saying “merry Christmas”, “happy Diwali”, “happy Hanakah” to promote peace and harmony, integrating into the larger society, islamically allowed or not?
depending on which interpretation I go by, the answer is different
Re: Do you Greet nonmuslims on their festivals?
I can't say much about the ruling but yes I do wish people Merry Christmas and Happy Diwali and Happy Hanukah. It is a gesture of goodwill and doesn't denounce your faith. I don't think there is any ruling against that in Islam and like my husband says, if you don't want to participate in the festivities by even greeting someone, then please don't take advantage of Christmas Sales either.
Re: Do you Greet nonmuslims on their festivals?
As far as i know in islam its not wrong to wish someone on their festival/occasion. Therefore yes i do greet them---Xmas, Easter, Diwali (these are the three i know)
Re: Do you Greet nonmuslims on their festivals?
what i've learned is that it is not allowed and one of the greatest sins b/c it would be congratulating/promoting a nonmuslim on his/her sinful/haraam/unislamic/shirk activities. pushing them further into the 'wrong' path away from "truth". this does make sense going by how certain nonmuslim activities are seen right?
I like how you see it but then which way of thinking or interpretation is right though
Re: Do you Greet nonmuslims on their festivals?
i really dont think so that if us muslims dont greet them then they are gonna think "oh we shouldnot celebrate this occassion it must be bad since peopel arenot congratulating us". they will continue to celebrate it the way they want it. in some situations not greeting can cause more problems than greeting.
shirk would be if we go and agree with them as in the reason behind their celebration.
Re: Do you Greet nonmuslims on their festivals?
But think about it Nisha, let's say I was trying to attract you towards Islam, wouldn't you be ticked at me if on your Diwali celebration I don't even wish you Happy Diwali? Yes I do know some people who say don't put money into the jars of the Santas standing outside the malls and don't wish them Merry Christmas but is your iman supposed to be that weak? The prophet Muhammad [saw] never disrespected people of different religions. In fact he's always shown care towards them. There were fair treatment and equal opportunity treaties made by him during his times. Trust me, a lot of this behavior is seen today by people who are insecure about their religious status.
Re: Do you Greet nonmuslims on their festivals?
TLK bhai said that, cute
Re: Do you Greet nonmuslims on their festivals?
yeah, he always says that :D
Re: Do you Greet nonmuslims on their festivals?
But think about it Nisha, let's say I was trying to attract you towards Islam, wouldn't you be ticked at me if on your Diwali celebration I don't even wish you Happy Diwali? Yes I do know some people who say don't put money into the jars of the Santas standing outside the malls and don't wish them Merry Christmas but is your iman supposed to be that weak? The prophet Muhammad [saw] never disrespected people of different religions. In fact he's always shown care towards them. There were fair treatment and equal opportunity treaties made by him during his times. Trust me, a lot of this behavior is seen today by people who are insecure about their religious status.
not talking about conversion or about trying to bring someone closer to islam that is confused about their religious status
i only have total respect for prophet mohammad, some of his sayings are very beautiful and ones of compassion but how are nonmuslim religious activities seen islamically?
Re: Do you Greet nonmuslims on their festivals?
Well, some fundamentalists will say things like many of the celebrations are pagan rituals without religious standing [especially those about Christian festivals] but regular folks don't really dissect them too much, or let's put it this way, we are as indifferent as say a Christian is about Eid.
Re: Do you Greet nonmuslims on their festivals?
Well why the hell not?
Re: Do you Greet nonmuslims on their festivals?
Yes I greet everyone...I don't see anything wrong with it.
Re: Do you Greet nonmuslims on their festivals?
If they can spend their hard-earned money on buying me eid gifts, the least I can do is wish them happy holidays. Islam teaches us moderation. I’m not going to bring home a Christmas tree or attend poojas just for the fun of it but I will happily send greeting cards, gifts or simply best wishes to my non-muslim friends. As far as I know, even this would be considered a charitable act.
