Ruling on Muslims Participating with Christians in Celebrations
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
I am a citizen of Syria, Daraa Governorate, Izraa City. I have a question and a request.
My question: In our country (Izraa City) it is divided into two sections: a Christian section and a Muslim section. There are some Muslims who deal with the Christians, participating in their joys and sorrows, eating their food, and drinking their drinks, and they do the same for them, while another section refuses. What is the ruling of Islam in this matter?
First: May Allah reward you! I and those like me are not asked, in terms of wording, "What is the ruling of Islam?" because we are not infallible.It is said, for example: It should be "What is the ruling of Islam in your view?" or "What do you say about such-and-such?"
Second: Regarding participation with these people, if the celebrations are religious, it is forbidden for us to participate in their celebrations, such as Christmas or others; because our participation with them in these celebrations entails approval of the disbelief they are upon, and this is dangerous for a person.Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) says: This, if it is not disbelief, is more severe than approving the drinking of intoxicants and other such things, so the matter is very serious.
As for if they are ordinary celebrations or general national celebrations, even if they are an innovation, they do not reach this level.
And if they have not fought us in religion and have not expelled us from our homes, Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Mumtahanah: 8] ,So He (Mighty and Majestic) commanded us, meaning: He granted us a dispensation to treat them with kindness and benevolence, or with justice. : This is benevolence, : This is justice,And therefore: He forbids us from harming them as long as they have not fought us in religion and have not expelled us from our homes.
As for their participation with us in our festivals, our festivals are lawful, and there is no blame on them for participating in them, because they are lawful and pleasing to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Therefore, they congratulate us on our festivals, but we do not congratulate them on their festivals.
The questioner: The request, my master! May Allah grant me five doctors (my sons) and a teacher of Shari'ah and law, and a teacher of Arabic literature. I came to this flourishing land, by the help of Allah the Exalted, performing Hajj with one of my daughters, who is a doctor at Al-Barakah Clinic, which will be established shortly,And in application of His saying, the Exalted: And if you are grateful, I will surely increase you.
The Shaykh: [Ibrahim: 7] .
The questioner: Praise be to Allah, I have placed myself in the service of building mosques. There was a dispute between us in that country over a plot of land separating us from the Christians. They wanted to build a church, and we wanted to build a mosque. In our town of Izraa, there are two churches from before the birth of Christ, which are visited by tourists from all Western countries, and they offer all donations to them. We, by the help of Allah the Exalted, undertook a movement, and Allah supported us in it with His victory. May Allah have mercy on Dr. Abdul Majid al-Tarabulsi, the Minister of Awqaf in Damascus, who passed away three months or more ago. He granted us a permit to build a mosque named the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque. We poured the foundations and raised part of the columns, and we stopped at this point, and we did not find any assistance. I came here with the decisions from the Minister and the Awqaf, and donation cards. I hope that the honorable Shaykh will provide us with assistance, if Allah wills. And Allah is a witness to what I say?Answer: May Allah reward you! O Allah, make it easy. There is no doubt that participating in the construction of mosques is among the best acts of drawing near to Allah (Mighty and Majestic),And Allah the Mighty and Majestic said: [Al-Tawbah: 18] , and this includes both physical and spiritual construction. But know, may Allah reward you, that we are here governed by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs. If the Ministry of Islamic Affairs gives you a recommendation in this matter, then, if Allah wills, we will help you.
The questioner: I do not know.
The Shaykh: If Allah wills, the more days you spend in this land, the more you will know, if Allah wills. Yes.
My question: In our country (Izraa City) it is divided into two sections: a Christian section and a Muslim section. There are some Muslims who deal with the Christians, participating in their joys and sorrows, eating their food, and drinking their drinks, and they do the same for them, while another section refuses. What is the ruling of Islam in this matter?
First: May Allah reward you! I and those like me are not asked, in terms of wording, "What is the ruling of Islam?" because we are not infallible.It is said, for example: It should be "What is the ruling of Islam in your view?" or "What do you say about such-and-such?"
Second: Regarding participation with these people, if the celebrations are religious, it is forbidden for us to participate in their celebrations, such as Christmas or others; because our participation with them in these celebrations entails approval of the disbelief they are upon, and this is dangerous for a person.Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) says: This, if it is not disbelief, is more severe than approving the drinking of intoxicants and other such things, so the matter is very serious.
As for if they are ordinary celebrations or general national celebrations, even if they are an innovation, they do not reach this level.
And if they have not fought us in religion and have not expelled us from our homes, Allah the Exalted said:
Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them
لا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُمْ مِنْ دِيَارِكُمْ أَنْ تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْthat you treat them with kindness
أَنْ تَبَرُّوهُمْand act with equity toward them
وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْAs for their participation with us in our festivals, our festivals are lawful, and there is no blame on them for participating in them, because they are lawful and pleasing to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Therefore, they congratulate us on our festivals, but we do not congratulate them on their festivals.
The questioner: The request, my master! May Allah grant me five doctors (my sons) and a teacher of Shari'ah and law, and a teacher of Arabic literature. I came to this flourishing land, by the help of Allah the Exalted, performing Hajj with one of my daughters, who is a doctor at Al-Barakah Clinic, which will be established shortly,And in application of His saying, the Exalted: And if you are grateful, I will surely increase you.
The Shaykh:
if you are grateful
لَئِنْ شَكَرْتُمْThe questioner: Praise be to Allah, I have placed myself in the service of building mosques. There was a dispute between us in that country over a plot of land separating us from the Christians. They wanted to build a church, and we wanted to build a mosque. In our town of Izraa, there are two churches from before the birth of Christ, which are visited by tourists from all Western countries, and they offer all donations to them. We, by the help of Allah the Exalted, undertook a movement, and Allah supported us in it with His victory. May Allah have mercy on Dr. Abdul Majid al-Tarabulsi, the Minister of Awqaf in Damascus, who passed away three months or more ago. He granted us a permit to build a mosque named the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque. We poured the foundations and raised part of the columns, and we stopped at this point, and we did not find any assistance. I came here with the decisions from the Minister and the Awqaf, and donation cards. I hope that the honorable Shaykh will provide us with assistance, if Allah wills. And Allah is a witness to what I say?Answer: May Allah reward you! O Allah, make it easy. There is no doubt that participating in the construction of mosques is among the best acts of drawing near to Allah (Mighty and Majestic),And Allah the Mighty and Majestic said:
The mosques of Allah are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and establish prayer and give zakah and do not fear except Allah
إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلَّا اللَّهَThe questioner: I do not know.
The Shaykh: If Allah wills, the more days you spend in this land, the more you will know, if Allah wills. Yes.