Islamic Reflections

Xentayls

🌸 *Friday Series*🌸

by Asma bint Shameem

🌿*Don’t say a SINGLE word during the Khutbah*🌿

Once the Imaam ascends the minbar and starts the khutbah, there can not be any more talking.
We should keep absolutely quiet and listen to him.
If we say a single word, our Jumu’ah is null and void.

📌 *PROOF:*

🍃Abu’l-Darda’ radhi Allaahu anhu said:

“The Prophet ﷺ sat on the minbar and addressed the people, and he recited a verse.

Ubayy ibn Ka’b was next to me, so I said to him: “O Ubayy, when was this verse revealed?”

But he refused to speak to me, so I asked him again and he refused to speak to me, until the Prophet ﷺ came down (from the minbar).

Then Ubayy said to me: “You have gained nothing from your Jumu’ah except idle talk.”

When the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ had finished (the prayer), I went to him and told him (what had happened).

He said: “Ubayy was right. When you hear your imam speaking, then keep quiet and listen attentively until he has finished.”
(Ahmad, Ibn Maajah —saheeh by al-Albaani)

🔺 *As long as the Imaam is speaking, we must keep quiet and listen.*

If he stops, like *in between the two khutbahs* or is quiet *after he says salaam*, there’s no prohibition.

🍃Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

“The silence is obligatory in the condition the Imaam is giving the khutbah.
So what is before the khutbah, even after the Imaam comes, it is not obligatory to be silent.

And between the two khutbahs, it is not obligatory to be silent”
(Sharh Saheeh al-Bukhaari 3/555)

🍃 Imaam az-Zuhri said:
‎‏
“The Imaam coming out stops prayer and his speaking stops conversation”
(Malik in Muwatta, Musannaf ibn Abi Shaybah, and others)

So when the Imaam speaks, it is not allowed to speak.

🍃 Ibn ‘Abd al-Baarr said:

“There is no dispute among the fuqaha’ of all regions that it is obligatory to remain silent and listen attentively to the khutbah, for those who hear it”
(Al-Istidhkaar, 5/43)

🔺*What if OTHERS are talking?*

Even if others are talking we are NOT supposed to tell them to keep quiet.

Because if we do, that also counts as ‘laghw or idle-talking’.

🍃The Prophet ﷺ said:

“If you say to your companion when the Imaam is preaching on Friday, ‘Be quiet and listen,’ you have engaged in idle talk.”
(al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

However, if others are talking, we *can* GESTURE to them to keep quiet such as by placing the finger on the lips, etc. without speaking.

🍃 Abdullah ibn Umar saw two men talking while the Imaam was giving the Khutbah on the day of Jumu’ah and he threw pebbles at them to tell them to be quiet.
(Malik in his Muwatta 234 with a Saheeh chain)

🍃 Imaam Ibn Qudaamah said:

“If he hears a person speak, then he does not prohibit him with speech due to the Hadeeth of the Prophet ﷺ:
“When the Imaam is delivering the Khutbah, and you ask your companion to keep quiet and listen, then no doubt you have committed idle speech”
(al-Bukhaari and Muslim)

However, he can *signal* to him as there is textual evidence that has come from Ahmad.
So he can place his finger on his mouth.
From those who took the opinion that one can signal during the Khutbah without speaking are Zaid ibn Suhaan, Abdurrahman ibn Abi Layla, Thawri, al-Awzaa’i, and Ibn Mundhir. Tawus disliked signaling [during the khutbah]”
(al-Mughni 2/165)

🔺The ONLY exception for “speaking” is if there’s an URGENT need; so the Imaam can talk to the people or someone can address the Imaam.

Or if there’s some emergency, like someone fainted or fell and hurt themselves. etc.

🔺 *We CANNOT even say Salaam to the people once the khutbah starts and if someone says salaam to you, you should NOT answer.*

🍃 Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

“It is haraam to give salaams during the Friday khutbah, so it is not permissible for one who enters the masjid whilst the imam is delivering the khutbah to give salaams, and it is also haraam to return the greeting.”
(Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 16/100)

🔺*Can we shake his hand without saying a word or does this also count as “idle speech”?*

🍃Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

“As for shaking the hands (during the khutbah), then there is no harm in it although what is better is not to shake hands (during the khutbah).

