assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh
As the clock ticks by, and strikes 12, millions of people will be celebrating and cheering a new day, which they call "new years day". Will you, as a Muslim, be joining them? Or will you be doing the right thing, and spending your time as normal? Will you realise that the year has already begun over two weeks ago and that it is 1431? So, how can the new year begin two weeks after it already begun?
Our dear sister Sandra_Canada had written a wonderful article about not celebrating any of the disbeliever's festivals or congratulating them on that. In particular Christmas and their "New Years day". You can read it here:
http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48635
Unfortunately, I had to close the thread due to some of the comments some members decided to make. I had to delete some of them.
It is not Islamic "Da'wah" or good manners to copy the people of disbelief and misguidance, nor is it good to suck up to them and show them any form of honour in their disbelief.
We respect people and their wish to follow their beliefs, however, respecting the disbelievers does not mean partaking and congratulating them in kufr (disbelief).
If they had a day which comemmorated fornication, would people be willing to congratulate them? Well, yes, they would!! They are foolish enough to do that, I have witnessed Muslims doing many similar and worse things, Why? because they are distant from the teachings of the Qur'an and the Sunnah.
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported Allah's Messenger (salallahu alayhi wa salam) as saying:
"..Verily you shall follow those before you (those who had deviated), every step by every step, every inch by every inch, even until they enter the lizard's hole you shall follow them." The Companions then asked the Prophet salallaahu 'alaihiwassallam, " Ya Rasulullaah, are they the Jews and the Christians?" The prophet responded, "If it's not them then who else could it be?"
(Sahihain; Fathul Bari vol 13, pg 300; Muslim hadith no. 2669)
The thing that suprised me, was when people were complaining about being stopped from copying and loving the disbelievers just days before the day of Ashura', the day that our Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alayhi wa salam) said we should fast and to fast another day alongside it in order to be different from the disbelievers, to be different from the Jews.
Muslims are shaping their commitments to Islam over a day that was invented by Pope Gregory XIII. The Christian Calendar also known as the "Gregorian Calendar" (named after the aforementioned pope). Are you really naive enough to believe that this is 2010 years after Jesus was born? This date is just a number. Conjured up, just like they conjured up the trinity, just like they ascribed to Allah subhana wa ta'ala a son, just as they commit all their other acts of disbelief.
If anything, the fact these days and dates are being used by us, is a sign of our weakness. When the Ummah was strong, we used the Hijri calendar. Today, what is used? Do our brothers and sisters know what the Islamic months are? What is the Islamic year? When we think about dates and times, do we think using Islam and what Allah subhana wa ta'ala and the Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alayhi wa salam) ordered us with, or that of Pope Gregory!
If we as Muslims have any shame, we would not wish to partake in this sign of misery and enslavement that inflicts the Ummah. This is indeed a sign of our subjugation.
Thanking Allah On New Years Day?
I was very suprised to see people write about how they are going to spend the time praying to Allah and thanking him for "another year".
The year "2010" is using the Christian Calendar. It is based on a date that was invented by them. It should have no relevance at all to Muslims.
We not only stop ourselves from singling this day out, but any other day, that is not especially mentioned in the Qur'an and Sunnah.
My dear brothers and sisters, we have many great days that Allah has given to us, for celebrations and festivals, for enjoying ourselves such as the two Eids, al Adha and al Fitr, we have the day of Jumu'ah (Friday), we have the blessed month of Ramadhaan to spend in worship of Allah. We have special times during the day, EVERY day to be praying to Allah, not just the obligatory prayers, but the times for making Du'aa to Allah such as in between the Adhaan and the Iqaamah, or on a Friday. We can thank Allah for the life he has given us, on ANY of these days, on any day. Our Deen is perfect !!
