Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [May Allaah have Mercy on him] answered when he was asked about the ruling on celebrating the festivals of the Kuffaar:
All Praises are for Allaah.
It is not permissible for the Muslims to imitate the Kuffar in the slightest, neither in their festivals, or their food (that are specific to them or their religion), or their clothes, or the type of incense they use (i.e. the ones they use for their acts of worship), or anything that is connected to their lifestyles or acts of worship etc. It is not permissible to imitate them in having gatherings like them or in the way they give gifts, nor is it permissible to aid them in any of this.
It is not permissible to let our children play with the toys that are specific to them and their festivals, nor is it permissible to adorn oneself the way they do on the days of their festivals.
In general terms, it is not permissible to use what they use or imitate them in things that are specific to their festivals; rather the days of their festivals for the Muslims are mere normal days. There is nothing specific about the days of their festivals…
What has been mentioned here, all the scholars (i.e. that include all the different schools of thought) are all agreed upon. Rather, some of the scholars even held the opinion that those who celebrate the festivals of the Kuffaar have committed an act of Kufr (disbelief which may take one outside of al-Islaam). They held this opinion based on the argument that those who celebrate these festivals are in fact honouring the symbols of Kufr (beliefs that are disbelief in al-Islaam).
Some of the scholars held the opinion that those who slaughter an animal on the days of their festivals, is like someone who slaughtered swine.
‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin ‘Aas (May Allaah be Pleased with him) said, “Whoever lives in the lands of the Kuffaar (i.e. happy to live with them) and celebrates their festivals, then they have imitated them, until if they die in that state then they will be raised with them on the Day of Judgement”.
It is narrated in Sunnan Aboo Dawood that a man swore a vow to slaughter a camel in a place called Bawaanah, so he came and asked the Messenger of Allaah (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) if he should fulfil his vow. The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) asked if there were idols there being worshipped in times of Jaahilliyyah (i.e. the days of pre-Islaamic ignorance). The man responded in the negative and then the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) asked if it was a place where their festivals were celebrated. The man responded in the negative once again. So then the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) responded to him by saying, “Then fulfil your vow because your vow doesn’t involve any form of disobedience to Allaah.”
So here the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) didn’t permit this man to do the slaughtering in a place where the festivals of the Kuffaar is celebrated, despite the fact that fulfilling vows in al-Islaam is an obligation. So we understand from this, that if this was a place where the Kuffaar celebrated their festivals it would not be permissible to go there, then how about taking part in celebrating them?
Moreover, the Leader of the Believers, ‘Umar bin al-Khattaab (May Allaah be Pleased with him) placed a condition on the Kuffaar whilst they were living under his leadership that they were not allowed to openly celebrate their festivals. This also came with agreement of the rest of the Companions (May Allaah be Pleased with them all) and the scholars of al-Islaam. They were allowed to celebrate them privately in their quarters. So how about if the Muslims themselves celebrate them openly?
To the extent that ‘Umar bin al-Khattaab (May Allaah be Pleased with him) said, “Do not learn their languages which are foreign to us, do not enter the temples of the Mushriks on the days of their festivals because divine anger is upon them.”[1]
If one goes to their festivals only to spectate, then this is also prohibited, this is because the divine anger is upon them. So if spectating alone is sinful, then how about those who join in with the celebrations on which the Anger of Allaah is upon?
The symbols of their religion being established!?
Many from the Salaf have been reported in saying about the Statement of Allaah, the Most High:
“And those who do not witness falsehood” [al-Furqaan 25:72]
False witness referring to the festivals of the Kuffaar; so if this refers to witnessing alone and without actually doing anything, then how about those who join in their celebrations? What is the case for those who do actions which are specific to them?
It is narrated that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) said in a report that has been collected in the Musnad and the Books of the Sunnan that he said, “Whoever imitates a people then he is from them”. In another narration with a different wording, “Those who imitate other than us are not from us” and this wording is good (Jayyid) in its authenticity.
So if this is the ruling on those who imitate them, even in that is something customarily and not religious (i.e. clothing and the likes), then how about those who imitate them in celebrating their festivals (i.e. all festivals have some religious pretence to them)?
