Authored by: Dr. Muḥammad Ḍiyā’ al-Raḥmān A‘ẓamī رحمه الله
It is not permissible for a Muslim to congratulate Christians on their festivals,
because this constitutes cooperation in sin, which we have been prohibited from.
Allah ﷻ says:
«وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ» [Al-Mā’idah: 2]
“And do not help one another in sin and transgression.”
Congratulating them in this way implies:
All of which are impermissible. Rather, it is obligatory to show enmity and aversion towards them because they oppose Allah ﷻ, associate others with Him, and ascribe to Him a wife and a son.
1. Prohibition of Befriending Those Who Oppose Allah and His Messenger
«لَّا تَجِدُ قَوْمًا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ يُوَادُّونَ مَنْ حَادَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَوْ كَانُوا آبَاءَهُمْ أَوْ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ أَوْ إِخْوَانَهُمْ أَوْ عَشِيرَتَهُمْ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ كَتَبَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ الْإِيمَانَ وَأَيَّدَهُم بِرُوحٍ مِّنْهُ» [Al-Mujādilah: 22]
“You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred. These are the ones in whose hearts He has written faith and supported them with a Spirit from Him.”
2. Following the Example of Ibrāhīm (عليه السلام) and His Companions
«قَدْ كَانَتْ لَكُمْ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ فِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ إِذْ قَالُوا لِقَوْمِهِمْ إِنَّا بُرَآءُ مِنكُمْ وَمِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ كَفَرْنَا بِكُمْ وَبَدَا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةُ وَالْبَغْضَاءُ أَبَدًا حَتَّىٰ تُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ» [Al-Mumtaḥanah: 4]
“Indeed, there is for you an excellent example in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people: ‘We are disassociated from you and from whatever you worship besides Allah. We have denied you, and there has appeared between us and you animosity and hatred forever until you believe in Allah alone.’”
Reference: Al-Lajnah al-Dā’imah, Fatwā no. 11168
Ruling on Congratulating Christians on Their Festivals
It is not permissible for a Muslim to congratulate Christians on their festivals,
because this constitutes cooperation in sin, which we have been prohibited from.
Allah ﷻ says:
«وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ» [Al-Mā’idah: 2]
“And do not help one another in sin and transgression.”
Sharī‘ah Reasoning
Congratulating them in this way implies:
- Showing friendliness to them,
- Seeking their love,
- Approval of them and their religious symbols,
All of which are impermissible. Rather, it is obligatory to show enmity and aversion towards them because they oppose Allah ﷻ, associate others with Him, and ascribe to Him a wife and a son.
Qur’ānic Evidence
1. Prohibition of Befriending Those Who Oppose Allah and His Messenger
«لَّا تَجِدُ قَوْمًا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ يُوَادُّونَ مَنْ حَادَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَوْ كَانُوا آبَاءَهُمْ أَوْ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ أَوْ إِخْوَانَهُمْ أَوْ عَشِيرَتَهُمْ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ كَتَبَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ الْإِيمَانَ وَأَيَّدَهُم بِرُوحٍ مِّنْهُ» [Al-Mujādilah: 22]
“You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred. These are the ones in whose hearts He has written faith and supported them with a Spirit from Him.”
2. Following the Example of Ibrāhīm (عليه السلام) and His Companions
«قَدْ كَانَتْ لَكُمْ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ فِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ إِذْ قَالُوا لِقَوْمِهِمْ إِنَّا بُرَآءُ مِنكُمْ وَمِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ كَفَرْنَا بِكُمْ وَبَدَا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةُ وَالْبَغْضَاءُ أَبَدًا حَتَّىٰ تُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ» [Al-Mumtaḥanah: 4]
“Indeed, there is for you an excellent example in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people: ‘We are disassociated from you and from whatever you worship besides Allah. We have denied you, and there has appeared between us and you animosity and hatred forever until you believe in Allah alone.’”
Reference: Al-Lajnah al-Dā’imah, Fatwā no. 11168
