Getting involved in Christmas as a Muslim - Islam Veiwpoint

[Abu.Yusuf]

As-Salaamu 'Alaykum


A quick reasoning as to why celebrating Christmas is not allowed as Muslims. This also includes any help, participation or acknowledgment in their festivals....

 

[Dagless]

What if you saw it more as a holiday/cultural/non-religious event?

 

[MartyrX]

I saw this posted on another forum. What's wrong with celebrating the birth of Jesus (pbuh) as a prophet anyways?

 

[GuestFellow]

It's not even a religious event. It's just a day when you buy stuff and give it to the little brats.

 

[sister herb]

I saw this posted on another forum. What's wrong with celebrating the birth of Jesus (pbuh) as a prophet anyways?

I am wondering that too.

 

[QueenofHerts]

but it started from a religious event, its intention was that and since its celebrating the birth of God's son, I think muslims should stay well clear and also not make excuses for such things.

 

[Marina-Aisha]

wot if ur invited to christmas dinner is that also shirk?

 

[islamica]

as any rational person can see, there is no sound basis for Christmas, nor did Jesus (peace be upon him) or his true followers celebrate Christmas or ask anyone to celebrate Christmas, nor was there any record of anyone calling themselves Christians celebrating Christmas until several hundred years after Jesus. So were the companions of Jesus more righteously guided in not celebrating Christmas or are the people of today?


http://islamqa.info/en/ref/1130
http://islamqa.info/en/ref/947

 

[Muhammad]

I saw this posted on another forum. What's wrong with celebrating the birth of Jesus (pbuh) as a prophet anyways?

From an article entitled: Christmas, Muslims and the Paganisation of Christianity


...Amid this culture is the widespread acceptance of the 25th of December being the birthday of Jesus Christ. However, as Pastors and Priests of the Christian faith have accepted over the years, this is an erroneous claim. Nevertheless they have continued to re-enact the nativity in their churches and narrate stories surrounding it which clearly demonstrates both their lack of desire for the truth and the way in which they easily accept falsehood and implement it into their religion.

Additionally, there is a phenomenon among a number of Muslims to partake in the Christmas festivities where they erect Christmas trees and exchange gifts. Ignorantly they have assumed that Christmas is typically associated with nationalism rather than theology, and in their fervent desire to assimilate into a British identity they feel obliged to get involved. However, as this article aims to demonstrate, Christmas is deeply theological and additionally, based in pagan and not Christian beliefs...

[...]

We as Muslims should pass this festival by with dignity, refraining from the office parties', Christmas celebrations, the exchange of gifts, and even exchanging Christmas greetings. There are a number of reasons for this; firstly, to become involved in a festival is to sanction the beliefs behind such a festival and as Muslims we are forbidden to sanction anything other than Islam. Just as we as Muslims distance ourselves from celebrations such as Diwali (Hinduism) and Hanukkah (Judaism), we must also do so with Christmas. By celebrating Christmas, not only do we sanction pagan and Christian practices, but we imply that the festival of polytheism is pleasing to us although Allah states,

This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.[SUP]19[/SUP]

​

Secondly, Allah describes Christians as "those who went astray" in the opening chapter of the Qur'an, thus to celebrate something that is not even sanctioned in their religion is to imply that their straying is of no consequence. Thirdly, to take part in their festivities or to give greetings such as 'merry/happy Christmas' is to encourage and congratulate them in their actions instead of censuring them for their falsehood. This is in opposition to Qur'anic teachings whereby Allah states,

They believe in Allah and the Last Day; they enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and they hasten (in emulation) in (all) good works: They are in the ranks of the righteous.[SUP]20[/SUP]

Help ye one another in righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another in sin and rancour. Fear Allah, for Allah is strict in punishment.[SUP]21[/SUP]
​

Muslims, by the grace of Allah, have been afforded a complete way of life which details that which is best and most beneficial for the entire human race. We have the Qur'an and sunnah, and to cling to them is an aspect of the faith, regardless of the taunts of liberal Muslims and non-Muslims who may call us 'radicals' and 'fundamentalists'. To be fundamental is a part of Islam as A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said 'Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours (Islam) that is not a part of it will have it rejected.'[SUP]22[/SUP]

Christmas remains a stark warning and example to Muslims of what can happen to Islam if we were to accept innovations into our faith. To cling to the Qur'an and sunnah as understood by the salaf is the only way to remain within the sanctified parameters of our deen. Christmas is a phenomenon that should encite the awareness of the Muslim laity to be mindful about those from whom they take their religion and religious knowledge. We thank Allah for preserving our faith and pray that he bestow upon us the ability to stay on the Straight Path.

http://www.islam21c.com/theology/173-christmas-and-the-paganisation-of-christianity



Further information [From: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/index.php?page=articles&id=142147]:

The non Muslims' celebrations such as the second millennium, Christmas Day, etc. are among the falsehoods that a Muslim should avoid. Allaah says (what means): {And those who do not bear witness to falsehood, and if they pass by some evil play or evil talk, they pass by it with dignity.} [Qur'an 25:72]. Many scholars of Qur'an like Ibn Seereen and Mujaahid

interpret "falsehood" as the festivals of the disbelievers.


