Can Muslims celebrate Christmas?

[searchingsoul]

Is it okay for Muslims to celebrate Christmas since they believe in Jesus?

[Ansar Al-'Adl]

Hi SearchingSoul,
A lot of questions today? :)

No, it is not permissable for Muslims to celebrate Christmas. Religious acts in Islam are only those in conformity with the Sunnah of the Prophet pbuh, otherwise they are considered reprehensible innovations (bid'ah). Also, the celebration has its origins in shirk (associating partners with God), and lastly it involves assimilation with non-muslims in cultural celebrations.

Related article:
http://www.islamtoday.com/showme2.cf...sub_cat_id=806

Regards

[north_malaysian]

Muslims dont observe Christmas. But in Malaysia, we just go to their homes greet them and eat something. In Eid, they come to our homes greet us and eat our food. We also greet the Hindus on Deepavali and the Chinese on Chinese New YEar. But all are done in a very secular way because we cant mix with their religious traditions.

[Joe98]

Few Christains treat Christmas as a religious holiday.

Rather it is a time to get together with friends and family you have not seen for a year or so and share a meal and sometimes exchange gifts.

It is best type of gift is thoughtful and has a meaning. If you are good friends with somebody and you know them well then a small, thoughtfull gift will enhance your friendship.

Its such a great time of year I am always disappointed when non-christains refuse to join in.

It means you are separating yourself from the rest of the community for no logical reason.

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[Malaikah]

^We dont need a man-made holiday to celebrate- we have 2 of our own holidays in the year that achieve the same purpose and at the same time please God and are not based on what Muslims view as false beliefs (i.e. the basis in christianity)

[Looking4Peace]

A friend of mine who said Christimas and Easter were both pagan holidays originally and the first orthodox christians did not celebrate it until that guy, i forget his name brought pagan beliefs and mixed them up with christianity. I think this is when Roman Catholicism came into play, someone correct me if im wrong.

[lolwatever]

Muslims don't celebrate it because not only it snot legislated for Muslims.. but it represents everything that Islam is against! "god having a son", "jesus being a god" and a tonne of other stuff..

all that along with what ansar n cheese said

ps: intersting crystal never knew that.. i heard something about DOB of jesus never being actually confirmed but besides that dunno much.

[Looking4Peace]

He also said something about the christians in the mideast dont all celebrate it because they follow the old orthodox church and them themselves believe its roots (christimas and easter) are pagan, many scholars of all relgions have said this, i need to get some sources, coming soon!

[Panatella]

^We dont need a man-made holiday to celebrate- we have 2 of our own holidays in the year that achieve the same purpose and at the same time please God and are not based on what Muslims view as false beliefs (i.e. the basis in christianity)

Not feeling very 'nice' today cheese? Your responses have a little added edge. (sorry, I am trying to say that normally you are nicer.:) )

[Joe98]

We dont need a man-made holiday to celebrate……on what Muslims view as false beliefs (i.e. the basis in christianity)

but it represents everything that Islam is against!

"god having a son", "jesus being a god" and a tonne of other stuff..

These are examples of Muslims rejecting the hand of friendship.

In which case we cannot live together.

[lolwatever]

ok.. ill put it in a preppy way...

say soemone swore at you and made an annual celebration to commemorate the day he swore at you.... would you rockup to his party?

same goes for christmas.. it's actually an insault to Muslims to claim that Jesus is god or son of god or divine or soemthing of that sort... read surat al-Kahf, Allah himself is telling us how angry he is at such claims, even teh skies and heavens would shake if they could. read the first few verses of surat al-Kahf and see for urself.

that doesnt mean we cant get along and have a convo about stuff... there's a difference between being friendly and compromising principles...

[north_malaysian]

When Christians talking about Christmas which Christmas do they refer the
25th December ones or the January ones?

[lolwatever]

i think it depend on what type of christian they are? coz some celebrate it at different times... not sure tho.

[duskiness]

A friend of mine who said Christimas and Easter were both pagan holidays originally and the first orthodox christians did not celebrate it until that guy, i forget his name brought pagan beliefs and mixed them up with christianity. I think this is when Roman Catholicism came into play, someone correct me if im wrong.

