Ruling on Imitating the Christians in Their Festivals
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
His Eminence the Shaykh: We have, every year around this time in Kenya, people who hold an annual gathering.For example: The Christians celebrate the birthday of Isa every year, and the Muslims—now—have made it a custom to gather for three days, slaughtering animals and delivering lectures among themselves.And they said: Instead of our children and our community going after the Christians, we gather them in one place and feed them. What is the ruling on this slaughter? Is it considered imitating the disbelievers? There, they exchange gifts among themselves, like the Christians do. Is there anything wrong with that?
There are two things in it, not just one: The first thing is: accommodating these Christians by establishing a festival in Islam like their festival.And this means: That they have accepted this festival from the Christians. Regarding acceptance of the Christians' festival, Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) says in his book *Ahkam Ahl al-Dhimmah*: If it is not disbelief, it is certainly forbidden.
And acceptance of the symbols of disbelief is not a trivial matter; it is forbidden and not permissible.
As for the second thing: Because if we hold such festivals, the young generation will believe that our festival is like theirs, and they will not know that their parents' intention is to keep them occupied with this instead of the festivals of the disbelievers. And their zeal will leave their hearts based on this assumption they have made. Therefore, we see that it is never permissible to establish a festival in imitation of these Christians. However, it is possible to teach their children that this is not our festival; it is a festival for the disbelievers, and we have no part in it.
As for exchanging gifts, this is a matter of consideration and disagreement among scholars: Some said: There is no harm in accepting their gifts on this day.
And among them are those who say: No; because accepting their gifts makes them feel that we are pleased with their actions and their festivals.
And there is no doubt that safety is safer,Meaning: not accepting their gifts on this occasion; for it is safer for his religion and his honor.
And the slaughtered animal was not slaughtered by them for anyone other than Allah, but rather for Allah; however, it is an innovated slaughter.
There are two things in it, not just one: The first thing is: accommodating these Christians by establishing a festival in Islam like their festival.And this means: That they have accepted this festival from the Christians. Regarding acceptance of the Christians' festival, Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) says in his book *Ahkam Ahl al-Dhimmah*: If it is not disbelief, it is certainly forbidden.
And acceptance of the symbols of disbelief is not a trivial matter; it is forbidden and not permissible.
As for the second thing: Because if we hold such festivals, the young generation will believe that our festival is like theirs, and they will not know that their parents' intention is to keep them occupied with this instead of the festivals of the disbelievers. And their zeal will leave their hearts based on this assumption they have made. Therefore, we see that it is never permissible to establish a festival in imitation of these Christians. However, it is possible to teach their children that this is not our festival; it is a festival for the disbelievers, and we have no part in it.
As for exchanging gifts, this is a matter of consideration and disagreement among scholars: Some said: There is no harm in accepting their gifts on this day.
And among them are those who say: No; because accepting their gifts makes them feel that we are pleased with their actions and their festivals.
And there is no doubt that safety is safer,Meaning: not accepting their gifts on this occasion; for it is safer for his religion and his honor.
And the slaughtered animal was not slaughtered by them for anyone other than Allah, but rather for Allah; however, it is an innovated slaughter.