Bismillaah (In The Name Of Allah)
Dear Readers,
Do you celebrate christmas? Go and visit your non-Muslim relatives on this occasion? How about wishing a ‘Merry Christmas’? The scholars were posed question about doing these things and this is what they had to say:
Question:
Can a Muslim celebrate Christmas? Is there any scholar who tells that it is Haraam to celebrate? If so who? Is there any Fatwa about celebrating Christmas? Is it written in the holy Qur’an about Christmas? Is it allowed for us as Muslims to congratulate Christians in their Eeds (i.e. Merry Christmas, etc.)?
Fatwa:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
A Muslim should be thankful to Allaah for His great blessings upon him as He is Who guided him to the right path. So he should keep on supplicating Allaah to make him steadfast on this path which is the path of blessed people and to keep him away from the path of those who deserve His anger and of those who went astray.
The disbelievers spare no efforts to draw the Muslims away from the straight path and to cut their relation with their true religion. Allaah says (what means): {Many of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) wish that if they could turn you away as disbelievers after you have believed, out of envy from their ownselves, even, after the truth (that Muhammad is Allaah’s Messenger) has become manifest unto them. But forgive and overlook, till Allaah brings His command. Verily, Allaah is able to do all things.} [Qur'an 2:109].
We the Muslims are proud of our religion that was revealed to us by Allaah and are thankful that Allaah has chosen us for his religion. Allaah says (what means): {… This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. …} [Qur'an 5:3].
The non Muslims’ celebrations such as the second millennium, Christmas Day, etc. are among the falsehoods that a Muslim should avoid. Allaah says (what means): {And those who do not bear witness to falsehood, and if they pass by some evil play or evil talk, they pass by it with dignity.} [Qur'an 25:72]. Many scholars of Qur’an like Ibn Seereen and Mujaahid (May Allah have mercy upon them) interpret “falsehood” as the festivals of the disbelievers.
However, participating in the festivals of non-Muslims is a kind of cooperation in the disobedience of Allaah. Allaah says (what means): {…Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression….} [Qur'an 5:2]. A person came to the Prophet (mAy Allah exalt him) and said: “I have taken a vow to sacrifice a camel at Buwaanah. The Prophet (May Allah exalt him) asked: “Did the place contain any idol worshipped in pre-Islamic times? They (the people) said: “No”. He asked: “Was any pre-Islamic festival observed there?” They replied: “No”. The Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention) said: “Fulfil your vow, for a vow to do an act of disobedience to Allaah must not be fulfilled, neither must one do something over which a human being has no control.”
No doubt celebrating such feasts is actually imitating disbelievers. The companion of the Prophet Abdullaah Ibn Amr Ibn al-’Aas (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “Whoever celebrates the Persian New Year’s Day or their carnival and imitates them till his death he will be resurrected with them on the Day of Judgment.” The Prophet (May Allaah exalt his mention) said: “Whoever imitates a nation is but one of them.” [Abu Daawood]
Many times Allaah has mentioned the details of the birth of ‘Eesaa (Jesus) (May Allah exalt his mention) in the Qur’an but He did not mention any celebration to be done on this occasion. Therefore, a Muslim is neither allowed to celebrate the Christmas Day nor is he allowed to congratulate them. A Muslim celebrates only the Islamic Eed days. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: “The Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention)came to Madeenah while they had two days they celebrated. The Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention)asked, “What are these two days?” They said, ‘These are two days we used to celebrate in our pre Islamic era. The Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention) said: “Allaah has replaced them with two better days: ‘Eed Al-Adh-haa and ‘Eed Al- Fitr.” [Ahmad and At-Tirmithi]
Moreover, no Muslim is allowed to congratulate non-Muslims on their festival celebrations. Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim (May Allah have mercy on them) reported the consensus of all scholars that greeting non-Muslims on their religious occasions is forbidden. He (May Allah have mercy upon him) said: “As for congratulating the disbelievers for their rituals, it is forbidden according to the agreement of all scholars- like: congratulating them for their feasts and fast by expressing good wishes: happy feast or enjoy your feast… etc. If the Muslim who says this does not become a disbeliever himself, he, at least, commits a sin as this is the same as congratulating him for his belief in the trinity, which is a greater sin and much more disliked by Almighty Allaah than congratulating him for drinking alcohol or killing a soul or committing fornication or adultery…etc.”
