DO NOT CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS!
الاحتفال بالكريسمس
Summary
1) The Islamic ‘Eed (festivals).
2) Evidences for the prohibition of celebrating the religious festivals of the disbelievers.
3) The prohibition of resembling disbelievers.
4) The command of differing from disbelievers in both worldly and religious matters.
5) The circumstances under which resembling the disbelievers is permitted.
First Khutbah
Allaah has granted the Muslim nation no more than two religious festivals, as the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam confirmed while he was prohibiting the Ansaar (i.e., the residents of Madeenah) from celebrating the festivals which they used to celebrate during the pre-Islamic era: “Allaah has replaced them for you with two days which are better, the day of ‘Eed Al-Fitr and ‘Eed Al-Adh-haa” (Abu Daawood, Nasaa’i & Ahmad).
There are many evidences in Islaam which prohibit Muslims from resembling disbelievers in general and warn against taking part in the celebration of their religious festivals in particular. Amongst the evidences which prohibit the resemblance of disbelievers are the following:
· Allaah says that which means: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favour, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” (Al-Faatihah: 6-7).
· Allaah says that which means: “[You disbelievers are] like those before you; they were stronger than you in power and more abundant in wealth and children. They enjoyed their portion [of worldly enjoyment], and you have enjoyed your portion as those before you enjoyed their portion, and you have engaged [in vanities] like that in which they engaged. ]It is] those whose deeds have become worthless in this world and in the Hereafter, and it is they who are the losers.” (At-Tawbah: 69).
· Allaah says that which means: “Then We put you, [O Muhammad], on an ordained way concerning the matter [of religion]; so follow it and do not follow the inclinations of those who do not know.” (Al-Jaathiyah: 18).
· Allaah says that which means: “O you who have believed! Do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed Allaah guides not the wrongdoing people.” (Al-Maa’idah: 51).
· Allaah says that which means: “O you who have believed! Do not take My enemies and your enemies as allies, extending to them affection while they have disbelieved in what came to you of the truth…” (Al-Mumtahinah: 1).
· Allaah says that which means: “You will not find a people who believe in Allaah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allaah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred. Those – He has decreed within their hearts faith and supported them with spirit from him..."(Al-Mujaadilah: 22).
· Allaah says that which means: “They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike. So do not take from among them allies…” (An-Nisaa’: 89).
· Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “You will follow in the footsteps of those who came before you, hand span by hand span and arm’s length by arm’s length to such an extent that if they were to enter into the dwelling of a lizard, you would follow them.” So the people asked: "Do you mean the Jews and Christians?’ he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam replied: “Who else?” (Bukhaari & Muslim).
· The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “He who imitates a people will be from among them (on the Day of Judgement).” (Abu Daawood & Ahmad).
The following texts specifically warn against joining the disbelievers in their religious festivals or celebrations:
· Allaah described His devout slaves with that which means: “And [they are] those who do not testify to falsehood…” (Al-Furqaan: 72) Ibn Seereen, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "This verse refers to (festivals such as) Palm Sunday." Mujaahid, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "This verse refers to any of the festivals of the infidels."
· Allaah says that which means: “For every religion We have appointed rites which they perform…” (Al-Hajj: 67) and religious festivals and celebrations all have their rites and so they are included in this verse. Shaykh Al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "Religious festivals are the most distinct features of religions, and taking part in them is in fact taking part in the most obvious part of those religions."
· ‘Abdullaah Ibn ‘Amr, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “The one who builds (i.e., settles) in the lands of the infidels and participates in their (religious) festivals and resembles them until he dies, will be resurrected along with them on the Day of Resurrection.” (Bayhaqi).
· ‘Ataa’ Ibn Yasaar, may Allaah have mercy upon him, narrated that ‘Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: "Beware of joining the Christians in their religious festivals."
Religious festivals are the most distinct feature of any religion, as indicated in the narration of ‘Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “O Abu Bakr! Each nation has their own religious festivals, and today is one of our ‘Eed days (i.e., religious festivals).” (Bukhaari & Muslim).
Anas bin Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: "The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam arrived in Madeenah while people were celebrating two particular festivals, so he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam asked: “What is (the significance of) these two days?” some people replied: ‘They are days which we used to celebrate during the pre-Islamic era.’ So the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam replied: “Allaah has replaced them for you with two days which are better, the day of ‘Eed Al-Fitr and ‘Eed Al-Adh-haa”" (Abu Daawood).
‘Uqbah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “The day of ‘Arafah, the day of An-Nahr (slaughtering the sacrificial animal) and the three days after that in Minaa are days of religious festivals in Islaam; they are days during which we eat, drink and mention the name of Allaah.” (Abu Daawood).