This is a good detailed read: http://forums.islamicawakening.com/f20/treating-non-muslims-28546/
Re: Do you Greet nonmuslims on their festivals?
I will add some more twist to it. How about holiday parties which happen at work and everybody is expected to pitch in someway ? If I take some tandoori chicken or samosa to that party. Will that hurt my eman in some way ? Will I be punished ? They will celebrate it anyway but I do not pitch in , they will label me and all Muslims weirdo , loner and anti social .
Islam will be looked as a religion which teaches intolerance and segregation.
Re: Do you Greet nonmuslims on their festivals?
this is in agreement with what i have studied though***:
Attending non-Muslim religious festivals**
It would not be permitted for a Muslim to attend the religious festivals and ceremonies of non-Muslims, as this would entail approving of their faith. By taking part in their religious festivals, one will be indirectly approving of their disbelief (kufr) and their religion. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) forbade Muslims from even offering their own Salat at the time of sunrise, zenith and sunset, for there was an element of outwardly resembling the sun-worshippers.
*see in the beginning of the forum link you sent, it said that those who are confused about what the quran says and the interpretations of any of the verses don't have a deep understanding of the quran, i've tried, believe me, but what you're saying in your comment and what the imam is saying here is conflicting, which imam's words are you going by when you say it's ok to wish/attend nonmuslim festivities/rituals. those quranic verses that the imam has quoted on nonmuslims are what i always need clarifications on and i need to find them in the quran in context for my own sake b/c again reading them the way the imam has quoted them and interpreted them are hurtful.
Re: Do you Greet nonmuslims on their festivals?
I personally don't have any qualms wishing people of other faiths on their festivals/holidays.
Re: Do you Greet nonmuslims on their festivals?
It is really hurting to see these days that in Islam everyone has become an expert except the experts. People like me would mostly start with "I think..." and then may be later would like to have an opinion of the experts.
I just called one of the religious scholars and he didn't say "I persoanlly feel/think..." but based the life of the Prophet (saw) and wordings of Quran to support his opinion that it is not allowed for a Muslim to either greet or attend the religious festivals of non-Muslims. Any occasion/festival that is not in accordance to the orders of Allah (swt) should not be encouraged in any way. By wishing/participating we are encouraging it in a certain way. We would promote peace and harmony with other religions only in the areas where the Prophet (saw) practiced it and encouraged it.
I am not going to make it easy for anyone by posting all the details here. If any Muslim wants to know, it is better to contact the religious scholar whom they feel comfortable with in discussing this matter. If most scholars agree upon a matter in the light of Quran and Hadith, then who are we to jump in with "I feel/think..." without consulting a reliable scholar. We are not representing ourselves only but also ISLAM of ALLAH. So it is better to consult the "Inheritors of the Prophets" (according to a hadith) before saying something about a matter without completely knowing the religious ruling about it for such comments we would be questioned on the day of judgement.
If Islam was merely common sense than the devil's logic that I am suprior to Adam (a.s) would have made sense, but in front of the orders of Allah (swt) and ways of the Prophet (saw), logical reasoing doesn't hold any value. Do you know any occasion when the Prophet (saw) greeted the non-Muslims on their religious festivals/ occasions or joined them ??! even though there were many non-Muslims living near him.
Re: Do you Greet nonmuslims on their festivals?
I greet my Nion Hindu friends on their occassions. Also I geet my Muslim friends in Muslim style whenever they call me.It’s a way of respecting their sentiments and beliefs.
Afterall my closest fiend is a Muslim.
B.M Bhai ,H.H Bhai all are victims of that.
Re: Do you Greet nonmuslims on their festivals?
don't have any jews and hindus around me.....but i do greet few christian friends i know.
Re: Do you Greet nonmuslims on their festivals?
^^ I call your bluff on that. there is no place in the world where Indians and "Hindus" are not present. :D