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Christmas is a beloved time of year for many people worldwide. Celebrated annually on the 25th of December, it is a festive occasion marked by decorating homes with lights, flowers, and trees, exchanging gifts, and reconnecting with loved ones. For many, it’s a season that embodies joy, togetherness, and love.
However, as Muslims, you may wonder whether we should celebrate Christmas. Is it the right thing to do? For those unfamiliar with Islamic practices, this question sparks curiosity, fear, and concern. Today, we will provide you with a deeper understanding of this topic and clear up misconceptions.
Before proceeding to whether Muslims celebrate Christmas or not, it is crucial to have a basic understanding of the holiday itself.
Christmas is primarily observed by Christians, marking the birth of Jesus Chirst. It holds deep religious significance for them and is a time for Christians to celebrate the message of love, peace, and salvation brought by Jesus. Alongside the religious aspect, Christmas has also developed various cultural traditions, such as exchanging gifts, decorating trees, and enjoying festive meals.
Historically, Christmas has its roots in both pagan and Roman cultures. In December, the Romans celebrated two holidays. First, there was Saturnalia, a two-week festival dedicated to the agricultural god Saturn. On December 25th, they commemorated the birth of Mithra, their sun god.
In addition, pagan cultures lit bonfires and candles on December 25, the darkest day of the year, to keep the darkness at bay. This tradition was also incorporated into the Roman celebrations.
As Christianity spread across Europe, the Christian clergy could not curb the pagan customs and celebrations. Since no one knew the date of birth of Jesus, they adapted the pagan ritual into a celebration of His birthday.
With the rise of Christianity, leaders assimilated these pagan celebrations into the Christian tradition, adopting December 25th as the date to honour the birth of Jesus. However, it's essential to note that Islamic tradition, as outlined in the Quran, narrates the miraculous birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary (Maryam)without specifying a particular date or season for this event. While recounting Mary's childbirth, the Quran doesn't associate it with the winter season nor designate December 25th as the celebration date.
In Islamic tradition, Jesus holds a significant and revered position as one of the prophets. Muslims deeply respect and honour Jesus as a messenger of God, born miraculously to the Virgin Mary (Maryam in Islam). He is acknowledged as the Messiah and is highly regarded for his teachings and his miracles, including healing the sick and raising the dead.
Moreover, Islamic teachings emphasise the importance of following the messages brought by all prophets, including Jesus. His teachings of kindness, forgiveness, and humility align with the core values promoted in Islam, fostering a shared respect for ethical principles across both faiths.
Islam is based on the belief in one God (Tawhid). As opposed to Christianity, which views Jesus as the son of God, Islam views him as a prophet who is respected rather than regarded as a divine being.
“Christ, the son of Mary, was no more than a messenger; many were the messengers that passed away before him.”
(Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:75)
Despite honouring both Jesus ) and Mary, the Quran does not advocate celebrating the birthdays of prophets. Instead, Muslims focus on religious observances that align with their monotheistic beliefs, which is why they do not celebrate Christmas.
Islam places great emphasis on respecting religious diversity and promoting peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths. The Quran highlights this principle:
“For you is your religion, and for me is my religion.”
(Surah Al-Kafirun, 109:6)
This verse encapsulates the essence of religious tolerance in Islam, encouraging mutual respect for differing beliefs and the freedom to practise one’s own religion.
While Islam promotes respect for other faiths, it also guides Muslims to remain steadfast in their beliefs. Participating in non-Muslim religious celebrations, including Christmas, is considered impermissible (haram) in Islam because of the reasons mentioned below:
While Islam promotes respect for other religious traditions, there are theological reasons why Muslims generally refrain from celebrating Christmas:
Islam strictly adheres to the concept of monotheism (Tawhid), emphasising the absolute oneness of God (Allah). Celebrating Christmas, particularly in aspects that attribute divinity to Jesus as the son of God, conflicts with the core Islamic belief in the sole and unique oneness of Allah.
The Quran explicitly rejects the notion of associating partners with Allah (SWT), as mentioned in the following verse:
“Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating others with Him, but He forgives anything else for whom He wills. And whoever associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.”
(Surah An-Nisa 4:48)
Muslims revere Jesus as a prophet but reject the notion of his divinity, which contradicts the fundamental Islamic principle of monotheism.
