Re: Celebrating The Holidays of The Disbelievers.
From the Sunnah:
1. Hadeeth narrated by [28]Thabeit Ibn Al-Dahhaak (radia Allahu anh) said, [29] “At the time of the Messenger of Allah (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam), a man vowed to sacrifice some camels in [30]Bawanah. He came to the Messenger of Allah (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) and said, ‘I have vowed to sacrifice some camels in Bawanah.’ The Prophet of Allah (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) said, ‘were there any idols there that were worshipped during the [31]Jahiliyah?’ He said, ‘No.’ The Prophet (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) said ‘Did they hold any of their holidays there?’ He said, ‘No.’ The Messenger of Allah (sallah Allah Alayhi Wasalam) said: ‘Then fulfill your vow, for there is no fulfillment of any vow which involves disobeying Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’aala), or with regard to something that the son of Adam does not own.’”
· This clearly shows the prohibition of conducting ceremonies or Islamic gatherings in areas where the Kuffar have used and were known by them to be used for worship and holidays.
· In the Hadeeth the Prophet (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) said, “Then fulfill your vow.” Meaning the only reason he was ordered and ordained to fulfill his vow was because his vow was free from those two aspects: no idols worshipped and no holidays. The Prophet (Sallah Allah Alayhi Wasalam) asked him because had he said yes to any of those two, he would have prohibited him from sacrificing there.
· The Prophet (Sallah Allah Alayhi Wasalam) concluded the Hadeeth by saying, “There is no fulfillment of any vow which involves disobeying Allah.” Meaning that sacrificing an area where the Kuffar used to sacrifice in is prohibited. This is due to the fact that it involves disobeying Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’aala), otherwise this phrase of the Hadeeth would be meaningless.
· If it were permissible for one to sacrifice in an area where the kuffar held their holidays, then the Prophet (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) would have immediately responded, ordering him to carry out with his [32]vow. It would be meaningless talk of the prophet (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) to ask about those two factors if he was not going to base a prohibition on them.
· When the man came asking about his vow, the prophet (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) would have immediately told him to carry out his vow, but there were restrictions that the Prophet (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) had to ask about.
· If carrying one of the most important matters of [33]worship and obeying Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala) is prohibited in these areas because the kuffar had held their celebrations there. What should be said about those that go to the infidel’s celebrations and participate with them? These people who participate with the infidels will be dirtying themselves and not following Islam.
· Note that this was not an ongoing event; the Prophet (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) said ‘Did they hold any of their holidays there?’ in the past.
2. The Hadeeth narrated under the authority of Anas Bin Malik (Radia Allahu Anh) who said, “The Prophet (Sallah Allah Alayhi Wasalam) came to Medina with two days they played in.
The Prophet (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) said, ‘What are these two days?’ They said, ‘These are two days we used to play in, in our Jahiliyah.’ The Prophet (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) said, ‘Allah has replaced them with two better days: Eid Al Adhaa and Eid Al [34]Fitr’.”
It is explicitly clear how the Prophet (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) did not allow them to continue in their play because it was a celebration from before Islam.
He (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) also told them “Allah has replaced them,” meaning you must leave what was replaced and go by that which it was replaced by with.
Also his saying (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam), “better days,” means to take that which is better and was pointed out to us by Islam, instead of what is worse, and has no basis in Islam. Not only are we disobeying the prophet (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam)’s commands by celebrating the non-Muslim Holidays; we are adopting a characteristic of [35]Bany Israel in which Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’aala) told them, [36] “Will ye exchange the better for the worse?”
These two days of celebrations were abandoned and no longer practiced. Had the Prophet (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) not prohibited them in this celebration, they would have continued. It takes a very strong deterrence to change habits that have been in the hearts for a long time. Over the centuries, leaders and kings tried to change habits and traditions of their people unsuccessfully. The determined deterrence of the prophet (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam), with the aid of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala), made him successful.
This Hadeeth is a reply to those who claim that it is permissible to celebrate traditions of the Kuffar as long as it holds no religious significance.
In this Hadeeth the Prophet (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) saw kids playing. When he asked about this, he was told that in the past, they played in Jahiliyah. Note that in no part of the Hadeeth was there any religious significance, nor was there any worshipping attached to this holiday, yet the prophet (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) barred them from it.