However, participating in the festivals of non-Muslims is a kind of cooperation in the disobedience of Allaah. Allaah says (what means): {…Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression….} [Qur'an 5:2]. A person came to the Prophet

and said: "I have taken a vow to sacrifice a camel at Buwaanah. The Prophet

asked: “Did the place contain any idol worshipped in pre-Islamic times? They (the people) said: “No”. He asked: “Was any pre-Islamic festival observed there?” They replied: “No”. The Prophet

said: “Fulfil your vow, for a vow to do an act of disobedience to Allaah must not be fulfilled, neither must one do something over which a human being has no control.”


No doubt celebrating such feasts is actually imitating disbelievers. The companion of the Prophet Abdullaah Ibn Amr Ibn al-'Aas

said: "Whoever celebrates the Persian New Year's Day or their carnival and imitates them till his death he will be resurrected with them on the Day of Judgment." The Prophet

said: "Whoever imitates a nation is but one of them." [Abu Daawood]


Many times Allaah has mentioned the details of the birth of 'Eesaa (Jesus)

in the Qur'an but He did not mention any celebration to be done on this occasion. Therefore, a Muslim is neither allowed to celebrate the Christmas Day nor is he allowed to congratulate them. A Muslim celebrates only the Islamic Eed days. Anas

reported: "The Prophet

came to Madeenah while they had two days they celebrated. The Prophet

asked, "What are these two days?" They said, 'These are two days we used to celebrate in our pre Islamic era. The Prophet

said: "Allaah has replaced them with two better days: 'Eed Al-Adh-haa and 'Eed Al- Fitr." [Ahmad and At-Tirmithi]


Moreover, no Muslim is allowed to congratulate non-Muslims on their festival celebrations. Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim

reported the consensus of all scholars that greeting non-Muslims on their religious occasions is forbidden. He

said: “As for congratulating the disbelievers for their rituals, it is forbidden according to the agreement of all scholars- like: congratulating them for their feasts and fast by expressing good wishes: happy feast or enjoy your feast… etc. If the Muslim who says this does not become a disbeliever himself, he, at least, commits a sin as this is the same as congratulating him for his belief in the trinity, which is a greater sin and much more disliked by Almighty Allaah than congratulating him for drinking alcohol or killing a soul or committing fornication or adultery…etc.”


In a word, congratulating non Muslims for their feasts is synonymous of accepting their wrongdoing and disbelief in Allaah. Is there a greater disbelief than attributing a son to Allaah or saying that 'Eesaa (Jesus)

is Allaah or that Allaah is the third of three "gods"? So, any Muslim who congratulates a person for a sin, an innovation or an act of disbelief has exposed himself to the hatred and anger of Almighty Allaah...

Also:

http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/index.php?page=articles&id=155796 - Ruling on celebrating Christmas

 

[M.I.A.]

i watched the vid,

i get what he is saying but there is a point not considered.

we as muslims write of chrisitanity as a lost religion simply because it is altered.

it has become a cultural religion and the same argument has been leveled at islam... and justly so... for the majority.


there are people that will always call themselves christians and jews... and they will always be mentioned as people of the book.. until the book it altered.


so i urge people to understand there will always be belief and sincerity and guidance until a day that the murderers take over.

until there is no heart and no compassion, no recognition of belief, piety or morality.

when the parroting of words and a conformity to ones own clothing is seen as better than a just people.


when it becomes a cultural religion.


it should make you question what exactly the place is?

what islam is?

how it works in the world and how it is spread.


these things are not easily learned in segregated communities.



imo.


i sent christmas cards to school.

...most the kids in the class are asian.


i dunno?


anyway i do go with the murderer analogy, it is almost what life is like.

really.

 

[YusufNoor]

I saw this posted on another forum. What's wrong with celebrating the birth of Jesus (pbuh) as a prophet anyways?

so...just pick a day and celebrate a Prophet?

according to the current Nazi Pope:

The idea that Christ was born on Dec 25 also has no basis in historical fact. "We don't even know which season he was born in. The whole idea of celebrating his birth during the darkest part of the year is probably linked to pagan traditions and the winter solstice."

that's just THE Pope saying it. don't take my word!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/rel...n-years-earlier-than-thought-claims-Pope.html

 

[M.I.A.]

so...just pick a day and celebrate a Prophet?

according to the current Nazi Pope:



that's just THE Pope saying it. don't take my word!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/rel...n-years-earlier-than-thought-claims-Pope.html

yes well the irony of wiping someone from the pages of history does not allude me.

make sure it does not happen again lol.


...but we dont celebrate birthdays.

 

[MartyrX]

Nothing in the Al-Fatiha says that Christians have gone astray. It does say those who have gone astray, but it doesn't say Christians. Who we are told to respect as People of the Book in the Quran.