[Majmoo’ al-Fataawaa (25/329) and al-Faataawa al-Kubraa (2/487)]
Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin Baaz [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said on talking about celebrating the festivals of the Kuffaar:
All of these are despicable and all are innovated practices (into the religion). All of them involve imitating the enemies of Allaah. It is not permissible to celebrate them whatsoever. This prohibition is also a means of blocking vices which could lead to even more destructive innovated practices. However, some people, who have been granted great favours in abundance (i.e. given wealth), have gathered a lot of wealth but they don’t know how to spend it. They have not been guided to spend their wealth in ways that is obeying Allaah; such as building and maintaining Masaajid or supporting the poor and needy, rather they end up wasting their wealth on celebrating such festivals and imitating the Kuffaar.
Shaykh Muhammad bin Saaleh al-‘Uthaymeen [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said when asked about celebrating the festivals of the Kuffaar:
Congratulating the Kuffaar on Christmas or any other festivals they may have is Haraam with the agreement of the scholars (i.e. all schools of thought). This is what has been mentioned by Ibn al-Qayyim (May Allaah have Mercy on him) in his book Ahkaam ahl adh-Dhimmah. In which he said:
As for congratulating the Kuffaar when they are celebrating their festivals is Haraam with the agreement of scholars, such as one who joins in their celebrations and fasts when they fast. Those who congratulate them on their festivals by saying ‘happy festival‘ and the likes, then this person is sinful if he hasn’t fallen into Kufr.
Those who congratulate them on their festivals is one the same level of severity of those who prostrate to the cross, rather it is even worse in sin with Allaah. It is even a greater sin that drinking alcohol or murder or committing illegal sexual intercourse.
Most people have no valuation for the religion and as a result, they fall into such mistakes. They don’t even know the severity of their sin. So now we know that celebrating their festivals is a sin or an innovation or it could even be Kufr, all of which makes the person susceptible to the Wrath and Anger of Allaah. End quote.
As he has mentioned, celebrating their festivals is Haraam because it involves agreeing with their false beliefs of Kufr, and showing pleasure for their false beliefs, and if a person is happy with their beliefs then this is Kufr, in and of itself.
However, it is not permitted for the Muslim to be pleased with the symbols of Kufr and he is prohibited from this. This is because Allaah, the Most High, is not Pleased with it, as He, the Most High, says:
“If you disbelieve, then verily, Allah is not in need of you, He likes not disbelief for His slaves” [az-Zumar 39:7]
And,
“This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion”
[al-Maaidah 5:3]
So congratulating them is Haraam, whether it be a disbeliever someone may know or may work with.
If they were to join us in celebrating our festivals or congratulate us on them, then we would not accept this either, because they have nothing to do with our festivals. This is because Allaah, the Most High, is not Pleased with their festivals, either because they are innovated into their religions or it could be that it remains to be legislated practice. However, even if they celebrate a festival which correct according to their texts, then we say that their religion has been abrogated (and Allaah is not Pleased with them following this either). Allaah has Sent Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) with the religion of al-Islaam to all of creation, as He said:
“And whoever desires other than Islaam as religion – never will it be accepted from him, and he, is the Hereafter, will be among the losers.”[aal-‘Imraan 3:85]
From this aspect, the Muslim is not allowed to respond to their festivals by congratulating them, this is because the issue is greater than mere greetings, rather it includes being involved in their practices.
…
May Allaah give Honour to the Muslims and their religion, and Provide them with steadfastness on it, and help them and aid them against their enemies, surely He is Qawee (all-Powerful) ‘Azeez (all-Mighty).
[Majmoo’ al-Faatwaa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (2/44)]
[1] The Messenger of Allaah (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Surely, Allaah has put the truth on his tongue and placed it on his heart (about ’Umar bin al-Khattab al-‘Adawee).“ Ibn ‘Umar (May Allaah be Pleased with him) said, “There was never a new issue that effected the people except that ‘Umar had a say in it and that the Quraan would be revealed confirming the view of ‘Umar.” [Narrated by at-Tirmidhee (3682) and classed as authentic by al-Albaanee]
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