Allah the Most High said in the Noble Qur'an:
This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islâm as your religion. [5:3]
Truly, the religion with Allâh is Islâm. [3:19]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
"Whoever seeks after a Religion other than Islaam, never will it be accept[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]ed from him, and in the Hereafer he will be one of the loosers." [3:85].[/FONT]
Our Deen is complete, it is perfect, we are not in any need of adding or subtracting to our Deen. Allah has given to us Islam as a gift, then we should obey Him and His Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alayhi wa salam)
Its a major sign of the very LOW status of the Muslims at current time, when they believe that 1 January is a new year and thus they revolve their lives around this. They wish to "pray" and ask Allah for a longer life, for happier times, to thank Allah. That is fine, but to single out the day that has been designated by the disbelievers is extremely foolish and wrong. It is innovation.
The Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alayhi wa salam) said:
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]
"…Every innovation is a going astray and every going astray is in the fire." (Tirmidhi)[/FONT]
Bidah even to congratulate on Islamic New Year, no evidence:
There is no evidence that the Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alayhi wa salam) or his companions, or any of the Salaf congratulated each other on the Islamic new years day. Otherwise, it would have been something advisable and commendable for us to do it.
The Prophet
and his Companions did not compromise their Deen, their love of Allah, their HONOUR by accomodating the disbelief of the Mushrikeen, the Christians or the Jews!
Allah, the Most High said:
(Never will the Jews nor the Christians be pleased with you (O Muhammad Peace be upon him ) till you follow their religion.
Say: "Verily, the Guidance of Allâh (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism) that is the (only) Guidance. And if you (O Muhammad Peace be upon him ) were to follow their (Jews and Christians) desires after what you have received of Knowledge (i.e. the Qur'ân), then you would have against Allâh neither any Walî (protector or guardian) nor any helper) (Al-Baqarah 2:120)
Its a humiliation for Muslims, who are meant to worship Allah alone, who are meant to have anger against those who associate partners with Allah to then go and congratulate those who celebrate shirk and kufr! And it is a disease in the hearts of any believing man or woman, who would read these warnings and dislike what is said in favour of partaking in the ways of the disbeliever and this is from the disease of hypocrisy.
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Shaykh al Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, rahimahullaah, said:[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
"There is no happiness for the hearts, nor complete delight, except in loving Allaah and drawing close to Him with whatever He loves. And it is not possible to [truly] love Him, except by turning away from all that is loved besides Him. This is the reality of laa ilaaha illallaah and it is the Religion of the close friend (khaleel) of Allaah; Ibraaheem 'alayhis-salaam, as well as that of all the Prophets and Messengers."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The great scholar, Al-Haafidh al-Hakamee, rahimahullaah, said:
[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"The signs that a person loves his Lord is: that he gives precedence to what He loves, even if it opposes the person's own desires; [ii] to hate what his Lord hates, even if his own desires incline towards it; [iii] to show sincere love and help (walaa') to those who ally themselves with Allaah and His Messenger; [iv] to show enmity to those who show enmity to Allaah and His Messenger; [v] to follow His Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam; and [vi] to accept his guidance."[/FONT]
Christmas, Easter, New Year, Valentines -- all of these days have nothing to do with Muslims. These are the inventions of disbelievers, these are steeped in paganism and opposition to the obeying of Allah.
We are meant to have pride and honour for our Deen of Islam. We are meant to be strong and stand up straight for our Deen, put it as your Shield, put it as your pen and your sword.
Muslims should not feel ashamed of their Islam, by wanting to appease the disbelievers. We are under the law of Allah, not the desires of ourselves or the people around us.
It is not allowed for Muslims to make "deals" by saying "Oh they wish us well on our Eids, we should do the same", or that they "visit our Masjid, we should visit their church and listen to them". This is NOT from our deen.
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
"So do not fear them, but fear Me and beware of disobeying Me, if you are true believers." [Soorah Aal-'Imraan 3:175].[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
"So whoever hopes to see his Lord and be rewarded by Him, then let him make his worship correct and make it purely and exclusively for Him; and let him not give any share of it to other than Him." [Soorah al-Kahf 18:110].[/FONT]
The main reason why the Muslims are so weak is because they are not obeying Allah fully. This is about true belief in La ilaha ilallah. What is the point in complaining or speaking about the problems Muslims suffer, if at the same time we accomodate things which are based in disbelief? Or we defend that which has nothing to do with our perfect Deen?
