The Cross festivals

In the name of Allah the most Gracious the most Merciful

All praise is due to Allah, the One the Self-Sufficient Master Who does not beget nor was He begotten. And Prayers of Allah be upon His prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.

Among the gravest sins, which are committed by the followers of Islam, is to celebrate the holidays of the infidels and the worshippers of the cross. Indeed it is an evil act against the fundamentals of the religion and the testimony of 'There is no God except Allah'. When I saw this evil act spread gradually, I decided to write this article as fulfillment to the obligation of advice and enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, as teaching to who does not know, as a reminder to who forgot and as setting this issue right before its intensiveness.

Christmas is a religious holiday for the worshippers of the cross:

The first thing that should be acknowledged is that these holidays are religious holidays invented by the Christians; they celebrate these days because they think that Jesus was born in them. Actually, the holiday's appearances and traditions manifest this, because they are based upon their nullified creeds. The Muslim is requested, according to the laws of the Shari'ah, to abstain from sharing their holiday, because they think that Allah Almighty begot the Christ in this day. To us, it is the holiday of inventing lies against Allah and wronging Him. Therefore, how could a Muslim, consider His Lord too exalted and declares His oneness, feel joy in a day in which Allah Almighty is accused and a son and wife are ascribed to Him?! Allah Almighty said in the Qudsi Hadeeth: "Son of Adam had invented a lie against me with no reason for him to do so and insulted me with no reason for him to do so. As for his inventing lie against me; he said: 'He will not return me as He initiated me', indeed recreating to Me is easier than initiating (a creature). As for his cursing Me; he said: 'Allah has begotten a son', indeed I am the One the Self-Sufficient and I did not beget nor was I begotten and there is none co-equal or comparable unto Me" (Reported by Al-Bukhari).

If we supposed that it is a national holiday has nothing to do with the birth of the Christ in their creed, we would not be allowed to celebrate it, because we are ordered to be dissimilar to them. The Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "O Abu Bakr, there is a holiday for each nation, and this is ours" (Agreed upon).

Actually, holidays are one of the most prominent things that distinguish the nations and make them feel honored.

Evidences of the prohibition of celebrating the holidays of the infidels:

1- Their holydays are null and void:

Allah almighty said: {And those who do not bear witness to falsehood, and if they pass by some evil play or evil talk, they pass by it with dignity} [Surat Al-Furqan: 72].

Transliteration: Waallatheena la yashhadoona alzzoora waitha marroo biallaghwi marroo kiraman

Ibn Abbas, Sa'eed Ibn Jubair, Ad-Dahaak, Mujahid and Ibn Siriin said: "Falsehood is the holidays of the polytheists, and this is not contrary to the saying of who said that falsehood is singing, because the holidays of the infidels are falsehood and singing is falsehood and because the holidays of the infidels surly include singing."

2- The Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) nullified the holidays of the pre-Islamic period:

The Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) found the people of Al-Medina celebrating some holidays; so, he nullified them and substituted them with the first Eid and the second Eid. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "when the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) came to Al-Medina while they had two festivals from the days of the pre-Islamic period; so he said: "Allah Almighty substituted them to you with better days; the first Eid (Fitr) and second Eid (Al-Addha)" [Reported by Abu Dawud and declared authentic by Al-Albani].

Indeed the holidays of the Christians are more dangerous than the holidays of extinct pagan religion.

3- The Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) cared for abstaining from the holidays of the infidels:

It is narrated that a man took a vow to slaughter a camel at Buwanah. So he came to the Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) and said: I have taken a vow to sacrifice a camel at Buwanah. The Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) asked: "Did the place contain any idol worshipped in pre-Islamic times?" He (the man) said: No. Then the Prophet asked: "Was any pre-Islamic festival observed there?" The man replied: No. Whereupon, the Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "Fulfill your vow" [Reported by Abu Dawud].

Actually, there is no difference between abstaining from them in regard to time or place.

4- The prohibition of taking the infidels as Awliya` (i.e. friends, protectors, helpers):

Allah almighty said: {O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as Auliyâ' (friends, protectors, helpers), they are but Auliyâ' of each other. And if any amongst you takes them (as Auliyâ'), then surely he is one of them} [Surat Al-Maidah: 51].

