Say a Muslim passes a Christian or Jew on the street or greets them at work around the holidays. Are they allowed to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Hanukkah" to them? And if they are friends, is the Muslim allowed to accept an invitation for a holiday meal? Let's say that the non-Muslim hosts know not to give them any alcohol (if there is any) or pork. This is just dinner, the Muslim guests would not participate in any prayer or sing along to the songs.
Say a Muslim passes a Christian or Jew on the street or greets them at work around the holidays. Are they allowed to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Hanukkah" to them?
I Personally don't see anything wrong with wishing them a merry chirstmas as to me the meaning in my head is synonymous with "happy holidays" so I don't feel like its wrong. also many non muslimn wish us muslims "happy eid" which is essentially the same as merry chirstmas..
[quote=Darth Ultor;1481853]is the Muslim allowed to accept an invitation for a holiday meal?[/quote
Yes you should definitely accept... if there your friends and they invite you to eat a meal together (halal ) then sure.. I don't see any harm..
If what is referred to is accepting an invitation to a meal, for example, and there is nothing involved that is forbidden in Islam, such as mixing of men and women, or foods forbidden by Allaah such as wine and pork, or dancing and music and so on, and this participation does not imply that one loves these kuffaar, then there is nothing wrong with accepting their invitation. He should try to convey the message of Islam to them. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) accepted the invitation of some of the Jews. And Allaah knows best.
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
however, I found some contradicting points and references on this QandA if you want to check it out...
Kosher food is lawful to us and I always found a polite enjoy your holidays to suffice.
I must admit that I am sick of Christmas and everything surrounding it.. smarmy TV programming cheesy gifts from China, people obliging you to return gifts by getting you gifts you've no desire for or want and not even out of the so-called love in their heart rather for the sake of appearances.. really just want it to go away.. it is a strange non-holiday that got invented for the purpose of hemorrhaging people out of money they don't have to buy gifts they can't afford to people they can't stand.. Jesus (PBUH) was born in early September/October and we shouldn't celebrate the birth of any prophet or in this case the birth of any god!
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
you shouldn't really congratulate them on their kuffar festivals as that implies some sort of approval on such innovation even if you didn't mean it that way. saying things like merry christmas or happy hanukkah shares the happiness of such festivals when you should be denouncing them. such festivals have no basis in islam and are based on false beliefs as you may know.
you also can't eat with them on christmas as that's really taking part in their celebration. again, even if it means just getting a spot of lunch to you, they could easily say you're joining them for christmas dinner. if you're just going out to eat with them and it happens to be on that day then that's a different story but you can't go out for a christmas dinner hosted by the kuffar. it's the same as walking into a pub to socialise with your 'sensible' friends for a bit of juice. haram things go on in that pub and it sells alcohol and promotes freemixing etc.
Yes you should definitely accept... if there your friends and they invite you to eat a meal together (halal ) then sure.. I don't see any harm..
If what is referred to is accepting an invitation to a meal, for example, and there is nothing involved that is forbidden in Islam, such as mixing of men and women, or foods forbidden by Allaah such as wine and pork, or dancing and music and so on, and this participation does not imply that one loves these kuffaar, then there is nothing wrong with accepting their invitation. He should try to convey the message of Islam to them. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) accepted the invitation of some of the Jews. And Allaah knows best.
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
bro, there's a difference between a nice meal with friends and a meal which is in the name of christmas.
also i personally wouldn't want to invite my friends round for eid then have them spread the message of christianity or judaism to me.
bro, there's a difference between a nice meal with friends and a meal which is in the name of christmas.
There are many Christians in my mom big family, and I have many Christian friends. My relationship with them is very good, Alhamdulillah. We always respect each other.
Those Christians have their own time to celebrate Christmas, and then they hold an open house for anyone who want to visit them. I always visited them in open house time. There is no anything that related to their rite in this open house time.
also i personally wouldn't want to invite my friends round for eid then have them spread the message of christianity or judaism to me.
You can invite my Christian relatives and friends. I give you guarantee, they will not try to spread the message of Christianity to you, although many of them are religious.
format_quote Originally Posted by syed1
I Personally don't see anything wrong with wishing them a merry chirstmas as to me the meaning in my head is synonymous with "happy holidays" so I don't feel like its wrong. also many non muslimn wish us muslims "happy eid" which is essentially the same as merry chirstmas..
I didn't say "Selamat hari natal (Happy Holiday)" to them because I didn't celebrate their holiday, but I said "Selamat merayakan hari natal (congratulation to your holiday)".
You can invite my Christian relatives and friends. I give you guarantee, they will not try to spread the message of Christianity to you, although many of them are religious.
i know what you mean brother - my friends are the same. i have many friends of various religious backgrounds and, although they defend their faith when appropriate, they wouldn't try spreading the message of christianity to me on eid as common respect on our holiday, just as i wouldn't go round to their house on their holiday to spread the message of islam at a personal christmas family dinner. i don't think anyone would, purely out of manners.
but i was referring to what bro syed1 said because it was in a different context. what he quoted by the sheykh seemed to be for general inter-religious get-togethers but i don't think it goes the same for religious holidays such as hanukkah or christmas. for example, there's nothing wrong with accepting an invitation to a christian household for something to eat, but when they give you an invite to their christmas feast, that's a whole different issue.
as for the open time thing, i guess that's something to do with your friends since my friends don't do that... they spend as much time as they possibly can getting together with relatives and close christian family friends on such holidays. if they invite you for a general chat on/around christmas which is what i'm getting from your post about your friends and their customs then that should be fine since it doesn't really equate to taking part in their celebrations.
I didn't really thought for a while, I have to practise that Brother, I should start greeting congratulations or greetings perhaps?
than Merry Christmas
Since conversion, alhamdollellah I could avoid going to gatherings like that because I am not one of them, and besides I am not fan of gathering
but I greet everyone Hindus or Christians on there celebration but when Christian ask me "so now you dont have christmas" i remember replying, actually I dont know what is Christmas, is it the birth of christ or putting him on the cross or what? why when Jesus (pbuh) was alive there was no christmas lool
The HIGHEST accomplishment I can achieve in this worldly life is to be a TRUE MUSLIM. (me)
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