Wishing a ‘Merry Christmas’ to non-Muslims

Question:-

Could you please issue a Fatwa on wishing the people of the Christian faith a “Merry Christmas”. Many people feel that there is nothing wrong in doing so as it fosters a good relationship with them.

Answer:-

If a person wishes non-Muslims a “Merry Christmas” in honour of the day, then there is a fear of losing one’s Imaan. By wishing the Kuffar “Merry Christmas”, their customs and beliefs of Shirk are honoured, which we have been prohibited from doing. Abu Hafs Rahimahullah mentions that, if a person worshipped Allah Ta’ala for fifty years and then gifts an egg to some of the Kuffar on their day of celebration, then he has lost his Imaan and his deeds (actions) are null and void. It is, therefore, best that one refrains from doing so.

There are various other ways of fostering a good relationship with the Kuffar. The Muslims in this country have always displayed good character, maintained a good relationship and assisted the Kuffar at the time of need. During the covid period and during the looting in the KZN region, it is the Muslims that provided basic necessities to all Muslims and Kuffar that were in need. Many of these Kuffar praised the Muslims for their kindness and generosity towards humanity. Furthermore, whenever there is a disaster in any part of the world, the Muslims are generally at the forefront in providing aid and assistance to those in need. Hence, the claim of those individuals who state that we should greet the Kuffar on their celebrations with their greetings of Kufr to foster good relations is incorrect, as there are various other ways of maintaining a good relationship with them.

قال – رحمه الله – (والإعطاء باسم النيروز والمهرجان لا يجوز) أي الهدايا باسم هذين اليومين حرام بل كفر، وقال أبو حفص الكبير – رحمه الله – لو أن رجلا عبد الله خمسين سنة ثم جاء يوم النيروز، وأهدى لبعض المشركين بيضة يريد به تعظيم ذلك اليوم فقد كفر، وحبط عمله، وقال صاحب الجامع الأصغر إذا أهدى يوم النيروز إلى مسلم آخر، ولم يرد به التعظيم لذلك اليوم، ولكن ما اعتاده بعض الناس لا يكفر، ولكن ينبغي له أن لا يفعل ذلك في ذلك اليوم خاصة، ويفعله قبله أو بعده كي لا يكون تشبها بأولئك القوم، وقد قال رسول الله – صلى الله عليه وسلم – «من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم»، وقال في الجامع الأصغر رجل اشترى يوم النيروز شيئا لم يكن يشتريه قبل ذلك إن أراد به تعظيم ذلك اليوم كما يعظمه المشركون كفر، وإن أراد الأكل والشرب والتنعم لا يكفر. (تبيين الحقائق ص228 ج6)

ويكره صوم يوم النيروز والمهرجان لأن فيه تعظيم أيام نهينا عن تعظيمها (تبيين الحقائق ص332ج1)

ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 01 Jumadal Ukhra 1444 / 25 December 2022