I kind of understand what you are g...
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Emo Muslim Youth?
Celebrating a Non-Muslim Holiday?
Have you ever wondered about the issue of celebrating or partaking in Non-Muslim holidays, festivals and celebrations? What is the Islamic ruling regarding this? Is it permissible, is it disliked, is it impermissible? Is there a difference of opinion on this matter? Insha’Allah, in this short article, I hope that all of these (and related) questions will be answered clearly.
1. Greeting the Kuffaar on Christmas and other similar holidays of theirs is Haraam by Ittifaaq (consensus of the `Ulamaa’), as Shaykh-ul-Islaam Ibn al-Qayyim said in Ahkaam Ahl adh-Dhimmah:
Congratulating the Kuffaar on the rituals that belong to them is prohibited by consensus, as is congratulating them on their festivals by saying ‘A happy festival to you’ or ‘May you enjoy your festival,’ and so on…”
2. It is prohibited for a Muslim to accept invitations on such occasions, because this is worse than congratulating them — as it implies taking part in their celebrations.
3. Similarly, Muslims are forbidden to imitate the Kuffaar by having parties on such occasions, or exchanging gifts, or giving out sweets or food, or taking time off work, etc. because the Prophet Muhammad said:
مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَومٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ
“Whoever imitates a people is one of them.”
This hadeeth was authenticated by a great deal of scholars including Abu Dawood, Ibn Hibbaan, Ibn Hajar, Ibn Taymiyyah (with the wording: ليس منا من تشبه بغيرنا “He is not from us, the one who imitates others beside us.”), Az-Zarqaani, Adh-Dhahabi, Al-Haythami, Al-`Iraaqi, As-Sakhaawi, As-San`aani, Muhammad Jaarullaah As-Sa’di, Ahmad Shaakir, Ibn Baaz, Al-Albaani (with an additional wording: ليس منا من تشبه بغيرنا، و لا تشبهوا باليهود و لا بالنصارى And do not imitate the Jews nor the Christians.), Ibn `Uthaymeen, and others.
Ibn Taymiyyah, in his beautiful, classic, and monumental book Iqtidaa’ as-Siraat al-Mustaqeem mukhaalafatu Ashaab’il-Jaheem (In Pursuit of the Straight Path by Contradicting the People of the Hellfire), said:
“Imitating them in some of their festivals implies that one is pleased with their false beliefs and practices, and gives them the hope that they may have the opportunity to mislead the weak.”
Therefore, whoever does anything of this sort is a sinner, even if he does it out of politeness, to be friendly, too shy to refuse, or for whatever other reason, because this is hypocrisy in Islam and it makes the Kuffaar feel proud of their ways and festivals.
Please also take note of the following:
1. Remember the hadeeth of `Aa’ishah in Saheeh al-Bukhari & Muslim, where she narrated that on the Day of Eid , two young girls (Ansaari ) were doing a special performance for her (singing some songs). And then when Abu Bakr came to visit the Prophet, and found these girls with `Aa’ishah – he rebuked them harshly. So the Prophet (who had been facing the wall), said:
يَا أَبَا بَكْر, إنَّ لِكُلِّ قَومٍ عِيدًا, وهَذَا عِيْدُنَا
Abu Bakr, (know that) every nation (every group of people) has its Eid (festival, annual day of celebration). And this is our Eid.”
[The Arabic word] Eid عيد is the name given to something which returns (Ya’ood), and is used to describe gatherings which happen repeatedly; on a yearly, monthly or weekly basis, etc. Therefore, the Prophet clearly stated that the Eid of the People of Islam is the Eid (celebration) after Ramadaan and Eid at the end of the Hajj season. In addition to this, Friday is also considered a Eid for the Muslims, because it is a weekly gathering and is the best day of the week.
2. The Prophet also explicitly expressed his desire to contradict the ways, celebrations, and festivities of the non-Muslims. In this hadeeth that has a jayyid isnaad (good chain of narration) – as stated by Abu Bakr Al-Athram (d. 260 A.H.), Umm Salamah Hind Bint Abi Umayyah said that,
أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يصوم السبت والأحد ، ويقول : هما عيدان للمشركين فأنا أحب أن أخالفهما
The Prophet used to fast on Saturdays and on Sundays, and he would say: “These are Eidaan (two days of Eid) for the Mushrikoon. So I love to oppose them (contradict them, differ from them) in these two.” (For more info on the issue of fasting on Saturdays, see: http://www.islamway.com/?iw_s=Article&iw_a=view&article_id=2325 )
So, for the pagans, Saturday and Sunday was a special holiday for them, a Eid. On these days they would party, celebrate, relax, enjoy, dance, sing. Merry Christmas…:) And in and of itself, there’s nothing wrong with relaxing on Saturday/Sunday… but the mere fact that the Pagans used to do this, was enough reason for our beloved Prophet to differ from their practice & not imitate them and fast on these days (to show his indifference and his disregard for their Eid).
