Getting Through “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” Gracefully

If, like me, you run a home-based business that caters to a broad spectrum of the consumer market outside of the ummah (Muslim community), the impending holiday season can become a very tricky minefield of proprieties. On the one hand, you want to be respectful of other’s beliefs. You’d like nothing more than to be able to continue operating and serving your customers without calling attention to the very large, very pink elephant in the room.

You also want to stand steadfast in your beliefs. Your goal isn’t to point out what may be perceived during such a festive time of year as a  glaring difference between you and your non-Muslim customers. You just want everyone to get along without having to make compromises that make you uncomfortable.

What do I mean by compromises? Certain pressures to assimilate into mainstream celebrations like Cyber Monday sales and holiday discounts. An issue I’m always guessing about is how to handle common salutations such as “merry Christmas,” or “season’s greetings.” What’s the best way to explain to a long time client that, unlike many of your colleagues, you won’t be offering a holiday discount for your services? What’s the correct etiquette for a situation where a client sends you a holiday card? Are you expected to acknowledge it, or send something in return? And what if said client insists on sending you a gift? Is it considered polite to just graciously accept it, or haram (impermissible)?

I’ll be honest – I just play it by ear each holiday season. I don’t discuss my faith with my clients any more than I discuss the fact that I’m a work-at-home-mom of four. I’m certainly not trying to hide that fact, as a simple Google search will easily reveal. To me it isn’t relevant to the service I provide or the business transactions I’m conducting (although I continuously strive to maintain Islamic character in principles in my business operations, insha’Allah). Still, the Christmas holidays can leave me questioning whether or not I’m achieving an acceptable level of social grace.

If you’re a Muslimah home-based business owner with non-Muslim customers, share how you manage during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season.