We heard of some scholars who excuse some Kuffar holidays like Thanksgiving or New Years as being permissible, because they have no religious significance. This authentic Hadeeth puts a dead end to that.
3. These Sayings of the prophet Muhammad (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) among others all prove that there were celebrations during the time of the Jahiliyah. With the coming of the prophet Muhammad (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam), all that was banned.
Had it not been for the prophet (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam)’s determination and strong deterrence to his companions, they would have continued with these traditions and celebrations, and no one would have left them. If it had not been for the prophet (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam)’s successful attempt of abolishing the smallest traces of their celebrations, they would have continued to celebrate them. What was strongly deterred by the Prophet (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) is considered to be [37]haram.
Some claim that since the Prophet (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) permitted the Kuffar to celebrate their holidays, is a reflection that Muslims are permitted to do the same. This would mean that we can participate in the biggest sin humanity can commit. This false statement can lead to [38]shirk.
4. The Hadeeth narrated under the authority of Aisha [39](Radia Allahu Anha) who said, “Abu Baker entered my house when I had two young girls from the [40]Ansar signing lyrics that were said in the day of [41]Buath. Abu Baker (Radia Allahu Anh) said, ‘in the devils tone do you sing in the Prophet (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam)'s house?’
And it was a day of [42]Eid, so the Prophet (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) said, ‘Oh Abu Baker, for every group is a Eid and this is our [43]Eid’.”
In another narration he said, “Oh Abu Baker for every people is a Eid, and today is our [44]Eid.”
From the above Hadeeth we can conclude that:
a. The prophet (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam)’s saying, “for every group is a Eid,” means that there are special festivals and holidays for every religion that make them distinct from each other.
· As Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’aala) said, [45] “To each among you we have we prescribed a Law and a clear way.” Just like we do not allow the Kuffar to join us in our religious holidays, or any religious aspect for that matter, we do not join them in theirs. Among other things, we differ from them in our holidays, our Lord, and the direction we face to worship Him.
b. In the Hadeeth, the prophet Muhammad (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) said, “and today is our Eid.” Meaning that our holiday (“Eid”) is confined in this day and we do not have any other festivals or [46]holidays.
The above does not mean that the prophet (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) is limiting our only day of celebration to that one day. He (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) spoke in a general sense and was not giving a specific example. To make this point clearer, imagine yourself explaining prayer to someone that knows nothing about it. You would begin with the basics, and then say: “This is the prayer of the Muslims.” That doesn’t mean you are limiting Muslims’ prayer to this special one; this one is just an example.
In another Hadeeth, the Prophet (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) named the specific days in which Muslims can celebrate. He (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) said, [47] “The day of Arafa, The day of Sacrifice, The day of Muna, are our holidays we the people of Islam, they are days of eating and drinking.”
c. Since the Muslims celebrations do not extend into, and blend with, the holidays of the Kuffar, the prophet (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) allowed the young girls to continue singing. The reason he allowed for this to take place comes from his saying, “for every group is a holiday and this is our holiday.” This reason is specific for the Muslims. Had this reason been for any festival, it would have been meaningless to specify our holiday in particular. Yet he did specify our holiday, meaning that the permissibility is specific to our holidays, and us. This is not general to any holiday.
5. The lands of the Arabian Peninsula had Christians and Jews in them until Umar bin Alkhatab (Radia Allahu Anh) ousted them during the time of his leadership. It was even a known fact that the prophet (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) died with his war shield ke[t as collateral by Jew. There was non-Muslims in every land where Islam spread.
That is an undeniable aspect. Those Jews followed their traditions, and holidays. They ate, drank, and wore new clothes, along with other things during those holidays.
A historic fact that can accept no doubt is that Muslims never enjoined in their holidays. They did not greet them, and they did not make any changes from their daily routines on the Kuffar holidays. Some used to fast, or called on to fasting, during the days of the infidels’ holidays in order to be different from them.
The Prophet (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam)’s order was strict and decisive that we not celebrate with the infidels. Had this not been the case, we would have heard of those who enjoined in their holidays or at least greeted them, as doing so was a tradition they were raised on. Had it not been for an order from Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’aala) and His messenger (sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam), they would have continued with their old ways. The farthest extent some went to during the times of the infidels’ holidays was narrated to us: they used to go merely to watch. Even this, however, Umar Ibn Alkhatab (Radia Allahu Anh) banned them [48]from.
