Permissible to say 'Merry Christmas'?

[Ummu Sufyaan]

with due respect to all, i dont think a thread wishing merry Christmas to Christians is very appropriate

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.

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

no offense to anyone

[Ummu Sufyaan]

the purpose and job of the ulamaa is to explain to us what the ayat (verses) and ahadeeth (sunnah) say. there is only so much a layman's understanding of the noble verses and ahadeeth can do- and as most would guess, it isnt that much.

also we must remember that just becuase Allah has not said it directly, it does not mean it is not existent within the sunnah.

[Hamza Asadullah]

Saying Merry Christmas - is it haram?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

الجواب حامداومصليا

It is obvious for Muslims living in western countries to face the issue of celebration, congratulation or gift exchange around the time of christmas in every December.

It is also well understood that Christmas is a purely religious festival started and celebrated by Christians.

Allah (S.W.T) has blessed Muslims with a religion that is perfect and complete. For Muslims, there are two religious festivals in a year and Muslims are supposed to celebrate those occasions. At the same time, Muslims are not allowed to celebrate the religious festivals of other faiths as it would tantamount to their consent and happiness over the wrongdoings of others.

Therefore, Muslims are advised to refrain from the celebrations or participation in religious festivals of other faiths. May it be, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism or any other faith.

Keeping the above in mind, the answers to your questions are below:

What should a Muslim do when someone says "merry christmas"?

If a Muslim is greeted by someone with "merry christmas", he should return the greeting by saying "Happy holiday"

Is it Haram to say "merry christmas to a christian?

Yes, it is impermissible for a Muslim to say "merry christmas" to anyone. Instead, one may say to a non-Muslim "Happy holiday".

How to deal with a situation when one's close friends, relatives etc... are celebrating christmas?

If someone has friends, relatives or coworkers, who celebrate christmas or other religious festivals then a Muslim should do his best to stay out of such activities. However, if a Muslim fears harm as a result of that then he may participate in such activities that are not directly religious such as praying to Jesus etc... on minimum level and with the intention of not celebrating christmas.

Gifts during the time of christmas?

It is forbidden for a Muslim give and take gifts of Haram substance such as wine, pork etc... If someone is being offered a gift of such substance, he must politely refuse it. If someone has already accepted such gift, then it would not be permissible for him/her to keep it or even give it to someone else. Rather, it will be necessary to discard it.

Gifts of other substances such as fruits, electronics etc... are permissible to accept if presented.

Giving of such gifts at times other than religious festivals such as christmas is not only permissible but encouraged. However, giving of such gifts during times of religious celebration such as christmas should be avoided unless there is a real harm in not giving a gift.

Giving gifts of those kinds which symbolize the significance of other religious icons such as christmas tree, santa clause etc... remain forbidden.

And Allah knows best.

Mufti Ikram ul Haq

Fatwa Center of America

10 Muharram 1432/ December 16 2010

نقل ابن القيّم - رحمه الله – في كتابه أحكام أهل الذمة ، حيث قال : وأما التهنئة بشعائر الكفر المختصة به فحرام بالاتفاق ، مثل أن يُهنئهم بأعيادهم وصومهم ، فيقول : عيد مبارك عليك ، أو تهنأ بهذا العيد ونحوه فهذا إن سلِمَ قائله من الكفر فهو من المحرّمات ، وهو بمنزلة أن تُهنئه بسجوده للصليب بل ذلك أعظم إثماً عند الله ، وأشدّ مَـقتاً من التهنئة بشرب الخمر وقتل النفس وارتكاب الفرج الحرام ونحوه . وكثير ممن لا قدر للدِّين عنده يقع في ذلك ، ولا يدري قبح ما فعل ، فمن هنّـأ عبدا بمعصية أو بدعة أو كـُـفْرٍ فقد تعرّض لِمقت الله وسخطه .

Source: http://www.askamufti.com/Answers/Vie...QuestionId=947

Therefore i would like to wish Happy Holidays to all.

[Grace Seeker]

Hamza81, man, what's with the rigid attitude? By what you've said, you make it seem like Muslims ought to be very insecure about their beliefs. I'd be happy to tell to any Christian "Merry Christmas", or to any Muslim "Happy Ramadan", or to any Jew "Happy Hanukkah".

Stop making people feeling guilty and sacrilegious for merely wishing others well.

I'm just glad that he recognizes:

Christmas is a purely religious festival started and celebrated by Christians.

Many Muslims want to tell us that Christmas is a purely pagan holiday. So, Hamza81, thanks for the support, and Happy Holidays to you as well!!

