Christmas is approaching and you may not realize it but being a part of it can be quite dangerous for your iman (faith).  Although, people may consider its celebration to be very small, but it is great in the sight of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ). This is something about which the scholars of Islam said that whoever does it or says it has left the religion of Islam. [1]According to those who celebrate it, it is the day when Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) was born. Rather, the reality of that matter is that this festival is pagan festival of worshipping the sun. This is the origin of Christmas which was celebrated long before Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ). These pagan idol-worshippers used to hang apples on these trees, decorated their houses on this day and they used to supplicate to the sun.

The pagans used to believe that the sun was born on this day and they used to sing, give gifts to each other and prostrate to the sun. This birthday of the ‘sun’ has been changed to the birthday of ‘son’ by the Christians when Christianity became corrupted. The Qur’an mentions:

فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَكْتُبُونَ الْكِتَابَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ

“O woe to those who write the “scripture” with their own hands…”
[Al-Baqara: 79]

In reality, this festival has nothing to do with the birth of Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and the real teachings of Christianity. Rather, the idea of celebrating birthdays was first invented by the pagans before Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ). Until today there exist Christians who do not celebrate Christmas.[2] So my dear Brothers and Sisters in Islam, by celebrating this festival, by helping those who celebrate it by any means or by greeting them with greetings like, ‘Merry Christmas’ and such like, you are honoring the sun-worshippers. Be wary o Muslims!

When the non-Muslims greet you with such a greeting, take this opportunity to do da’wah. Don’t be rude but explain it to them in the best way possible. Perhaps, Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) will guide them through you.

Let’s ask ourselves a question, are these festivals whether it be Christmas, New Years, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine Day or Halloween are from Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ)? The answer is clearly ‘No!’ Then, who are they from? The Shaytan. Shaytan is the one who has guided these people to get distracted. Most importantly, there is a hadith that clearly tells us:

من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم

“Whoever imitates a nation is one of them.”
(Abu Dawood)

Be careful Muslim Brothers and Sisters, Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) can raise you as a disbeliever on the Day of Judgement and we seek refuge in Allah.  It was reported with a saheeh isnaad from Abu Usaamah: ‘Awn told us from Abu’l-Mugheerah from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr:

“Whoever lives in the land of the non-Arabs and celebrates their New Year and their festivals, and imitates them until he dies in that state, will be gathered with them on the Day of Resurrection.”

Another misconception is that Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) is said to be born on 25th of December. Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) says in the Qur’an:

وَهُزِّي إِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ تُسَاقِطْ عَلَيْكِ رُطَبًا جَنِيًّا 

“…And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates.‎”
[Surah Maryam: 25]

With this verse we see the falsehood of this day, as there is no soft and fresh ripe dates in the month of December. My dear Brothers and Sisters in Islam, please do not have anything to do with this day with regards to greetings or anything else. Do not promote the falsehood.

By greeting, you insult Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ). By saying, ‘Merry Christmas,’ you are claiming that Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) has a son. (Naudhubillah). The fact is:

سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ 

Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.
[Az-Zumar: 67]

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Allah SWT says:

“The son of Adam has insulted Me and he had no right to do so. As for his insulting Me, is his saying: Allah has taken to Himself a son, while I am One, the Everlasting Refuge. I beget not nor was I begotten and there is none comparable to Me.”
(Al-Bukhari 4974)

A group of the Salaf, such as Mujâhid explained the saying of Allah, the Exalted when He (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) mentioned the characteristics of ibaad ur Rahman (slaves of Allah, Ar Rahman):

‏ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَشْهَدُونَ الزُّورَ

And [they are] those who do not testify to falsehood,…
[Surah Al-Furqan:72]

This includes those people who do not witness the celebrations of the polytheists.

My brothers and sisters in Islam, avoid the enemies of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) during their celebrations because the curse of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) is upon them.

So my dear brothers and sisters in Islam, fear Allah, have Tawqa (Piety) of Allah, and follow the one and only true path, the path of Allah and not the path of the Shaytaan, for verily he is a clear enemy to you. This day should not have any honor or significance in your eyes. Brothers and sisters in Islam, we as Muslims have been blessed with two festivals: Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha. In the Sunnah: Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came [to Madeenah] and they had two days in which they would (relax and) play. He said,“What are these two days?” They said, “We used to play (on these two days) during the Jaahiliyyah.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Allaah has given you something better instead of them: Yawm al-Duhaa [Eid al-Adha] and Yawm al-Fitr [Eid al-Fitr].”
(Reported by Abu Dawood).

So, these two are the festivals of Muslims. I would like to conclude by mentioning a verse:

لَّا تَجِدُ قَوْمًا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ يُوَادُّونَ مَنْ حَادَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَوْ كَانُوا آبَاءَهُمْ أَوْ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ أَوْ إِخْوَانَهُمْ أَوْ عَشِيرَتَهُمْ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ كَتَبَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ الْإِيمَانَ وَأَيَّدَهُم بِرُوحٍ مِّنْهُ ۖ وَيُدْخِلُهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ حِزْبُ اللَّهِ ۚ أَلَا إِنَّ حِزْبَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allah 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. And We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him – those are the party of Allah. Unquestionably, the party of Allah – they are the successful.
[Surah Al-Mujadilah: 22]


[1] The Ruling on Christmas and New Year By Shaykh-ul-Islam Ibn Taimiyah & Muhammad bin Saalih Al-Uthaymeen

[2] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christmas

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