Islam emphasises the importance of distinguishing Islamic worship and cultural practices from those that involve polytheistic or idolatrous origins. The Quran makes it clear that blending acts of worship with elements of disbelief is not acceptable:
“Do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while you know [it].”
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:42)
Muslims are encouraged to ensure that their religious practices remain purely dedicated to Allah without influence from traditions tied to other faiths or paganism.
While Muslims honour Jesus as a revered prophet, the concept of his divinity as the son of God contradicts Islamic beliefs. Islam views Jesus as a human prophet and messenger of God, not as divine or part of a trinity.
This theological difference is clarified in the Quran:
“They have certainly disbelieved who say, 'Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary' while the Messiah has said, 'O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.”
(Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:72)
This verse highlights the fundamental distinction between Islamic and Christian beliefs regarding Jesus' character.
Refraining from celebrating Christmas helps Muslims maintain their distinct religious identity and adherence to Islamic teachings. By abstaining from participating in festivities that conflict with Islamic principles, Muslims aim to uphold the integrity of their faith and avoid potential dilution of their religious practices.
An instructive hadith narrated by Anas ibn Malik (RA) recounts an incident where Muslims migrating from Makkah and Medina encountered people celebrating certain festivals. Upon learning of these celebrations, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) responded:
“The Messenger of Allah PBUH arrived in Medina during two days in which they were celebrating. The Prophet said, “What are these two days?” They said, “We would celebrate these two days in the time of ignorance.” The Prophet said, “Verily, Allah has replaced these two days with two better days: Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr.”
(Sunan Abi Dawud 1134)
Participation in religious aspects of non-Muslim celebrations could be preserved as the introduction of new practices or rituals not originally part of Islamic teachings (Bid'ah), which is discouraged in Islam in order to maintain the purity and authenticity of Islamic beliefs and practices. Muslims refrain from adopting customs that might lead to all of that.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) warned against innovations in religion, as he said:
“Whoever introduces something into this matter of ours (i.e., Islam) that is not part of it, it will be rejected.”
(Sahih Bukhari 2697)
It is important to note that certain misconceptions or societal pressures may arise surrounding Muslims and their observance of Christmas. Some individuals may assume that Muslims do not participate due to a lack of respect or understanding. However, it is crucial to recognise the diverse nature of belief systems and the need to respect each other's religious boundaries.
Christmas has historical roots in pagan winter solstice festivals, such as Saturnalia, which were later Christianized. Many of its customs—like decorating trees, gift-giving, and feasting—stem from these pre-Christian rituals. Islam discourages adopting practices rooted in polytheistic traditions to preserve the purity of its monotheistic worship.
The Quran warns against following traditions that deviate from the worship of Allah (SWT):
“And do not follow what you have no knowledge of. Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart—about all those [one] will be questioned.”
(Surah Al-Isra 17:36)
Not only Christmas but many other non-Islamic festivals, like Halloween, Easter, Valentine’s Day, Diwali, etc, are also forbidden because of their pagan roots.
While Christmas isn't a religious holiday observed by Muslims, Islamic traditions and teachings encompass a rich tapestry of festivals and occasions significant to the Muslim faith. Muslims across the world celebrate various religious and cultural events that hold deep significance within Islamic tradition. These observances are integral to the Muslim calendar and offer occasions for spiritual reflection, communal unity, and acts of devotion. Such as the following:
One of the most significant celebrations for Muslims is Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. This joyous occasion involves communal prayers, feasting, giving to charity (Zakat al-Fitr), and sharing blessings with family and friends.
Eid al-Adha, known as the Festival of Sacrifice, commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God's command. Muslims observe this day with prayers, sacrifices, and the distribution of meat to those in need, emphasising the values of sacrifice, charity, and faith.
Ramadan is a sacred month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and spiritual growth for Muslims worldwide. It commemorates the revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad and is a time for increased devotion, self-discipline, and charity.
Looking to decorate your home on the festive occasion of Ramadan and Eid? Well, then check out the Riwaya Home Decorations section and buy different decorative items like balloons, wall art, and lanterns to lighten up your living spaces.
In the context of participating in non-Muslim celebrations, Islam views certain practices associated with these festivities as conflicting with Islamic teachings. Engaging in religious aspects of non-Muslim celebrations, including Christmas, is considered impermissible (haram) in Islam. The act of imitating or directly participating in rituals or customs that contradict Islamic beliefs is discouraged and deemed contrary to Islamic principles.
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