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THE POSITION OF CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION IN ISLAM
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A Path of the Innovators
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Christmas is a celebration of the Christians to remember the birth of Jesus Christ [Prophet Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)], who they believe is the son of God or God himself.نَعُوْذُ بالله
Christmas comes from the Old English term “Cristes maesse,” meaning “Christ’s mass.” This was the name for the festival service of worship holding 25th December. There is no reliable information on the date of Jesus birth, nor even on the year.
One reason for this uncertainty is that the stories of his birth, recorded in the New Testament books of Matthew and Luke, were written several decades after the event. Those who wrote it gave no specific dates for the events they mentioned.
So simply because there was no knowledge about the date of his birth, a day had to be selected right?
Furthermore, the belief that Jesus is God or the literal son of God is the most dangerous statement one could make. Allāh (ﷻ) say in response to this statement:
تَكَادُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتُ يَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِنْهُ وَتَنشَقُّ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَتَخِرُّ ٱلْجِبَالُ هَدًّا
“The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation.”
أَن دَعَوْا۟ لِلرَّحْمَٰنِ وَلَدًۭا
“That they attribute to the Most Merciful a son.”
(Maryam 19:90 – 91)
That is, the heavens are almost torn, the earth split asunder, and the mountains collapse, that they (unbelievers) ascribe a son to the Most Gracious. Out of their high esteem for Allāh (ﷻ), when they hear this statement of wickedness coming from the Children of Adam. Subhañ’Allaah!
The reason for this is that these are creatures of Allāh (ﷻ) and they are established upon His Tawhid and the fact that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him (ﷻ).
He has no partners, no peer, no child, no mate and no co-equal. Rather, He (ﷻ) is One, Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures are in need of.
(Tafsir Ibn kathir)
Every Prophet who was sent by Allāh (ﷻ) called people to worship Allāh (ﷻ) Alone, with no partner or associates.
As Allāh (ﷻ) says:
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدُونِ
“And We sent not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that, ‘There is no deity except Me, so worship Me.’”
(Al-Anbiya 21:25)
The natural inclination of man (Al-Fitrah) also bears witness to that. The idolators have no proof and their dispute is of no use before their Lord; on them is wrath and for them will be a severe torment.
Islam is a religion of peace, kindness, respect and tolerance. As reported on the authority of Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger Allaah (ﷺ) said:
“Whoever believes in Allāh and the Last Day should speak good things or keep silent.Whoever believes in Allāh and the Last Day should be courteous and generous to his neighbor. Whoever believes in Allāh and the Last Day should be courteous and generous to his [traveling] visitor.”
(Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim).
In this ahadeeth, we see a perfect way of how a Muslim must behave with others, irrespective of whether they are Muslims or Non-Muslims.
Yes! Show respect , be nice and kind to your neighbor but does it incline that you celebrate in their festival ? NO
Being kind to your neighbor doesn’t mean you celebrate or wish them “merry Christmas”.
Dear brothers and sisters, it is not permissible for any believing Muslim to participate with the Christians, the Jews, or other than them from the disbelievers in their celebration. Rather, it is obligatory to abandon that.
This is because Allāh’s Messenger (ﷺ) said:
مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ
“He who imitates a people is from them.”
(Narrated by Abi Dawood, 3512: Classed as Sahih by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 2691)
And the Messenger (ﷺ) warned us against imitating them and adorning ourselves with their mannerisms. So it is upon the believing male and female to beware of that, and not to aid in the celebration of these holidays with anything.
This is because they oppose the Legislation of Allāh (ﷻ). So it is not permissible to participate in them nor to cooperate with its people or to assist them with anything.
Allāh (ﷻ) says:
قُلْ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْكَٰفِرُون
“Say, ‘O disbelievers,”
لَآ أَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ
“I do not worship what you worship.”
وَلَآ أَنتُمْ عَٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعْبُدُ
“Nor are you worshippers of what I worship.”
وَلَآ أَنَا۠ عَابِدٌۭ مَّا عَبَدتُّمْ
“Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship.”
وَلَآ أَنتُمْ عَٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعْبُدُ
“Nor will you be worshippers of what I worship.”
لكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِىَ دِينِ
“For you is your religion, and for me is my religion.’”
(Al-Kafirun 109:1 – 6)
This means you don’t celebrate Christmas because your Belief is in one God and their belief is in a trinity. Why not let them hold their religion and you hold yours.
REFLECT!
May Allāh (ﷻ) grant us mercy and guide us through the straight path.
آمين يا رب العالمين