about sayiing merry christmas

[slaveofAllah88]

I just said this fatwa online, so to be polite to people in our community we can say Merry Christmas we dont have to celebrate but we can be polite according to this fatwa how many people share the view
I agree with it cuz if we want them to know about Islam and want the society to accept us and not treat us like aliens i think out of politeness we shud just say merry christmas ... these days the festival has totally lost its meaning anywayz

online fatwa
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/...h-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1165994048624

 

[justme1983]

Salaam,

I've been confused about this too. I agree that we need to be polite but aren't they committing shirk by celebrating Christmas and then by us saying "Merry Christmas" aren't we congratulating or encouraging them in their shirk?

I don't know but I do know I'M GLAD IT'S OVER for this year. ALHAMDULILLAH!!!

 

[slaveofAllah88]

Salaam,

I've been confused about this too. I agree that we need to be polite but aren't they committing shirk by celebrating Christmas and then by us saying "Merry Christmas" aren't we congratulating or encouraging them in their shirk?

I don't know but I do know I'M GLAD IT'S OVER for this year. ALHAMDULILLAH!!!

aslam o alikum
same thing here i didn't say anyone about christmas but it felt really bad today cuz one of my really close friend got extremely offended and sad about my reaction cuz she always says Happy EID to me
so now i feel like a really bad guy who is not even polite So i feel like maybe i shud have said it just to be polite

 

[nyerekareem]

:salam2:

it's always a difficult thing. it's a bit easier if you haven't been around christians all of your life or if you live in a non christian country. it's difficult with the whole shirk issue because the christians don't see themselves of comitting shirk. in their eyes they worship only one god. from an islamic view we can see it as shirk. so i think we need to look into the quran and the hadith to see what is the appropriate ruling.

 

[palestine]

SubhanAllah, SubhanAllah. brothers and sisters in islam we are NOT ALLOWED TO SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS and the MAJORITY of scholars agree. As muslims we can only say eid mubarak or happy eid to each other on OUR FESTIVALS. by saying Merry christmas you agree with what they're doing which is wrong. here's a fatwa. so do not do something outside of the sunnah for the sake of respecting a non muslim or in any case a human being. Allah is more deserving of your respect and gratitude than the Kuffar. subhanAllah. Do not justify this matter. you can tell them and explain to them of what your beliefs are against saying merry christmas. Whatever Allah swt and his messenger say we must FOLLOW. please read the fatwa below.


It is not permissible to congratulate the kuffaar on their festivals in any way whatsoever
What is the ruling on eating the food (rice, meat, chicken or cake) that is given to us by a Christian friend that he made for his birthday or for Christmas or the Christian New Year? What is your opinion on congratulating him by saying, “Insha Allaah you will continue to do well this year” so as to avoid saying Kull ‘aam wa antum bi khayr (approx. “season’s greetings”) or “Happy New Year” etc?.


Praise be to Allaah.

It is not permissible for a Muslim to eat things that the Jews and Christians make on their festivals, or what they give him as a gift on their festivals, because that is cooperating with them and joining in with them in this evil, as is explained in question no. 12666.

It is not permissible for him to congratulate them on their festivals in any way whatsoever, because that implies approval of their festival and not denouncing them, and helping them to manifest their symbols and propagate their innovation, and sharing their happiness during their festivals, which are innovated festivals that are connected to false beliefs that are not approved of in Islam. See also question no. 47322.

And Allaah knows best.



Islam Q&A

 

[palestine]

[yt]2ey_GeLhIfk[/yt]

 

[Yusuf1990]

As-salaamu'alaikum,

No, it is not ok to say 'Merry Christmas' or any of the like. Rather it is shirk, you are participating in their pagan, kuffar celebrations.

DO NOT DO IT. And also when the Christian new year comes in do not say 'happy new year', the same goes for Easter and every other non-Muslim celebraton.

