Is there any advice for the owners of bakeries and bookstores who provide what the Christians use in their festivals?
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The questioner : There are more than one question also regarding the topic of the Christians' festivals. The honorable Shaykh says: Some owners of bakeries and bookstores, at the end of the year in the Gregorian calendar, provide some of what the Christians use in their birthday festivals, whether by writing certain phrases on some sweets or cakes, such as "May you be well every year," "Happy New Year," or "Blessed Year," and the like. The owners of bookstores also provide greeting and celebration cards. What is the ruling on that? And is there any advice for the owners of bakeries who may have non-Muslim workers who do this? I ask for a complete answer to convey to them, and may Allah reward you with good. And another question on the same topic: What is your opinion on publishing the fatwa you issued regarding the ruling on congratulating the Christians on their festivals?
The Shaykh : Yes, we begin with the last question. Publishing what we wrote regarding the ruling on congratulating the Christians on their festivals is a required matter. We hope that Allah will reward the person for it, so that Muslims may see that congratulating the Christians on their festivals is forbidden, and that it is forbidden by consensus, as Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) transmitted in his book *Ahkam Ahl al-Dhimmah* (Rulings on the People of the Book). This is because the one who congratulates them is congratulating them on the symbols of disbelief, just as if he congratulated them on worshipping the cross, or on eating pork, or on drinking intoxicants, or the like. So, publishing it so that people know the ruling of the Shari'ah and so that they are not deceived and the time does not pass them by, yes, this is a good deed, and a person is rewarded for it, if Allah wills.
As for participating in their festivals with congratulations, preparing food, and the like, it is forbidden. Even if it is less than congratulating them, it is still forbidden. For this reason, they are prevented from displaying the symbols of their festivals in the lands of the Muslims, and it is not permissible for them to display the symbols of their religion in the lands of the Muslims. Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, we begin with the last question. Publishing what we wrote regarding the ruling on congratulating the Christians on their festivals is a required matter. We hope that Allah will reward the person for it, so that Muslims may see that congratulating the Christians on their festivals is forbidden, and that it is forbidden by consensus, as Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) transmitted in his book *Ahkam Ahl al-Dhimmah* (Rulings on the People of the Book). This is because the one who congratulates them is congratulating them on the symbols of disbelief, just as if he congratulated them on worshipping the cross, or on eating pork, or on drinking intoxicants, or the like. So, publishing it so that people know the ruling of the Shari'ah and so that they are not deceived and the time does not pass them by, yes, this is a good deed, and a person is rewarded for it, if Allah wills.
As for participating in their festivals with congratulations, preparing food, and the like, it is forbidden. Even if it is less than congratulating them, it is still forbidden. For this reason, they are prevented from displaying the symbols of their festivals in the lands of the Muslims, and it is not permissible for them to display the symbols of their religion in the lands of the Muslims. Yes.