I realize and understand that their are some pagan influences to Christmas. However are you celebrating those Pagan traditions? Are you worshiping Jesus (pbuh) as the son of Allah? What if you're spending time with your family? Not everyone was raised in a Muslim family. Also if a Christian asked you over for dinner on that day and you accepted as an act of good faith and being a good friend or neighbor, where is the harm in that? Especially if they respect your religion.

You do remember that our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) did fast on Yom Kippur? That's a Jewish holiday isn't it?

 

[QueenofHerts]

Also if a Christian asked you over for dinner on that day and you accepted as an act of good faith and being a good friend or neighbor, where is the harm in that? Especially if they respect your religion.

You do remember that our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) did fast on Yom Kippur? That's a Jewish holiday isn't it?

Im sure former christians can eat with their families. Its these silly muslims from muslim families who think it is ok to go out and get a turkey and christmas tree when Allah has given us our two holidays to celebrate.

 

[QueenofHerts]

You do remember that our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) did fast on Yom Kippur? That's a Jewish holiday isn't it?

he didnt fast FOR yom kippur though, did he? So lets not get it twisted^o)

 

[M.I.A.]

i have no idea, i just fast when the mosque tells me.. literally.

and when my mum tells me.


sometimes the mosque gets it wrong.


also say turkey is the national dish.

like in Jerusalem.

 

[Muhammad]

Nothing in the Al-Fatiha says that Christians have gone astray. It does say those who have gone astray, but it doesn't say Christians. Who we are told to respect as People of the Book in the Quran.

Even if you choose not to accept this interpretation given to the last verse in Surah Al-Fatihah, it does not change the fact. Their very act of celebrating something not sanctioned by their religion is sufficient to show their straying from true teachings. Moreover, one finds many warnings in the Qur'an to the People of the Book, such as:

Say: "O People of the Scripture! Exceed not the limits in your religion beyond the truth, and do not follow the vain desires of people who went astray before and who misled many, and strayed (themselves) from the right path.'' [Al-Ma'idah:77]

​

There are also clear teachings in Islam that Muslims should not imitate their practices. Respecting a people can be done quite easily without participating in their practices and festivals.

I realize and understand that their are some pagan influences to Christmas. However are you celebrating those Pagan traditions? Are you worshiping Jesus (pbuh) as the son of Allah?

Why should we risk coming close to anything that might resemble these actions in the first place?

What if you're spending time with your family? Not everyone was raised in a Muslim family.

Our discussion is general here. If you're referring to difficulties faced by reverts, then that should be dealt with separately.

Also if a Christian asked you over for dinner on that day and you accepted as an act of good faith and being a good friend or neighbor, where is the harm in that? Especially if they respect your religion.

There is no harm in declining the offer and instead going to their house (or calling them to yours) on a different day, out of good faith and neighbourliness. If they truly respect your religion, they will respect this choice of yours and understand it.

You do remember that our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) did fast on Yom Kippur? That's a Jewish holiday isn't it?

The Prophet's (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)'s actions here were indeed noteworthy, as he paid particular attention to being different from the Jews. It has been suggested that the motive for commanding the Muslims to fast on this day was the desire to be different from the Jews, so that the Muslims would fast when the Jews did not, because people do not fast on a day of celebration. Furthermore, it is recommended to fast the day prior to this, and one of the reasons given for that is to be different from the People of the Book.

And Allaah (swt) knows best.

 

[Jalal~]

So how should I respond to these greetings anyway? I don't think the other person is going to expect me to give a 10 minute lecture on why I'm not allowed to reply back or attend these gatherings, but at the same time I don't want to be rude and ignore him. I'm sure there is some hadith where Rasoolullah peace be upon him had a way of dealing with these sticky situations quickly and efficiently.

I know one thing: if there isn't a good solution on how to deal with this, many people will continue to give these greetings anyways, so you guys should go find some answers or this thread will end up useless.

 

[جوري]

So how should I respond to these greetings anyway?

When I am addressed with 'merry whatever' I respond with a nondescript Enjoy your holidays. I must admit that Christmas is the one that annoys me the most followed by Valentine. Two concocted, greed driven holidays that are utterly meaningless and and imposed on man and beast alike for no reason whatsoever. If they want to enjoy the birth of their god, why do they impose on others buying them presents and interrupting all things on TV you can' teven turn it on to watch the news without the brainwash. I don't care so much except you can't avoid any of the kids especially those at an impressionable age all this crap.
I was watching this agent oso with my young niece the other day and I got so p off with the agent's assignment to first get this 'save Israel' those were the first words uttered then followed by Hanukkah, Christmas, kwanzah.. and she was wondering about why no Eid. I just shut that crap off. Brain wash starts from a very young age and basically what are you gonna do about it? Well the least we can do isn't partake in it & perpetuate their delusions.

 

[Pygoscelis]

I listened for a minute or two to this explanation of why muslims shouldn't be involved in christmas, and the guy started talking about "murderers"... I gave up listening.