In a word, congratulating non Muslims for their feasts is synonymous of accepting their wrongdoing and disbelief in Allaah. Is there a greater disbelief than attributing a son to Allaah or saying that ‘Eesaa (Jesus) (May Allah exalt his mention) is Allaah or that Allaah is the third of three “gods”? So, any Muslim who congratulates a person for a sin, an innovation or an act of disbelief has exposed himself to the hatred and anger of Almighty Allaah.
Finally, if the non Muslims congratulate us for our feasts, we do not congratulate them for their feasts as we are on the right path and they are not. Allaah says (what means): {And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.} [Qur'an 2:85]
Allaah Knows best.
AOA
sorry but i do not belive that wishing somebody on their religious holiday is haraam. If you wish them they get happy, they smile and making somebody smile is not haram. Jus because you wish them does not mean you belive in their faith. Your just making somebody happy. But what if somebody wishes you first?? you cant say: im sorry i cannot wish you back because i dont belive in that.
thats just rude and weird and being rude is bad…
jus speaking my mind :)
hijabi
Bismillaah
Wa’Alaykaam Assalaamu Warahmatuhlahi Wabrakatuh Hijabi!
Welcome to my blog! I am so honored you stopped by to wish me salam and share you thoughts on this very important matter. Thank you so much! As for your thoughts on this matter… this post that you have chosen to disagree with is not from my opinion but rather it is an awe inspiring fatwa from trustworthy scholars enjoining the good and fobidding the evil. There is no room for disagreement in this matter dear sister. I understand your comcern in not wanting to seem rude. It does not say anywhere that one must be rude, but that we are to not congratulate them on their holidays.
The non Muslims’ celebrations such as the second millennium, Christmas Day, etc. are among the falsehoods that a Muslim should avoid. Allaah says (what means): {And those who do not bear witness to falsehood, and if they pass by some evil play or evil talk, they pass by it with dignity.} [Qur'an 25:72]. Many scholars of Qur’an like Ibn Seereen and Mujaahid (May Allah have mercy upon them) interpret “falsehood” as the festivals of the disbelievers.
However, participating in the festivals of non-Muslims is a kind of cooperation in the disobedience of Allaah. Allaah says (what means): {…Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression….} [Qur'an 5:2]. A person came to the Prophet (mAy Allah exalt him) and said: “I have taken a vow to sacrifice a camel at Buwaanah. The Prophet (May Allah exalt him) asked: “Did the place contain any idol worshipped in pre-Islamic times? They (the people) said: “No”. He asked: “Was any pre-Islamic festival observed there?” They replied: “No”. The Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention) said: “Fulfil your vow, for a vow to do an act of disobedience to Allaah must not be fulfilled, neither must one do something over which a human being has no control.”
No doubt celebrating such feasts is actually imitating disbelievers. The companion of the Prophet Abdullaah Ibn Amr Ibn al-’Aas (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “Whoever celebrates the Persian New Year’s Day or their carnival and imitates them till his death he will be resurrected with them on the Day of Judgment.” The Prophet (May Allaah exalt his mention) said: “Whoever imitates a nation is but one of them.” [hadith Abu Daawood]
{Many of the People of the Scripture desire that you would revert after having accepted faith to being disbelievers out of envy within themselves after the truth has been made plain to them}, [Quran Soorah Aali-'Imraan, Aayah 100].
Also is His statement:
{A group of the People of Scripture desire that they could lead you astray but they misguide none but themselves although they perceive it not}, [Quran Soorah al-Baqarah, Aayah 109].
Also His word:
{O you who believe if you follow those who disbelieve they will surely cause you to turn upon your heels and then you would become losers}, [Quran Soorah Aali-'Imraan, Aayah 139].
And His statement:
{Say: O People of the Scripture why do you block those who believe from the Path of Allaah, seeking crookedness while you are witnesses and Allaah is not unaware of what you do?}, [ Quran Soorah Aali-'Imraan, Aayah 99], and other similar aayaat (verses).