 

[islam_best]

Assalaamalaikum bro,
i don't think we can wish a merry christmas.It would be like we are supporting them. I know that for being polite and kind one is forced to wish but supporting the truth would be much kinder and polite. It would be better not to be around non-muslim friends during christmas. that's wat i do!!
Wassalaamalaikum

 

[slaveofAllah88]

aslam o alikum
I agree with everyone here but wat about the fatwa i posted so is that wrong cuz obviously those scholars are very well educated

I think the imam is trying for us to know to cooperate ... I think our emphasis wud be not to celebrate it but we shudn't hurt someone and i read on the wesbite that if ur parents r non-muslim than maybe we shud do it to keep it happy
isn't islam all about having peace and being polite to everyone so we dont have celebrate it but maybe we can teach them about xmas too plus our intention can be just to make our parents happy or be polite we dont have to go around saying merry christmas merry christmas if someone says it i just say u 2 or happy holidays but i feel like all themuslim reverts here it is really hard not to upset their families cuz christmas is probably one of the only time of the year when the whole family is together so alot of reverts celebrate it as a way to get together with family not as a celebration
I know there will be many ppl disagreeing but i know some ppl will agree too that as muslim the intentions are gud but think about it does islam tell us to Disobey our parents or make them sad NO i think thats wat the imam is saying

 

[slaveofAllah88]

aslam o alikum
Look brothers and sister im really confuse here cuz i read more fatwas and it says that in Islam it is not allowed to break the heard of your parents or break ties with kinship ... and im pretty sure alot of new converts are still invited to christmas dinner and if they dont go they will really hurt their families and will be breaking ties ... so thats why alot of ulma say that you should be polite to others ... dont celebrate it but go for the sake of ur parents or politeness
thank you

 

[nizar83]

aselemu aleikum, all i wanted to say is there is more than 1 way to say wish the kuffar a pleasant time during their days..

some of them ( kuffar or nasara) wish us a good 3eid when is the time of 3eid..they dont say : mabrouk el 3awasheer wa kol 3am wa antom bigair...so my point is we dont have to say merry christmas to be polite, we can also say i wish you a pleasant time with your family and friends...im pretty sure they would appreciate it...and inshallah there is no harm in this.

 

[slaveofAllah88]

Use some intellegence that is by trying not to mix between kinship and Tasyabbuh. Tasyabbuh is when we're being mellow which end up imitating the Millat of Kafir, and consider also that they will find you as a Mumayyi' (taking Islam easy), it's easiest to bring your own food, just for the sake of Silaturrahim, WITHOUT saying "M.Christmas."


Assalamu'alaikum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh.

:salam2: brother
I think your right ... I agree with u and I think wat matters is that its different to be nice to parents and celebrate christmas but we can be polite to them and visit them as its the family gathering

 

[a_muslimah86]

:salam2:

Brother...

What I am about to say..is my personal take on this subject..therefore read it as a way to earn a new perspective or something of the sort..but you do not have to take it as *the final word*...

When I worked in retail about a year ago..I had customers say "Merry Christmas" to me..even though I wore hijab..but I could tell they were saying it to be friendly...because they had that huuuge smile on their face and the words were super enthusiastic!..you probably know what I mean...

I only smiled back..and said "Thank You"

And I said it...NOT to thank them for "greeting" me..but for being so "friendly" to me...

Now some people tell me I'm being weird when I say that...but from what I saw...none of the people I said it to..got offended...they kept their smile as they walked away..and I'm sure they got the hint that I am not someone who celebrates Christmas..because they KNOW there are many communities that DON'T...like Jews & Jehovah's Witnesses..for two *famous* examples!..but due to the lack of knowledge..they may not know *exactly* which *other* communities don't celebrate Christmas..

I'm the kind of person who is keen on being friendly to non-Muslims..I think being firm..standoffish..at times will turn them away..and further instill the stereotypes they may have been exposed to regarding Islam and Muslims..and I seriously fear that..because sobhanallah you never know..you may smile at someone today..and they see that you're muslim..and because of your smile..they found a reason for them to *learn* about *Islam* the next day!...

At one time..an older lady who works in my college cafeteria..was greeting everyone for Christmas & Hanukkah as they left (she's known for her "holiday spirit" all around campus!)..and when I was about to leave she looked at me and saw my hijab..she smiled BIG and innocently said...with the same enthusiasm she offered to EVERYONE ELSE...

Merry Christmas!!!..Happy Hanukkah!!!..(and then she added)...Happy Kwanzaa dear!!!

Now I honestly laughed slightly...but still made it a point to smile..and thanke her as I walked away..

She was being honestly friendly..do you think it's "Islamic" that I don't at least "smile" at her???

Unless..a moment arises when I can *explain* the Islamic perspective on non-Muslim holidays..I would never be rude to someone who offers me an innocently friendly holiday greeting..and of course..I *never* offer a greeting *first*..and do turn down invitations to holiday parties and church prayers with a friendly and simple explanation..which is understood immediately! (like I said..not EVERYONE..celebrates Christmas..but NOT EVERYONE..is being RUDE about it!)

