What is the ruling on eating food prepared for a Christian festival? What is the ruling on accepting their invitation to their celebrations of the birth of the Messiah (peace be upon him) [i.e., Christmas celebrations]?
Summary of answer
It is not permissible to eat from the food which the Christians or non-Muslims prepare on Christmas or other festivals. It is also not permissible to accept their invitations to join them in their celebrations.
Answer
Table Of Contents
- Is it permissible to celebrate innovated festivals?
- Can a Muslim eat Christmas food?
- Praise be to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah:
Is it permissible to celebrate innovated festivals?
It is not permissible to celebrate innovated festivals such as the Christmas of the Christians, or Nowruz (Persian New Year) or Mahrajan (Persian festival), or festivals that have been innovated by Muslims such as the Prophet’s birthday in Rabi` Al-Awwal or the Isra’ in Rajab and so on.
Can a Muslim eat Christmas food?
It is not permissible to eat from that food which the Christians or non-Muslims prepare on the occasion of their festivals. It is also not permissible to accept their invitations to join them in their celebrations of those festivals, because this encourages them and is tantamount to approving of their Bid`ah, which gives the wrong idea to ignorant people and makes them think that there is nothing wrong with that.
And Allah knows best.
Source: From Al-Lu’lu’ al-Makeen min Fataawaa Ibn Jibreen, p. 27
Can You Eat Food Made by Non-Muslims for Their Festivals?
Is it permissible for a Muslim to eat the foods that the people of the Book or the disbelievers prepare for their festivals or accept such foods if they are given on the occasion of their festivals?
Summary of answer
It is not permissible for the Muslim to eat foods that the Jews, Christians and disbelievers make for their festivals. It is also not permissible to give them anything on the occasion of their festivals.
Answer
Praise be to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah:
It is not permissible for the Muslim to eat foods that the Jews, Christians and disbelievers make for their festivals. It is not permissible either for a Muslim to accept such things that are given to them on the occasion of their festivals, because that implies honouring them and cooperating with them in manifesting their symbols and propagating their innovations and sharing their happiness on the days of their festivals .
That may also lead to taking their festivals as festivals for us too , or to exchanging invitations to meals or to give gifts on one another’s festivals at the very least.
This is a kind of deviation and innovation in religion. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours that is not part of it, will have it rejected.”
It is also not permissible to give them anything on the occasion of their festivals .
Source: Al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 22/398