It is due to this that the Ummah suffers the humiliation of not being able to defend against the disbelievers who enter and destroy our lands, kill our brothers and sisters in their hundreds of thousands, not just hundreds, or thousands, but hundreds of thousands. Dead. Blown to pieces because of Muslims not knowing the Right of Allah subhana wa ta'ala over them, not obeying Him and remaining weak in their obedience to Him, so due to this their hearts become hardened and distant from their Muslim brothers and sisters. Such people have fear and honour for the disbelievers, but, we should know that they are those who can not harm us, except with the permission of Allah.
Narrated By Mu'adh bin Jabal:
The Prophet (salallahu aalyhi wa salam) said, "O Mu'adh! Do you know what Allah's Right upon His slaves is?" I said, "Allah and His Apostle know best." The Prophet said, "To worship Him (Allah) Alone and to join none in worship with Him (Allah). Do you know what their right upon Him is?" I replied, "Allah and His Apostle know best." The Prophet said, "Not to punish them (if they do so)." (Sahih al Bukhari, 93: Kitab Tawheed, Book 93, 470)
It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:“If you deal in usury and hang unto the tails of cows, being satisfied with cultivation and ceasing to take part in Jihad, Allah will inflict a humiliation upon you which will not be removed until you return to your religion.” (Reported by Ahmad and Abu Dawud and graded as authentic by Al-Qattān, and Al-Hafiz states in Al-Bulugh that the chain of narrators are trustworthy and reliable.)
The Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alayhi wa salam) commanded the Muslims to do OPPOSITE to the Mushrikeen, the Jews and the Christians. This is because we are Muslims, we have the Deen, we have the truth. All those other people are upon Baatil, upon Falsehood. -
On the authority of Shaddad Ibn Aus (radiallaahu anhu) collected by Abu Dawud, that the Prophet (salallaahu alahi wa sallam) said, "Differ from the Jews, for certainly they don't pray with their shoes nor with their khuffs (leather socks)."
Imam Ahmad narrated from the hadeeth of Abi 'Ummah (radiallaahu anhu) that the Prophet (salallaahu alahi wa sallam) came out upon some elderly men from the Ansaar whose beards were white so he said, "Dye your beards red or yellow, and differ from the People of the Book. We said, "O Messenger of Allaah, the People of the Book wear pants and they don't wear the izaar." So the Prophet said,"Wear pants and the izaar (meaning together), differ from the People of the Book." We said," O messenger of Allaah, the People of the Book wear khuffs and they don’t wear shoes." So he said,"Wear khuffs and shoes, differ from the People to the Book." We said," O Messenger of Allaah, the People of the Book cut their beards and grow their mustaches." So the Prophet said," Cut your mustaches and grow your beards, differ from the People of the Book."
Imam Muslim narrated from the hadeeth of Amr Ibn Al'Aas (radiallaahu anhu) that the Prophet (salallaahu alahi wa sallam) said, "The difference between our fast and the fast of the People of the Book is the eating of Sahoor."
Another proof which shows that the Prophet (salallaahu alahi wa sallam) taught us to be different from the disbelievers is in the fasting of the Muslims on the Day of 'Aashura when this coincided with the fast of the Jews on the tenth of Muharram. The Prophet said, "If I live until the upcoming year I am going to fast on the 9th."
It is reported in Saheeh Muslim from the hadeeth of Anas (radiallaahu anhu) that he said, "If a woman from amongst the Jews had her menses, the men from amongst them did not eat with her nor sleep with her in the house." So, the Companions of the Prophet (salallaahu alahi wa sallam) asked the Prophet about this, after which Allaah ('Azza wa Jalla) revealed the verse, "They ask you about the menses, say the menses is harm so avoid the women during the menses..." to the end of the verse." So the Prophet (salallaahu alahi wa sallam) said, "Do everything with your wives during their menses except having relations." When that reached the Jews they said,'This man does not leave anything from our affair except he opposes us in it.'"