Rather, he should indicate to him (i.e. through his body language) in order that the person realizes that this is not the time for shaking hands since shaking hands is a type of distraction which can take the person out of the zone of giving full attention in listening to the khutbah.”
(Majmoo’u Fataawa volume: 16, chapter: yawmul jumah)

🔺*What about sneezing?*

If you sneeze say Alhamdulillaah *quietly* to YOURSELF.

And if someone else sneezes, *ignore* that and do NOT say yarhamukallaah.
Otherwise it counts as ‘talking’

🍃 Shaikh ibn Uthaymeen said:

“If a member of the congregation sneezes on Friday, he should say “al-hamdulillah” *silently*.

If he says it out loud and the people around him hear him, it is not permissible for them to say “Yarhamuk Allaah” to him.”
(ash-Sharh al-Mumti‘, 5/109)

🔺 *Can I say Ameen to the Imaam’s duaas?*

When the Imaam makes duaa, we can say Ameen QUIETLY to ourselves so no one hears.

🔺 *What about making tasbeeh and other dhikr?*

We cannot say ANY form of dhikr, or duaa or use prayer beads either while the Imaam is speaking.

🍃 The scholars said:

“Remembering Allaah (dhikr, pl. adhkaar) is something that is liked and is required from everyone, and it is encouraged in all circumstances, *apart from exceptional situations* as mentioned in Islamic teaching, such as when sitting to relieve oneself, *when listening to the Friday khutbah*and so on.”
(al-Mawsoo‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaitiyyah 21/222)

However if the Imaam mentions the Prophet ﷺ, we should send peace and blessings on him *quietly* without raising our voice.

🍃 Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

“If the khateeb mentions the Prophet ﷺ then the listener should send blessings upon him silently, so that he does not disturb the people around him.”
(Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 16/166)

🔺 *Get up and change your spot*

If others are continuing to talk near you, or there’s a small child or other distractions, instead of saying anything, just get up and change your spot.
DO NOT spoil your Jumu’ah by telling them to keep quiet.

It’s not worth it.

And Allaah knows best.

🌷*What to Do Series*🌷

❓*QUESTION*❓

*Is it Sunnah to make duaa ROUTINELY after every Fardh Salaah?*

🌿 *ANSWER*🌿

This is a very common misconception among the people. They think that it is part of the Sunnah to make duaa every single time they finish the fardh salaah.
But it’s not.

It is not proven from the authentic practice or teachings of the Prophet ﷺ that he made duaa after every fardh prayer.

Rather, the place of *duaas* is *before* the tasleem.
And the place of *dhikr* is *after* the tasleem.

📌 *Proof:*

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

“O Mu’adh, I advise you not to miss supplicating at *the end of every prayer* (dibr as-Salaah) saying:

‘Allahumma a’inni ‘ala dhikrika wa shukrika, wa husni ‘ibadatika,’

“O Allaah, help me remember You, expressing gratitude to You and worship You in the best manner”.
(Abu Dawood 1522; saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood)

🍃 And Ibn Mas’ood radhi Allaahu anhu said:

“The Prophet ﷺ taught them the tashahhud then he said at the end of it (meaning the tashahhud):
*“Let him ask for whatever good things he wishes.”* (al-Bukhaari, 5876; Muslim, 402)

The key word here is *دُبُرَ*

The word دُبُرَ means something that is attached to something and is part of it.

The scholars explained that the words “at the end of the prayer (dubr as-salaah)” means in the “last part” of the prayer *before* the salaam, because “*dibr ash-shay’*” (lit. the end of a thing) is “*part*” of it.

🍃 Ibn al-Qayyim said:

“At the end of the prayer” may be understood as meaning before the salaam or after it.
Our shaykh [i.e., Ibn Taymiyah] regarded it as more likely that it is “before” the salaam.

