Non-Muslim Celebrations

I feel this is a good topic because it's important for teaching us the proper method for acting towards non-muslim holidays. Because I will admit I do not know everything about Islam and still have quite a bit to learn ( like many of us do-gaining Knowledge in Islam is a life long progress), it is fundemental for us to learn what is and isn't haraam. In my opinion I think it is obvious that we should not particpate in holidays that belong to other faiths. But the matter of greeting and praising a holiday is a bit more challenging to determine.

I will never greet a non-muslim with a 'merry christmas', etc, or greet one back with such a phrase. Becuase in my heart I do not wish for them a merry Christmas. I do want for my fellow associates to follow Christianity so in all honestly I do not praise them any happiness in their holidays. Or any jewish holidays, budda holidays, etc. Yes, I respect their decision to follow the faith they chose to, but I do not wish them any happiness in their holidays and activites which only support there wrongful ways.

Now, if I am greeted with a universial 'happy holidays' I will also greet back with a 'happy holiday'. Because it is a universial comment that does not display any form of religion.

I have notice that some non-muslim are simply ignorant and sometimes mean no harm. While I do not understand if I'm wearing hijab I will still be greeted with a 'merry Christmas' blows my mind, but I am a kind individual and the best way to approach such a situation is to finish conducting buisness with the individual, have a small smile and walk away, their is no need to be disrespectful.

Now in my opinion the matter of non-religious holidays in my opinion is a matter of choice when determining if we as Muslims should particpate in them. Nothing that I know of in the Quran or as a hadith points out that it is haraam.

For example I heard talks of mothers day be spoken of in previously points.

What could be haraam about celebrating mothers day?!

No, the prophet Mohammed(pbuh) did not celebrated mothers day (or fathers day). But these holidays were not invented during his times.

Yes, we as mothers and fathers should be praised for our duties 365 days a year, but is their ANY WRONG for taking a particular day and making it special?

Yes, thanksgiving should be given 365 days a year, but if a non-muslim family member would like to get the family together as a reunion and to share common food together( Yes, I will stay away from pork), am I wrong for attending dinner with my family?

martha wrote: Minuteman, I dont believe you are wrong to want to help everyone. I'm exactly the same. I have never struggled so much with religion until I became a muslim. It is very hard. Yet I know God is still the same God to me as before. So I keep going.

 Martha, Greetings, Assalam u Alaikum,

 By accepting Islam, you have lost nothing. If you were a christian before (as i believe to be so), you have still got hazrat Isa (Jesu a.s.) with you with more real respect (love) than before. Similarly, you have got all the love of God with you and the love of all the men of God (Prophets).  You have lost nothing.

 You have to look after and love your son more than before. In Islam, the relations of the womb (Rehmi Rishtay) remain intact. If any one breaks those relations of the womb, i.e. brotherly or sisterly or maternal / paternal relations then the God ( Allah) who is Rehman, He does accept their prayers.

And pray constantly for the happiness, success and guidance of your son as much as you can. Whatever his religion, you only are his mother. If he feels hurt then do not discuss religion with him. But love him all the time and let him feel your love.

 I hope and pray that you remain satisfied with your new faith and have a good happy life. Ameen.

And pray constantly for the happiness, success and guidance of your son as much as you can. Whatever his religion, you only are his mother. If he feels hurt then do not discuss religion with him. But love him all the time and let him feel your love.

 I hope and pray that you remain satisfied with your new faith and have a good happy life. Ameen.

Celebrataing Non Muslim Holiday

Is it permissible for Muslims to celebrate or participate in holidays such as Halloween, Brithdays, and Christmas functions?

Innal hamda lillaahu Ta'alaa. Wa Salaatu wa Salaamu 'alaa Rasuulullaahi, wa 'alaa ahlihi, wa ashaabihi, wa 'alaa man tabi'uhum bi ihsanin ilaa Yawmid Deen wa Sallamu tasleeman khatheeran. Amma ba'du.

