The ruling on congratulating the Christians on their festivals.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : It is not permissible for us to congratulate them on their festivals, ever, because congratulating them on their religious festivals means approving of the rituals of disbelief. And this is very serious.
If someone were to say: Is it not permissible to congratulate them as a courtesy, just as they congratulate us on our festivals? They congratulate us on our festivals when Ramadan comes, or the festival of sacrifice, they congratulate us.
We said: No. We do not congratulate them, because our festivals, praise be to Allah, are lawful festivals, and their festivals are innovated festivals. Because if the occasion is correct, and it is the birth of 'Isa (peace be upon him), it is still a religious innovation, because 'Isa did not celebrate his birth. And if it is not correct that it is the occasion of his birth, then it is a religious and historical innovation with no basis. So how do we congratulate them on something that is not a festival in the Shari'ah nor in reality, because we do not know if it coincides with the birth of al-Masih or not? And if it is said that this is known by mass transmission, we say: let it be known, and let it coincide with the birth of al-Masih, but it is still a religious innovation. So we do not congratulate them on it. As for their congratulating us on our festival, yes, our festival is lawful, praise be to Allah. And it is our right to be congratulated on it. As for their festival, it is not lawful.
Now, what do you say, if they congratulated us on their festival, is it obligatory for us to return the greeting?
The answer is: No, we do not return the greeting, because returning the greeting means what? Agreement and approval. So if a disbeliever comes and says: I congratulate you, what Allah willed, today is the thirty-first, what? December. What Allah willed! A blessed festival, may Allah return it to you with good. What do I say to him? I do not return the greeting. I say: My brother, this is not a festival of ours. But I do not reject your supplication for me. I only do not accept the congratulation, because it is not a festival of ours. This is what is obligatory for us if we are honored, otherwise they are as Allah the Mighty and Majestic said:. They have no objection to congratulating you on your festival if you congratulate them on their festival.
We have finished speaking about this. Also, now, the third millennium, it is not befitting for us to hold our heads high because of it, nor to pay attention to it, nor to give it any weight.
As for the second verse, it appears that the time has taken us. How much is left? Hmm. The time has taken us. Otherwise, it is very important socially. And it is the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:[An-Nur 24:30] the verse [An-Nur 24:31] the verse. These two verses deserve that the speech about them be in a complete session. Do you agree to this? Or do you agree that we speak about them as Allah wills, and if the time ends, we say the time has ended and no questions. The first or the second? Yes? Questions? Good, if Allah wills. Good, who will handle the questions today? Did you not handle them before? Never? You know the conditions? You know the conditions? The conditions.
Questions are not read except with conditions:
That he does not make mistakes in recitation, that is one. And that he is good at reading. And that he poses a question that is not inappropriate. Do you commit to these conditions? Come on, rely on Allah. Be there. Be here, here. Delay a little, you. Exchange places, give this place and he gives you his place. Do you not agree except in this place? Come here.
In the name of Allah.
If someone were to say: Is it not permissible to congratulate them as a courtesy, just as they congratulate us on our festivals? They congratulate us on our festivals when Ramadan comes, or the festival of sacrifice, they congratulate us.
We said: No. We do not congratulate them, because our festivals, praise be to Allah, are lawful festivals, and their festivals are innovated festivals. Because if the occasion is correct, and it is the birth of 'Isa (peace be upon him), it is still a religious innovation, because 'Isa did not celebrate his birth. And if it is not correct that it is the occasion of his birth, then it is a religious and historical innovation with no basis. So how do we congratulate them on something that is not a festival in the Shari'ah nor in reality, because we do not know if it coincides with the birth of al-Masih or not? And if it is said that this is known by mass transmission, we say: let it be known, and let it coincide with the birth of al-Masih, but it is still a religious innovation. So we do not congratulate them on it. As for their congratulating us on our festival, yes, our festival is lawful, praise be to Allah. And it is our right to be congratulated on it. As for their festival, it is not lawful.
Now, what do you say, if they congratulated us on their festival, is it obligatory for us to return the greeting?
The answer is: No, we do not return the greeting, because returning the greeting means what? Agreement and approval. So if a disbeliever comes and says: I congratulate you, what Allah willed, today is the thirty-first, what? December. What Allah willed! A blessed festival, may Allah return it to you with good. What do I say to him? I do not return the greeting. I say: My brother, this is not a festival of ours. But I do not reject your supplication for me. I only do not accept the congratulation, because it is not a festival of ours. This is what is obligatory for us if we are honored, otherwise they are as Allah the Mighty and Majestic said:
And they wish that you would disbelieve, so they would disbelieve
ودوا لو تدهنوا فيدهنونWe have finished speaking about this. Also, now, the third millennium, it is not befitting for us to hold our heads high because of it, nor to pay attention to it, nor to give it any weight.
As for the second verse, it appears that the time has taken us. How much is left? Hmm. The time has taken us. Otherwise, it is very important socially. And it is the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:
Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision
قل للمؤمنين يغضوا من أبصارهمAnd tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision
وقل للمؤمنات يغضضن من أبصارهنQuestions are not read except with conditions:
That he does not make mistakes in recitation, that is one. And that he is good at reading. And that he poses a question that is not inappropriate. Do you commit to these conditions? Come on, rely on Allah. Be there. Be here, here. Delay a little, you. Exchange places, give this place and he gives you his place. Do you not agree except in this place? Come here.
In the name of Allah.