I asked him about that and he said:
“Dibr kulli shay’ (the end of everything) is part of it, like the dibr (rear end) of an animal.”
(Zaad al-Ma‘aad 1/294)

🍃 Someone asked Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen about making duaas after Salaah.

He said:

“It is not legislated; because Allaah said:

‎فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ الصَّلاةَ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ

“And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allaah.”
(Soorah An Nisa 4:103)

He did not say: ‘Supplicate.’

Therefore the place for Dua’a is NOT “after” the prayer.
The place for Dua’a is “before” the Salaam (before the Salaam to exit the prayer).

The Prophet ﷺ used to teach his companions the tashahhud, and he said:

‘Then after it (the tashahhud), supplicate as you like’.

Thus he made the place for Dua’a “before” the Salaam.

And he advised Muadh Radhi Allaahu anhu to say after the final tashahhud *before* the Salaam:

‎اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكِ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكِ

“O Allaah, help me in remembering You, in giving You thanks, and worshipping You well.”�(Abu Dawud 1522)

And this is a Dua’a.

And this is necessitated by the intent because as long as the person is praying, he is conversing with Allaah, and when he leaves the prayer, the conversation ends.

So is it more befitting to supplicate while you are conversing with Allaah or after you have left the conversation?

The first is more befitting (to supplicate while you are conversing with Allaah).
And there is no difference whether it is the obligatory prayers or the supererogatory prayers.

Second: after the prescribed prayers and it is the plural of (دبر) and it is the “end” of prayer.

This is because the (*دبر*) is the end of everything and it is *“before”* the salutations and NOT *“after”* it.

The evidence for that is in the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Messenger Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam.

As for in the Book of Allaah, then Allaah said:

‎إذا قضيتم الصلاة فاذكروا الله قياما وقعودا وعلى جنوبكم

“When you have finished As-Salaah (the prayer – congregational), remember Allaah standing, sitting down, and lying down on your sides, but when you are free from danger, perform As-Salaah (Iqaamat-as- Salaat).
Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours.”
[4:103]

And He did not mention “supplication”, rather He ordered “remembrance”.

There came a clear Sunnah which he ﷺ legislated the one praying to say when he finishes his prayer:

‎أن يستغفر الله ثلاثا ويقول اللهم أنت السلام ومنك السلام تباركت يا ذا الجلال والإكرام

He would beg forgiveness from Allaah thrice and then would recite: “Allaahumma Antas- Salaam, wa minkas-Salaam, tabarakta yaa Dhul-Jalaali wal-Ikraam

(O Allaah, You are the Grantor of security, and security comes from You. You are Blessing, O You Who have majesty and nobility)!
[al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

So him making supplication “before” finishing his prayer is more deserving than him making supplication when he finishes his prayer.

The usage of ‘the end of the prayer‘ is used on both the end before the Tasleem and what comes after it, but after investigating it has become clear that what’s attached to the end of the prayer in regards to *Duaa or Supplications*, then its place is *“before” the Tasleem*.

And *dhikr* or Remembrances come *“after” the Tasleem.*

It’s built upon what has preceded of the verse and the hadeeth, and this is a beneficial principle.”
(Fatawaa Noor ‘ala Darb)

🍃 Ibn al-Qayyim said:

“With regard to du’aa’ after the prayer facing the qiblah or facing the congregation, this is not something that the Prophet ﷺ did at all.
It is NOT narrated with a saheeh or hasan isnaad.
As for doing that only after Fajr and ‘Asr prayers, he ﷺ did not do that and neither did any of his successors (khulafa’), and he did not teach his ummah to do that. Rather this is something that some people thought it was good to do to make up for not offering Sunnah prayers after those prayers.

