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Congratulating non-Muslims on their religious days

Q: There is a fatwa from Al Azhar that says it is allowed for Muslims to congratulate non muslims on their Days such as Christmas and this action
comes in the virtue of treating others ( non – Muslims ) well. Allah says in the Holy Quran (say to people good words) and (certainly Allah  recommends the Justice and being good to others.

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A: We are commanded to refrain from emulating the kuffaar as well as adopting their ways. Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم (the one who emulates a people will be counted from amongst them (in the sight of Allah Ta’aala)). Hence, it is not right at all for Muslims to congratulate non Muslims at the time of their religious festivlles by saying “merry Christmas, Happy Christmas, or Happy diwali, etc”. The jurist have written that if one participates in the celebration of the Kuffaar out of respect for such days, he will become a kaafir. The great jurist, Abu Hafs al-Kabeer (Rahmatullahi Alaihi) said: “The one who after worshipping Allah Ta’aala for fifty years gifted an egg to a disbeliever, in reverence for the Kuffaar celebration, will become a kaafir and lose the reward of all his righteous deeds.” If one participates in a celebration without respecting and honouring their celebration, he will not become a kaafir. However, this action will be makrooh-e-tahreemi.

And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)

This answer was collected from MuftiOnline.co.za, where the questions have been answered by Mufti Zakaria Makada (Hafizahullah), who is currently a senior lecturer in the science of Hadith and Fiqh at Madrasah Ta’leemuddeen, Isipingo Beach, South Africa.

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