Congratulating Non-Muslims

Assalamu alaikum wr wb. Tanya : Apakah hukumnya memberi selamat kepada teman non-muslim pada hari perayaan mereka? Jawab : Memberi selamat kepada teman non-muslim itu BOLEH, apalagi jika teman tersebut juga memberikan ucapan selamat kepada kita pada hari raya kita. Kita juga boleh saling bertukar hadiah. Tanya : Bolehkah saya ikut perayaan Natal dari keluarga saya yang non-muslim Jawab : Boleh. There is nothing wrong, as far as Islam is concerned, that you share your familys happiness in Christmas as long as you steer clear of what is prohibited in your religion (such as a table where alcohol or pork is served) and specifically religious rituals. Dr. Jamal Badawi, Member of the European Council for Fatwa and Research and the Fiqh Council of North America, states the following: Participating in the non-religious aspect of Christmas such as family reunion dinner or visitation is OK. Attempts should be made to avoid situations where alcoholic drinks are served on the same table. Kindness to parents and family without compromising ones beliefs is an Islamic duty. Tanya : Bolehkah saya merayakan natal bersama ibu saya yang non-Muslim? Jawab : Boleh. You are allowed to participate in the festivities of Christmas or holiday seasons on condition that you abstain from specific religious rituals associated with them, if any. Tanya Jawab ini diambil dari www.islamonline.net Baca selengkapnya :

Congratulating Non-Muslims on Their Festive Occasions

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. Dear brother in Islam, we would like to thank you for the great confidence you place in us, and we implore Allah Almighty to help us serve His cause and render our work for His Sake.

First of all, we stress that Muslims are commanded to deal justly and kindly with their non-Muslim neighbors or friends. Therefore, there is nothing wrong in exchanging gifts with them. Muslims are allowed to congratulate non-Muslims on their festive days and this becomes more of an obligation if the non-Muslims offer their greetings on Islamic festive occasions. Allah Almighty says: (When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or at least return it equally) (An-Nisa 4: 86) However, Muslims are not to celebrate or participate in the religious festivities of nonMuslims, but they can participate in national celebrations and festivities as citizens of those lands while observing Islamic manners and controls in all matters. In response to the question you raised, the European Council for Fatwa and Research issued the following fatwa: There can be no doubt as to the importance and the sensitivity of this issue, specially to Muslims residing in the West. The Council has received numerous questions and queries from those who live in these countries and interact with the non-Muslims. Indeed, between the Muslims and the non-Muslims are strong and integral links stipulated and deemed necessary by the means and manner of life itself, such as neighborly relations, friendship at work or study. In fact, a Muslim may actually feel indebted toward a nonMuslim in particular circumstances, such as toward a hardworking and selfless supervisor or lecturer, a sincere and skillful doctor, and others. A famous Arab said that one is enslaved by others favors. Thus, what is the position of the Muslim to such people who are non-Muslims, who do not actually hold any animosity towards Muslims, do not fight them due to their religion, and did not actively seek to expel Muslims from their homes and lands? The Holy Qur'an stipulates regulations as to how relationships between Muslim and nonMuslim are to be governed and carried out in Surat Al-Mumtahinah, which was essentially revealed to address the pagan polytheists. Allah Almighty says: (Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity. It is only as regards those who fought against you on account of religion, and have driven you out of your homes, and helped to drive you out, that Allah forbids you to befriend them. And whosoever will befriend them, then such are the wrong-doers.) (Al-Mumtahinah 60: 8-9) Thus the verse stipulates that there is a clear difference between those who fight Muslims and treat them as enemies, and those who interact and deal with Muslims in peace. We are commanded to treat the latter well and in a just and beautiful manner, not merely give them what is duly theirs by right and to take from them what is duly ours. Indeed, the