Hi Cristal!
Christmas and Easter are both Christian holidays because of their meaning. Pogans rather didn't celebrate Jesus birth and resurrection ;)

But!
It a fact that Christmas is celebrated at exact day some pogans clebrated their holiday. 22-25 XII are quite sybolic days - it's time when the night is the longest, but since then sun will be coming back. So it's something like that:
"in the middle of darkness, hope is coming back".
And we use this pogan date and symbolic for our purpose.
Date of Easter is moving every year (it's first sunday after first full moon in spring - but not sure). When we celebrate we aslo use some symboles taken from pogans (egg=life).
But we are really not thinking about pogans gods on Christmas and Easter!!

to compare: wasn't Mecca pogan shrine befor Muhammed? didn't pogans make pilgrimage to it?
(i know that you believe that befor pogans there was Ibrahim and Ishmael there, but i'm not Muslim....)
should i then speak of of your pilgrimage as "pagan custom originally"?

i think it depend on what type of christian they are? coz some celebrate it at different times... not sure tho.

i fact date is the same :giggling: Orthodox Church uses diffrent calender (Julian) than we. So they celebrate also at 25 XII...but for us it's 6 I

I'm really sorry that Muslims can't join us.
In Poland it's custom on Christmas eve to have one more chair by the table, one more plate, one more knife and fork on the table.
It has two meanings:
- it reminds us about those who can't be with us on that day (passed away or are far)
- it's a place for "wanderer" - someone who may come to us unexpectedly.
so if you change your mind about whether you can or can't take part in Christmas, and you happen to be in Poland - free place is waiting :happy:

n.

[Malaikah]

Not feeling very 'nice' today cheese? Your responses have a little added edge. (sorry, I am trying to say that normally you are nicer.:) )

Watching the news does that to me... sorry if it seemed harsh, it certainly wasnt intentional :rollseyes

These are examples of Muslims rejecting the hand of friendship.

In which case we cannot live together.

What a twisted, taunting hand it is. "Hi, i want to be your friend by offering that you celebrate with me something that i know you consider to be a huge sin and offense, i.e. the association of Jesus with God"

No thanks. :offended:

[lolwatever]

heya duskiness... thanks for the invite but i think the reasons stated above explainwhy we can't join in. Put simply, christmas is a credo.

to compare: wasn't Mecca pogan shrine befor Muhammed? didn't pogans make pilgrimage to it?
(i know that you believe that befor pogans there was Ibrahim and Ishmael there, but i'm not Muslim....)
should i then speak of of your pilgrimage as "pagan custom originally"?

Not at all, it was a command of Allah to Ibrahim and Ismael, and then when the message was corrupted people emssed it up, and when Muhammad PBUH came back to makkah he made sure that paganism wasn't going to mess up hajj in any way so he converted the idols that filled the ka'bah into dust.

so its nothing at all to do with paganism, Ibrahim and Ismael where monotheists and the effort they put into building the ka'3bah and doing pilgramage was because it was an order from Allah SWT.


take care all the best


ps: Panatella, lol i think cheese is just being normal.. i mean that's a stock response you expect from a Muslim.. Allah has something even stronger to say to people like that in the Quran, read for urself

[north_malaysian]

I've been to Christmas, Deepavali, Chinese New Year feasts every year...just to eat and greet them.

[syilla]

and receive a lot of angpau i'm sure...

maybe u should 'sadaqah' to me some of it.

[north_malaysian]

and receive a lot of angpau i'm sure...

maybe u should 'sadaqah' to me some of it.

last Chinese New Year my boss gave me RM300 ang pow!!! During Hari Raya he gave me RM200 duit raya!!!:happy: :happy: :happy: :happy: :happy:

[syilla]

well then....don't forget to put on my hand next to my posts.

[Joe98]

What a twisted, taunting hand it is. "Hi, i want to be your friend by offering that you celebrate with me something..........

No thanks. :offended:

I am an athiest and believe there is no Allah

I want to offer my hand in friendship in mid December with a an invitation to social gathering of friends at my house.

