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Ruling on Celebrating Non-Muslim Festivities
Two festivities of the People of the Book are
looming these days, i.e. Christmas and the New Year. We have become used to
those festivities being celebrated in companies, organizations, societies, etc.
We are also used to some Muslims participating, joining, and attending these
events of falsehood, behaving in a way not befitting those who belong to this
magnificent religion. It is for this reason that we want to write these words as
a reminder for this Ummah.
Nothing should be done at all. This means that we, as Muslim, should not do
anything we do not usually do on such days. It should be just another day with
nothing special about it, as if they (People of the Book) are not celebrating.
In this way Muslimeen make themselves different.
Allah has indicated to us the hostility of the infidels in many verses,
including: "Verily, the disbelievers are ever unto you open enemies" [4: 101].
Allah (s.w.t.) also called them the party of Satan and Satan's allies, etc.
The Prophet (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam) said: 'You will follow the ways of
those nations who were before you, span by span and cubit by cubit (i.e., inch
by inch) so much so that even if they entered a hole of a zab (a kind of
lizard) you would follow them.' We said, 'O Allah's Apostle! (Do you mean) the
Jews and the Christians?' He said, 'Whom else?'
(Sahih Bukhari Kitaab-ul-ietisaam Part: 3 Page: 937)
Joining the People of the Book in their festivities is more, or at least as
forbidden, as joining idolaters other than the People of the Book. No one should
argue that it is only the idolaters who are meant and that the People of the
Book have common grounds with Muslims that are not applicable to others.
Celebrating the Christmas, Persian festivities such as Neyrouz, Jewish
festivities and festivities of others as well, all come under the same ruling.
Since we should not imitate them in festivities, the people who apparently are
in this Ummah and who do this must be forbidden from doing so, let alone approve
and support them. We should not answer invitations from them if they invite us
specifically on such occasions. If a someone holds an unusual celebration that
coincides with one of the People of the Book's festivities we do not have to
answer the invitation although otherwise a Muslim should answer an invitation
from a fellow Muslim as in the prophet's tradition.
The detailed evidence from the Book of Allah includes Allah's description of the
believers, whom He calls "Worshippers of the Most Gracious", saying: "And those
who do not witness falsehood and if they pass by "Lag how" (evil play or evil
talk) they pass by it with dignity". [25: 72]. This ayat is very clear and
explains the dislike of Allah as regards to such festivities.
The Tradition contains numerous Hadiths including; Anas (RadiAllahu Tala Anho)
said: Rasulullah (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam) arrived to Al-Madinah when its
citizens had two days as festivities (The Arabs had two days of festivities in
pre-Islamic time). The prophet (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam) said: "What are
those two days?" ! They said: "We used to celebrate them in pre-Islamic time."
He said: "Allah has offered you two better alternative days, Day of Al-Adha and
Day of Fitr".
[Abu Dawood, Ahmad, Nasai, Sanad: Sahih].
The implication of this hadith is that Rasulullah (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam)
did not approve those two pre-Islamic festivities and did not allow them to
celebrate them and insisted on alternative festivities.
The second hadith by Thabit Ibn Al-Dhahalah (RadiAllahu Tala Anho) said: A man
during the time of the Prophet (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam) made a vow to
Allah to slaughter camels at "Bawatah". The prophet asked: Was there an idol of
the pre-Islamic idols? He said: No. The prophet said: Was there any of their
festivities? He said: No. The Prophet said: Then carry out your vow (Baasa).
There should be no vows implying disobedience to Allah nor in what one has no
power to do it."
[Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim].
"Thus it is clear that the implication in this hadith is that slaughtering in a
place of their festivities or idols is an act of disobedience to Allah
(s.w.t.)".
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam) issued a stern
warning:
"Whoever imitates a nation is one of them!"
(Reported by Ahmed, Abu Dawood Kitaabul Libaas Part: 3 Page: 241, Mishkaat Part:
2 Page: 329, Sanad: Sahih, Buloogh ul Amaani Part: 6 Page: 121)
The Prophet Muhammad (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam) said:
The Final Hour will not come until my followers copy the deeds of the previous
nations and follow them very closely, span by span, and cubit by cubit (inch by
inch).
(SAHIH Bukhari Kitaab-ul-ietisaam Part: 3 Page: 937).
Was the Quran revealed on the 'Markaz-e-Millat'?
On whom the Quran was revealed would know the true meaning of it, the
explanation he would give wouldn't be his own invention but actually be
the wahi (revelation) from Allah.
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