Can She Attend Christmas Celebrations In Order To Greet Her Relatives?

Islamic Rulings - Living Shariah Verdicts

Islamic Questions & Answers

She says: I want to become Muslim, but my family gather to celebrate Christmas, and I want to go and greet them. This is not with the intention of celebrating or joining in, but simply to make the most of the opportunity of my relatives getting together. Is this allowed?

We put this question to Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen,who answered as follows:

No, it is not permitted. If Allaah blesses her with Islam, then the first thing she must do is to distance herself from her former religion and its festivals.

And Allaah knows best.

Attending the festivals of the mushrikeen and congratulating them

Is it permissible to attend the celebrations of Christian festivals and congratulate them?

Praise be to Allaah.

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: it is not permissible for the Muslims to attend the festivals of the mushrikeen, according to the consensus of the scholars whose words carry weight. The fuqaha' who follow the four schools of thought have stated this clearly in their books… Al-Bayhaqi narrated with a saheeh isnaad from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab that he said: "Do not enter upon the mushrikeen in their churches on the day of their festival, for divine wrath is descending upon them." And ‘Umar also said: "Avoid the enemies of Allaah on their festivals." Al-Bayhaqi narrated with a jayyid isnaad from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr that he said: "Whoever settles in the land of the non-Arabs and celebrates their new year and festival and imitates them until he dies in that state, will be gathered with them on the Day of Resurrection." (Ahkaam Ahl al-Dhimmah, 1/723-724).

With regard to congratulating them on their festivals, this has already been answered in Question no. 947, which we advise you to refer to.


Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

Is Saying To A Kaafir "I Wish You Well" Or "I Wish You All The Best" On His Festival Regarded As Congratulating Him?

Islamic Rulings - Living Shariah Verdicts

Islamic Questions & Answers

I know that congratulating the Christians and Jews for their feats is haram, as it means approving to their baatil (wrong) beliefs. Is it permissible for me to send to whom I know of them messages contain no congratulation? Like sending " I wish you all good" or "I wish you the best" with an intention of wishing guidance for them?.

Praise be to Allaah.

Congratulating the kuffaar on their festivals is haraam, as you say. Please see question no. 947 and 81977.

It seems that sending a message to those of them who you know, on the day of their festival, saying "I wish you well" or "I wish you all the best" is a kind of congratulations.

But if you send this message on a day other than their festival, with the intention of calling them to Islam and hoping that they will be guided, there is nothing wrong with that.

It was narrated that Abu Moosa said: The Jews used to sneeze in the presence of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), hoping that he would say to them, "Yarhamakum Allaah (may Allaah have mercy on you)." But he would say, "Yahdeekum Allaah wa yuslihu baalakum) (may Allaah guide you and reform you)."

Narrated by Imam Ahmad (19089), Abu Dawood (5038) and al-Tirmidhi (2739); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Irwa' (1277).

It says in ‘Awn al-Ma'bood: i.e., he did not say to them "Yarhamakum Allaah (may Allaah have mercy on you)" because mercy is only for the believers; rather he prayed for them as was appropriate, that they be guided and enabled to believe.

There is nothing wrong with praying for a kaafir to be guided aright, rather it is proven that this is the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

And Allaah knows best.

 

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