[Thucydides1987]

Christmas is a purely religious festival started and celebrated by Christians.

Yea, and I dont believe in God, but I celebrate Christmas anyway -- it's just tradition; my family and community do it. Why should I deliberately seclude myself from such a festive event all for ideological reasons? I don't want to be a douchebag.

[Hamza Asadullah]

Hamza81, man, what's with the rigid attitude? By what you've said, you make it seem like Muslims ought to be very insecure about their beliefs. I'd be happy to tell to any Christian "Merry Christmas", or to any Muslim "Happy Ramadan", or to any Jew "Happy Hanukkah".

Stop making people feeling guilty and sacrilegious for merely wishing others well.

Hello there Thucydides, As Muslims it is our duty when we are unsure of any matter to refer back to the Qur'an and the actions and sayings of our Prophet on any matter. So in this particular matter i did just that which is to refer to the Islamic position on wishing others on their religious festivals which i pasted in my previous post.

It has nothing to do with others being insecure about their faith but the fact is as Muslims we do not recognise the validity of Christmas anymore than Christian scholars who openly admit that Christmas originated from a Roman pagan festival called Saturnalia. This is not even disputed by Christian scholars.

So i hope you understand now that as Muslims we refer back to our sources for every aspect of our lives and Islam is not just a religion but it is a perfect way of life encompassing every aspect of our daily lives.

[Hamza Asadullah]

I'm just glad that he recognizes:


Many Muslims want to tell us that Christmas is a purely pagan holiday. So, Hamza81, thanks for the support, and Happy Holidays to you as well!!

Your making it seem as though the origins of Christmas is something which is disputed. The fact that the origins of Christmas are Pagan is very well recognised by Christian scholars and not disputed at all. Refer to my thread:

The Truth about Christmas: http://www.islamicboard.com/general/...christmas.html

[IAmZamzam]

Is there anything wrong with people setting aside their bitterness for one day of the year and trying to think of goodwill toward men? Is that not to be encouraged? Christmas is, for all intents and purposes, no longer a religious holiday anyhow, although it may be moreso in some countries than it is here in America.

[Hamza Asadullah]

Is there anything wrong with people setting aside their bitterness for one day of the year and trying to think of goodwill toward men? Is that not to be encouraged? Christmas is, for all intents and purposes, no longer a religious holiday anyhow, although it may be moreso in some countries than it is here in America.

As stated in my first post in this thread the Islamic position on greeting those celebrating Christmas is to greet them with "Happy holidays" and not Merry Christmas because as Muslims we do not recognise any non Muslim festival and so we just wish them happy holidays rather than referring to their celebration.

And Allah knows best in all matters

[Grace Seeker]

Your making it seem as though the origins of Christmas is something which is disputed.

They are.

I'm not disputing that there are elements of pagan festivals appropriated by those who celebrate Christmas and reinterpreted to promote Christian beliefs.
I don't even dispute that some elements haven't been Christianized and still retain pagan elements that I reject.
I would even go so far as to say that some things that were once religious in nature have been co-opted by a secular world and thereby paganized.
I probably know all these things better than you do, as I've been interested in the origins of different Christmas traditions from around the world my whole life.

But I would point out that to make the following to statements...

Christmas is a purely religious festival started and celebrated by Christians.

and

the origins of Christmas are Pagan

... is to have created a dispute with yourself.


But despite that ongoing dispute that many have, I still enjoy the celebration of God's love gift. And I still appreciate the kindness and well wishes of others, for whatever reason.

[Hamza Asadullah]

They are.

I'm not disputing that there are elements of pagan festivals appropriated by those who celebrate Christmas and reinterpreted to promote Christian beliefs.
I don't even dispute that some elements haven't been Christianized and still retain pagan elements that I reject.
I would even go so far as to say that some things that were once religious in nature have been co-opted by a secular world and thereby paganized.
I probably know all these things better than you do, as I've been interested in the origins of different Christmas traditions from around the world my whole life.

But I would point out that to make the following to statements...

and


... is to have created a dispute with yourself.


But despite that ongoing dispute that many have, I still enjoy the celebration of God's love gift. And I still appreciate the kindness and well wishes of others, for whatever reason.

Well the fact is that its origins are pagan which you admit to and it was also started by Christians on the day of Saturnalia as a religious festival which you also admit to, so there is no dispute in that. Anyway Happy holidays to you and all other members here.

[Ramadhan]

or to any Muslim "Happy Ramadan"

I don't want to be a douchebag.

Next time, better say nothing than saying "Happy Ramadan", because it shows your ignorance and insensitivity and you could appear as a douchebag . We do not have "happy" Ramadan.