The Prophet {Sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam} made it very clear that in Islaam there are two festivals or holidays.  These are the 'Eid fesrivals.  The celebrations and holidays of the people are from among the actions that most distinguish one people from another. {In a Hadith is Sunan Abu Dawuud}

The Messenger of Allaah {Sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam} said, "Whoever imitates (or resimbles) a people is one of them."

Therefore, it is not allowed for Muslims to participate in the holidays or celebrations of the non-Muslims.  Shaykhul Ialaam ibn Taymiyyah {Rahimahullaahu Ta'alaa} wrote in itiqadha al Sirat al Mustaqeem (vol.1,p.470).,

"There are a number of points that must be considered when discussing (the non-Muslims) festivals and hoildays.  First, festivals and holidays are from the wide range of laws, ways, and rites that Allah {Subhaanuhu wa ta'alaa} describes in the verse, 'For every nation We have established rites that they follow,' such as facing the Qiblah, prayer and fasting.  Here is no difference between joining them in their festivals and joining them in their other rites.  Agreeing to their hoilday is agreeing to infidelity (kufr), and agreeing to some minor aspects (of their religion) is like agreeing to a branch of infidelity.  In fact, the holidays and festivals are one of the major items that distinguishes their customs and laws, and are one of the most odvious of their rites.  Agreeing to it is agreeing to one of the most specific of the acts of infidelity and one of the most blaten of their rituals.  There is no doubt that agreeing to or being in accord with something of that nature can only lead to apostasy, in general, given its conditions."

Indeed, beyond that, the scholars have even said that it is not allowed for a Muslims to congratulate the non-Muslims on the holidays or festivals.  Ibn Qayyim in Ahkam Ahlul Dhimma (vol, !, p. 205) writes.

"Giving congragulations on the special events that are specific to the desbelievers, such as congratulating them on their holidays by saying, 'Blessed holiday for you.' or other similar greetings, is considered forbidden by the agreement of the scholars.  Even if the one who starts it is free from many aspect of apostasy, it is still forbidden and it is the same as congratulating them upon their prostrations to the crucifix.  In fact, that is one of the greates sins in Allaah's {Subhaanuhu wa Ta'alaa} sight.  That is a greater sin than congratulating them for drinking wine, having illegal sexual intercourse and so on.  Many of them who are not very religious do such things and they do not know how evil what they are doing really is.  Whoever congratulates another human for any sin, heresy, or act of apostasy has exposed himself to the punishment and Anger of Allah {Subhaanuhu wa Ta'alaa}.  The pious people from the earler scholars would avoid congratlation the oppressors when they received positions of authority or the ignorant when they were given judicial or teaching positions in order to avoid the punishment of Allaah {Subhaanuhu wa Ta'alaa} and falling from His Grace.  If a person would be compelled to go to such people to repel any evil that he expected from him, only to speak well to him and to ask Allaah {Subhaamuhu wa Ta'alaa} to guide him, there is nothing wrong with that."

Ibn al Qayyim has included a benificial section mentioning the opinions of the scholars concerning this matter (ahkam ahlu Dhimma, vol.2,p. 722).  it shall be reproduced here with some abridgment:

"In the same way that is not allowed for them to publicly (celebrate their holidays), it is not allowed for the Muslims to assist them for according to the agreement of the People of Knowledge.  In fact, the jurists who follow the four legal schools have made this clear in their books."

Abu al Qasim al Tabari wrote 

"It is not allowed for Muslims to attend their (the desbelievers') holidays and festivals because they are a type of evil false-hood.  If the people of good mix with the people of evil without putting an end to what they are doing then they become like those who are pleased and influenced by the evil.   And fear falling into Allaah's {Subhaanuhu wa Ta'alaa} anger because of their gathering."

Then he stated relying on Abu Hatim's narration, that Amir ibn Murra said about the verse,  "Those who do not witness falsehood,"

"that they do not assist the people of idolatry in their idolatry nor do they associate with them."

Subhaanakallaahumma wa bi hamdika. Ashhadu an laa Ilaaha illaa Anta. Istaghfiruka wa Atuubu ilayka. Ameen

Also do please go thru this link.

http://www.muslimconverts.com/christmas/christmas_european_s isterD.htm