Ibn al-Qayyim in his book Ahkaam Ahl al-Dhimmah, where he says:
"Congratulating the kuffaar on the rituals that belong only to them is haraam by consensus, as is congratulating them on their festivals and fasts by saying ‘A happy festival to you’ or ‘May you enjoy your festival,’ and so on. If the one who says this has been saved from kufr, it is still forbidden. It is like congratulating someone for prostrating to the cross, or even worse than that. It is as great a sin as congratulating someone for drinking wine, or murdering someone, or having illicit sexual relations, and so on. Many of those who have no respect for their religion fall into this error; they do not realize the offensiveness of their actions. Whoever congratulates a person for his disobedience or bid’ah or kufr exposes himself to the wrath and anger of Allaah." End quote.
Congratulating the kuffaar on their religious festivals is haraam to the extent described by Ibn al-Qayyim because it implies that one accepts or approves of their rituals of kufr, even if one would not accept those things for oneself. But the Muslim should not accept the rituals of kufr or congratulate anyone else for them, because Allaah does not accept any of that at all, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
"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. .
[al-Zumar 39:7]
Christmas, Easter, New Year etc are not special days that Allaah (the Most High) legislated for Muslims, like the Eid days, or the Day of Ashuura. Rather, those who celebrate these days do so based upon their desires and it is not permissible to follow the desires of the Christians and the Jews.
It is obligatory upon such people to free themselves from opposing the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu alayhi wa sallam). Opposing the Guidance of the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu alayhi wa sallam) is destruction.
The Prophet (salallaahu alahi wa sallam) said, "I have left you all upon clarity, the night of it is like its day, no one strays from it except he is destroyed."
As the clock ticks by, and strikes 12, millions of people will be celebrating and cheering a new day, which they call "new years day". Will you, as a Muslim, be joining them? Or will you be doing the right thing, and spending your time as normal? Will you realise that the year has already begun over two weeks ago and that it is 1431? So, how can the new year begin two weeks after it already begun?
Our dear sister Sandra_Canada had written a wonderful article about not celebrating any of the disbeliever's festivals or congratulating them on that. In particular Christmas and their "New Years day". You can read it here:
http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48635
Unfortunately, I had to close the thread due to some of the comments some members decided to make. I had to delete some of them.
It is not Islamic "Da'wah" or good manners to copy the people of disbelief and misguidance, nor is it good to suck up to them and show them any form of honour in their disbelief.
We respect people and their wish to follow their beliefs, however, respecting the disbelievers does not mean partaking and congratulating them in kufr (disbelief).
If they had a day which comemmorated fornication, would people be willing to congratulate them? Well, yes, they would!! They are foolish enough to do that, I have witnessed Muslims doing many similar and worse things, Why? because they are distant from the teachings of the Qur'an and the Sunnah.
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported Allah's Messenger (salallahu alayhi wa salam) as saying:
"..Verily you shall follow those before you (those who had deviated), every step by every step, every inch by every inch, even until they enter the lizard's hole you shall follow them." The Companions then asked the Prophet salallaahu 'alaihiwassallam, " Ya Rasulullaah, are they the Jews and the Christians?" The prophet responded, "If it's not them then who else could it be?"
(Sahihain; Fathul Bari vol 13, pg 300; Muslim hadith no. 2669)
The thing that suprised me, was when people were complaining about being stopped from copying and loving the disbelievers just days before the day of Ashura', the day that our Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alayhi wa salam) said we should fast and to fast another day alongside it in order to be different from the disbelievers, to be different from the Jews.