Transliteration: Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo latattakhithoo alyahooda waalnnasaraawliyaa baAAduhum awliyao baAAdin waman yatawallahum minkum fainnahu minhum

The ruling of this is either prohibition or infidelity. Indeed celebrating their holidays is one of the greatest forms of taking them as Awliya'; whoever shares them their holiday, because of loving their religion, being satisfied with it or desiring manifesting their rituals, is infidel and apostate. On the other hand, whoever shares them their holiday as a kind of imitation or courtesy is indulged in a grave prohibited act and opened to himself a gate of grave evil, because tolerating such prohibited acts may lead to falling in the acts of taking them Awliya` which turn the Muslim to be infidel.

5- Enjoining being dissimilar to them in general:

The Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever imitates (a group of) people, is (considered) one of them" [Reported by Abu Dawud].

This means imitating them in something of their distinguished characteristics. Abdullah Ibn Amr Ibn Al-'Aas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Whoever built a house in the countries of the polytheist people and celebrated their holidays and festivals till his death would be resurrected with them on the Day of Judgment" [Ibn Al-Qayim, with authentic chain of transmission].

The prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) enjoined being dissimilar to them in the appearances; so, imagine how it is with the acts of creed! He enjoined clipping the moustaches and letting the beards grow. Also, he said that "the Jews and Christians do not dye their hair; so, you should be dissimilar to them." [Agreed upon]

6- Scholars consensus:

Ibn Al-Qayim (may Allah mercy him) said in Ahkam Ahl Az-Zimah (1245/3): "As they are not allowed to manifest their holidays, it is not allowed for Muslims to have partiality with them, support them or share them. This is agreed upon by the scholars and is declared by the jurists of the four juristic schools in their books." This opinion is quoted by Ibn Taymiah in Iqtida' As-Sirat Al-Mustaqim (215), and he mentioned opinions include the judgment of Omar concerning the non-Muslims who enjoy Muslims' protection: "They should not declare their festivals and rituals; otherwise there is no protection for them." (And this is quoted by Ibn Al-Hajj Al-Maliki in Al-Madkhal).

Kinds of the Prohibited participation:

1- Going to the places of celebration:

Omar Ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Do not enter the places of the Christians on their holiday because wrath and discontent descend upon them."

Ibn Al-Habib Al-Maliki said: "Ibn Al-Qasim was asked about riding the ships that the Christians ride to go to their holidays; and he hated it lest wrath descends upon them because of the polytheism that they agreed upon."

Actually; watching the programs (e.g. movies, parties, sessions, competitions) which are prepared for this occasion has the same ruling.

2- Congratulating the infidels in their holidays:

Ibn Al-Qayim said in Ahkam Ahl Az-Zimah (441/1): "As for presenting congratulations for the rituals of disbelief; it is unanimously prohibited. This is like congratulating them for their holidays and fasting by saying: 'Happy holiday' or 'Be pleased with this' or any other phrase. If the one who says such phrases escaped from infidelity, he would have committed an evil act. It is like congratulating the polytheist for prostrating himself for the cross; rather it is more detested and graver, in the eyes of Allah, than congratulating them for drinking wine, killing innocent self, committing illegal sexual intercourse and such acts. Actually, many of those who have nonchalance toward religion commit this and do not feel the gravity of their doing. Indeed whoever congratulates a servant for committing a sin, new creation in the religion or act of infidelity has made himself subject to the wrath and discontent of Allah." This is about whoever congratulates the Christians for their holidays and the same is applied to congratulating the Muslim for the holidays of the Christians, because he is participant in the evil. Also, this is applied to saying 'Happy New Year' and exchanging the congratulations.

3- Exchanging the gifts:

Ibn Habib said: "Ibn Al-Qasim hated presenting a gift to the Christian in his holiday as reward for him, and he counted it as glorifying to his holiday and supporting to his infidelity." Furthermore, it is mentioned in the books of the Hanafi scholars that whoever presents to them, in their holiday, a watermelon as glorification to their holiday is infidel. Ibn Hajar said in Al-Fath: "Sheikh Abu Hafs Al-Kabir An-Nasafi, the Hanafi scholar, exaggerated the issue and said that whoever presents an egg, in this day, for a polytheist as glorification to the day is infidel disbelieved in Allah Almighty." Ibn Taymiah said in Iqtida' As-Sirat Al-Mustaqim (245): "No gift should be presented to a Muslim in these holidays on the account of the holiday, especially if it was something facilitates resembling them."

