While the incidents on Christmas Day were indeed tragic, it was even worse to see Christians such as Chessie L. Edwards, milking such a tragedy for views on his website. I apologize to all those who had to read his abusive and incoherent, drunken tirade against Muslims on that day. Chessie L. Edwards began to attack all Muslims for the actions of a few, just as his forefathers did (3 Crusades, hundrends of thousands dead):
Yet another Terrorist group on the arise killing at will and destroying kafir law and order with impunity.
The LRA rebels stated that they fought for the establishment of a government based on the biblical Ten Commandments. They were notorious for kidnapping children and forcing them to become rebel fighters or concubines. More than one-half-million people in Uganda’s Gulu and Kitgum districts had been displaced by the fighting and lived in temporary camps, protected by the army.
In fact, he goes on to ask why American Islamic Organizations didn’t send scholars to teach/ correct the beliefs of the Nigerian terrorists, therefore we must ask the same question to him, Chessie, why don’t you and sam shamoun go and teach the LRA not to rape women and kill babies? Are you too busy pointing the fingers at Muslims to not correct your violent brothers in the name of Christ?
A homemade bomb was thrown into a madrasa in Delta State in southern Nigeria, the police said, wounding seven people and escalating already uneasy tensions between Muslims and Christians after several church bombings across the nation. Six of the wounded were children younger than 9.
Alot of uneducated and ignorant anti-Muslim rhetoric, usually comes from people who themselves can’t read a single word of Arabic. Therefore they appeal to the fallacy of damnant quod non intelligunt (meaning: they condemn what they do not understand). Such persons like sam shamoun (who still won’t dare debate me, after numerous challenges), have proposed that the Qur’aan uses incorrect Arabic in Suratul Ikhlas. The argument can be summarised as, if, “Allaah is one, and the Arabic for one is wahid, why does Suratul Ikhlas use ahad?”. Mufti Taqi Uthmani [db] refutes him perfectly in this wonderful and concise breakdown of the Qur’aanic Arabic:
Most people have probably never heard of Br. Yusuf Ismail, and that’s a shame, he is one of the best present day debaters in the world of theology, especially from the Muslim side. This is one of his greatest debates, although it does date back to 2010, it really demonstrates how weak Christians can become (intellectually) in front of a Muslim whose been educated in the same exact fields, read the same books, used the same arguments. William Lane Craig clearly underestimated Br. Yusuf, if you’re looking for a debate to fancy your interests, learn a thing or two, we certainly recommend this one:
“Jesus died for your sins, why do you still try to do works to gain heaven when he has made the ultimate sacrifice for you?”
Answer:
This is often a question that missionaries and lay Christian alike post to the Muslim population. It’s quite the offer to resist. God has made a sacrifice for your eternal forgiveness, why would someone possibly forsake eternal forgiveness for eternal perdition? The Christian narrative would usually base the fault upon either Satan or the lack of having the Holy Spirit guide us.
However, this is not the case, we Muslims reject the sacrifice, or rather alleged sacrifice based upon a number of glaring theological loopholes that essentially render this “ultimate sacrifice” to be nothing more than a figment of romanticised pre-Monotheistic passion narratives. I’ll frame the answer to this question within two primary arguments:
Early Christianity had to deal with the problem of Jesus being the ultimate sacrifice to justify the forgiveness of all their sins. What exactly does the object of sacrifice need to be to fulfill or warrant such a price as forgiveness? The answer is perfect. Jesus has to be perfect, that is without error, without flaw, without sin. However as John 1:1 and John 1:14 would indicate to us, Jesus was of the flesh and the flesh, whenever brought into this world, was sinful, that is, all born of women folk have inherited the sin of Adam. Some cite Genesis 3:16 and Psalms 51:5 as evidence for that.
