Continuation of the tape from the Shaykh’s sermons on the danger of showing affection to disbelievers and congratulating them on their festivals.

The Shaykh : O Muslims: Read history, for history, in its past and its present, proves what Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has established in these noble verses. Beware! Beware that you are not deceived by the disbelief of your enemies in Allah and His Messengers, the corruption of their morals, and the corruption of their ideas, even if they make it attractive in your eyes and easy in your hearts. Indeed, many people have been deceived, and indeed, many people have been deceived who are foolish in intellect and astray in religion. They were deceived by the material power of these enemies, so they began to negotiate with them and show affection to them, even though Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said: And among this—meaning, among showing affection to these disbelieving enemies—is that some people congratulate these disbelievers on their religious festivals which they observe at the beginning of their year. This is forbidden by consensus. Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his book *Ahkam Ahl al-Dhimmah*: “As for congratulating them on the specific rituals of disbelief, it is forbidden by consensus”, such as congratulating them on their festivals and their fasting, saying: “Blessed festival,” and he says: “Blessed festival to you,” or “Congratulations on this festival,” or the like. This—and the statement is by Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him)—“So if the one who says it is safe from disbelief, it is among the forbidden things”, meaning that it is feared that the one who congratulates them on their religious festivals will exit Islam without realizing it. He said: “So if the one who says it is safe from disbelief, it is among the forbidden things, and it is in the position of congratulating him on his prostration to the cross. Indeed, that is a greater sin in the sight of Allah and more hateful than congratulating on drinking intoxicants, killing the soul, and committing—meaning—violating the forbidden private parts, and the like”. He said—and I mean Ibn al-Qayyim—: “And many of those who have no regard for religion fall into that”. “And many of those who have no regard for religion fall into that”, meaning: in congratulating these people on their festivals, and he does not know the ugliness of what he has done. “So whoever congratulates a servant on a sin, an innovation, or disbelief, he exposes himself to the hatred and anger of Allah”. This is the end of his statement (may Allah have mercy on him).
O Muslims: We are approaching the beginning of their year, meaning: the year of the disbelievers, at the end of this blessed month. Perhaps some people will congratulate them to curry favor with them, or to show affection, or as a social courtesy, or for other reasons. So beware that you do not do this. For congratulating the disbelievers on their religious festivals and their religious rituals means approving them and being pleased with the disbelief they are upon. Indeed, it means bringing joy to them regarding the disbelief in Allah and His Messengers that they have accepted for themselves. And this is a great danger. Even if the one who congratulates them does not accept being upon their religion. But being pleased with the disbelief of others is being pleased with what Allah (Mighty and Majestic) does not accept. For Allah does not accept any religion other than the religion of Islam, as Allah the Exalted said: . And He (Mighty and Majestic) said: . And He the Exalted said: . So how can a believer be pleased with a religion or the rituals of a religion that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) does not accept? How can one bring joy to a people when they observe the rituals of a religion that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) does not accept? Is this befitting of a Muslim? It is never befitting to congratulate these people on their religious festivals. And if congratulating them on their religious festivals is forbidden, then if they congratulate us on them, we do not respond to them. Meaning: if they say: “We congratulate you on the beginning of the year,” do not respond to them, because they are not our festivals, and because they are festivals that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) does not accept. Even if they write to you a congratulation in a letter, a telegram, or a phone call, do not respond to them, because if you respond to them, you have accepted this religion that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) does not accept. For they are non-legitimate festivals, so they are either innovations in their religion that Allah did not legislate at all. Or they are legislated in their religion but were abrogated by the religion of Islam, by the religion of Islam with which Allah sent Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) to all people. He made it obligatory for them to follow it and said about it: . And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: , narrated by Muslim in his *Sahih*. It is not permissible for a Muslim to respond to their invitation to attend these festivals, because attending these festivals is greater than congratulating them on them, because that is participating with them in them. It is not permissible for a Muslim to imitate them by holding parties on this occasion, or exchanging gifts, or distributing sweets or plates of food, or suspending work, or reducing the value of goods, or anything else that is considered a type of joy. Due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family): . Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “The least state of this hadith is prohibition—meaning that imitating the disbelievers is forbidden—even though its apparent meaning requires the disbelief of the one who imitates them”. And he (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Imitating them in some of their festivals causes the joy of their hearts regarding the falsehood they are upon, and perhaps that convinces them to seize opportunities and subjugate the weak”. This is the end of his statement (may Allah have mercy on him). So whoever does any of that, meaning: congratulates them, or accepts their gifts on this occasion, or gives them gifts, or imitates them, is sinful, whether he did it to show affection, as a social courtesy, out of shyness, or for other reasons, because it is from negotiating in the religion of Allah and from the causes of strengthening the disbelievers, their pride, and their deception by their religion. So beware, O Muslim, beware of what Allah and His Messenger have warned you against, and fear your Lord if you want success, and fear the Fire, for it has been prepared for the disbelievers, and obey Allah and His Messenger if you want the mercy of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
O Allah, we ask You in this place to honor us with Your religion. O Allah, honor us with Your religion, O Allah, honor us with Your religion and honor Your religion with us, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, make us severe against the disbelievers and merciful among ourselves, O Possessor of Majesty and Honor. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon Your servant and Your Messenger Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.