So, JUST TO DIFFER FROM THEM, to show that we’re different, to indicate that he – in no way – is taking part in their Eid… he would fast on Saturdays/Sundays. It is as if to send a clear message: “I’m not partaking in the Eid of non-Muslims. I want to Differ from them. أنا أحب أن أخالفهما I love to differ from their practice (of relaxing, enjoying, partying) on these two days.” So – even though it’s permissible to relax on Saturdays/Sundays – he decided to exert himself and fast on these two days, just for this particular purpose. Therefore, one can just imagine what our Prophet would’ve said, if he were alive today, about Christmas or Thanksgiving!!!
What would he say – upon seeing MUSLIMS (his “followers”) greeting, and warmly congratulating the Kuffaar on their Eids ? :(
What if he saw his Ummah actually having Christamas trees and lights, imitating the Kuffaar and making these Eids of the disbelievers a part of their lives?
FULLY INDULGING, forget contradicting and trying to differ from them, the Muslims are not even shunning their practices, but are rather completely participating in their Traditions! ”Followers” of Muhammad as they claim, but yet we see them [leaving his way of "differing from the disbelievers" and instead] exchanging Christmas cards and presents with the Kuffaar and making Thanksgiving turkeys… On top of all of this, they are even allowing their children to go and partake with the Kuffaar in trick-or-treating and Halloween related events.
مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَومٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ
“Whoever imitates a people is one of them.”
So the above Prophetic Words do not apply, as some ignorant people misunderstand, to normal common things, like wearing a T-shirt, or tie, or sneakers, or driving a BMW or Mercedes-Benz SLR… no! It refers to things that are specific for Non-Muslims and are well-known to be widely practiced by Kuffaar. For ‘Eids’ like Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, there is no doubt whatsoever that such Eids fall into this meaning (Cool fact ~ Based on the above Hadeeth, if you strive to imitate Muhammad and his Companions, then you are from them. You will be counted as one of them! :).
3. I just came across something else Ibn al-Qayyim said in his book, Ahkaam Ahl adh-Dhimmah (1/723-724). He stated: “It is not permissible for the Muslims to attend the festivals of the disbelievers, according to the consensus of the scholars whose words carry weight.
The Fuqahaa’ who follow the 4 schools of thought have stated this clearly in their books. Al-Bayhaqi narrated with a saheeh isnaad from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab that he said:
“Do not enter upon the disbelievers on the day of their festival, for divine wrath is descending upon them.”
And ‘Umar also said:
“Avoid the enemies of Allah on their festivals.”
Al-Bayhaqi narrated with a jayyid isnaad from ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr that he said: “Whoever settles in the land of the non-Arabs and celebrates their new year and festival and imitates them until he dies in that state, will be gathered with them on the Day of Resurrection.” ” :( SCARY
So yes, most definitely, as the Prophet told us (as reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari):
المرء مع من أحب
“A person will be with the one whom he loved (on the Day of Resurrection).”
YOU will be with the one whom you loved. “Love” is not just saying, I love Allah, I love Islaam, I love Prophet Muhammad. Love is not talk. Talk is cheap! Love is, striving to imitate, to be like, and to follow the practices of someone or something.
Now, ask yourselves this: Are you imitating the Prophet more in your life, or are you abandoning his Sunan? Forget about whether it’s Waajib or Mustahabb. This isn’t a Fiqh issue. It’s an issue of: Do you really love the Prophet Muhammad such that you will strive to imitate him in every aspect of your life? Or are you imitating the Kuffaar more in your life? Do you imitate their traditions more than the traditions of your Prophet? Who do you wish to be resurrected amongst? You will be with those whom you loved.
Picture Source by Amarand Agasi via Flickr
There’s actually a novel in Bangladesh about Umar (radhiAllahu anhu) visiting current-day Bangladesh and aghast at all the Fitan everywhere. Now, I don’t know if that is correct Islamically, but it sure gave another perspective to imagine that Umar or any of the Salaf saw us doing what we do today. May Allah protect us…
Salam Br. AbdelBasit,
JAK for the informative article.