In any case, the problem supposes itself. How can Jesus be the ultimate sacrifice if he has a sin on his record? That being the original [inherited] sin. The solution was to remove that sin from upon Jesus, by placing the onus on his mother, Mary. This is where the topic of the Immaculate Conception comes up. The Immaculate Conception refers to Mary and not Jesus. Essentially, Mary was specially chosen by God to deliver God on earth, and in doing so, God made her sinless. The problem here though, is that no Biblical evidence supports or promotes this belief. There is none. The only sources for this belief comes from the writings of men, who were attributing divinity to Mary, in almost the same light the Collyridians [Mary worshippers] were doing:
The salutation of the angel Gabriel — chaire kecharitomene, Hail, full of grace (Luke 1:28) indicates a unique abundance of grace, a supernatural, godlike state of soul, which finds its explanation only in the Immaculate Conception of Mary. But the term kecharitomene (full of grace) serves only as an illustration, not as a proof of the dogma.
she was created in a condition more sublime and glorious than all other natures.
To St. Ephraem she was as innocent as Eve before her fall, a virgin most estranged from every stain of sin, more holy than the Seraphim, the sealed fountain of the Holy Ghost, the pure seed of God, ever in body and in mind intact and immaculate.[1]
These quotes speak for themselves. Really, these men were ascribing beliefs about Mary to justify their beliefs of God having to die for their errors. So, to summarize this point:
Jesus died for our sins. | | V
Because he was the perfect sacrifice. | | V
Perfect because his mother delivered him without the original sin. | | V
She didn’t deliver him with the original sin because God made her soul god-like in purity. | | V
He made her so, according to the writings not in scripture, but in those of men wondering why or how Jesus was born sinless.
Since their is no scriptural basis for the Immaculate Conception and the only source of such beliefs are from men ascribing god-like attributes to her, I am left to reject her god-like state, as she is not god-like in anyway, shape or form just as the earliest Christians condemned and rejected that same belief as held by the Collyridians.
As a side note, what makes this original sin even worse is the fact that babies get to burn in hell for simply, being born:
Babies Burn in Hell in Christianity
Theological Circular Thinking:
What is more frustrating is the apparent lack of reasoning that befalls this theological concept of someone having died, for all of my sins. To begin with, all humans are sinners and this is supported by the Biblical text Job 15:14. With that in mind, let us say I am a sinner. Jesus, according to Christian belief has suffered, been tortured, abused and died for me and my inequities. However Jesus’ death is redundant. This romanticized, sacrifice is useless in relation to my existence, to be extant, Jesus died for nothing.
Now, why would I say something so harsh? Well, I’d like you or rather, I’d like to invite you to reality. I don’t believe in the Christian concept of God, I don’t believe that God killed himself to rescue me from a punishment he created for me. So seeing as I don’t accept this sacrifice, his dying for me, is useless since I pretty much go to hell, even though he has already paid for my sins, see Mark 9:43 – 49.
One must understand, that since I am a disbeliever in his death (and as understood, the religion of Christianity) and you are sure he died for me, then quite clearly in your theological framework, he paid for sins and I am still going to be punished for them. So his death didn’t save me, his death did not benefit me in the least. So what exactly is my point?
My point is, if Jesus paid for my sins, why I am still going to be punished for them?
If the Christian concept of God, allows Jesus to be all knowing, then wouldn’t he have known I would not believe in Christianity and thus not died for me? Wasted blood, no?
Though it is evident that wine has a few medical benefits, scientific researches have proved that the harms of wine and alcohol in general exceed by far their benefits, both on the individual and social levels, even among moderate drinkers. And surprisingly this is how Quran addresses Wine:
“They question thee about alcohol (wine) and games of chance. Say: In both is great sin, and some utility (benefits) for men; but the sin(harms) of them is greater than their usefulness.” – Qur’aan : Surat al-Baqarah (2) : 219.
Thus alcohol in Islam is forbidden (haram).
Science confirms this Qur’aannic fact:
WEDNESDAY, May 2 (HealthDay News) — While it might help your heart, drinking even moderately could shrink your brain, U.S. researchers say.
Alcohol is more harmful than heroin or crack when the overall dangers to the individual and society are considered, according to a study in the Lancet.
‘Moderate’ drinking is harmful to younger people, says study.
Alcohol Linked to Cancer Risk in Women: Study Shows Even Low-to-Moderate Drinking Raises Risk of Cancer.
Feb. 24, 2009 — Women who drink as little as one alcoholic beverage a day — be it beer, wine, or hard liquor — have an increased cancer risk, a study shows. Based on their findings, the researchers estimated that alcohol could be to blame for 13% of these cancers in women.