Muslims are shaping their commitments to Islam over a day that was invented by Pope Gregory XIII. The Christian Calendar also known as the "Gregorian Calendar" (named after the aforementioned pope). Are you really naive enough to believe that this is 2010 years after Jesus was born? This date is just a number. Conjured up, just like they conjured up the trinity, just like they ascribed to Allah subhana wa ta'ala a son, just as they commit all their other acts of disbelief.
If anything, the fact these days and dates are being used by us, is a sign of our weakness. When the Ummah was strong, we used the Hijri calendar. Today, what is used? Do our brothers and sisters know what the Islamic months are? What is the Islamic year? When we think about dates and times, do we think using Islam and what Allah subhana wa ta'ala and the Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alayhi wa salam) ordered us with, or that of Pope Gregory!
If we as Muslims have any shame, we would not wish to partake in this sign of misery and enslavement that inflicts the Ummah. This is indeed a sign of our subjugation.
Thanking Allah On New Years Day?
I was very suprised to see people write about how they are going to spend the time praying to Allah and thanking him for "another year".
The year "2010" is using the Christian Calendar. It is based on a date that was invented by them. It should have no relevance at all to Muslims.
We not only stop ourselves from singling this day out, but any other day, that is not especially mentioned in the Qur'an and Sunnah.
My dear brothers and sisters, we have many great days that Allah has given to us, for celebrations and festivals, for enjoying ourselves such as the two Eids, al Adha and al Fitr, we have the day of Jumu'ah (Friday), we have the blessed month of Ramadhaan to spend in worship of Allah. We have special times during the day, EVERY day to be praying to Allah, not just the obligatory prayers, but the times for making Du'aa to Allah such as in between the Adhaan and the Iqaamah, or on a Friday. We can thank Allah for the life he has given us, on ANY of these days, on any day. Our Deen is perfect !!
Allah the Most High said in the Noble Qur'an:
This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islâm as your religion. [5:3]
Truly, the religion with Allâh is Islâm. [3:19]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
"Whoever seeks after a Religion other than Islaam, never will it be accept[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]ed from him, and in the Hereafer he will be one of the loosers." [3:85].[/FONT]
Our Deen is complete, it is perfect, we are not in any need of adding or subtracting to our Deen. Allah has given to us Islam as a gift, then we should obey Him and His Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alayhi wa salam)
Its a major sign of the very LOW status of the Muslims at current time, when they believe that 1 January is a new year and thus they revolve their lives around this. They wish to "pray" and ask Allah for a longer life, for happier times, to thank Allah. That is fine, but to single out the day that has been designated by the disbelievers is extremely foolish and wrong. It is innovation.
The Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alayhi wa salam) said:
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]
"…Every innovation is a going astray and every going astray is in the fire." (Tirmidhi)[/FONT]
Bidah even to congratulate on Islamic New Year, no evidence:
There is no evidence that the Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alayhi wa salam) or his companions, or any of the Salaf congratulated each other on the Islamic new years day. Otherwise, it would have been something advisable and commendable for us to do it.
The Prophet
and his Companions did not compromise their Deen, their love of Allah, their HONOUR by accomodating the disbelief of the Mushrikeen, the Christians or the Jews!Allah, the Most High said:
(Never will the Jews nor the Christians be pleased with you (O Muhammad Peace be upon him ) till you follow their religion.
Say: "Verily, the Guidance of Allâh (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism) that is the (only) Guidance. And if you (O Muhammad Peace be upon him ) were to follow their (Jews and Christians) desires after what you have received of Knowledge (i.e. the Qur'ân), then you would have against Allâh neither any Walî (protector or guardian) nor any helper) (Al-Baqarah 2:120)
Its a humiliation for Muslims, who are meant to worship Allah alone, who are meant to have anger against those who associate partners with Allah to then go and congratulate those who celebrate shirk and kufr! And it is a disease in the hearts of any believing man or woman, who would read these warnings and dislike what is said in favour of partaking in the ways of the disbeliever and this is from the disease of hypocrisy.