4- Buying new clothes for the Children:

Buying new clothes for the Children has the same above mentioned ruling, because it is a sign of joy in this day and one of the holidays' characteristics. Ibn Taymiah said (329/25): "Muslims are not permitted to imitate them in anything relating to their holidays; whether it is food, clothes, having wash, setting fire, stopping one of the acts of life (e.g. making it a vacation day), specifying worship in it or any other thing. Also, it is not lawful to make banquet, present gift, sell something facilitates the celebration, give the children opportunity to play the games of the holidays or have decorations."

5- Making candies and selling them:

Making the candies and what is prepared especially for the New Year's festivals is prohibited in the Islamic Shari'ah, because it is a kind of helping one another in sin; rather it is helping one another in plain polytheism. Allah Almighty said: {Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwâ (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Severe in punishment} [Surat Al-Maidah: 2].

Transliteration: wataAAawanoo AAalaalbirri waalttaqwa wala taAAawanoo AAala alithmi waalAAudwani

Also, the Muslim should not accept any gift or food had been prepared for such occasions. Sheikh Ibn 'Uthaymin said in Fatawi Al-Aqida (247): "Also, it is prohibited for Muslims to imitate the infidels by having parties for this occasion, exchanging the gifts, distributing candies and food, stopping work and such acts, because the Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever imitates (a group of) people, is (considered) one of them" [Reported by Abu Dawud].

Hence, you should abstain from accepting or eating any food prepared for this occasion."

6- Selling the instruments and renting the auditoriums:

Ibn Habib said: "Muslims are not allowed to sell to the Christians something relates to their holiday (i.e. meat, food, clothes) or lend them riding animal or help them in anything relates to the holiday, because this implies glorifying their polytheism and supporting their infidelity. Furthermore, the rulers should prevent the Muslims from this. This is the saying of Malik and others and I know no one who said something against it."

Ibn Taymiah said: "Also, the Muslim should not sell what facilitates for Muslims imitating them in the holiday (i.e. food, clothes, etc,) because this is help for doing evil acts."

7- Resembling Santa Claus:

Among the gravest appearances of disbelief is to resemble Santa Claus in his clothes and white beard for taking pictures or acting and pleasing the children. Every photographer does this, every father presents to his children candies and gifts claiming that they are brought by Santa Claus, and every person fixes his picture should know that he is caller to infidelity and Christianity."

Epilogue:

O Muslim, you say: {Guide us to the Straight Way. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace , not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (i.e. those who knew the Truth, but did not follow it) nor of those who went astray (i.e. those who did not follow the Truth out of ignorance and error)} [Surat Al-Fatiha: 6-7],

Transliteration: Ihdina alssirata almustaqeema (6)Sirata allatheena anAAamta AAalayhim ghayri almaghdoobi AAalayhim wala alddalleena

And you know that who earned Allah's anger are the Jews and who went astray are the Christians; therefore, you stay away from their way. Indeed their holiday is part of their way.

O Muslim, you know that Islam is to surrender to Allah by declaring monotheism and subject yourself to Him by obedience and declaring freedom from polytheism and its people. Therefore, you should declare freedom from all obligations toward the Christians and their religious and secular holidays.

Do you feel pleasure for sharing the Christians their joys while they engage holy wars (according to their creed) against you and your brothers; they are afflicting them with the worst torment, killing their sons and violating the chastity of their women?

O Muslim, if you want honor, you should go in its way. Actually, following the infidels and imitating them is one of the reasons of humiliation and ignominy.

You should know that honor lies in adhering to the religion and renouncing the enemies; Allah Almighty said: {Those who take disbelievers for Auliyâ' (protectors or helpers or friends) instead of believers, do they seek honour, power and glory with them? Verily, then to Allâh belongs all honour, power and glory} [Surat An-Nisa: 139).

Transliteration: Allatheena yattakhithoona alkafireena awliyaa min dooni almumineena ayabtaghoona AAindahumu alAAizzata fainna alAAizzata lillahi jameeAAan

Glorified You Allah, and praise is due to You. I bear witness that there is no God except You, I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You.


Muhammad Hajj Eisa Al-Jazaeri