The Prophet ﷺ offered most of the du’aa’s that are connected to the prayer “during” the prayer, and he commanded us to offer them “during” it.
This befits the state of the one who is praying, for he is facing his Lord and conversing with Him so long as he is praying.
When he says the salaam that conversation comes to a close and he is no longer standing before Him and close to Him.
So why should he not ask of Him whilst he is conversing with Him and close to Him and turning to Him, and then ask of Him when he has turned away from Him? Undoubtedly it is better to do the opposite.”
(Zaad al-Ma’aad, 1/257, 258)

📌 *So what's proven from the Sunnah?*

Go ahead and make Duaa DURING Salaah in your SUJOOD and in TASHAHHUD before the Tasleem.

🔺*In sajdah:*

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The closest that any one of you may be to his Lord is when he is prostrating, *so say a lot of du’aa’ at that time.”* (Muslim)

We can make ANY duaa in the sujood that’s from the Qur’aan or Sunnah or even our own duaa in our own language.

And it doesn’t matter if the prayer is fardh or Sunnah or Nafl.

🔺*In Tashahhud*

We can make duaa in tashahhud after sending peace and blessings on the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam but before Tasleem.

🍃 Ibn Mas’ood radhi Allaahu anhu said:

“The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam taught them the tashahhud then he said at the end:
“Let him ask for whatever good things he wishes.” (al-Bukhaari, 5876; Muslim, 402)

We can make Duaa in ALL the prayers and there’s no proof to say that we can not make Duaa in Fardh Salaah.

And there’s nothing to stop you from making duaa in your own language.

🔺Remember that the way to succeed in this dunya and Aakhirah is to follow the ways and practice of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam.

That’s the ONLY way.

And Allaah knows best.

🔺 *Two MAJOR sins we belittle*🔺

by Asma bint Shameem

Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala gives us some very important instructions in Surah al-Hujuraat.

🍃He says:

‎يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الظَّنِّ
‎ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا

“O you who believe! Stay away from much suspicions, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not..”
(Surah al-Hujraat: 12)

I’m sure all of us have read this Aayah many, many times in our lives.

But have we really ‘read’ it with the ‘eyes’ of the heart?

Have we really _understood_ the Order, the Command that the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth is giving us?

Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala is addressing ME and YOU.

He’s saying “O you who believe”.

That’s me and you.

So pay attention!

Next He says:

*“STAY AWAY from suspicions...! And SPY NOT!”*

Our Creator and MASTER is ORDERING us *not to be suspicious or spy on one another. *

Yet, somehow we feel that this Aayah does not apply to us.
We read the Aayah and pass it by as if nothing.

All we need to do is look at our lives and see how true this is!

We all KNOW it’s wrong.

Yet, how many wives are suspicious of their husbands for no reason and SPY on them...
And how many of us ‘conveniently’ eavesdrop on a conversation...
Or ‘casually’ look into other people’s phones, read their text messages, letters and emails...

We pry into private matters.
We keep an eye on the comings and goings of our neighbors, not out of love and care, but out of plain old *nosiness*.

We peep and grope after the secrets of the people...
We search for their defects and weaknesses...

ALL of this is WRONG.

It’s a MAJOR SIN and *forbidden* in our Deen.

Whether this is done on the basis of suspicion, or with an evil intention to harm someone, or for satisfying one's own curiosity, it is FORBIDDEN by the Sharee’ah in EVERY CASE.

It does NOT BEFIT us, as BELIEVERS, that we should pry in the private affairs of other people, or try to peep at them from behind curtains to find out their activities and their comings and goings, EVEN IF it’s our own wife or husband or family.

Such behavior is grave immorality.

🍃The Prophet ﷺ said:

"O people, who have professed belief verbally, but faith has not yet entered your hearts: Do not pry into the affairs of the Muslims. For he, who will pry into the affairs of the Muslims, Allaah will pry into his affairs, and he whom AIlaah follows inquisitively, is DISGRACED by Him even in his own house. " (Abu Dawood-saheeh by al-Albaani)

🍃And he said:

“Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the falsest of speech.
Do not eavesdrop;
do not spy on one another; do not envy one another; do not forsake one another;
do not hate one another. Be, O slaves of Allaah, brothers.” (al-Bukhaari, Muslim).

