Fatwa ID: 07056

Answered by: Mufti Mohammed Dilwar Hussain

Question:

Are we allowed to go for Christmas dinner with co-workers from work?

In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Imitating the non-Muslims can be broken down into multiple categories, each of which carries with it its own ruling.

The Prophet ﷺ has said: “Whoever imitates a people, then he is from them.” [Sunan Abi Dāwūd: Hadith 4031] [1]

Elsewhere, the Prophet ﷺ talks about safeguarding oneself from changing away from the natural disposition on which we have been created. [Sāhīh al-Bukhārī: Hadith 4775] [2]

The natural disposition refers to the fact that we were all born as Muslims and as Muslims we should adopt the way of the Prophets and the pious scholars as they are our guides to trotting the correct path.

Imitating the non-Muslims in their beliefs, their mannerisms or signs which are directly attributed to their religion and in their ceremonies or festivals would be paramount to kufr and disbelief (i.e., taking one out of the fold of Islām). Examples of these would be; accepting Isa AS (Jesus Christ) or Uzair (Ezra) as the son of God (na’oozu billāh), wearing of the cross, the Hindu tika, celebrating Christmas, Divali and etc.

Though, the likes of Christmas and easter have become extremely commercialised, their essence are still the same. They are Christian holidays, for which there is no scope for Muslims to be involved in such activities. Similarly would be the case for attending Christmas parties.

[1]حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو النَّضْرِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَسَّانُ بْنُ عَطِيَّةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُنِيبٍ الْجُرَشِيِّ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

[2]حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَانُ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، أَخْبَرَنَا يُونُسُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ مَا مِنْ مَوْلُودٍ إِلاَّ يُولَدُ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ، فَأَبَوَاهُ يُهَوِّدَانِهِ أَوْ يُنَصِّرَانِهِ أَوْ يُمَجِّسَانِهِ، كَمَا تُنْتَجُ الْبَهِيمَةُ بَهِيمَةً جَمْعَاءَ، هَلْ تُحِسُّونَ فِيهَا مِنْ جَدْعَاءَ ‏”‏ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ ‏ {‏فِطْرَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا لاَ تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ‏}

Only Allāh Ta’ālā knows best.

Written by Mufti Mohammed Dilwar Hussain

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham