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Can A Muslim Participate In & Celebrate Christmas with the Kuffār? Shaykh ‘Abdul-’Azīz ibn Bāz

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Participating in Christmas with the Kuffaar
Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez ibn Baaz

Question:

Our brother says: He notices that some of the Muslims participate along with the Christians in the Festival of the Birth, or Christmas as they call it; he hopes for some guidance regarding that. 

Answer:

It is not permissible for the Muslim male or female to participate with the Christians, the Jews, or other than them from the disbelievers in their holidays. Rather, it is obligatory to abandon that. This is because:

مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ

“He who imitates a people is from them.”

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 are holidays which oppose the Legislation of Allaah and the enemies of Allaah establish them. So it is not permissible to participate in them nor to cooperate with its people or to assist them with anything; not with (giving them) tea, coffee, or anything at all; such as utensils, and the likes. Also, Allaah the Glorified says:

وَتَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى الْبرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَلاَ تَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى الإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ

Help you one another in Al­-Birr and At­-Taqwaa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. (Al-Ma’idah 5:2)

So participating with the disbelievers in their holidays is a type of helping them upon sin and transgression. Hence, it is obligatory upon every Muslim male and female to abandon that and it is not befitting for the one who has intellect to be deceived by the people in their actions. It is obligatory to ponder over the legislation of Al-Islaam and that which is has brought and to adhere to the command of Allaah and His Messenger, and not to look towards the affairs of the people. For most of the creation has no concern for the Legislation of Allaah. As Allaah the Mighty and Majestic has said:

وَإِن تُطِعْ أَكْثَرَ مَن فِي الأَرْضِ يُضِلُّوكَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللّهِ

And if you obey most of those on earth, they will mislead you far away from Allaah’s Path. (Al-An’am 6:116)

He, Glorified be He, has said:

وَمَا أَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ

And most of mankind will not believe even if you desire it eagerly. (Yusuf 12:103)

So the holidays which oppose the Legislation, then it is not permissible to accept them, even if the people are doing it. For the believer weighs his actions and statements, and the actions and statements of the people, by the Book and the Sunnah; the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ. That which coincides with them or one of them, then it is accepted, even if the people have abandoned it. That which opposes them or one of them, then it is rejected, even if the people do it. And may Allaah grant all Tawfeeq and guidance.

Translated by: Raha ibn Donald Batts @ http://mtws.posterous.com
Source: http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/20019