🍃And the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever listens in on other people’s conversations when they do not like that will have molten lead poured into his ears on the Day of Resurrection.“
(al-Bukhaari 7042)

How much clearer could the instructions be?!

🍃 Imaam al-Nawawi said:

“Some of the scholars said that tahassus [‘eavesdropping’] means listening to other people’s conversations, and tajassus [‘spying’] means seeking out their faults.
Or it was suggested that tajassus means looking for secrets.
The word is mostly used in the sense of evil.
The jaasoos (spy) is the one who seeks out secrets for evil purposes and the naamoos is the one who seeks out secrets for good purposes.
And it was said that tajassus means looking for information for someone else, and tahassus means looking for information for oneself.
This was the view of Tha’lab.
And it was said that they mean one and the same, which is seeking out information about people’s circumstances.”

🍃 The scholars said;

“Beware of suspicion” means: beware of following suspicion or beware of negative thinking, for suspicion is an accusation that comes to mind without any evidence.”
(Awn al-Ma‘bood 9/2195-2196)

🍃 Ja‘far ibn Muhammad said:

“If you hear something about your brother that you dislike, then look for excuses for him, from one to seventy excuses; if you find an excuse for him (all well and good), otherwise say: Perhaps he has an excuse that I do not know of.”
(Al-Bayhaqi ;ash-Shu‘ab 8344)

❓*QUESTION*❓

*What about my children?*
*I want to make sure they’re not falling into any major sins. Can I spy on them or eavesdrop on their conversations?*

Such situations are *exceptions* to the rule.

If there’s a *valid reason* like you found some indication or circumstantial evidence that points to some wrongdoing on your child’s part, and you want to stop him or her from doing haraam or you want to make sure of someone’s safety and well-being, etc., then it’s permissible to spy on someone; but *only for that “limited” amount of time as needed.*

🍃 Someone asked Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen about listening to a family member’s conversation and recording it without their permission.

He said:

“If the head of the household sees indications of these evil telephone calls, then there is nothing wrong with setting up a recording device without their knowledge, but he realizes that there is something going on, he should not keep quiet and keep listening;
rather he should rebuke them straightaway, because if he continues to listen,because he may hear something that will upset him even more.
For example, if he comes across a bad telephone conversation, he must rebuke the one who is doing it straight away, and not delay it until the next day; he must put a stop to it from the beginning.
But with regard to mere suspicion based on waswaas (insinuating whispers of the Shaytaan), it is not permitted (for him to set up this device), but if he knows that the matter is serious and that it is actually happening, then it is OK to set up a recorder so as to find out what is going on.”
(Fataawa Al-Liqa’ Al-Shahri 50)

So we should not be spying or eavesdropping or be suspicious of others unnecessarily on anyone unless unless there’s a valid shar’ee reason like forbidding an evil or preventing harm.

Let us all try to think well of our Muslim brothers and sisters, our husbands and wives, our friends and families.

Let us not spy on one another or search for their faults or weaknesses.
Let’s clear our hearts and love each other for the sake of Allaah.
Let’s all truly be “slaves of Allaah”.

And Allaah knows best

🌸 *Ramadhaan Series*🌸
by Asma bint Shameem

❓ *QUESTION*❓

*Is it true that the month of Ramadhaan is divided into three parts; the beginning is mercy, the middle is forgiveness and the end is ransom from the Fire?*

*And are there specific duaas to be read for each of these three parts?*

🌿 *ANSWER*🌿

That is *not* the correct understanding regarding this blessed, *BLESSED* month.

Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala’s Bounty is *immense, immeasurable and limitless.*

*The WHOLE, ENTIRE month of Ramadhaan is FULL of Mercy and Forgiveness and His Favors.*

And He Subhaan Allaah ransoms whoever He wants from the Fire *EVERY SINGLE DAY* of this beautiful month; *not* just in the last ten days...