I have used the word "christmas" in my invitation and therefore you reject the hand of friendship.

Can Muslims ever find non-muslim friends in a non-muslim country?

[duke]

These are examples of Muslims rejecting the hand of friendship.

In which case we cannot live together.

they are doing what their religion tells. nothing doing with friendship. i dun care if they don't come and sip or munch something at my flat in x mas eve. we can still live 2gether without bothering tha'.

[lolwatever]

lol joe you're an athiest, that's the point. So don't even bother trying to get your head around advanced concepts when you still havnt understood the simple stuff...


ps: i agree wtih duke.

[Malaikah]

I am an athiest and believe there is no Allah

I want to offer my hand in friendship in mid December with a an invitation to social gathering of friends at my house.

I have used the word "christmas" in my invitation and therefore you reject the hand of friendship.

Can Muslims ever find non-muslim friends in a non-muslim country?

Will there be drinking at this gathering? Will there be free mixing between sexes? Will the food be halal or not? :rollseyes

A smart athiest would invite a Muslim to a gathering they are likely to attend.

I suggest you sit down before you read this following, it might be a huge shock to you: I have non-muslim friends and i live in a non-muslim country. Did i have to give up my beliefs to do so? NO!

[Joe98]

The concept is so simple you cannot see it

You are invited to my house for a little celebration in June

You are invited to my house for a little Christmas celebration December.

BOTH CELEBRATIONS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME.

THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE.

BOTH INVOLVE FOOD AND TALKING.

Tell why you refuse the hand of friendship in December??????

Is blind hatred the real reason?

[Malaikah]

No. The point is we do not celebrate christmas! Why is that so hard to understand?

[duke]

The concept is so simple you cannot see it

You are invited to my house for a little celebration in June

You are invited to my house for a little Christmas celebration December.

BOTH CELEBRATIONS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME.

THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE.

BOTH INVOLVE FOOD AND TALKING.

Tell why you refuse the hand of friendship in December??????

Is blind hatred the real reason?

what's in june? food and talking is not an essential part. x mas without that is x mas.

[S_87]

Is blind hatred the real reason?

no its not blind hatred. our Prophet told us that our eids are eid ul fitr and eid ul adha. eid-festival/celebration

theres no if but why where when how what.

[lolwatever]

^^ I agree, and it's not blind hatred because the reasons are mentioned in the Quran, and i gave u a reference some where up the top.

[Joe98]

Will there be drinking at this gathering?

Yes but you are not forced to drink.

You could show people the strengths of Islam by not drinking. Instead you won’t be there.

Will there be free mixing between sexes?

Of course. Its all in one room, like being on a bus. What is your problem?

Will the food be halal or not?

Some is and some is not. You are not forced to eat. You could show people the strengths of Islam by not eating food that is against youe belief. Instead you won’t be there.

No, it is not permissable for Muslims to celebrate Christmas. Religious acts in Islam are only those in conformity with........

No. The point is we do not celebrate Christmas!

Do you celebrate December the 18th?

How about a social gathering in a month starting with the letter “D” ??

How do Muslims in Melbourne socialise with non-muslims in December without the word “Christmas” being involved?

We do not celebrate Christmas. Why is that so hard to understand?

Because of this:

Few Christains treat Christmas as a religious holiday.

Rather it is a time to get together with friends and family you have not seen for a year or so and share a meal and sometimes exchange gifts.

[Woodrow]

Joe, like always you bring up some interesting points. One thing you have to keep in mind is some of us Muslims are professional party poopers. I enjoy sociolising with my Non_Muslims friends. But only at quiet small get togethers with no food, drinks, music or smoking. I prefer for men and women to be in seperate rooms and only intermingle out of necessity or business.

With that said, it is foolish for me to accept any invitations to any parties. Now that I think of it I have never been at a party at a Muslim home either, although I have been at a few Muslim friends homes for a meal.

I would be willing to accept an invitation to a party at your home, provided I knew that there would be nothing haraam at the party.

I would avoid:

food
Television
music
dancing
drinking
any socialising with women
No celebration focus, such as birthday, religious event, etc.

