Non-Muslim Celebrations

Maryah wrote: Asalaamu alaikum: And here is the ruling of one Scholar or Shayk that I found at Islam online, please note the Quranic verse it includes, It is the command of Allah Sunbanallah wa taa'la: This is what I mean for every fatwa there is a counter Fatwa: found at http://www.islamonline.com/news/newsfull.php?newid=73425 No wrong to wish merry xmas: Qaradawi 30/12/2007 11:12:00 PM GMT   Comments (0)     Add a comment  Qaradawi said the Noble Qur'an encourages Muslims to greet Christian and Jewish minorities in their countries quite affably. CAIRO � Muslims are expected to be friendly towards Christian and Jewish minorities in their countries, reciprocating any goodwill and festival greetings, and treating them on equal terms as citizens, prominent scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi has said. "Greeting Christians and Jews in their festive days is permissible if they are at good terms with Muslims, particularly those close like relatives, neighbors, work or education colleagues," Qaradawi, the president of the International Union for Muslim Scholars (IUMS), wrote in an article published on his website. Qaradawi said the Noble Qur'an encourages Muslims to greet others quite affably. "Allah Almighty says: "When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or at least return it equally�) (An-Nisa� 4: 86) "And: "Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity," (Al-Mumtahinah 60: 8), Qaradawi added. Christians worldwide are celebrating nowadays Christmas or the birth of Jesus Christ. In a goodwill gesture, 138 Muslim scholars signed last week a Christmas message to the Christian clergy worldwide, including Pope Benedict XVI. Citizens The renowned Muslim scholar has also urged Muslims to refer to Christians in Muslim countries as "citizens" in lieu of "Ahl Adh-Dhimmah" � a term used in early Islam to describe Christians and Jews living under the protection of the Islamic state. He said Muslim scholars have reached a consensus that Christians living in Muslim countries should enjoy citizenship rights. "They (Christians) live in this or that (Muslim) country; so why don't we drop Ahl Adh-Dhimmah which offends them and use 'citizens' instead? Qaradawi wondered. Qaradawi said Muslims should live in today's world and be realistic. "Many sheikhs and scholars live in their books not in our world," he said. "They have not read yet the book of life as they read the books of early Muslim scholars. Their fatwas then sound out-of-date." Source: IslamOnline 4:86 When a (courteous) greeting is offered you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous, or (at least) of equal courtesy. Allah takes careful account of all things. وَإِذَا حُيِّيْت 15;م بِتَحِيّ 14;ةٍ فَحَيُّو 75;ْ  بِأَحْس� 4;نَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدّ&a mp;# 1615;وهَا إِنَّ  اللّهَ كَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَسِيبًا

Subhan Allah!  If this fatwa is truly from Sheikh Al Qaradawi then I am surprised because it is from someone who clearly has little or no understanding of the Qur'anic ayat presented or who is either following their own nafs or making this fatwa for some other reason besides for the sake of Allah.  Allahu alim.

The main argument in this fatwa is revolving around the ayah from Surat Nisa number 86 and he is twisting it for his own purpose.  This ayah is talking about the greeting "As Salamu Alaikum". It is st**id and ignorant and a trick of shaitan to think otherwise.


�

As Salamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah,

I will remind everyone of the fatwa I posted.  If you accept it, then your wrong and should change your mind.  If you reject it, then you should reconsider as the fatwa presents proof and you haven't.  Fear Allah.

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If they greet us on the occasion of their festivals, we should not respond, because these are not our festivals, and because they are not festivals which are acceptable to Allaah. These festivals are innovations in their religions, and even those which may have been prescribed formerly have been abrogated by the religion of Islaam, with which Allaah sent Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to the whole of mankind. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Whoever seeks a religion other than Islaam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers." [Aal �Imraan 3:85]..........


Whoever does anything of this sort is a sinner, whether he does it out of politeness or to be friendly, or because he is too shy to refuse, or for whatever other reason, because this is hypocrisy in Islaam, and because it makes the kuffaar feel proud of their religion.

http://islamqa.com/index.php?ln=eng&ref=947

Allow me to address Sign Reader because unfortunately his remarks were off the wall in the following:

Waalaukussalaam: Don�t worry about being late on the post cuz it has so far been viewed by app 500 people and if hazard that they were all Muslims then makes them  about 0.00003% of the Muslims in the whole world, will take a long time to warn all who are living in the non Islamic world and those who stuck in the neo colonialism. So get the this heavy weight off your shoulders and relax!