🔺*PROOF:*

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

“When the first night of Ramadhaan comes, the devils and mischievous jinn are chained up, and the gates of Hell are closed, and none of its gates are opened.
The gates of Paradise are opened and none of its gates are closed.
And a caller cries out:
“O seeker of good, proceed; O seeker of evil, desist.”
And Allaah has people whom He frees (from the Fire), and that happens EVERY DAY.” (at-Tirmidhi 682; saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh at-Tirmidhi)

🍃 And the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whosoever fasted with faith during Ramadhaan, while seeking its reward from Allaah, will have whatever he has done [from sins] forgiven [i.e. he will have his past sins forgiven].” (al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

🔺 And as for making specific duaas during this time, there is *NO PROOF* that each asharah has specific duaas to be said in them.
Rather you can make ANY duaa at ANY time.

We CAN NOT limit a certain time or place or number or manner to a certain act of ibaadah UNLESS there’s PROOF of that from the Qur’aan or authentic Sunnah.

🍃 Imam ash-Shaatibi said:

“The word bid‘ah (innovation) refers to invented practices in religion that are similar to prescribed practices, the purpose of which is to go to extremes in worshipping Allaah, may He be glorified…
That includes committing oneself to specific manners and wordings, such as reciting dhikr in unison, taking the day of the birth of the Prophet ﷺ as a festival, and so on.
It also includes committing oneself to doing specific acts of worship at specific times when that particular time is not specific for that act of worship.”
(al-I‘tisaam 1/37-39)

🔺❓*But isn’t there a hadeeth about the month of Ramadhaan divided into three parts*❓

The hadeeth about the month of Ramadhaan divided into three ‘parts’ or ‘asharah’ is NOT AUTHENTIC.

The scholars of Hadeeth have graded it as “Dha’eef” or “WEAK”.
Shaykh al-Albaani has graded it as “munkar” which is a kind of weak Hadeeth in Silsilat al-Ahaadeeth al-Da’eefah wa’l-Mawdoo’ah, vol. 2/262. no. 871.

🔺❓*So what’s a ‘weak’ hadeeth*❓

A weak hadeeth, in simply words, means that it’s highly DOUBTFUL that the Prophet ﷺ EVER SAID THAT or DID THAT or EVER APPROVED of that.

So if it’s something doubtful, why do it?

🍃 Didn’t the Prophet ﷺ himself tell us:

“Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt, for truth leads to reassurance and lies lead to uncertainty.” (at-Tirmidhi - saheeh by al-Albaani).

The ONLY hadeeth that is AUTHENTICALLY narrated about a SPECIFIC duaa In Ramadhaan is what the Prophet ﷺ taught Aaishah radhi Allaahu anhaa.

🍃 Our Mother Aa’ishah radhi Allaahu anhaa said:

“I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, if I know which night is Laylat al-Qadr, what should I say on that night?’

He said:
Say:

‎"اللهم إنك عفو تحب العفو فاعف عني”

“Allaahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibb al-‘afwa fa’affu ‘anni “

"O Allaah, You are forgiving and You love forgiveness, so forgive me.”
(at-Tirmidhi 3513; saheeh by al-Albaani)

So go ahead and make all the Duaas you want in this month, THROUGHOUT this blessed month, without limiting or restricting it to certain parts or ‘asharah’.

Remember, with Allaah lie the TREASURES of the Heavens and Earth.
His Bounties are PLENTY...
His Mercy...LIMITLESS...
His Forgiveness...
UNSURMOUNTABLE...

And Allaah knows best.

🌷 *What to Do Series*🌷
by Asma bint Shameem

❓ *QUESTION*❓

🔺*Can I wish my non-Muslim colleagues “Merry Christmas”*❓
🔺*Can I give them gifts at this time or attend ‘Christmas parties’*❓

🌿 *ANSWER*🌿

It’s not allowed for us Muslims to participate in ANY sort of non-Muslim practice that’s ‘religious’.

❓*Why not*❓

🔺*1. It’s condoning and acknowledging their Shirk!*

By congratulating the
non-Muslims in their religious festivals, we are actually saying “Congratulations on your belief that Allaah has a son”!