The largest ever study published in 2009 reveals that as little as a glass of wine a day may be too risky for women.
Alcohol and drug abuse also poses a public health risk. The abuse of these substances causes a variety of cancers, diseases, and other health problems. Each year, society pays $16 billion in healthcare costs due to drugs and alcohol.
This article authored by Brother Muhyiddine of Dubai.
“The Hour will not be established-till the people of the desert (the camel shepherds) compete with one another in constructing high buildings.”
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on the minor signs of the last day.
On being asked on the signs of the last day, the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentions: “you shall see the barefoot, naked, penniless shepherds competing in constructing high buildings.” This hadith describes people who become rich all of a sudden and then build not for need but only in competition.
The Gulf Arab States, enjoying the proceeds of record-high oil prices, are rushing to build the tallest tower in world, reports Kuwait Times.
As reported by MEED (Middle East Economic Digest), Saudi Arabia has been the latest among the Gulf States to join the race, with a plan to build a 1600m tower in the Red Sea City of Jeddah. The project, which is expected to surpass the super-tall skyscrapers in the neighboring Dubai and Kuwait, confirms that the competition is on, to build the world’s tallest tower in the Gulf region.
Among all other super-tall structures that are under construction around the globe, none exceeds 700m in height. MEED says that although the companies involved in the Saudi-based project are kept secretive, it is said that Britain’s Hyder Consulting and Arup are working in a joint-venture, and the cost of the project is expected to cost up to $10 billion. The tower, known as
“Mile-High Tower” will have the US Engineering giant Bechtel as construction manager, and Saudi-based Omrania as the project architect.
What are the origins of Christmas? See what a historian, social activist and modern explorer has to say on this subject. It’s a pleasant introduction into a 25 minute video that goes indepth into the history, politics and theology behind the day of Christmas. Shaykh Abdullah’s speaking style is both simple and extant (to the point), yet his speech is not condemning, in fact it’s quite inviting, with that we invite both Muslims and Christians to watch his video:
For the more enthusiastic seeker with a few minutes extra to spare, the Shaykh has authored a wonderfully written article:
Since earliest times the inhabitants of the Northern countries have observed that there is a period during the year when the days begin to lengthen and the cold begins to strengthen. This event is the Winter Solstice, the turning point when winter having reached its zenith, has also reached the point when it must decline again towards spring. Thus, December 21st is the shortest day of the year.
It was on or about December 21st that the Ancient Greeks celebrated the Bacchanalia or festivities to honour Bacchus the god of wine. In Ancient Rome the Saturnalia of festivals in honour of Saturn, the god of time, began on December 17th and continued for seven days. Both festivals ended in drunkenness, obscenity and disorder. The Druids observed this season in their great roofless temples at Stonehenge and Avebury in England. Torches were lit and strange pagan ceremonies were enacted in honour of the Sun god and to cut the Mysterious Mistletoe to which they gave god-like powers. Even the Ancient Egyptians celebrated this mid-winter in honour of Horus, the son of Isis, born at the close of December.
The Ancient Germanic tribes celebrated the pagan feast of the 12 Night from Dec. 25th to Jan. 6th. The conflicts between the active forces of nature were represented as battles between the gods and plants. The winter was the Ice-Giant, cruel and unruly, and darkness and death followed him. The Sun god and the South Wind were symbols of light and life. At last Thor, the god of the Thunderstorm riding on the wings of the air hurled his thunderbolt at the winter castle and demolished it.
In Scandinavian countries, great fires were kindled to defy the Frost King. The followers of Mithra, throughout the Northern countries, called this period sol invictus representing the time of the victory of light over darkness. Mithra, for them, was not only the Sun god, but the Mediator between mankind and the Supreme Being. His birthday was celebrated on the 25th of December. Sunday, the seventh day of the week (for seven was his number) was consecrated to him, and known as the Lord’s Day long before the Christian Era.