If you want to, bid us "Ramadan Mubarak" (a blessed Ramadan) or Ramadan Kareem (Good Ramadan).

Ramadan is not a festive holiday like christmas, it's a month-long blessed holiday that we fill with fasting, ibada (acts of worship), and intensive and extensive goodwill, as well as general self-improvements.

[Ansariyah]

Is there anything wrong with people setting aside their bitterness for one day of the year and trying to think of goodwill toward men? Is that not to be encouraged? Christmas is, for all intents and purposes, no longer a religious holiday anyhow, although it may be moreso in some countries than it is here in America.

Huh?

Make that all year around..

[Ummu Sufyaan]

Salam alaykum;

if anyone feels this thread is inappropriate, then better to inform moderators about it. Also I hope you can make another thread to discuss is it against Islam or not to respect others believes and holidays, but could you leave kind of matters away from this thread.

Thank you.

wa alaykum us-Salaam
i didn't inform moderators about it becuase im not 2-faced and secondly i posted it here as advise.

wasalamualaykum

Sure, why would anyone be offended by being told that to wish well to another is inappropriate. (sarcasm intended)

please dont try to look like the good guy and twist my post into something it wasn't.

it was meant as an advise to Muslims and since there are non-Muslims in this thread who i figured maybe offended i clarified that no harm was intended (again, no offense intended).

i'll ignore your other attempts at trying to be cool.

[kidcanman]

And Allah knows best.

Mufti Ikram ul Haq

You claim that it is forbidden to wish a person a merry christmas based on the opinion of Mufti Ikram ul Haq. I think you need to cite the quran and/or the appropriate ahadith. Mr. Haq was right to end his statements with "Allah knows best", because those statements are just his opinions. I don't disagree with his advice, but I think that he himself admits with the statement "Allah knows best" that this advice is not a commandment from Allah or the prophet. Therefore, I do not see how you can command muslims not to say merry christmas and state that it is Haram for them to do so when the prophet and the most high have not made such a commandment.

[glo]

Is there anything wrong with people setting aside their bitterness for one day of the year and trying to think of goodwill toward men?

Do our religions not teach us to forgive each other and be kind to each other every day of the year?

Why should we even feel bitterness towards each other? Bitterness is a poison which destroys goodness and kindness and contentment within our own hearts.

[M.I.A.]

on the pagan thing,

we all know how the nazis took the swastika from the hindus right? (The word "swastika" comes from the Sanskrit svastika - "su" meaning "good," "asti" meaning "to be," and "ka" as a suffix. )
i dont know how or why but i guess the stigma attached makes it very hard for people to accept again.
although brown people and the swastica are not thought to mix when you actually see both together then the idea of the nazi arien race simply vanishes right?

the same should be done with christmas, even after all the innovation in the event to the point where only the event was real... it can be taken back as a form of rememberence of a prophet of islam saw.

the last time i went jumma namaz i know that many names are/were mentioned by the imam.

[IAmZamzam]

Do our religions not teach us to forgive each other and be kind to each other every day of the year?

Why should we even feel bitterness towards each other? Bitterness is a poison which destroys goodness and kindness and contentment within our own hearts.

Of course they teach us that, but human beings are not capable of sustaining that kind of effort at their utmost all the time. It's good to have special occasions specifically dedicated to it.

[glo]

Of course they teach us that, but human beings are not capable of sustaining that kind of effort at their utmost all the time. It's good to have special occasions specifically dedicated to it.

No we cannot, not in our own strength. But with the help of God we can.

I am sure we agree that we should strive towards peace and harmony at all times. Whether we succeed to do so or not, it should always be in our thoughts and intentions to show love and care towards others.
I don't think one day a year is enough for this ...
Better to give it a go and try every day of the year!

[جوري]

the same should be done with christmas, even after all the innovation in the event to the point where only the event was real... it can be taken back as a form of rememberence of a prophet of islam saw.

We don't celebrate the birth of ANY prophet of Islam.. even celebrating the birth of prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is an innovation and though rampant, it is indeed a bid3a and people should be told gently to desist and if they don't then the rest shouldn't jump on the bandwagon just because it seems apropos!
Best for people to reflect on why they are blinded by lights and cheap crap from China which they gift each other in anticipation of reciprocation and not for any religious meaning or solemnity add a creepy fat old guy in a red suit who likes kids to sit on his lap and is used as a tool to propagate more lies to young children.
A religion that is based on lies from beginning to end doesn't in my humble opinion deserve our seal of approval.. by all means they should celebrate and they do, we simply need not be a part of it!