command is to treat them beyond that and to deal with them in beautiful and ideal ways. As for the other group to whom the verse clearly forbids any allegiance or support offered in their favor they are those who chose to become enemies of Islam and Muslims and worked actively to expel them from their homes and lands for no reason other than that they proclaim that Allah Almighty is their Lord, as did the Quraysh and the infidels of Makkah to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions. Al-Bukhari and Muslim both reported on the authority of Asma bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her), that she came to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah! My mother, who is a mushrik (a polytheist), has come to visit me and she desires to be close to me and to give me gifts. Shall I greet her and treat her well? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stated: Greet your mother and treat her well. This, while the woman was a mushrik, and the Quran clearly states that the People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) are far closer to Islam and Muslims than mushriks. Indeed, the Quran gives allowance to eat from the food of the People of the Scripture and to marry them. Allah Almighty says: (...The food of the People of the Scripture is lawful to you and your is lawful to them, lawful to you in marriage are chaste women from the believers and haste women from those who were given the scripture before your time) (Al-Maidah 5: 5) Also, if marriage is permissible with them, then it goes without saying that marriage implicitly and necessarily decrees love and closeness. Allah Almighty states: (And amongst His signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy) (Ar-Rum 30: 21) Indeed, how can a man despise his wife, who is ultimately his partner in life, his spouse, the mother of his children? Almighty Allah says: (...they are body cover for you and you are the same for them) (Al-Baqarah 2: 187) Moreover, an important consequence and result of marriage is the coming together of two families to form blood bonds and relationships, a natural human form of relating to one another. Allah says: (And it is He Who has created man from water, and has appointed for him kindred by blood, and kindred by marriage) (Al-Furqan 25: 54) Also, there are the feelings and affections of maternity, and the clearly stipulated and emphasized rights of a mother upon her children in Islam. One asks in this context: is it an acceptable act according to these stipulations that one does not greet or congratulate his or her non-Muslim mother on a day of festivity that she celebrates? What about relatives from the mothers side, such as grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins? All

those have rights upon a Muslim clearly stated in the Holy Qur'an, where Allah states: (But kindred by blood are nearer to one another regarding to inheritance in the decree ordained by Allah ) (Al-Anfal 8: 76), and also: (Verily, Allah enjoins justice and perfect mannerisms and giving to kith and kin) (An-Nahl 16: 91) Thus, if maternity and blood relation rights are obligatory upon a Muslim, in a way that exemplifies the beautiful manners of Islam and Muslims, it is also obligatory upon a Muslim to pay the due rights that work towards showing Muslims as people of beautiful character. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) advised Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) saying: Be aware of Allah wherever you are, and follow up a sin that you have committed with a good deed, so that sin may be erased, and treat people with beautiful manners. (Reported by Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, Ad-Darmi, and AlHakim) As is evident, the emphasis is upon and treat people with beautiful manners not treat Muslims. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also strongly advised us to deal with nonMuslims in a mild and gentle manner, not using stern and terrorizing methods. It was reported that when a group of Jews approached the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and greeted him with twisted pronunciation, and thus uttered Assam`alaykum, O Muhammad! (meaning death and destruction come upon you) instead of as-salamu `alaykum, `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) heard them and responded by saying, assamu `alaykum also and the curse and wrath of Allah! The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) rebuked `A'ishah for what she had said. She told him, Did you not hear what they said? He said, I did, and I responded by saying, And upon you, (i.e., that death will come upon you as it will come upon me.) He went on to say, O `A'ishah! Allah loves gentleness in all matters. (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) Indeed the permissibility of congratulating non-Muslims on their festive days becomes more of an obligation if they offer their greetings on Islamic festive occasions, as we are commanded to return good treatment with similar treatment, and to return the greeting with a better one or at least with the same greeting. Allah Almighty says: When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or at least return it equally (An-Nisa' 4: 86) A Muslim must never be less charitable or pleasant or indeed of lesser manners than any other, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stated in the hadith: The most perfect believers in terms of their iman are those who possess the most beautiful manners. (Reported by Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, Ad-Darmi, and Abu Dawud), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) also stated: Verily I have been but sent to perfect the most noble of manners. (Reported by Ahmad, Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad and Al-Bazzar in Kashful Astar) The significance of this increases dramatically if we are interested in inviting them to Islam and making them like Muslims, which is an obligation upon us all, as this cannot

be achieved by treating them roughly, sternly and violently, but rather by beautiful manners and sublime ethics. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) dealt with the polytheists of Quraysh in the most beautiful of ways and manners throughout his life in Makkah despite their animosity, persecution, oppression and extreme insult of him (peace and blessings be upon him) and his companions. This was epitomized by the fact that due to the incredible trust they had in him, they deposited their wealth and possessions with him, in fear that they may be lost or stolen. When the Prophet fled Makkah to Madinah, he left behind `Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), whom he commanded to return the deposits and trusts that were with him (peace and blessings be upon him). Thus, there is nothing to prevent a Muslim or an Islamic center from congratulating nonMuslims, either verbally or by sending a card that contains no symbols or icons of religious implications that may contradict Islamic faith and principles, such as a cross, for the concept of the crucifixion is totally outlawed and denied by Islam. Allah states in the Holy Qur'an: (...but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but the resemblance of Jesus was put over another man) (An-Nisa' 4: 156) Indeed, one finds in the customary words of congratulations nothing that carries any explicit or implicit recognition of any aspects of their faith or belief, nor any condoning thereof. There is also no objection to accepting gifts and presents from them, and to return their gifts in kind, on condition that these gifts are not unlawful in themselves, such as being alcohol or pork. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) accepted the gift of the King of Egypt and several others (See: At-Tahawi's Sharh Mushkil Al-Athar). We also wish to mention that some jurists, such as Ibn Taymiyah and his student the great scholar Ibn-ul-Qayyim, adopted stringent measures and restricted the permissibility of this issue and the participation of Muslims in the celebrations of non-Muslims. We adopt this same stance, advising Muslims not to celebrate the festivities of non-Muslims, whether mushriks or People of the Scripture, as we find some ignorant Muslims celebrating Christmas as they would normally celebrate `Eid Al-Fitr and Al-Adha, and maybe even more so. This is unlawful, as we Muslims have our unique festivities. But we see no objection to congratulating others on their festivities if there is some relationship or fellowship link that deems positive social interaction and beautiful exchange a must according to our sublime and noble Islamic Shari`ah. As for patriotic or national celebrations and festivities, such as Independence Day, Union Day, Mothers Day, Childhood Day and the such, there is no objection whatsoever to a Muslim congratulating others in those regards, and indeed to participate therein as a citizen of those lands, while observing Islamic manners and controls in all matters. Excerpted, with slight modifications, from: http://www.ecfr.org