By participating in anything to do with Christmas, be it a “gift exchange”, a Christmas party, or simply wishing someone “Merry Christmas”, we’re actually condoning and acknowledging their shirk and its celebration.

🍃 Allaah specifically tells us:

“....do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment.”
(Surah al-Maa’idah:2)

🍃 Ibn al-Qayyim said:

“And it is on the same level as congratulating them for *prostrating* to the CROSS.
Rather it is a GREATER SIN with Allaah.
And it is a more severe abomination than to congratulate them for drinking alcohol and killing someone, committing illegal sexual in*******se and things of this nature.
And many of the people who don’t have any deen (or respect for the deen) fall into this.
And he doesn’t know the ugliness (evil) of what he has done.
So whoever congratulates a person for committing sins, or innovations, or disbelief, then he has EXPOSED himself to the HATE and WRATH of Allaah.”
(Ahkaam Ahlul Dhimmah)

Subhaan Allaah!

If just wishing someone Merry Christmas is like participating in a Shirki festival, and exposing oneself to the Hate and Wrath of Allaah, then what about those of us who actually bring a Christmas tree in the house and decorate it, set presents under it and celebrate it with their families?!

🍃 Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

“The Christians’ celebrating the birth of ‘Eesaa Alaiyhis-Salaam is for them.
However, it is not permissible for the Muslim to participate in their holidays.

They are *not* to give them gifts at the time of their holidays nor is it permissible to sell them anything which will aid them in the celebration of their holidays; all of this is incorrect.
This is because it entails being pleased with that which they are upon if the person were to do so.
And being pleased with Kufr and the holidays of the disbelievers is prohibited for the Muslims.

Thus the affair is very dangerous O brothers.
It is not permissible for the person to celebrate Christmas; if he is a Muslim. And it is not permissible for him to congratulate them for this holiday; if he is a Muslim.

And it is not permissible for him to respond to this greeting if they congratulate him for this holiday; if he is a Muslim.
Subhaan Allaah!
Shall we congratulate them for a holiday which is considered as a religious practice?
And is this anything other than being pleased with disbelief?”
(Fataawaa al-Haam al-Makki no. 1 Side 😎

🔺*2. Allaah is NOT pleased with it!*

Since it’s is cooperating in shirk and disbelief, it is NOT pleasing to Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala.

🍃 Allaah says:

“If you disbelieve, then verily, Allaah is not in need of you, He likes not disbelief for His slaves. And if you are grateful (by being believers), He is pleased therewith for you.”
(Surah az-Zumar: 7)

🔺*3. Allaah’s Wrath descends on this day!*

🍃 Umar radhi Allaahu anhu said:

“Do not enter upon the mushrikeen in their churches on the day of their festival, for Divine Wrath is descending upon them.”

🍃 Al-Zayla’i said:

“Giving gifts on the occasion of Nayrooz and Mahrjaan [two non-Islamic Persian festivals] is not permissible, i.e., giving gifts on these two days is haraam, and is in fact kufr.”

🍃 Abu Hafs and Kabeer said:

“If a man were to worship Allaah for fifty years, then on the day of Nayrooz he were to give an egg as a gift to one of the mushrikeen, intending thereby to venerate that day, he would have committed kufr and his good deeds would be cancelled out.”

🔺❓ *But aren’t they just celebrating the birth of our Prophet Eesa Alaiyhis-Salaatu was-Salaam*❓

Celebrating Christmas is celebration of the birth of Eesa Alaiyhis-Salaam, whom they think is the son of God.

They celebrate the day the ‘son’ of God was born.
That’s why this day is important to them.

They’re not celebrating the birth of a prophet.

They’re celebrating the birth of the son of God, the ‘savior’ who died at the cross.
Astaghfirullaah.

🔺*But I’m just being ‘polite’ because they congratulate us on our festivals too and I don’t want to seem rude*❗️

We can NOT congratulate them even if they congratulate us:
Why?