Moreover, no Muslim is allowed to congratulate non-Muslims on their festival celebrations. Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim (May Allah have mercy on them) reported the consensus of all scholars that greeting non-Muslims on their religious occasions is forbidden. He (May Allah have mercy upon him) said: “As for congratulating the disbelievers for their rituals, it is forbidden according to the agreement of all scholars- like: congratulating them for their feasts and fast by expressing good wishes: happy feast or enjoy your feast… etc. If the Muslim who says this does not become a disbeliever himself, he, at least, commits a sin as this is the same as congratulating him for his belief in the trinity, which is a greater sin and much more disliked by Almighty Allaah than congratulating him for drinking alcohol or killing a soul or committing fornication or adultery…etc.”
In a word, congratulating non Muslims for their feasts is synonymous of accepting their wrongdoing and disbelief in Allaah. Is there a greater disbelief than attributing a son to Allaah or saying that ‘Eesaa (Jesus) (May Allah exalt his mention) is Allaah or that Allaah is the third of three “gods”? So, any Muslim who congratulates a person for a sin, an innovation or an act of disbelief has exposed himself to the hatred and anger of Almighty Allaah.
Finally, if the non Muslims congratulate us for our feasts, we do not congratulate them for their feasts as we are on the right path and they are not. Allaah says (what means): {And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.} [Qur'an 2:85]
Allah loves those who say (when corrected) “We hear and we obey”. Oh believer Hijabi may Allah bless you and reward you for your time in thinking on this matter and lead you to that which is best. Thank you so much for your time and I hope that you will return and visit often.
Sincerely & Gratefully
Halimah bint David
AOA Sister
Yes I do understand it is not your opinion, but I still stand my ground. I know it might sound like I am saying against our religion but to me I think making people happy comes before many things. So I guess there can be some argument here but I dont like arguments. Thanks for the info though really enjoyed reading it. Jazakallah Khair :) Great blog by the way. I love it :)
Hijabi
AA- So to make someone happy you will accept their offer of a toast of champaigne or a slice of smoked ham??????
If im not mistaken, i was told that you can say “Happy Holidays” without indicating any specific holiday. I dont remember the exact reasoning behind it but its better than saying “Merry Christmas” or Happy New Year.
JazakAllah Khayer for the knowledge you have posted. May Allah grant you Firdous.
Al Salamo 3alekom
There’s an ayat in the Quraan ,I don’t remember which Surat or what exactly it was, but its meaning is that God created us from different tribes and different cultures to get to know each other. Also, it is known that we will be judged by our intentions and not by our deeds. Wouldn’t this mean that if your intention was to be kind to a person by wishing them a merry christmas back when they have wished you a Happy Eid ok,,also , say you were living in america, and christmas time came. You have kids and you take them to decorate gingerbread houses with the other kids, I think this is kind of cultural and not religious because not all christians all over the world decorate gingerbread houses. So, I think we shouldn’t mix culture with religion.
Bismillaah
Assalaamu Alaikum Warahmatuhlahi Wabarakatuh!
Welcome to my blog Muslimah!! Thank you for your comment. I appreciate your thoughts in this matter and the opportunity to discuss it with you.
In Islam, we do not live our lives by our own personal interpretation of the religion but the interpretation of the majority of the scholars. It is very dangerous to our adherence of the religion to rule by our own personal opinions and ideas that we compile from our lack of understanding.
To wish disbelievers a greeting to their harram holidays and celebrations is a grave error. In a word, congratulating non Muslims for their feasts is synonymous of accepting their wrongdoing and disbelief in Allaah. Is there a greater disbelief than attributing a son to Allaah or saying that ‘Eesaa (Jesus) (May Allah exalt his mention) is Allaah or that Allaah is the third of three “gods”? So, any Muslim who congratulates a person for a sin, an innovation or an act of disbelief has exposed himself to the hatred and anger of Almighty Allaah.
Finally, if the non Muslims congratulate us for our feasts, we do not congratulate them for their feasts as we are on the right path and they are not. Allaah says (what means): {And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.} [Qur'an 2:85]
May Allah bless this advise and allow you to benefit from it Muslimah. Thank you so much for your time.
Sincerely
~H