With that said, I doubt if you would enjoy having me over as a party guest. My concept of a "wild party" is there are about 5 people at the party. Everybody is related by blood or marriage. No event is being celebrated. I bring my own food and dishes.

Now with all that, the majority of my friends are non-Muslim. Because, at the apartment complex I live in those are the only people that get much time to visit me. I don't get out very often, except for my appointments at the VA clinic.

[syilla]

Quoted from 'Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni book 'don't be sad''

The word 'isolation' and 'seclusion' have a special meaning in our religion: to stay away from evil and its perpetrators, and to keep those who are foolish at a distance. When you seclude yourself from evil in this manner, you will have an opportunity to reflect, to think, to graze in the meadows of enlightenment.

When you isolate yourself from things that divert you from Allah's obedience, you are giving yourself a dose of medicine, one that doctors of the heart have found to be a most potent cure. When you seclude yourself from evil and idleness, your brain is stimulated into action. The results are increases in faith, repentance, and remembrance of Allah, the Most Merciful.

However, some gatherings are not only recommended, but necessary: the congregational prayer, circles of learning, and all gatherings of righteousness. As for gatherings wherein frivolity and shallowness prevail, be wary of them. Take flight from such gatherings, weep over your wrongdoing, hold your tongue, and be content within the boundaries of your home. By mixing with others based on foolish motives, you endanger the stability and soundness of your mind, for the people you indiscriminately mix with are likely to be experts at wasting time, masters at spreading lies, and skilled in spreading both trouble and mischief.

"Had they marched out with you, they would have added to you nothing except disorder, and they would have hurried about in your midst (spreading corruption) and sowing sedition among you..." (Qur'an : 9:47)

I advise you to fortify yourself to your purpose and isolate yourself in your room, except when you leave it to speak well or to do well. When you apply this advice, you will find that your heart has returned to you. So use your time well and save your life from being wasted. Hold your tounge from backbiting, free your heart from anxiety, and preserve your ears from profanity.

[shaharoun]

[QUOTE=Ansar Al-'Adl;400012]Hi SearchingSoul,
A lot of questions today? :)

No, it is not permissable for Muslims to celebrate Christmas. Religious acts in Islam are only those in conformity with the Sunnah of the Prophet pbuh, otherwise they are considered reprehensible innovations (bid'ah). Also, the celebration has its origins in shirk (associating partners with God), and lastly it involves assimilation with non-muslims in cultural celebrations.

This is what I know,Muslims can't celebrate any of the Kufaars' festivals.
Think about chrismas,Christians believe it is the birthday of Jesus,but for sure it's not.From the history it shows on this day some prisoners were being fleed
from the jail .
We have our own festivals,I think they are enough,and in celebrating them we also get the rewards from Almighty Allah, we don't have to find others.

[Tania]

A friend of mine who said Christimas and Easter were both pagan holidays originally and the first orthodox christians did not celebrate it until that guy, i forget his name brought pagan beliefs and mixed them up with christianity. I think this is when Roman Catholicism came into play, someone correct me if im wrong.

Easter was celebrated before in the time of Moses. This was the time when you asked your enemies to come and sit at your table. For them, were killed a lamb or goat and the entire animal must have been eat entirely. Jesus never were agreed with the animal killing and whats really sad for Easter most of us tend to kill them. :(. The pagan fest was replaced with the Easter.

The Christmas night is dedicated to the church and family. It begins with the family dinner where no one else is invited and its followed by the midnight sermon from the church. For me this night is magical.:) Its the time when i feel most happy and peaceful. Don't ask me why, but i am just content and happy with everything.

[Zionazi_Dissent]

Origins
http://www.religioustolerance.org/xmas_tree.htm
http://www.historychannel.com/exhibi...mas/trees.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree

Pagan beiefs durrounding Christmas:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree

Is Christmas pagan?
http://jesus-messiah.com/html/christmas.html
http://www.sabbatarian.com/Paganism/XmasHistory.html
http://www.eliyah.com/paganexp.html

I would never celebrate Christmas. And I dont believe Jesus was God, he was a worshipper.

[searchingsoul]

Thanks for the information. I find this interesting since I know a lot of muslims that enjoy the Christmas festivities. Hmmm Still it's nice to know the official ruling.