🍃 Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen explained this and said:

“If someone says; I am courteous to them because they are courteous to me and they congratulate me for Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha.
We say:
Alhamdulillah. If they congratulate you with Eid Al-Adha and Eid Al-Fitr, then they have congratulated you for legislated holiday, which Allaah has made for His slaves.
And it is mandatory for Eid Al-Adha and Eid Al-Fitr to be their holidays, because it is obligatory upon them to accept Islam.
But if you congratulate them for Christmas then you are congratulating them for a holiday which Allaah has not designated as a holiday.
Thus Christmas has no basis in ‘history’ and it has no basis in the religious ‘legislation’.
Eesa ibn Maryam did not command them to establish this holiday.
Thus it is either that, which was entered into the religion of the Messiah as ‘innovation’ and ‘misguidance’, or it was ‘prescribed’ in the legislation of Eesa ibn Maryam but it has been ‘abrogated’ by the legislation of Islaam.
Therefore it has no basis by any estimation.

And because it is misguidance, how is it befitting for me—while I am a Muslim—to congratulate them for it?!”
(Fatawaa al-Haram al-Makki no. 1 Side 😎

🔺❓*So What to Do*❓

We should explain politely that it’s against the principles of our religious beliefs to celebrate Christmas because Islaam teaches us that God is One Who cannot have a partner or son.

And though we believe in the “*prophethood*” of Jesus, and we love and honor him, but to believe that he is the son of God is considered blasphemy.

🍃Shaikh Ibn ul-Uthaymeen said:

“If they congratulate us on their festivals, then verily we do not respond to them upon that.

They are not festivals for us.
They are verily festivals Allaah is not pleased with because they innovated in their religion”
[Majmoo’ Fatawa wa Rasaail question. 404 (3/29)]

So it’s best not to say “same to you” or “thank you” etc. when they wish us.
Rather, it’s good if your are able to explain the issue, “why” we don’t celebrate such festivals as Muslims, then this is better and a way of giving Da’wah.

Also tell them that you will not be participating in any of the religious activities or parties including ‘gift exchange’.

Similarly it’s NOT RIGHT for us to give them gifts at THIS particular time because “we want to fit in”
Or we give them gifts just because we feel “pressured” to do so since everyone around is giving gifts.

INSTEAD, bring them gifts at the time of the two Eids and in Ramadhaan and *throughout the year*, just for no reason at all.
Tell them it’s PART of your DEEN to give gifts for no specific reason.

Also it’s of VITAL importance, especially for those of us who’re in the working field, to EDUCATE our colleagues and neighbors about Islaam, and what we believe in, not just around Christmas time, but THROUGHOUT the year.

This way you can ‘ESTABLISH’ yourself and your Faith at the workplace.

TALK about your Deen. Talk about what ‘shirk’ means and WHY it’s wrong, what our beliefs and principles and ethics are, how we behave, why we wear hijaab, etc., LONG BEFORE Christmas time.

This subtle ‘education’ about our beliefs should be done *throughout* the year so that when the time for their religious festivals comes, they know EXACTLY what we do and what we don’t; what to expect of us and what not to expect.

This way we’re not ‘scrambling’ at the last minute looking for excuses not to attend their religious festivities and feeling awkward for not participating.

And they also won’t feel you’re being a ‘spoilt sport’ or ‘unreasonable’ or ‘extreme’;
rather your refusal to participate in their religious holidays is due to your beliefs and principles and not some personal prejudice or laziness.

🍃 Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

“It is haraam for a Muslim to accept invitations on such occasions, because this is worse than congratulating them as it implies taking part in their celebrations.
Similarly, Muslims are forbidden to imitate the non Muslims by having parties on such occasions, or exchanging gifts, or giving out sweets or food, or taking time off work, etc., because the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said: "Whoever imitates a people is one of them."
Whoever does anything of this sort is a sinner, whether he does it out of politeness or to be friendly, or because he is too shy to refuse, or for whatever other reason, because this is hypocrisy in Islaam, and because it makes the non Muslims feel proud of their religion.”
(Majmoo’ah Fataawa wa Rasaa’il 3/369)

And Allaah knows best