Shaqra Islamic CenterLadies Section

Ladies Section

Responding to Merry Christmas By

Shaykh Uthaymeen&

Imaam Ibn Al Qayyim

Allaah have mercy upon them

What is the ruling on congratulating the disbelievers on their Christmas celebration?

How do we respond to them if they greet us with it?

Is it permissible to go to the places where they are having celebrations ?

Does the person (Muslim) take a sin if he does the aforementioned without any intent?

Imaam Ibn Al Qayyim, may Allaahhave mercy upon him, he said:

"As for congratulating the disbelievers for their religious

ceremonies that have kufr(disbelief) attached to it, then it

is not permissible

And it is on the same level as

congratulating them for prostrating to the cross. Rather it is a greater sin with

Allaah

And it is a more severe abomination than to congratulate them for drinking alcohol and killing someone, committing illegal

sexual intercourse and things of this nature.

And many of the people who don’t have any deen(or respect for

the deen) fall into this.

And he doesn’t know the ugliness (evil) of what he has done.

They say: "(Allah) Most Gracious has begotten a son!" indeed you have brought(said)terrible

evil thing.Whereby the heavens are almost torn, and the earth is split asunder,and the mountains fall in

ruins.That they ascribe a son to the most Gracious

(Allah). But it is not suitable for the (Majesty of)the Most Gracious(Allah) that He should

beget a son.There is none in the heavens and the earth but

comes to the Most Gracious(Allah) as slave.

So whoever congratulates a person for committing sins, or innovations, or

disbelief, then he has exposed himself to the hate, wrath (anger) of Allaah.

Allaah the Exalted says “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.” (AzZumar 39:7)

Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Tayeeyah, may Allaah

have mercy upon him, said in his book, "Follow the straight path and oppose the path

to the fire"that

“Imitating them in some of their celebration causes happiness in their hearts for what they

are upon from falsehood.And it is possible that this might encourage

them to take advantage of this opportunity to humiliate the weak minded”.

And whoever does anything from this is a sinner.

And it is the same whether he did itbeing courteous,

seeking friendship, or due to shyness

or any other reason because this is from being deceitful in the

deen of Allaah. it makes the non-Muslims feel proud of their religion

O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies.

They are [in fact] allies of one another.

And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is [one]

of them.Indeed, Allaah guides not the

wrongdoing people.[Quran 5:51]

Surah al Fathehadaily ..... 17 times

in a month ......510 timesin a year........6188 time

we say...Guide us to the straight way.

The way of those on whom you have bestowed Your Grace,

not of those who earned Your anger (jews),

nor of those who went astray.(christians)

Anas Ibn Maalik said: "The Messenger of Allaah, came (to Madeenah) and they

(inhabitants of Madeenah) had two days in which they would (relax and) play.

He said: "What are these two days?" They said, "We used to play (on these two days)

during the Jaahiliyyah (pre-Islamic period)."

The Messenger of Allaah, said: "Allaah has given you something better instead of

them: Yawm Al-Adh-ha ('Eed Al-Adh-ha) and Yawm Al-Fitr ('Eed Al-Fitr)." [Abu Daawood]

The Hadeeth (Prophetic narration): "Every people has its festival, and this is our

festival" [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]

every people has its own festival,

if the Jews have a festival and the Christians have a festival, it is just for

them, and we should not have any part in it.

The Prophet, , always differed from the People of the Book,

in performing

acts of worshipappearances

morals customs

and in various affairs of life.

Fear Allaah and thank Him for having guided you to Islam.

you the best nation that was ever sent to mankind.

Be proud of your religion.

I ask Allah to guide all of us to

the straight path.

(Ameen)

Asma Basheer