Many legitimate scholars argue that holidays that don’t have a religious origin are not included under the above daleel (i.e. they would differentiate between Thanksgiving,Mothersday, etc. and Christmas,Easter,Valentines Day and so forth).
Also, I don’t personally celebrate these holidays as I believe its best to stay away from doubtful matters. However, I just wanted to make aware that there are difference in this regard.
Food for thought: http://www.suhaibwebb.com/islam-studies/american-customs-what-is-permissible/
Sami
Of course, there will always be difference of opinion on every issue.
But the issue here is not, (quote on quote) religious holidays vs. “Non-religious” holidays.
It’s أعياد (`Eids) of the non-Muslims vs. the `Eids that Allah has given us – people of Islaam.
In the Saheeh, the Prophet tells Abu Bakr: إن لكل قوم عيدا “Every people have their `Eid. وهذا عيدنا And THIS is our `Eid.”
He said, the Day of `Arafah (this coming Thursday), the Day of Nahr (Friday) and the Days of Tashreeq (following 3 days) عيدنا أهل الإسلام are the `Eids (annual days of celebration) for us, People of Islaam.
…. So the point, is – we want to try & differ from the traditions, the practices, the annual celebrations of the non-Muslims, in sha Allah. * Not whether it is permissible or impermissible, or religious or non-religious. * As the Prophet said about those 2 days the Kuffaar took as days of relaxation & party – أريد أن أخالفهما I want to differ from them, in this practice of theirs. * It wasn’t a religious/non-religious issue. It was about, being different.
+ Finally, I want to leave you with this hadeeth to think about (in my next comment). :)
The hadeeth was authenticated by Abu Daawood (in his Sunan), An-Nawawi (in Al-Khalaasah), Ibn Taymiyyah (in the book which I referenced to him in the above article, towards the beginning), Al-Baghawi (in Sharh as-Sunnah), Ibn Al-`Arabi (in عارضة الأحوذي), `Abdul-Haqq Al-Ishbeeli (in Al-Ahkaam As-Sughraa), Ibn Al-Mulqin (in his Sharh of Bukhaari), Ibn Hajar (in Buloogh al-Maraam, etc), Al-`Ayni (in ‘Umdah al-Qaari), and Al-Albaani (in Saheeh al-Jaami`, Saheeh Abi Daawood, Saheeh an-Nasaa’i, Takhreej Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, Salaat al-`Eedayn).
Narrator: Anas Ibn Maalik. * When the Prophet came to Madeenah, ولهم يومان يلعبون فيهما the People of Madeenah had 2 days in which they used to enjoy themselves & play and have fun. * {So, Br. Sami, it’s nothing religious.} The hadeeth says,
كان لهم يومان في كل سنة يلعبون فيهما , فلما قدم النبي _ صلى الله عليه وسلم _ المدينة قال : كان لكم يومان تلعبون فيهما وقد أبدلكما الله بهما خيرا منهما , يوم الفطر ويوم الأضحى
They used to have 2 days (imagine, Thanksgiving/Christmas) in every single year (i.e. annual), in which they used to play and party. When the Prophet arrived to Madeenah, he asked them: ما هذان اليومان؟ “What are these 2 days of yours?” What did they say? They said: كنا نلعب فيهما في الجاهلية “We used to play on these 2 days every year, in the time of Jaahiliyyah.”
+ They didn’t say, we sacrifice for the gods. Or this is the day of Jesus Christ’s birth, or the day of Hubal and Laat. Or any relgious-related issue… no! They simply said, we used to play on these 2 days, every single year, in the pre-Islamic period.
The Prophet says to them: إن الله قد أبدلكم بهما خيرا منهما, يوم الفطر ويوم الأضحى “Surely, Allah has indeed replaced these 2 days for you, with 2 days that are Better than them! The Day of Fitr, and the Day of Adhaa.”
So – my dear brother – this is the issue. Not religious or otherwise, or halaal or haraam. * It’s just that, Allah has given us in exchange for these man-made holidays, Holidays that are Better! So instead of celebrating thanksgiving, we have the Day of Adha —- a Day of Shukr and thanksgiving to Allah. :) Give gifts & ‘turkeys’ to the non-Muslims on This day, on Our god-given day of celebration, no on theirs. What better way of Da’wah? Tell them that this is Our annual day of celeberation. Party on your day of `Eid, not on their day.
Catch my drift?
Asalamm aleikum
My daughter is 6 yrs old, and was told to dress up as a doll for the xmas school play ( it was santas xmas presents) was this haram for her?
Jaza kallakheir.