Honestly..I think we need to acquaint ourselves very well with the topic of non-Muslim holidays and how we need to act with those celebrating them...keeping in mind that there might be exceptions and scenarios which may come our way..where our "established stand or understanding" might not fit into them..and might actually bring forth an unfavorable view of Islam

NOBODY...I repeat..NOBODY..likes a rude person..even if that person...is a priest..rabbi..or minister of THEIRS...and if you're Muslim..well..people talk to you with preconceived judgements..so what better way than to eliminate them with simple friendly gestures (holiday or no holiday season)?

There is a means to approaching EVERYTHING..to act according to the commandments of our deen does NOT mean we have to be tough-hearted..and scare people off!..we just need to be *understanding* and *determined* in our *intentions*..

 

[slaveofAllah88]

aslam o alikum sister (a_muslimah86)
I totally agree with you LIke our community is filled with non-muslims and I know alot of muslims are being hardcore muslims and never say merry christmas or anything infact ive seen some will give angry looks to someone who says it to them
Now they annoy me ... how can you do that thats just rude and it makes the community believe we muslims are rude and mean people ... how is that going to help spread islam
I dont go around shouting merry christmas but if someone smiles at me or says something i say u too or say Happy Holidays .. I feel like non-muslims should have a good view of muslims and consider us humans not aliens in their community, We are in a non-muslim country we must recognize it if someone takes the liberty of saying Happy Eid to me i feel like i shud atleast say Happy Holiday (btw my intentions are wishing them Happiness on the day off they have from work and school) to be polite
And thats my opinion and i think this way Islam can be spread better

 

[podolski11]

salam alaykum

how bout saying happy birthday??....

 

[a_muslimah86]

aslam o alikum sister (a_muslimah86)
I totally agree with you LIke our community is filled with non-muslims and I know alot of muslims are being hardcore muslims and never say merry christmas or anything infact ive seen some will give angry looks to someone who says it to them
Now they annoy me ... how can you do that thats just rude and it makes the community believe we muslims are rude and mean people ... how is that going to help spread islam
I dont go around shouting merry christmas but if someone smiles at me or says something i say u too or say Happy Holidays .. I feel like non-muslims should have a good view of muslims and consider us humans not aliens in their community, We are in a non-muslim country we must recognize it if someone takes the liberty of saying Happy Eid to me i feel like i shud atleast say Happy Holiday (btw my intentions are wishing them Happiness on the day off they have from work and school) to be polite
And thats my opinion and i think this way Islam can be spread better

Alhamduliallah brother..I am pleased that you understood what I meant...that's why...even when asking Shaikhs for fatwas or finding them..we as Muslims in the West..should make it a point to find fatwas (regarding certain topics) relating to our situation *specifically*..and make it a point to point out our situation in *detail* when asking questions regarding these topics as well..

Many times you will see that..sobhanallah..what a Muslim in Syria..Egypt..or Saudi Arabia is supposed to be "hardcore" (like you said) about...for a Muslim in the West it becomes an *exception*..because we live in societies that do not adhere or sometimes even *know* anything about our beliefs..

 

[slaveofAllah88]

Alhamduliallah brother..I am pleased that you understood what I meant...that's why...even when asking Shaikhs for fatwas or finding them..we as Muslims in the West..should make it a point to find fatwas (regarding certain topics) relating to our situation *specifically*..and make it a point to point out our situation in *detail* when asking questions regarding these topics as well..

Many times you will see that..sobhanallah..what a Muslim in Syria..Egypt..or Saudi Arabia is supposed to be "hardcore" (like you said) about...for a Muslim in the West it becomes an *exception*..because we live in societies that do not adhere or sometimes even *know* anything about our beliefs..

:salam2:
offcourse i understood u sister well i agree with ur opinion ... we need to make everyone feel comfortable with us so when accusations are made against muslims people can say NO thats not true Muslims are very kind and friendly people

 

[revert-sister]

SubhanAllah, SubhanAllah.

It is not permissible to congratulate the kuffaar on their festivals in any way whatsoever
What is the ruling on eating the food (rice, meat, chicken or cake) that is given to us by a Christian friend that he made for his birthday or for Christmas or the Christian New Year? What is your opinion on congratulating him by saying, “Insha Allaah you will continue to do well this year” so as to avoid saying Kull ‘aam wa antum bi khayr (approx. “season’s greetings”) or “Happy New Year” etc?.