What the hell does the above mean? It is incoherent and I'm not sure what .03% of Muslims are you referring to.

It is no secret brother what you are calling KUFAR have enslaved Islamic lands directly or indirectly. If you live in some African country, mostly were part European colonies, imagine the degradation the people have gone through!

Ok again what are you talking about here? You need to address the topic in a comprehensible format.

I could go on and on and although you mentioned some things I understood I get this impression you are still on this political roll here about the United States and western colonialism.

Let me respond to this fatwa that knowledge 01 posted:

If they greet us on the occasion of their festivals, we should not respond, because these are not our festivals, and because they are not festivals which are acceptable to Allaah. These festivals are innovations in their religions, and even those which may have been prescribed formerly have been abrogated by the religion of Islaam, with which Allaah sent Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to the whole of mankind. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Whoever seeks a religion other than Islaam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers." [Aal �Imraan 3:85]..........

First knowledge let me ask what the scholars mean by invented. Both Christmas and Hannukah are based on actual historical events that happenend. Both holidays are a celebration and both enjoin goodwill. Where in the Qur'an does Allah specifically say he does not personally accept Hannukah, Kwanzaa, The New Year celebrations (2008), Christmas? You are failing to support your argument with continuous dodging. If I'm to accept some Sheikh's words he need to clarify specific things and address them accordingly. Since quite obviously Muslim scholars are neither Jewish or Christian, it is important to point out in their festivals what is wrong in greeting them with courtesy?

Knowledge you mentioned that they abrogated their faith. That is fine to believe that as I believe that Christianity and Judaism has changed over time. However, I also believe the people of Islam too has changed over time and we are today, unlike the Muslims of old. Like Jews and Christians Muslims too have different interpretations of the same doctrine. This is common of all humans especially because our perceptions of things vary. Scholars who issue these fatwas are obviously stuck on their own views of the world. They have not taken into consideration the Muslims in dominant Judeo-Christian countries where Christmas is highly comemrcialized (and Judaism is slowing following behind). So at our workplaces where Christmas is highlighted and the many "merry" co-workers we work with when greeted we should just remained quiet and ignore them?

Even with the whole thing of shaking hands has these Sheikhs so-called learned men know that it is rude culturally speaking to not shake hands especially in business transactions? Anyway according to knowledge's post I'm a hypocrite and sinner. I guess the literalist Muslims among us are quite convincing.

Laylee, i respect your beliefs and that is your choice but I cannot help but feel you are wrapping yourself up in cotton wool, I'm sure you feel some kind of aniexty, just look now at mothers' day you say you won't celebrate it anymore?? I can see you now on the day making a concious effort in not doing anything for your mum for fear of doing something wrong in the eye of Allah because it now has somekind of religious context to it.
Angel, do mother's require a day to be greeted? Are they to wait for there children to greet?  We shall insha-Allah start up a thread - mother's day. We discussed it last months too . Islam has given first three positions all to a mother. We do have respect and love for our parents infact everyday. Anyways, insha-Allah , we shall start that thread today itself.

Imp 87 says

People dwell on Christmas and are right in many ways, like I said I also agree we should try to stay away from it, but what about the others, how do you, I, we or these people in question explain or what excuse do we have for the 100s of other things which could be classed as imitating others or the two I specifically asked, Saturday and Sunday holidays.

Thankyou brother for been soft in your approach at your post. Frankly speaking i don't know if every sunday and saturday get into this section of imitation. There are specific days in a year which fall on a Friday, Sunday or sat. But insha-Allah, i shall go deep into this subject as how are we to give an explanation over imitation. JazakAllahu Khair. 

There are many subjects cropping up from these discussions, which i fear may deviate the topic we are discussing on, so i feel to start threads elsewhere.

Subjects like, relationship with non-muslims, mothers day, and yours, {imitation }. Let me again remind that we are n't hating these non-muslims. Yes, there is a point at alevel where we are to argue or be harsh to them, but not at all times. Anyways, we shall discuss it as it may increase our knowledge over this subject so as to implement it. 

Edited by seekshidayath