CELEBRATING AND WISHING CHRISTMAS AS MUSLIMS

This has been a long ongoing debate whether we should celebrate or wish on Christmas or any other religious event. Some people go to the extreme level and label it HARAM and while others are perfectly fine with it. Here is what I think based on my little research.

First of all, start by looking at the mirror. Don’t you feel happy when non-Muslims wish you on Eid? Don’t you feel amused looking at the Ramadan vibe in non-Muslims countries? Don’t you feel good when non-Muslims visit your Masjid or any organized event to be a part of your happiness? You feel great, right? Then why don’t we give it back too?

There is a difference between Celebrating for others and Celebrating for your own self.  If you are living in a non-Muslim country or even in a Muslim country and you have non-Muslim friends and they invite you for dinner or church, there is no harm in attending. Allah knows what’s in your heart. You don’t have to be a part of their prayer; you can just be a witness. Just like if non-Muslims will come to Eid prayers, they won’t pray but just observe. Or like the Iftar parties, non-Muslims attend, but they don’t fast, some does out of respect which is highly appreciated but it’s not necessary to fast just to be a guest at Iftar party.

Similarly, if you own a shop and you know Christian people are your customers so to make them happy, if you décor your shop a little bit and hand out gifts, that will not harm your religion. You are spreading happiness which is heavily emphasized by Islam itself. Just like non-Muslims do for us on our Holy occasions such as Ramadan or Eid. There is no harm in exchanging gifts or food with people of other religion; you are basically doing God’s work by spreading joy.

Allah has mentioned in Quran to respect other religions. Our beloved Prophet (P.B.U.H) was kind to every person regardless of their religion. The fact usually raised about war doesn’t apply in general. Wars could be within same religions, same societies too. When you are at war, you fight but you don’t hate the entire population. And once the war is over, you live like one.

I always mention BALANCE, you have to maintain balance in every act. I see some Muslims celebrating Christmas as if it’s their own event, they don’t celebrate Eid in such a way as they do for Christmas or any other non-Muslim event. I would say it’s wrong. Being a part of something and adopting it is totally different. And I don’t expect this from non-Muslims either; I don’t expect them to adopt our rituals but just to be a part of it and same goes for us.

And if you want to take the hard stance, then apply it to yourself too. Then discourage non-Muslims from visiting your Holy places too. Discourage their kindness too. But, what good this behavior will do to the society?

I acknowledge that there are extremist non-Muslims too who take the same hard stance. They don’t want to be a part of Muslim’s celebrations either but, we can show them the true teachings of Islam by happily greeting them and believe me, it will change their hearts just like it does for us by the actions of good non-Muslims.

Religious difference is a fact and it will remain till the end of the world. But no religion allows you to hate each other and no religion draws boundaries where you can’t greet others. Every religion preaches peace and happiness, every religion teaches you to value human beings. You can humbly preach your teachings if you want others to convert but again, conversion is inspired by acts, not force. If you will close doors, how do you expect people to know you?

If any non-Muslim is reading this, I wish you a Happy Christmas.

EDIT: I would like to clear again. CELEBRATION and BEING A PART OF CELEBRATION is totally different. If there is a Christmas party that includes haram stuff like alchohol, dance etc, then of course you should not go. But if it is just a simple dinner, what's harm in it?


What wrong is to celebrate it as your festival. What wrong is to celebrate like most of the non-beleivers celebrate, like I mentioned Alchohol or other Haram things. But a simple wish or exchange of HALAL gifts will do nothing harm In Sha Allah. Have your faith strong.