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The Prohibition of Christmas Greetings or Celebrations

The celebration of Christmas or any of the holidays and occasions of the Kuffar is certainly Haram in Islam. Muslims are not permitted to celebrate them at all since it is considered an imitation of the Kuffar. Imitating the Kuffar in any of their religious affairs or in any gesture that distinguishes them is forbidden.

Al-Bukhari narrated in his Sahih that Abu Said Al-Khudri (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

“You will indeed follow the ways of those before you, hand span by hand span, and an arms length after another. Even if they enter into a lizard’s hole, you will follow them.”

We asked, “Is it the Jews and the Christians” He (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied, “Who else!”

This hadith condemns the imitation of the Jews and the Christians. It is an evidence for the prohibition of imitating the Jews and the Christians in their religious occasions, symbols or any matter related to their belief. Celebrating Christmas is an act of imitation that is forbidden in Islam. The Messenger (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam) warned us against it.

At-Tirmidhi narrated that Ibn Abbas (ra) reported that the Prophet (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

“He is not one of us who imitates other than us. Do not imitate the Jews or the Christians.”

At-Tabarani and Abu Dawud narrated that Ibn Umar and Hudhaifah (ra) reported that the Prophet (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

“Whoever imitates a people, he is one of them.”


Furthermore, there are many Islamic evidences that forbid the Muslims from having holidays other than Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha. Al-Baihaqi reported in his Sunan that Anas bin Malik (ra) said: “When the Prophet (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam) came to Madinah, the people had two holidays from the days of Jahilliyah.” He (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

“When I came to you, you had two days which you used to celebrate in Jahilliyah. Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) has replaced them for you with better days, the days of slaughter (Adha) and the day of Fitr.”

Also Imam Ahmad in his Musnad reported that Uqbah bin Amir (ra) reported the Prophet (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam) to have said:

“The day of Fitr and days of Tashriq are our holidays, the people of Islam.”
In the chapter entitled
"on the abhorrence of entering the churches of Ahl Al-Dhimmah (people of the covenant) on the occasion of their New Year and other celebrations" Al-Bayhaqi reported the following narration:

"'Umar (ra) said: "Do not enter upon the polytheists in their churches on their feast-days, for the Wrath (of Allaah) is descending upon them." He also said: "Avoid the enemies of Allaah on their festivals."

It was also reported that 'Abdullaah Ibn 'Amr (ra) said: "Whoever lives in the land of the non-Arabs (non-Muslims) and celebrates their New Year and their festivals, and imitates them until he dies in that state, will be gathered with them on the Day of Resurrection." He mentioned - and Allaah knows best - the one who lives in their land, because at the time of 'Abdullaah Ibn 'Amr and the other Companions, they used to forbid open celebration of non-Islamic festivals in the Muslim lands, and none of the Muslims imitated them in their festivals; that was possible only when living in the lands of the non-Muslims.

Ibn Al-Qayyim (rh) said in Ahkaam Ahl Al-Dhimmah: "Congratulating the non-Muslims on the rituals that belong only to them is Haram by consensus, as is congratulating them on their festivals and feasts 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 disbelief, 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 (innovation) or disbelief exposes himself to the Wrath and Anger of Allaah."

Also see:


Christmas – A Celebration of Capitalism

Christmas time - will you be going to the party?

Comments

momo said…
Salaamoe alaikoem

What about those who became muslim but have parents who celebrates Christmas? If they go to eat with them, without giving gifts, but they receive gifts from the parent because they want to give them the gifts, but the parent know that they don't celebrate christmas. So they just go to eat as they go eating on another day.
Anonymous said…
Aawrwb, what about celebrating the new year?? Some claim this has no kufr religious basis, and is merely the start of the 'gregorian' calendar, hence its ok?????

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