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-EnglishAsk_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503546666 As-Salam `alaykum. I am new Muslim and I am living with my Christian family in a non-Muslim society. My family is celebrating Christmas and I want to ask if it is wrong for me to attend their celebration. Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. Dear questioner, we would like to thank you for the great confidence you place in us, and we earnestly implore Allah to increase your faith and guide you to the straight path. There is nothing wrong, as far as Islam is concerned, that you share your familys happiness in Christmas as long as you steer clear of what is prohibited in your religion (such as a table where alcohol or pork is served) and specifically religious rituals. Responding to the question, Dr. Jamal Badawi, Member of the European Council for Fatwa and Research and the Fiqh Council of North America, states the following: Participating in the non-religious aspect of Christmas such as family reunion dinner or visitation is OK. Attempts should be made to avoid situations where alcoholic drinks are served on the same table. Kindness to parents and family without compromising ones beliefs is an Islamic duty. During socialization and whenever appropriate, one may share ones thoughts [on religion] with them, preferably in answer to their questions or comments without being too argumentative. Moreover, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, adds: You are allowed to partake of their feasts and celebrations so long as you stay away from their specifically religious rituals, and so long as you are clear in your mind that Christmas has nothing to do with the original teaching of Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him). While remaining steadfast to your beliefs about Jesus, you are allowed to join them in

their feasts in order to reciprocate kindness with kindness. By doing so, you may even be helping them remove their misconceptions about Islam being a fanatical religion. So go ahead and participate in their feasts, and let them know the true image of Islam. http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite? cid=1119503547740&pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar%2FFatwaE %2FFatwaEAskTheScholar Dear scholars, As-salamu `alaykum. I became Muslim 3 years ago Al-hamdu lillah. I am married now and have a one-year-old baby girl. My parents are Catholics. My question is that Xmas (Christmas) is around the corner now. I really need your advice about visiting my parents for Xmas. My parents have been good so far about me being Muslim. It was hard at the beginning. Can you please get back to me in this regard?
Wa `alaykum as-salamu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. Dear sister in Islam, we are greatly impressed by your question, for its related to the affairs of the new Muslims. We seize the chance to earnestly implore Allah from the depths of our hearts to lead all perplexed men and women to the light of Islam, the true religion of Allah. We welcome all our new Muslim brothers and sisters to the fold of Islam. Islam is all for treating our parents, relatives, and friends compassionately. As a Muslimah, it is your duty to be most gentle and kind to your parents. You are allowed to participate in the festivities of Christmas or holiday seasons on the condition that you abstain from specific religious rituals associated with them, if any. In his response to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto,Ontario, Canada, states: I commend you for your zeal to practice your religion while keeping good relations with your parents. Islam is all about keeping good relations and being kind and helpful to your parents. The fact that they are not Muslims should not prevent you or inhibit your visiting them and staying with them and being charitable and kind towards them. Allah says in the Quran, (And We have recommended to man his parents; his mother bore him in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning was in two years. Thank Me and your two parents. To Me is the return. But if they try to force you to associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not. Keep their company with kindness in this world, and follow the path of him who turns to Me. Then to Me will be your return, and I shall tell you what you did) (Luqman 31: 14-15). Based on this, you ought to be kind to your parents, regardless of your religious