[Malaikah]

:sl:

^Yeh i was so shocked when i meet a Muslim who celebrated christmas, and that was when i was like 13 or something, i didnt have a clue that it was actually officially forbiden for Muslims to celebrate it but obviously it just didnt make sense. It's like, hello, we dont believe Jesus was God, why are you celebrating christmas?? :?

But then again those same Muslims drank wine so..:rollseyes

[Tania]

It's like, hello, we dont believe Jesus was God, why are you celebrating christmas?? :?

But then again those same Muslims drank wine so..:rollseyes

I think those who decided to celebrate Christmas are not considering Jesus like God. They want only to respect their friends joy and ,if they are invited, try to take part only at meals without to drink wine.
Also, thats depend of the country. Over here its a family dinner so we are not inviting friends at all.

[lolwatever]

^^ yeh, they're the ones that Allah cursed, just like the way he cursed the people who broke the sabbath who didn't actually fish, but all they done was eat the fish "to respect their friends joy and only take part in means" but they didn't go out and break god's law about the Sabbath.

[Tania]

^^ yeh, they're the ones that Allah cursed, just like the way he cursed the people who broke the sabbath who didn't actually fish, but all they done was eat the fish "to respect their friends joy and only take part in means" but they didn't go out and break god's law about the Sabbath.

Where have you read about Allah cursed the people which ate fish?

[lolwatever]

its either a hadith or in the story mentioned in the qruan, only the people who enjoined good and forbade evil where saved, the rest copped it.

Infact that's always been a constant in dawah, ill give you an analogy... someone burgles a shop and has a feast, and you know that the food is stolen and you attend the party and have fun with him, you wouldn't be very different to teh theif himself in Allah's sight. Becasue it's a form of encoruagement.

[Tania]

its either a hadith or in the story mentioned in the qruan, only the people who enjoined good and forbade evil where saved, the rest copped it.

Infact that's always been a constant in dawah, ill give you an analogy... someone burgles a shop and has a feast, and you know that the food is stolen and you attend the party and have fun with him, you wouldn't be very different to teh theif himself in Allah's sight. Becasue it's a form of encoruagement.

Do you want to say everyone should keep his own fests....like i should not go to muslim fests and you should not come to christians fests, right?

[lolwatever]

You're more than welcome to attend our eid because we're just celebrating the end of fasting (somethign taht jews and (probably?) christians are aquainted to)... and the other eid is commemorating Ismail's dad (Abrahm's) sacrifice PBUH something that you guys probably hav in common with us....

We believe it's not a sin for you to do that because the relgiion that Isa came wtih is the same that Muhamamd PBUH came with...

but we don't celebrate christmas because it's an innovation, nothing to do with the religion that Isa PBUH came with. :)

hope that helps :)
tc all the best!

[Tania]

but we don't celebrate christmas because it's an innovation, nothing to do with the religion that Isa PBUH came with. :)

You don't find a little bit too improper Jesus to tell us to celebrate his birthday? He was very humble..
But anyhow i got your point.So the christians can attend muslim fests but you can't attend the two major christians fests.

[lolwatever]

But anyhow i got your point.So the christians can attend muslim fests but you can't attend the two major christians fests.

yep.

if you where my neighbor or an aquaintance i'd be very happy to attend 2a non religious celebration of yours any other day though :D - as long as there's no alchohol , free mixn and stuff ;)

but i hope you understand, it's because christmas an easter is a credo, if you believe that eid is a credo antagonistic to your beliefs, and thereby you believe it wrong to not attend, by all means.. no compulsion.

You don't find a little bit too improper Jesus to tell us to celebrate his birthday? He was very humble..

It's more than just celebrating a birthday, firstly the idea of birthdays is a concept that doesn't exist in Islam, we're nto suppose to even celebrat our own propehts birthday. Secondly, it's partly celebrating the idea of him being the son of God, and Allah (God) has some very hard words about how insulted he is at such a claim (checkout the first few verses of surat al-Kahfr for example - amongst many many many others).

hope u get wher eim coming from..
take care all the best