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ArticlesQuestion:
Is it allowed for us as Muslims to congratulate Christians in their eids? (I.e. Merry Christmas, etc.)
Fatwa:
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
It is forbidden for all Muslims to congratulate any non-Muslims for their feasts. Allah Says (what means): {This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion}[Quran 5:2].
It is forbidden for all Muslims to congratulate any non-Muslims for their feasts. Allah Says (what means): {This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion}[Quran 5:2].
In addition, congratulating them for this feast is synonymous of accepting their wrongdoing and disbelief in Allah. Is there a greater disbelief than attributing a son to Allah or saying that Jesus is Allah or that Allah is the third of three "gods".
It is also accepting their rites and rituals, which are nothing but disbelief.
Ibn Al Qayem (May Allah bless him) said: 'As for congratulating the unbelievers for their rituals, it is forbidden according to the agreement of all scholars- like: congratulating them for their feasts and fast by expressing good wishes: happy feast or enjoy your feast… etc. If the Muslim who says this does not become a disbeliever himself, he, at least, commits a sin as this is the same as congratulating him for his belief in the trinity, which is a greater sin and much more disliked by Almighty Allah than congratulating him for drinking alcohol or killing a soul or committing fornication or adultery…etc'.
So, whoever does this does not know how ugly and repulsive his deed is. In a word, any Muslim who congratulates a person for a sin, an innovation or an act of disbelief has exposed himself to the hatred and anger of Almighty Allah.
Finally, if they congratulate us for our feasts, we do not congratulate them for their feast as we are on the right path and they are in error.
Allah Says (Interpretation of meaning): " {And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers}[2:85].
Allah knows best.
Fatwa answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb
