuine, reflecting his actual way of remembering God without the need for a curated image.
Happy Eid. pic.twitter.com/P06pRyPCvS
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) June 5, 2019
Anyways, aside from the fact that everyone should have the freedom to live their life as they see fit, it might be time to address this ongoing mess while we wait to see if this year will follow the same pattern as the previous ones. As we write these lines, well past midday on Christmas Day, there’s still nothing to be seen, which leaves us wondering whether he’s intentionally chosen to avoid any sort of drama this time around.
To be fair, we can understand where some of the criticism stems from, though it’s important to remember that the language often used makes those doing all the faultfinding as guilty of sin as the alleged acts they’re condemning. That being said, from a pragmatic side, can we not simply focus on him being kind rather than portray him as some misguided figure he clearly isn’t? Again, he’s someone who’s paid (more than generously) to kick a ball, not to serve as the moral compass for an entire global community.
One point that made us think, though, is the fact that many Muslim kids might want to follow his example, which could put parents in a tricky situation. Fair enough, but honestly, anyone with a bit of common sense can explain to a child why they might choose not to partake in something if the family has decided against it. As for revert Muslims who no longer celebrate Christmas, it’s true—it must be a headache to explain to relatives why, despite one of the world’s most-followed Muslims engaging in it, they’ve made a different choice. But on the other hand, as accepting as they’ve been of their spiritual journey, surely they can extend that understanding a little further without being too fussed. Or is saying no to pudding and mould wine where they suddenly draw line ? (we’re just joking)
Dear @MoSalah,
Some converts to Islam have a hard time explaining to their families that they don’t want to celebrate Christmas because they no longer believe in Christianity.
It is hard enough for them to do this without their families saying, “But Mo Salah celebrates it!”
— Farid (@Farid_0v) December 24, 2024
Either way, this may be our call to put a definitive end to our obsession with celebrity culture. In a world so heavily influenced by social media as well as the constant quest for validation from the people we look up to, many can indeed feel compelled to mimic every move their idol makes, forgetting that they are just as human and flawed as the rest of us. Each individual has their own halal-haram ratio, and while it’s true that those with platforms should exercise caution and responsibility with it, perhaps our focus should shift. Rather than fixating on someone being invited to partake in a moment of joy—whether it’s a holiday meal, an evening celebration, or through a simple message of love— maybe, just maybe, we should direct our attention to those whose actions have a tangible, harmful impact on the lives of others.
Until proven otherwise, we’re yet to see so many flock to Andrew Tate to cuss-all him out. And while cyber harassment is anything but something we’d like to promote, frankly speaking, we’ll say that holding him accountable for what he says, with the same energy so many have to invest into Salah is the least we can expect. And in the meantime, if Salah does decide to post, do us a favor, just give him a break this year, let’s not distract him in what might be one his best seasons yet.