Do Muslims celebrate Christmas: Its time of Christmas again. Christmas looks like a national festival these days especially because every one is in jolly mood due to holidays and it is the end of the year. When someone asks me Do you celebrate Christmas? I said “NO”. They say “We thought it is something every one celebrate. How do we answer such innocent claims of our friends and how do we explain our kids that Muslims do not celebrate Christmas although we Muslims Love Jesus(Isa AS)? Let us read what Scholars reply to the question- Do Muslims celebrate Christmas?
Wishing Merry Christmas as a Muslim
As Muslims we are sensitive to our Aqaaid (beliefs) and Tauheed (Oneness of Allah) and abstain from whatever would contaminate our Imaan.
Do Muslims have a day like Christmas?
Muslims have Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Adha.
How to Wish Christians in their festivals
We are Muslims. We believe in Tawheed, the Oneness of Allah. Islam is our religion and Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam is our prophet.
As Muslims, we preserve our Islamic values and do not compromise in that. Christmas in particular is about the perceived birth of Isa (Jesus) Alaihis Salam, and in general about Christian beliefs and ideologies which is based on Kufr.
Allah says
لَقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلَاثَةٍ وَمَا مِنْ إِلَهٍ إِلَّا إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ
Translation: Certainly they are unbelievers who say: “Allah is one of three in a Trinity.” There is no god except One Allah.
It is clear that from the above that we are at clear variance from Christian believes and ideologies. Whilst we tolerate practices of diverse religions, it is prohibited to show reverence to believes and practices of Kufr. Thus scholars say it is not permissible to wish merry Christmas as that is an expression of reverence and joining them in the joy of Christmas.
You may consider wishing him a good holiday, etc. without reference to anything of Christianity.
Do Muslims celebrate Christmas
Participating in Firework and Christmas decoration as a Muslim
Fireworks are considered makrūh due to wastage of money and also due to the possibility of harming or damaging people or property. Consider the following ‘ayat:
إِنَّ الْمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوا إِخْوَانَ الشَّيَاطِينِ ۖ وَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ لِرَبِّهِ كَفُورًا (الاسراء:27)
Translation: Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful
Therefore, one should refrain from bursting fireworks.
Going to Church on Christmas as a Muslim
Shariah has adopted a strict and uncompromising position on imitating the way of the disbelievers.
According to the Shariah, if one respects anything of kufr, he risks losing his Imaan. The very concept of Christmas is against the basic beliefs of Imaan. A concert is an expression of respect and reverence. It is completely Haram to attend a Christmas concert irrespective of the priest or other staff of the church not being there. If one attends such a function, he could lose his Imaan.(fatwa Mufti ibrahim Desai)
البحر الرائق شرح كنز الدقائق ومنحة الخالق وتكملة الطوري (8/ 232)
قال محمد – رحمه الله تعالى -: يكره الأكل والشرب في أواني المشركين قبل الغسل ومع هذا لو أكل أو شرب فيها جاز إذا لم يعلم بنجاسة الأواني وإذا علم حرم ذلك عليه قبل الغسل، والصلاة في ثيابهم على هذا التفصيل ولا بأس بطعام اليهود والنصارى من أهل الحرب ولا فرق بين أن يكونوا من بني إسرائيل أو من نصارى العرب ولا بأس بطعام المجوس كلها إلا الذبيحة وفي التتمة يكره للمسلم دخول البيعة والكنيسة؛ لأنها مجمع الشياطين
