Your clarification regarding not congratulating the Christians on their religious festivals?

The questioner:
It is well known from the words of Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) in *Iqtifa' al-Sirat al-Mustaqim* that it is not permissible to congratulate the Jews and Christians on their religious festivals, because this constitutes approval of their falsehood, as long as the festivals are religious. I say that this is the well-known practice of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He corresponded with the kings and sent a letter to Heraclius, and they had religious festivals, but he did not congratulate them. The Persians had the festivals of Mehragan and Nowruz, and it is not known that he congratulated them on those. Therefore, it is necessary for Your Eminence to clarify this position.

The Shaykh:
As mentioned above, this matter falls to the one in authority in terms of considering public benefit and harm. If he sees, and his sayings are not for the general public but for the rulers in regard to considering public benefit and harm, then if he sees that there is benefit in congratulating on something, or offering condolences, or other matters that allow for interpretation and serve the objectives that benefit the Muslims, he has the authority to consider that. And if he sees that there is benefit in not doing so, he leaves it. This is the established position. I have studied it.

The questioner:
The statement is specifically regarding religious festivals, specifically religious festivals, visiting the sick, and the like.

The Shaykh:
This is a national commemoration, such as the national day and its like, and their festivals that they hold every year, for example. This is the subject of the discussion. Yes.