Is it permissible to visit the People of the Book and participate in their festivals, celebrations, and mourning?

The questioner : Regarding the treatment of the People of the Book, is it permissible to participate in their festivals, celebrations, and mourning, to offer condolences, and to visit them?

The Shaykh : Absolutely not, this is not permissible.

The questioner : If you would be so kind, please give a brief summary of how to treat the People of the Book.

The Shaykh : It is not permissible to interact with the People of the Book in their acts of worship or their religious observances, especially if they contain disbelief or sin. This is one matter. Visiting them on occasions other than their festivals, such as visiting their sick, is a different matter. The distinction is very clear. Our Lord says: Therefore, associating with these people who are unjust to themselves in their festivals and their false acts of worship is not permissible for a Muslim. And the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: He does not drink, but he is sitting with them, and that is sufficient for him as a sin. Associating with these people who are unjust to themselves, even if they were Muslims, is a sin because they disobey Allah simply by drinking the forbidden intoxicants. As for visiting sick disbelievers and visiting them, while staying away from the festivals and acts of worship mentioned above, we believe this is permissible, indeed recommended. This is for two reasons. The first reason is that it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he used to go to the Jews, until it came in a hadith: In fact, it is established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) visited a young Jewish man who served him. He visited him as usual when he was ill. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the Jewish boy, "Say: There is no god but Allah." His father was at his head, and the boy raised his eyes to his father, as if consulting him, "What is your opinion of this request?" This is part of the cunning and stubbornness of the Jews; he said to him, "Obey Abu al-Qasim," because he saw him in the illness of death, but he himself did not obey Abu al-Qasim. This is what the previous verse applies to them: In fact, the other verse is explicit: So when he saw his son on the path to death and parting from this life, he said to him, "Obey Abu al-Qasim." He said it and then died. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Therefore, we say that visiting the People of the Book is permissible, because this is established from the Messenger (peace be upon him). Second, this visit should not be a form of flattery, nor should it be a form of hypocrisy toward them or seeking closeness to them. Rather, it should be a means and a preparation to convey the call of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) to them. In that case, this visit becomes one of the prescribed matters. You are not unaware of the difference between such a visit and participating in their festivals and the like.