The roots of the Christmas observance, therefore, go deeply into the folklore of the early pagan traditions. What we may read of Christmas in ancient days finds its flower in the past and present customs of Western Civilization. We should clearly understand one important fact. Christmas is not the actual date of the birth of Jesus (p.b.u.h), but a compromise with paganism. The Gospels say nothing about the seasons of the year when Jesus was born. On the other hand, they do tell us that shepherds were guarding their flocks in the open air. Hence, many of the early leaders of the Church considered it most likely that the nativity took place either in the late summer of early Fall.
This and countless facts point to the conclusion that Christmas (Dec. 25th) actually has nothing to do with Jesus (p.b.u.h.) and Mary (p.b.u.h.), the humble of servants of Allah who abstained from the world and submitted entirely to their lord. Christmas has actually incorporated into itself all the pagan festivals; Greek, Roman, Druid, German, Scandinavian, etc., and given them new meaning. The wild revels of the Bacchanalia, the Saturnalia, and the Twelve Nights survive in a milder form in the merriment that marks the season of Christmas today.
“Christmas gifts themselves remind us of the presents that were exchanged in Rome during Saturnalia. In Rome, it might be added, the presence usually took the form of wax tapers (candles) and dolls – the latter being in turn a survival of human sacrifices once offered to Saturn. It is a queer thought that in our Christmas presents we are preserving under another form one of the most savage customs of our barbarian ancestors! The shouts of ‘Bona Saturnalia’, which the Roman people exchanged among themselves are the precursors of ‘Merry Christmas!’ The decorations and illuminations of our Christians churches recall the temples of Saturn, radiant with burning taper and resplendent with garlands”
SANTA CLAUS
Today, when Christmas is mentioned, most people immediately think of Santa Claus. The image of Jesus, the son of Mary ((Peace be upon them) is secondary and sometimes lost in the merriment and materialism. The prices in the market place go up and we find that people are spending thousands in order to buy gifts for their friends and neighbours. Most Christians fall into debt that can last for the greater part of the year.
The problem that comes during the Christmas season for Muslims and non-Christians is that there are a number of contradictory symbols. Some of these symbols reveal an animistic religious base but others appear to be monotheistic. At the top of all of them is Santa Claus. One might then ask ‘What do pagan festivals have to do with the innocent, loveable Santa Claus?’
“Actually, in every one of these festivals, the leading figure was an old man with a large, white beard. In the Bacchanalia, the chief god was not actually the young Bacchus, but the aged, cheery and decidedly disreputable Silenus, the chief of the Satyrs (Half man, half animal figures of Greek mythology) and the god of drunkards. In the Saturnalia, it was Saturn, a dignified and venerable old gentleman, the god of Time. In the Germanic feasts it was Thor, a person of patriarchal aspect, and a warrior to boot.” So, although the main figure of the Christian festival was supposed to be Jesus, the child-god born to an innocent woman, the pagan ways of the past were too strong in the hearts of the Christians to be easily dismissed. The earlier gods were replaced by Saint Nicholas, an austere Christian Bishop who was born in Turkey in the 4th Century A.D., and became the patron Saint of children throughout the Western World. The name Saint Nicholas has now been abbreviated to Santa Claus and even his image has changed, but one fact remains crystal clear; this merry, mystical figure that flies through the air in a reindeer-drawn sleigh is the re-incarnation of a pagan deity that is very much alive today in the minds of men.
WHY DOES SANTA COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY?
“The early Germans considered the Norse Hertha or Bertha, the goddess of domesticity and the home. During the winter solstice, houses were decked with Fir and Evergreens to welcome her coming. When the family and the serfs gathered to dine, a great alter of flat stones was erected and here a fire of Fir bough was laid. Hertha descended through the smoke, guiding those who were wise in Saga to foretell the fortunes of those persons at the feast. We learn from this story of Hertha and the reason why Santa Claus comes down the chimney instead of in at the door.”
THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND THE YULE LOG
In just about all times and continents, we find records of the worship, at some former period, of a tree as a divine object. The Pagan Scandinavians called their greatest and most famous tree (the Ash tree) Yggdrasil. Nobody had ever seen it, but everybody believed in it. It was supposed to have been so big that it had three roots, one in heaven, one in hell, and one on earth. According to Scandinavian mythology, when the roots of Yggdrasil are eaten through, the tree will fall over and the end of all things will have arrived. The Anglo-Saxon Druids adopted this mythology and during Christmas period chose Yule log which they blessed an proclaimed that it should be ever burning. This custom has survived and the Yule log is burnt throughout England. The origin if he sacred tree may have been developed in Ancient Egypt and other older societies.” Egypt had one in the palm, which puts forth a shoot every month. From Egypt the custom reached Rome, where it was added to the other ceremonies of the Saturnalia. But as palm trees do not grow in Italy, other trees were used in its stead. A small fir tree, or the crest of a large one was found to be the most suitable because it is shaped like a cone or pyramid. This was decorated with twelve burning tapers lit in honour of the god of Time. At the very tip of the pyramid blazed the representation of a radiant sun placed there in honour of Apollo, the sun-god to whom the three last days of December were dedicated.”
HOLLY
“Some people believe that the word “Holly” is a form of the word “Holy” because of the association of these evergreens with Christmas. This is not the true derivation, however. Holly is merely a variation of Holin, Hollin, or Holm. The name Holme is now used for a kind of oak. This tree was admired by the Druids who believed that its evergreen leaves attested to the fact that the sun never deserted it. It was therefore, sacred. It was also believed to be hateful to witches and is therefore, placed on doors and windows to keep out the evil spirits.”
CONCLUSION
This is only a glimpse at the incredible amount of distortion and paganism that has been incorporated into the Christmas doctrine and disseminated throughout the world in the name of love, giving, and the purity of the Virgin Mary and Jesus (Peace be upon them). Somewhere along the line when the Christians were being tortured and killed in Roman coliseums, somebody made the decision to make it easy for the northern people to accept these teachings. So what comes about is an adaptation and a change so that you actually have the Christmas ceremony which once represented Pagan images of nature, images based upon the worship of the sun, or the worship of the created things, now in the monotheistic religion.
It is interesting to note that as late as 1647, Britain’s Puritan Parliament had Christmas ceremony banned as pagan. St. Nicholas appeared in early European folklore as another character, sometimes known as Beowulf , or Nick or Nikker. He was said to be a demon or the evil spirit of the north. Descriptions of him show him when humanoid as an aged creature with a flowing white beard. By The 16th century, the term had become more specific, the Chrisitianized:”Old Nick” or even “St. Nicholas” meant the devil proper. In the Bible, Isaiah 14:13, the devil’s throne was in the north. Satan presided over the winter’s darkness. So the character representing evil for the northern Christians was transferred into the figure of Santa Claus. He was often covered with red fur or driven in a sleigh by winged snakes.
If Santa Claus now is flying all over the world giving gifts to children what happened to the labour of their mother and the father? Why is Santa Claus coming down the chimney? That is because there was a belief in ancient Scandinavia that a goddess of flames would come into the home. And so this confusion now is all put together on the Christmas occasion and people have forgotten about Isa (p.b.u.h).
In the Islamic understanding, Isa or Jesus (p.b.u.h), the son of Mary (p.b.u.h)was a very humble person who possessed only one or two changes of clothing. He used to walk bare foot most of the time. He renounced the life of materialism and wanted people to move away from focussing on gold and silver. He encouraged the Children of Israel to have spirituality and to remember the Creator. According to most Christian and Muslim theologians, the actual birth of Jesus the son of Mary (p.b.u.h) was in the summer. In a Qur’anic chapter called Maryam ( Quran 19:16-40), there is a detailed discourse on Mary (p.b.u.h). She is depicted as a very pious individual who spent most of her life fasting. When the angel Gabriel told her that she would have a son, she couldn’t believe it. He informed her that it would happen by the power of God who would breath his spirit into her she would become pregnant; and she did. She went out of the city to a remote area. In the Quran, 19:24-25, Allah (swt) sent the angel to tell her that water will come under her and then to shake the palm tree and rutuban janniyya, the ripe dates, will fall down from the tree. The Arabs knew that the ripe dates come in the summer time. Even the Christians agreed with this because, according to their traditions, the shepherds were putting their flocks outside. And in the area of Bethlehem and Nazarath this could only be done in the warm weather.
