Ruling on Leading Salah by One Who Offers Christmas Greetings
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
What is the ruling on the imāmah (leadership in prayer) of a Muslim who congratulates others on Christmas Day?
Congratulating others on Christmas Day is ḥarām (forbidden) and a major sin.
Such a person is not eligible to lead prayer, as this act indicates a lack of Islamic honor and protective zeal (ghayrah) in the heart.
“It is not permissible to imitate the disbelievers in their religious festivals. No Muslim should assist in any of their rituals; instead, such actions should be condemned.
If a Muslim organizes a special gathering or gives a gift in celebration of their festival, such gifts must be rejected—especially if the gift shows similarity to their customs.
Even selling food or clothing that supports the observance of their religious festivals is ḥarām, as it involves aiding in sin.”
Iqtidhāʾ aṣ-Ṣirāṭ al-Mustaqīm, 2/519
Can we greet non-Muslims on Christmas Day?
What should we say if they congratulate us?
Is it allowed to attend their birthday or Christmas gatherings?
What about doing such things unintentionally, or for the sake of courtesy or avoiding embarrassment?
He replied:
“Congratulating disbelievers on Christmas or any of their religious festivals is unanimously ḥarām.”
He quoted Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله:
“Congratulating them on their religious symbols is forbidden by consensus—such as saying ‘Happy Eid’ or ‘Merry Christmas.’
Even if the person saying it does not personally believe in it, he still commits a ḥarām act.
It is equivalent to congratulating someone for prostrating to the cross. In fact, in Allah’s sight, it is worse than congratulating someone for drinking alcohol or committing fornication.”
Aḥkām Ahl adh-Dhimmah, 1/441
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿إِن تَكْفُرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنكُمْ ۖ وَلَا يَرْضَىٰ لِعِبَادِهِ الْكُفْرَ﴾
“If you disbelieve, Allah is independent of you. And He does not approve of disbelief for His servants…”
[Sūrat az-Zumar: 7]
﴿الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ﴾
“Today I have perfected your religion for you…”
[Sūrat al-Māʾidah: 3]
﴿وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ﴾
“Whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him.”
[Sūrat Āl ʿImrān: 85]
Anyone engaging in such actions—whether intentionally or out of courtesy, diplomacy, or other motives—is committing a clear sin.
These actions weaken the Muslim identity, encourage the disbelievers, and promote pride in their false religion.
May Allah grant victory to Islam and the Muslims, and may He keep us steadfast upon the truth and protect us from imitating the disbelievers. Verily, He is the Almighty, the All-Powerful.
Fatāwā al-ʿAqīdah, pp. 246–248; Majmūʿ Fatāwā wa Rasāʾil al-ʿUthaymīn, 3/44–46
✔ Congratulating disbelievers on Christmas or any religious festival is ḥarām
✔ Such a person is not qualified to lead Ṣalāh (imāmah)
✔ Even responding to their greetings or attending their gatherings is a grave sin
✔ Participating in any activity that resembles or celebrates their religious holidays is strictly forbidden
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on the imāmah (leadership in prayer) of a Muslim who congratulates others on Christmas Day?
❖ Answer:
Congratulating others on Christmas Day is ḥarām (forbidden) and a major sin.Such a person is not eligible to lead prayer, as this act indicates a lack of Islamic honor and protective zeal (ghayrah) in the heart.
❖ Scholarly Evidences:
❀ Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله (d. 728 AH) said:
“It is not permissible to imitate the disbelievers in their religious festivals. No Muslim should assist in any of their rituals; instead, such actions should be condemned.
If a Muslim organizes a special gathering or gives a gift in celebration of their festival, such gifts must be rejected—especially if the gift shows similarity to their customs.
Even selling food or clothing that supports the observance of their religious festivals is ḥarām, as it involves aiding in sin.”
Iqtidhāʾ aṣ-Ṣirāṭ al-Mustaqīm, 2/519❀ Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn رحمه الله (d. 1421 AH) was asked:
Can we greet non-Muslims on Christmas Day?
What should we say if they congratulate us?
Is it allowed to attend their birthday or Christmas gatherings?
What about doing such things unintentionally, or for the sake of courtesy or avoiding embarrassment?
He replied:
“Congratulating disbelievers on Christmas or any of their religious festivals is unanimously ḥarām.”
He quoted Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله:
“Congratulating them on their religious symbols is forbidden by consensus—such as saying ‘Happy Eid’ or ‘Merry Christmas.’
Even if the person saying it does not personally believe in it, he still commits a ḥarām act.
It is equivalent to congratulating someone for prostrating to the cross. In fact, in Allah’s sight, it is worse than congratulating someone for drinking alcohol or committing fornication.”
Aḥkām Ahl adh-Dhimmah, 1/441❖ Quranic Evidences:
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿إِن تَكْفُرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنكُمْ ۖ وَلَا يَرْضَىٰ لِعِبَادِهِ الْكُفْرَ﴾
“If you disbelieve, Allah is independent of you. And He does not approve of disbelief for His servants…”
[Sūrat az-Zumar: 7]﴿الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ﴾
“Today I have perfected your religion for you…”
[Sūrat al-Māʾidah: 3]﴿وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ﴾
“Whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him.”
[Sūrat Āl ʿImrān: 85]❖ Additional Clarifications by Shaykh al-ʿUthaymīn:
- Even if disbelievers greet us on their holiday, we do not return the greeting, because:
- It is not our festival
- It is a festival Allah dislikes
- It is either a religious innovation or a canceled religion
- Attending their festival meals or celebrations is more sinful than greeting them, as it involves active participation in their religious innovations.
- Exchanging gifts, sharing sweets, making colorful meals, closing businesses, or engaging in any unusual festive behavior in imitation of them is ḥarām.
- The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever imitates a people is one of them."
- Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله wrote:
“Imitating the disbelievers in their festivals gives them inner joy and hope to dominate weaker Muslims.”
Iqtidhāʾ aṣ-Ṣirāṭ al-Mustaqīm, 1/546
❖ Final Warning:
Anyone engaging in such actions—whether intentionally or out of courtesy, diplomacy, or other motives—is committing a clear sin.
These actions weaken the Muslim identity, encourage the disbelievers, and promote pride in their false religion.
May Allah grant victory to Islam and the Muslims, and may He keep us steadfast upon the truth and protect us from imitating the disbelievers. Verily, He is the Almighty, the All-Powerful. Fatāwā al-ʿAqīdah, pp. 246–248; Majmūʿ Fatāwā wa Rasāʾil al-ʿUthaymīn, 3/44–46
Summary:
✔ Congratulating disbelievers on Christmas or any religious festival is ḥarām
✔ Such a person is not qualified to lead Ṣalāh (imāmah)
✔ Even responding to their greetings or attending their gatherings is a grave sin
✔ Participating in any activity that resembles or celebrates their religious holidays is strictly forbidden