The wisdom behind the prohibition of resembling infidels is that if a person resembles them in worldly issues, he will eventually incline towards them and feel love and loyalty towards them, as Shaykh Al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy upon him said: "If two people from a certain area travel together on a journey or meet in a foreign land, and they have similar clothes, hair colour, vehicles, or they resemble each other in any other way, then they will naturally feel more inclined towards one another than to others who do not have such characteristics; likewise, one finds that people from the same occupation or profession feel more inclined towards one each another than they do to others." If this is the case for worldly resemblance, then for religious issues these feelings will certainly be stronger, and having such feelings and inclinations conflict with the belief of a Muslim.
There are many Islamic texts which command Muslims to differ from infidels in both religious and worldly matters; such as the following:
· Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam used to follow funeral processions and say: “Hasten while walking in funeral processions and do not resemble the Jews who walk slowly in theirs.” (Ahmad).
· The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “The Jews and Christians do not dye their grey hair, so differ from them (by doing so).” (Bukhaari & Muslim). Is-haaq An-Naysaaboori, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "I heard Imaam Ahmad, may Allaah have mercy upon him, say to my father: 'O Abu Hishaam! Dye your hair, even if it is only once; for it is better that you dye your hair than resemble the Jews.'"
· The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Grow your beards, cut your moustaches (just short of shaving) and thereby differ from the Jews and the Christians.” (Bukhaari & Muslim). Al-Maroothi, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "I asked Imaam Ahmad, may Allaah have mercy upon him, about the Islamic ruling on shaving ones hair at the back and sides (such as a 'marine' cut); he replied: 'This is something that the magians (i.e., fire worshippers) do and anyone who resembles a people is from them.’"
· The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Pray while wearing your shoes and thereby differ from the Jews who do not do so.” (Abu Daawood & Haakim).
· The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “The difference between our fasting and that of the people of the Book fast is the meal of Suhoor (i.e. the pre-dawn meal that Muslims are recommended to take before fasting).” (Muslim).
· Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him said: "When the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam fasted on the day of ‘Aashooraa’ (i.e., the tenth day of Muharram) and commanded the Muslims to do likewise, his companions said: 'O Messenger of Allaah! This is a day the Jews and the Christians glorify', so he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam replied: “If Allaah wills, next year I will also fast on the ninth (i.e., the day before ‘Aashooraa’ too in order to differ from them).” but he passed away before that day came." (Muslim).
· Mu’aawiyah, may Allaah have mercy upon him, once stood up on a pulpit during the season of Hajj holding a woman's wig and said: "O people of Madeenah! Where are your scholars? I heard the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam prohibiting the use of this (wig) by saying: “It is due to the fact that their women wore these, that the children of Israel were destroyed.”’ (Bukhaari) in another narration he, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: "You have innovated an evil and deceptive matter, and the Prophet of Allaah prohibited deception." (Muslim).
· The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also said: “My nation will continue to be upon my Sunnah as long as they do not delay breaking their fast like the Jews who waited until the stars appeared (before breaking it) and as long as they do not delay the start of fast like the Christians who waited until the stars disappeared (i.e. complete daylight) before beginning their fasting, and as long as they (Muslims) do not leave any funeral without helping the family of the deceased.”
· Imaam Abu Daawood, may Allaah have mercy upon him, mentioned in his book that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam forbade anyone from sitting during prayer whilst leaning on their left hand. Ibn ‘Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, explained the reason why when he saw a man leaning on his left hand during prayer whilst seated by saying: "Do not sit like this because this is how the Jews pray." (Abu Daawood).
· ‘Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said: "The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam used to hate to see people putting their hands on their pelvis during prayer and would say: “The Jews do this.”’ (Bukhaari).
· Once the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam prayed whilst seated, but his companions remained standing, so when he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam finished he addressed them by saying: “You did what the Romans and Persians do; they remain standing whilst their kings are sitting; Do not do so! Follow your Imaam (during prayers), if he prays standing up then pray standing up, but if he prays sitting down, then pray while sitting down.” (Muslim).
· The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Do not drink from gold or silver cups or eat using gold or silver utensils because the people of the Book use them in this life, but they will be for you (Muslims) to use in the Hereafter.” (Bukhaari).
· Mu’aawiyah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: "Levelling the graves is an act of the Sunnah, and the Jews and Christians raised their graves so do not imitate them." (Ibn Abu ‘Aasim).
Imitating or resembling infidels is permissible when it is in matters completely separate from their religion or creed. Shaykh Al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "If a Muslim is residing in the land of the infidels, he does not have to differ from them in his outward appearance due to the evil consequences that are expected as a result of this; instead it is recommended that the Muslims resemble them in their appearance and it may even be mandatory for them to do so if there is a benefit for the religion (of Islaam) in doing so, such as calling the infidels to Islaam, knowing their internal affairs, or preventing harm from befalling the Muslims."