Therefore, it is basically agreed upon that Jesus (p.b.u.h.) was a humble, simple, non- materialistic person who was born in the summer. What is happening now is a cleverly contrived mixture that is moving more towards the celebration of immorality and materialism than piety and God-consciousness.
Allah has revealed in the Blessed Qur’an , Surah An-Nisaa (157-9), the following verses:
…And because of their sayings: We killed the Messiah Jesus son of Mary, Allah’s messenger, but they killed him not nor crucified him. It appeared so to them. And lo, those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture. They killed him not for certain. But Allah took him unto Himself. And Allah is ever Mighty, Wise. There is not one of the People of the Book but will believe in him before his death, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them.
In Surah Al Ma’idah is the following:
The Messiah, son of Maryam is but an Apostle; Apostles before him have Indeed passed away. And his mother was a truthful woman. They both used to eat food. See how We make the communications clear to them, then behold, how they are turned away. Say: Do you serve besides Allah that which does not control for you any harm, or any profit? And Allah is the All Hearing, the All Knowing.
Say: O followers of the Book! Be not unduly immoderate in your religion, and do not follow the low desire of people who went astray before and led many astray and went astray from the right path.
One of the many signs of the last hour, as described in Qur’aan, is the destruction of the universe we live in with all its stars and planets. Describing the death of the Sun on the last day, the Qur’aan mentions:
Prophet Muhammad {saw} has mentioned that both, the sun and the moon are destined to die on the last day after their light would have faded, as in the authentic Hadeeth from Sahih al Bukhari:
الشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ يُكَوَّرَانِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَة
The sun and the moon will be rolled up on the Day of Judgement.
How does Science confirm this fact? Well let’s take a look:
“The Sun, modest in life, is subdued in death. After the planetary nebula fades, there is no nuclear fusion at all, just a lump of hot carbon and some happy memories. The Sun will be well and truly dead.”
“Over the following billion years, the Sun will gradually die. As a star’s core crashes inwards, it eventually becomes hot enough to ignite another of its constituent atoms, helium.
Helium atoms fuse together to form carbon. When the helium supply runs out, the centre collapses again and the atmosphere inflates.
The Sun isn’t massive enough to fully re-ignite its core for a third time. So it goes on expanding, shedding its atmosphere in a series of bursts.
White dwarf
The dying core eventually forms a white dwarf – a spherical diamond the size of the Earth, made of carbon and oxygen. From this point on the Sun will gradually fade away, becoming dimmer and dimmer until its light is finally snuffed out.”
At around the 1:20 to 1:32 mark in the video (which you can go to directly by clicking here), the narrator states that the “sun’s core would collapse”, which fits ideally into the Qur’aanic narrative that the sun would be, “folded up”.
This article, written by CallingChristians.com team member, Br. Muhy from Lebanon.
As Christmas dawns upon us yet again, Shaykh Mumtaz ul Haq [db] has prepared for the Muslims and non-Muslims some Naseeha (advice) on the rulings of the etiquette of Christmas. Can Muslims wish non-Muslims, “Merry Christmas“, “Happy Holidays“, “Season’s Greetings“? How are Muslims supposed to respond to such greetings? All answered in the video below:
Provided in an emergency upload by the Hanafi Fiqh Channel, this video is of utmost importance to Muslim and non-Muslim relations. It assists in helping to foster good relations, understanding where our cultural norms and values differ and how to avoid awkward moments. Please spread insha Allaah, so that many can benefit from it!
As an addendum, here is Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen’s fatwa on saying, “Merry Christmas”:
Responding to Merry Christmas by Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah)
Question: What is the ruling on congratulating the disbelievers on their Christmas celebration? And how do we respond to them if they greet us with it. And is it permissible to go to the places where they are having celebrations for that purpose. And does the person (Muslim) take a sin if he does the aforementioned without any intent? Rather he only does it being courteous, or due to shyness or due to being put in an awkward situation, or due to some other reasons. And is it permissible to resemble them in this?