The narration’s that have reached us have been so detailed and specific so as to pass along, over the years, that some of the Salaf used to watch the infidels’ festivals. With this in mind, would you not agree that if they had participated in the celebrations themselves, or at least greeted the Kuffar during their holidays, this would have made the history books?
Umar Ibn Alkhatab (radia Allahu Anh) banned them from “looking” at the festivals of the infidels. What would he have done if he saw Muslims decorating their homes for Christmas, eating Turkey on Thanksgiving day, putting out pumpkins for Halloween, exchanging gifts and greetings on Mothers day, Fathers day, and so on?
6. The Hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurayrah, [49] “We are the last in this world, first on the judgment day. They were given the book before us; we were given the book after them. This is their day that Allah ordered them in, they disputed it but Allah guided us to it; the people are followers for us in it: Jews are tomorrow and Christians are the day after.”
In another Hadeeth the prophet (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) said, [50] “Allah astrayed from the [51]jummah those before us. Jews had Saturday, and Christians Sunday. Then Allah brought us and guided us to Friday. So he made Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. They are behind us in the judgement day. We are the last of this people on this earth, and the first who will be judged on the judgement day.”
These, and other hadeeth’s, all emphasize that we have our separate holidays.
Also, note how the prophet (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) divided the days: Friday for us, Saturday for the Jews, and Sunday for the Christians.
That is like saying there are three cars: a Mercedes, Lincoln and a Cadillac. The Mercedes belongs to Mohammad, the Lincoln belongs to Abdullah and the Cadillac belongs to Abd-Alrahman. Each car belongs to an individual alone. No one other than this individual has the right to the car. The same applies to the days and how the prophet (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) divided them out between us.
Commenting on this Hadeeth, Ibn Taymiyyah (Rahimahu Allah) said, [52] “If we celebrate their days then we disobey this Hadeeth. And if this is a weekly celebration, then the same applies to their yearly celebrations with no difference. In fact, if this is a celebration that may be known through Arabic calculations and calendars, then it is even worse for holidays of infidels that are not known except through the calculations of the Romans, Coptic, Pharisees, or Jews.”
Although in this life we are the last of all religions and revelations, we will be the leaders on the Day of Judgement. Our Prophet (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) will be privileged with opening the gates of heaven. This is so because we were given the book after them, we were guided to that which they disputed, and our good actions preceded them. When we beat them to the right path, Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’aala) honored us with being rewarded first.
Islam is a complete religion. It is the way of life. Every detail of our life, we take from it. Among these details is our specialty in our specific holidays. Therefore, to maintain our position as leaders on the Day of Judgement, we must follow that which was prescribed to us by Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’aala) and His messenger (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) by celebrating only those days specified to us.
The prophet (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) emphasized in this Hadeeth that we will be the first to be rewarded on the Day of Judgement because we were guided when the rest went astray. Yet out of all the things the Kuffar went astray in, whether it be major or minor, the Prophet (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) chose to mention that they went astray in their days of holidays. This proves the importance of this topic and that it is a major issue, and not just a minor detail, as some claim.
By joining those who are less in rank than us, we are wasting away the privilege that Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’aala) has granted us. We need this privilege most on the day of Judgement, when the Sun is less than a meter away from us, and each person is drowning in his sweat depending on his actions. So, why waist it away merely to join those lower than us in their holidays?
7. Kuraib, the servant of Ibn Abbas, narrated that, [53] “Ibn Abbas sent me and other companions of the prophet (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) to Um Salamah (Radia Allahu Anha) to ask her: ‘what days did the prophet (Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wasalam) fast most?’ She said, ‘he fasted Saturday and Sunday, and he used to say, “They are holidays of the infidels and I love to be different from them in them.”
Not only is not enjoining their holidays a major sin, but being different than them is a principle commanded by Islam.
However, it must be noted, that scholars of the past have different point of views on what one must do on the holidays of the kuffar. Some said be different from them by fasting, some said disregard it totally and continue as though it was a normal day, and some went on to differ between Arabic and non-Arabic holidays in this matter. Note, that not a single one of them said it is permissible to celebrate their holidays, enjoin in them, or even greet them.
Be different than the Jews and Christians and grow your beards and trim your mustaches).