Hey everybody – I just found out that the book I referred to in the article (by Shaykh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah), اقتضاء الصراط المستقيم مخالفة أصحاب الجحيم (In Pursuit of the Straight Path by Contradicting the People of the Hellfire) … this book is available in English under the title “The Right Way”, published by Darussalam, Riyadh.
الله أعلم Allah knows best. This is from the issues that relate to attending public schools & the requirements of that.
It is well-known that if you attend public schools, you will end up participating in Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving projects and activities, Halloween-related activities, and the same goes for Christmas, etc.
So it’s not about, this particular Christmas play (and whether she dresses up like a doll or like Santa). It goes deeper into the issue of attending public schools vs. Muslim schools.
* But there’re not a lot of fulltime Muslim schools, sadly. So many times Muslim children end up having to attend public schools.
As a parent, one must try his/her best to educate the child about Islaam, to counter the non-Islamic teachings they’re getting throughout the week. Not just putting them in a Sunday school or… but really teaching them the meaning of Islaam, what it means to be a Muslim, who is Allah, etc.
Conclusion: Some things are requirements in public school, some are not. You have to make the judgment إن شاء الله. I don’t want to say whether dressing up like a doll (as a present of Santa) for a Christmas school play is HALAAL or HARAAM… just realize that whatever children are brought up upon, whatever children are shown, taught, and made accustomed to – especially during their young years (until around 13) – it will have an effect on them.
Allah knows best
- AbdulBasit Khan
But as for a direct answer from myself, I would say: I don’t think that this is a very serious matter (the case you mentioned). However, you must make sure that you are teaching her about Islam, and as she grows older, how we must differ from the non-Muslim practices and traditions.
@Abd al-Baasit Khan-thank you so much for writing this! I've been looking everywhere for an explanation of that hadeeth about imitating people and I was also one of those who thought it referred to wearing T-shirts and jeans and stuff and i was also looking to find which non-muslim holidays we could or could not celebrate and this answered all my questions.
@Arif Kabir-I've heard many sheikhs say the word “Salaf” and my friend told me she's Salafi. What does that mean? i've researched on this but I can't seem to find any authentic website that answers my question.
As for your question – Shahih136 – about the Arabic word سَلَف (salaf), literally this word means, “that which came before, that which preceded”. As it occurs in the Qur'an (8:38): “Tell the disbelievers (O Muhammad), if they desist and cease (fighting/attacking the Muslims), يغفر لهم ما قد سَلَف then 'everything that has preceded' will be forgiven for them.”
So this is the origin of the term, linguistically speaking. * As for its meaning in Islam, and when it's used by speakers, it is a reference to: “The Pious Predecessors” (as you find it translated in some places), or “The Righteous Forefathers”. i.e. those pious great Muslims who came before us. And sometimes you'll hear some Islamic speaker use the phrase, السَّلَفُ الصَّالِح “As-Salaf As-Saalih”, which basically has the same meaning as just mentioned.
Specially, and in most cases, when we use this term (Salaf), it is particularly referring to the 1st 3 generations of Muslims [i.e. the Prophet & his Companions (صَحَابَة), then the following generation (called the تَابِعُون [Taabi'oon], or the Successors), and then the generations after them]. * Why are these three considered special? Due to a statement of the Prophet, wherein he stated: “The best of all generations humanity has ever seen is my generation (i.e. of his Companions), then the generation that will follow them, and then the generation that will follow them.” — And he stopped. 300 years. {And FYI, all of the 4 famous Imams of the Muslims, Abu Haneefah, Maalik, Shaafi'ee, Ahmad lived in this time period, these three hundred years.}
+ Last note: As for a very recent phenomenon that has emerged (and truth be told, it was some of our very recent Scholars, and Hadeeth specialists of this era, who coined this term with the best of intentions), of calling oneself a “Salafi” سَلَفِي …which btw, as u can probably guess now, means someone who is following the “Salaf”, the way and methodology of our Pious Predecessors … I personally have seen some dangers/problems arise from this kind of labeling, such as harsh exclusiveness, and many extreme groups calling themselves “Salafis” emerging, who malign and attack many of our Scholars here in the West, and are always busy in refuting and “warning” against individuals, etc.
In general, there's basically nothing wrong with saying you're a “Salafi”, IF and only if you clarify along with mentioning this 'label', what its intended meaning is – so that no one thinks that this is some kind of “new sect”, or cult or whatever…
BTW, u may also wanna listen to this important 3 min. clip – from a lecture by Dr. Bilal Philips:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbGlzlS3O9g ;)
Jazakallah khair brother for the detailed explanation and I hope you keep writing for MYM in the future to benefit a lot of people.