Answer:
Congratulating the disbelievers on their Christmas celebration or other than that from their religious holidays is not permissible according to the consensus. As was related by Imaam Ibn Al Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy upon him, in his book “The ruling on the people beneath the Muslim protection”, when he said: “As for congratulating the disbelievers for their religious ceremonies that have kufr (disbelief) attached to it, then it is not permissible according to the consensus. For example congratulating them for their holidays or their fasts, so the person says, “May you have a bless holiday”, or he wishes them well for their holiday or something like that. So this, if the one who says it escapes from falling into kufr (disbelief), is (still) from the impermissible things. 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 intercourse 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, wrath (anger) of Allaah.”
(Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) continues)
So congratulating the disbelievers on the religious holidays is not permissible, as shown by the proof brought by Ibn Al Qayim (rahimahullaah). Because in it, (congratulating the kufar on their religious holidays) is an approval for what they are upon from their kufr ceremonies, and showing them that you are please with it. Even if the person is not pleased with the actual kufr itself, it is also not permissible for the Muslim to be pleased with kufr ceremonies, or to congratulate them for it. Because Allaah the Exalted is not pleased with that, as Allaah the Exalted 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.” (AzZumar 39: 7)
And the Exalted says,
“This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” (Al-Ma’idah 5: 3)
So congratulating them with this is haram whether this person is your co-worker or not. So if they greet us with their holiday greeting we don’t respond to them with it, because it’s not our holiday, and they are holidays that Allaah is not pleased with, and because it is something that is either innovated in their religion, or it was legislated but has since been abrogated by the deen of Islam that which Muhammad peace and blessing be upon him, was sent with to all of the creation. And He (Allaah) says about it (Islam)
“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers” (Aali Imran 3: 85)
And for the Muslim to accept their invitations to these occasions (holiday celebrations) is haram (Impermissible). Because this is worst than congratulating them with it, because this would entail participating with them in this. Also it is haram for the Muslim to imitate the disbelievers by establishing celebrations for these occasions, or to exchanges gifts, or to distribute sweets, or trays of food, or to stop work or anything like this. Due to the statement of the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, “Whoever imitates a people is from them”. Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymeeyah, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said in his book, “Follow the straight path and oppose the path to the fire” that “Imitating them in some of their celebration causes happiness in their hearts for what they are upon from falsehood. And it is possible that this might encourage them to take advantage of this opportunity to humiliate the weak minded”.
And whoever does anything from this is a sinner. And it is the same whether he did it being courteous, or seeking friendship, or due to shyness, or any other reason, because this is from being deceitful in the deen of Allaah. And this is from the reasons that reinforce the psyche of the disbelievers and to make them proud of their deen.
Earlier today I received a notification that a comment had been posted on this website. It wasn’t really a surprise to see who had written it, but I couldn’t keep a straight face after reading it. I’m still coping with the amount of humour this guy brings to the table. Naturally, I’m a bit perplexed though. You see, earlier yesterday evening, Mr. Edwards decided to author a post about me, “Pulling the cloak off the self appointed Da’ee“, which was fun and all to refute, which you can find here and here. However, as it seems, our respected opponent has a problem with the refutations. He thinks it’s creepy that I’m refuting his attacks on Islam and against me:
It’s always nice to have him comment on my posts, alteast that way I know he’s read something and can’t respond to it, so he leaves a comment to show it “just isn’t worth his time” (although he does have time to send me inbox messages, comments and links on FB), which really just signals to me, he doesn’t have the intellectual capacity to give a rebuttal to my writings. In fact, Mr. Edwards does have a creepy stalker like obsession with me, while I was a legal minor (that is according to most international law declarations), he would message me constantly on FB, until finally, a few months ago I sent him a reply that really must’ve knocked the wind out of him:
I say it must’ve knocked the wind out of him because he stopped sending me messages asking me about my personal life, that being in terms of religion. It’s sad to say he’s at it again, I’m legal now, so he must be rearing to have a chance at me (in what way, I can’t say), otherwise I’m not quite sure why he has the need to message me on FB, post comments on threads I’ve used, comment on my website or write entire articles about me.
As you can see for yourselves, just how many comments I’ve received from this man total atleast 100 +:
1 + 33 + 40 + 11 + 21 = 106
May God guide him from whatever evil he intends towards me, or any other young Muslims on the internet, Ameen.
Calling Christians 
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