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Shaykh al Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, rahimahullaah, said:[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
"There is no happiness for the hearts, nor complete delight, except in loving Allaah and drawing close to Him with whatever He loves. And it is not possible to [truly] love Him, except by turning away from all that is loved besides Him. This is the reality of laa ilaaha illallaah and it is the Religion of the close friend (khaleel) of Allaah; Ibraaheem 'alayhis-salaam, as well as that of all the Prophets and Messengers."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The great scholar, Al-Haafidh al-Hakamee, rahimahullaah, said:
[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"The signs that a person loves his Lord is: that he gives precedence to what He loves, even if it opposes the person's own desires; [ii] to hate what his Lord hates, even if his own desires incline towards it; [iii] to show sincere love and help (walaa') to those who ally themselves with Allaah and His Messenger; [iv] to show enmity to those who show enmity to Allaah and His Messenger; [v] to follow His Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam; and [vi] to accept his guidance."[/FONT]
Christmas, Easter, New Year, Valentines -- all of these days have nothing to do with Muslims. These are the inventions of disbelievers, these are steeped in paganism and opposition to the obeying of Allah.
We are meant to have pride and honour for our Deen of Islam. We are meant to be strong and stand up straight for our Deen, put it as your Shield, put it as your pen and your sword.
Muslims should not feel ashamed of their Islam, by wanting to appease the disbelievers. We are under the law of Allah, not the desires of ourselves or the people around us.
It is not allowed for Muslims to make "deals" by saying "Oh they wish us well on our Eids, we should do the same", or that they "visit our Masjid, we should visit their church and listen to them". This is NOT from our deen.
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
"So do not fear them, but fear Me and beware of disobeying Me, if you are true believers." [Soorah Aal-'Imraan 3:175].[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
"So whoever hopes to see his Lord and be rewarded by Him, then let him make his worship correct and make it purely and exclusively for Him; and let him not give any share of it to other than Him." [Soorah al-Kahf 18:110].[/FONT]
The main reason why the Muslims are so weak is because they are not obeying Allah fully. This is about true belief in La ilaha ilallah. What is the point in complaining or speaking about the problems Muslims suffer, if at the same time we accomodate things which are based in disbelief? Or we defend that which has nothing to do with our perfect Deen?
It is due to this that the Ummah suffers the humiliation of not being able to defend against the disbelievers who enter and destroy our lands, kill our brothers and sisters in their hundreds of thousands, not just hundreds, or thousands, but hundreds of thousands. Dead. Blown to pieces because of Muslims not knowing the Right of Allah subhana wa ta'ala over them, not obeying Him and remaining weak in their obedience to Him, so due to this their hearts become hardened and distant from their Muslim brothers and sisters. Such people have fear and honour for the disbelievers, but, we should know that they are those who can not harm us, except with the permission of Allah.
Narrated By Mu'adh bin Jabal:
The Prophet (salallahu aalyhi wa salam) said, "O Mu'adh! Do you know what Allah's Right upon His slaves is?" I said, "Allah and His Apostle know best." The Prophet said, "To worship Him (Allah) Alone and to join none in worship with Him (Allah). Do you know what their right upon Him is?" I replied, "Allah and His Apostle know best." The Prophet said, "Not to punish them (if they do so)." (Sahih al Bukhari, 93: Kitab Tawheed, Book 93, 470)
It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:“If you deal in usury and hang unto the tails of cows, being satisfied with cultivation and ceasing to take part in Jihad, Allah will inflict a humiliation upon you which will not be removed until you return to your religion.” (Reported by Ahmad and Abu Dawud and graded as authentic by Al-Qattān, and Al-Hafiz states in Al-Bulugh that the chain of narrators are trustworthy and reliable.)
The Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alayhi wa salam) commanded the Muslims to do OPPOSITE to the Mushrikeen, the Jews and the Christians. This is because we are Muslims, we have the Deen, we have the truth. All those other people are upon Baatil, upon Falsehood. -
On the authority of Shaddad Ibn Aus (radiallaahu anhu) collected by Abu Dawud, that the Prophet (salallaahu alahi wa sallam) said, "Differ from the Jews, for certainly they don't pray with their shoes nor with their khuffs (leather socks)."
Imam Ahmad narrated from the hadeeth of Abi 'Ummah (radiallaahu anhu) that the Prophet (salallaahu alahi wa sallam) came out upon some elderly men from the Ansaar whose beards were white so he said, "Dye your beards red or yellow, and differ from the People of the Book. We said, "O Messenger of Allaah, the People of the Book wear pants and they don't wear the izaar." So the Prophet said,"Wear pants and the izaar (meaning together), differ from the People of the Book." We said," O messenger of Allaah, the People of the Book wear khuffs and they don’t wear shoes." So he said,"Wear khuffs and shoes, differ from the People to the Book." We said," O Messenger of Allaah, the People of the Book cut their beards and grow their mustaches." So the Prophet said," Cut your mustaches and grow your beards, differ from the People of the Book."
Imam Muslim narrated from the hadeeth of Amr Ibn Al'Aas (radiallaahu anhu) that the Prophet (salallaahu alahi wa sallam) said, "The difference between our fast and the fast of the People of the Book is the eating of Sahoor."
Another proof which shows that the Prophet (salallaahu alahi wa sallam) taught us to be different from the disbelievers is in the fasting of the Muslims on the Day of 'Aashura when this coincided with the fast of the Jews on the tenth of Muharram. The Prophet said, "If I live until the upcoming year I am going to fast on the 9th."
It is reported in Saheeh Muslim from the hadeeth of Anas (radiallaahu anhu) that he said, "If a woman from amongst the Jews had her menses, the men from amongst them did not eat with her nor sleep with her in the house." So, the Companions of the Prophet (salallaahu alahi wa sallam) asked the Prophet about this, after which Allaah ('Azza wa Jalla) revealed the verse, "They ask you about the menses, say the menses is harm so avoid the women during the menses..." to the end of the verse." So the Prophet (salallaahu alahi wa sallam) said, "Do everything with your wives during their menses except having relations." When that reached the Jews they said,'This man does not leave anything from our affair except he opposes us in it.'"
Ibn al-Qayyim in his book Ahkaam Ahl al-Dhimmah, where he says:
"Congratulating the kuffaar on the rituals that belong only to them is haraam by consensus, as is congratulating them on their festivals and fasts by saying ‘A happy festival to you’ or ‘May you enjoy your festival,’ and so on. If the one who says this has been saved from kufr, it is still forbidden. It is like congratulating someone for prostrating to the cross, or even worse than that. It is as great a sin as congratulating someone for drinking wine, or murdering someone, or having illicit sexual relations, and so on. Many of those who have no respect for their religion fall into this error; they do not realize the offensiveness of their actions. Whoever congratulates a person for his disobedience or bid’ah or kufr exposes himself to the wrath and anger of Allaah." End quote.
Congratulating the kuffaar on their religious festivals is haraam to the extent described by Ibn al-Qayyim because it implies that one accepts or approves of their rituals of kufr, even if one would not accept those things for oneself. But the Muslim should not accept the rituals of kufr or congratulate anyone else for them, because Allaah does not accept any of that at all, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
"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. .
[al-Zumar 39:7]
Christmas, Easter, New Year etc are not special days that Allaah (the Most High) legislated for Muslims, like the Eid days, or the Day of Ashuura. Rather, those who celebrate these days do so based upon their desires and it is not permissible to follow the desires of the Christians and the Jews.
It is obligatory upon such people to free themselves from opposing the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu alayhi wa sallam). Opposing the Guidance of the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu alayhi wa sallam) is destruction.
The Prophet (salallaahu alahi wa sallam) said, "I have left you all upon clarity, the night of it is like its day, no one strays from it except he is destroyed."