Praise be to Allaah.

It is not permissible for a Muslim to eat things that the Jews and Christians make on their festivals, or what they give him as a gift on their festivals, because that is cooperating with them and joining in with them in this evil, as is explained in question no. 12666.



Islam Q&A

its ok to eat the food as long as its not haraam, i spoke to a iman and he answered this in full for me! and your not celebrating just eatting!

 

[Munawar]

its ok to eat the food as long as its not haraam, i spoke to a iman and he answered this in full for me! and your not celebrating just eatting!

:salam2:
Your imam has spoken correctly.
Eating food with them is fine as long as it is halal.

 

[sandra canada]

I just said this fatwa online, so to be polite to people in our community we can say Merry Christmas we dont have to celebrate but we can be polite according to this fatwa how many people share the view
I agree with it cuz if we want them to know about Islam and want the society to accept us and not treat us like aliens i think out of politeness we shud just say merry christmas ... these days the festival has totally lost its meaning anywayz

online fatwa
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/...h-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1165994048624

salam Alikum warhamtu Allah wabrkatu

brother we are not doing anything out from sunnah and quran

what you just congratulate them is HAram who tell you so its ok with that?

Did the prophet peace be upon him did it before? did any of the companions did it? we are following the prophet peace upon him in everything

and here is the right fatwa

Ruling on celebrating non-Muslim holidays and congratulating them
Can a muslim celebrate a non muslim holiday like Thanksgiving?
Praise be to Allaah.

Greeting the kuffaar on Christmas and other religious holidays of theirs is haraam, by consensus, as Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy on him, said in Ahkaam Ahl al-Dhimmah: "Congratulating the kuffaar on the rituals that belong only to them is haraam by consensus, as is congratulating them on their festivals and fasts by saying ‘A happy festival to you’ or ‘May you enjoy your festival,’ and so on. If the one who says this has been saved from kufr, it is still forbidden. It is like congratulating someone for prostrating to the cross, or even worse than that. It is as great a sin as congratulating someone for drinking wine, or murdering someone, or having illicit sexual relations, and so on. Many of those who have no respect for their religion fall into this error; they do not realize the offensiveness of their actions. Whoever congratulates a person for his disobedience or bid’ah or kufr exposes himself to the wrath and anger of Allaah."
Congratulating the kuffaar on their religious festivals is haraam to the extent described by Ibn al-Qayyim because it implies that one accepts or approves of their rituals of kufr, even if one would not accept those things for oneself. But the Muslim should not aceept the rituals of kufr or congratulate anyone else for them, because Allaah does not accept any of that at all, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
"If you disbelieve, then verily, Allaah is not in need of you, He likes not disbelief for His slaves. And if you are grateful (by being believers), He is pleased therewith for you. . ."
[al-Zumar 39:7]

". . . This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion . . ."
[al-Maa’idah 5:3]

So congratulating them is forbidden, whether they are one’s colleagues at work or otherwise.

If they greet us on the occasion of their festivals, we should not respond, because these are not our festivals, and because they are not festivals which are acceptable to Allaah. These festivals are innovations in their religions, and even those which may have been prescribed formerly have been abrogated by the religion of Islaam, with which Allaah sent Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to the whole of mankind. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Whoever seeks a religion other than Islaam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers." [Aal ‘Imraan 3:85]

It is haraam for a Muslim to accept invitations on such occasions, because this is worse than congratulating them as it implies taking part in their celebrations.

Similarly, Muslims are forbidden to imitate the kuffaar by having parties on such occasions, or exchanging gifts, or giving out sweets or food, or taking time off work, etc., because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever imitates a people is one of them." Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyah said in his book Iqtidaa’ al-siraat al-mustaqeem mukhaalifat ashaab al-jaheem: "Imitating them in some of their festivals implies that one is pleased with their false beliefs and practices, and gives them the hope that they may have the opportunity to humiliate and mislead the weak."

Whoever does anything of this sort is a sinner, whether he does it out of politeness or to be friendly, or because he is too shy to refuse, or for whatever other reason, because this is hypocrisy in Islaam, and because it makes the kuffaar feel proud of their religion.

Allaah is the One Whom we ask to make the Muslims feel proud of their religion, to help them adhere steadfastly to it, and to make them victorious over their enemies, for He is the Strong and Omnipotent.



Majmoo’ah Fataawa wa Rasaa’il al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 3/369)


http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/947/christmas