Reading from the author's text with commentary and collation of manuscripts: "And among that is what the farmers do, such as marking cows with red dots, or marking trees as well, or gathering various types of plants and seeking blessing from them, and bathing in their water. And among that is what women may do, such as taking olive leaves and bathing in their water, or intending to bathe with any of that, for the origin of that is baptismal water. And among that is leaving off the regular duties of crafts, trades, or circles of knowledge, or other such things, and making it a day of rest and joy, and playing with horses or other things in a manner that differs from the days before and after it. The criterion is that no matter is introduced in it at all, but it is made a day like the other days. For we have previously mentioned from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he forbade them the two days on which they used to play in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, and that he (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade slaughtering in a place if the polytheists celebrated in it. And among that is what many people do during the winter, during December, for twenty-four days that have passed from it, and they claim that it is the birth of 'Isa (peace be upon him). So all that occurs in it is from the abominations, such as lighting fires, preparing food, making candles, and other such things. For making this birth a festival is the religion of the Christians; there is no basis for it in the religion of Islam. And there was no mention of this birth at all in the time of the past Salaf. Rather, its origin is taken from the Christians, and a natural cause was added to it, which is that it is in winter, suitable for lighting fires and for specific types of foods. Then the Christians claim that after the birth by days—I think it is eleven days—Yahya (John) baptized 'Isa (peace be upon them both) in baptismal water. So they are baptized in this time, and they call it the Feast of the Baptism. And it has become that many ignorant women bring their children to the bathroom in this time, and they claim that this benefits the child. And this is from the religion of the Christians, and it is among the ugliest of the forbidden abominations."
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The reader: "And among that is what the farmers do, such as marking cows with red dots, or marking trees as well, or gathering various types of plants and seeking blessing from them, and bathing in their water. And among that is what women may do, such as taking olive leaves and bathing in their water, or intending to bathe with any of that, for the origin of that is baptismal water. And among that is leaving off the regular duties of crafts, trades, or circles of knowledge, or other such things, and making it a day of rest and joy, and playing with horses or other things in a manner that differs from the days before and after it. The criterion is that no matter is introduced in it at all, but it is made a day like the other days. For we have previously mentioned from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)"
The Shaykh : May Allah send blessings and peace upon him.
The reader: "that he forbade them the two days on which they used to play in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, and that he (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade slaughtering in a place if the polytheists celebrated in it. And among that is what many people do during the winter, during December, for twenty-four"
The Shaykh : The second one in my opinion
The Reader: Yes.
The Shaykh : The first and second of January
The student: For twenty-four
The Shaykh : Ah?
The student: ... the first, the second
The student: Correct, O Shaykh
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.
The reader: "during the first of January, for twenty-four days that have passed from it, and they claim that it is the birth of 'Isa (peace be upon him). So all that occurs in it is from the abominations, such as lighting fires, preparing food, making candles, and other such things. For making this birth a festival is the religion of the Christians; there is no basis for it in the religion of Islam. And there was no mention of this birth at all in the time of the past Salaf. Rather, its origin is taken from the Christians, and a natural cause was added to it, which is that it is in winter, suitable for lighting fires"
The Shaykh : And increasing the food
The Reader: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes
The reader: "suitable for lighting fires and specific types of foods. Then the Christians claim that after the birth by days—I think it is eleven days—Yahya (John) baptized 'Isa (peace be upon them both) in baptismal water. So they are baptized in this time, and they call it the Feast of the Baptism. And it has become that many ignorant women"
The Shaykh : It appears that it is known now
The student: It is known
The Shaykh : In the same time that the Shaykh mentioned, yes
The student: This one is baptized
The Shaykh : Ah?
The student: One of them is baptized on this day in the last of the cold
The Shaykh : O Allah, grant us well-being. O Allah, grant us well-being. Yes
The reader: "And it has become that many ignorant women bring their children to the bathroom in this time, and they claim that this benefits the child. And this is from the religion of the Christians, and it is among the ugliest of the forbidden abominations"
The Shaykh : Ah?
The student: Questions
The Shaykh : ...
The student: Yes, that is right.
The Shaykh : Very well.
The Shaykh : May Allah send blessings and peace upon him.
The reader: "that he forbade them the two days on which they used to play in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, and that he (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade slaughtering in a place if the polytheists celebrated in it. And among that is what many people do during the winter, during December, for twenty-four"
The Shaykh : The second one in my opinion
The Reader: Yes.
The Shaykh : The first and second of January
The student: For twenty-four
The Shaykh : Ah?
The student: ... the first, the second
The student: Correct, O Shaykh
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.
The reader: "during the first of January, for twenty-four days that have passed from it, and they claim that it is the birth of 'Isa (peace be upon him). So all that occurs in it is from the abominations, such as lighting fires, preparing food, making candles, and other such things. For making this birth a festival is the religion of the Christians; there is no basis for it in the religion of Islam. And there was no mention of this birth at all in the time of the past Salaf. Rather, its origin is taken from the Christians, and a natural cause was added to it, which is that it is in winter, suitable for lighting fires"
The Shaykh : And increasing the food
The Reader: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes
The reader: "suitable for lighting fires and specific types of foods. Then the Christians claim that after the birth by days—I think it is eleven days—Yahya (John) baptized 'Isa (peace be upon them both) in baptismal water. So they are baptized in this time, and they call it the Feast of the Baptism. And it has become that many ignorant women"
The Shaykh : It appears that it is known now
The student: It is known
The Shaykh : In the same time that the Shaykh mentioned, yes
The student: This one is baptized
The Shaykh : Ah?
The student: One of them is baptized on this day in the last of the cold
The Shaykh : O Allah, grant us well-being. O Allah, grant us well-being. Yes
The reader: "And it has become that many ignorant women bring their children to the bathroom in this time, and they claim that this benefits the child. And this is from the religion of the Christians, and it is among the ugliest of the forbidden abominations"
The Shaykh : Ah?
The student: Questions
The Shaykh : ...
The student: Yes, that is right.
The Shaykh : Very well.