differences with them. While doing so, however, you must never compromise the principles of your own religion. Now coming to the issue of Christmas, you are allowed to visit your parents, exchange gifts and partake in their feasts, as long as you stay away from their specific religious observances. For as it should be obvious to you that as Muslims we do not believe in the specific Christian dogmas of the divinity of Jesus or the concept of Original Sin. However, this does not mean that you cannot wish them happiness on such occasions; you are certainly allowed to do so, provided you do not compromise your specific beliefs in this matter, and provided you are clear in your own mind about the issue that you are simply wishing them happiness and reciprocating kindness with kindness. Islam teaches us that we must, at all times, reciprocate kindness with kindness and treat all people with fairness and compassion; we are allowed to harbor enmity only towards those who are hostile and aggressive towards us. Before concluding, let me also point out an important fact: Islam spread, insofar as it has spread throughout the five continents, not through the sword, but primarily because of the tolerance, fairness, mercy, and compassion manifested by those who claimed to be Muslims. After all, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as has been stated clearly in the Quran, was sent by Allah (as a mercy for the worlds) (Al-Anbiya 21: 107). So I advise you to remain steadfast in your practice of Islam, while being tolerant and compassionate towards your parents, kith and kin, neighbors, Muslims, fellow human beings as well as fellow creatures of Allah.

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite? cid=1119503549266&pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar%2FFatwaE %2FFatwaEAskTheScholar

May I Celebrate Christmas With My Christian Mother?

Question Dear brothers and sisters, as-salamu `alaykum. I am currently reverting to Islam. My mother is Catholic, my father Muslim, but does not practice. I have always celebrated Christmas even though I've never been Christian. I've read some advice that warns Muslims not to partake in other holidays, but if I don't, my mother will be very hurt. I am torn. Is it wrong to celebrate the birth of Jesus? We believe in him too, and exchanging gifts for the benefit of my mother and Christian friends does not mean that I adhere to a belief in the Trinity. Please respond; your advice would be greatly appreciated. Jazakum Allah khayran. Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. Dear sister in Islam, we are greatly impressed by your question, for its related to the

affairs of the new Muslims. We seize the chance to earnestly implore Allah from the depths of our hearts to lead all perplexed men and women to the light of Islam, the true religion of Allah. We welcome all our new Muslim brothers and sisters to the fold of Islam.
Islam encourages the Muslim to have kind and compassionate relationship with his parents and all his relatives whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims. As a Muslim, you are encouraged to show all forms of kindness and mercy towards your nonMuslim mother. Let her see the true teachings of Islam as practiced by you and be a good ambassador of your religion.

Responding to the question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states: Islam is all for treating our parents, relatives and friends compassionately. As a Muslimah, it is your duty to be most gentle and kind to them, especially your parents. Allah says, (Keep their company with kindness in this world, and follow the path of him who turns to Me. Then unto Me will you return, and I shall tell you what you did.) (Luqman 31: 15) Keeping good company of ones parents includes accepting their invitations, eating with them all foods that are permissible for us to consume, which excludes pork, intoxicants, and that which has been immolated to idols. You are allowed to participate in the festivities of Christmas or holiday seasons on condition that you abstain from specific religious rituals associated with them, if any. As Muslims we revere Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) as one of the mighty messengers of Allah; we would have certainly celebrated the same, if only it had been a tradition established by Jesus and his authentic disciples. We certainly know that was not the case. It is all too well known that celebration of Christmas was introduced into Christianity in the manner of the pagan cultic rituals prevailing in the lands that the Christians conquered and as such, it is not something to be cherished as an authentic Christian festival. Muslims refuse to deify not only Prophet Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) but anyone else for that matter including Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). We believe in all prophets, and consider them all as preaching the same essential message: Do not worship any other gods but Allah. It would certainly be a good idea for you to broach this topic with your parents in one of their gentler moments. Lastly, continue to pray to Allah to open the hearts of your parents to the truth, for He alone guides (people) to Truth. Ameen.

Excerpted, with slight modifications, from: www.islam.ca http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite? cid=1119503546334&pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar%2FFatwaE %2FFatwaEAskTheScholar

Visiting the Graves of non-Muslims: Permissible

Question As-Salmau `alaykum. Could you please clarify the Islamic stance on visiting the graves of non-Muslims? Wa `Alaykumu As-Salamu wa Rahmatu Allah wa Barakatuh In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. Indeed, visiting the graves of non-Muslims is permitted for reflection. It is reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked Allah if he could seek His forgiveness for his mother. He was not allowed to do so, but he was permitted to visit her grave. Muslims should respect the graves of non-Muslims just as they do of their own brothers and sisters. The Islamic point of view does not differentiate between the grave of a Muslim or a non-Muslim. Graves should be treated in the light of the Quranic verse: "Surely we have honored the children of Adam" (Al-'Israa': 70) The application of this verse is so general to include Muslims and non-Muslims. In this context, we recall the incident that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stayed behind, after the Battle of Badr, to supervise the burial of all the unbelievers who had been killed in battle. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to write back! May Allah guide you to the straight path, and guide you to that which pleases Him, Amen.