MUHAMM7D
Muslim
Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah
Iqtidaa as-Siraat al-Mustaqeem Mukhaalifat Ashaab al-Jaheem
Shaykh ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullaah said in his commentary o*!n the aayah:
And those who do not witness falsehood (az-zoor). [Soorah al-Furqaan(25):72]
As regards the festivals of the Mushrikeen: they combine confusion, physical desires and falsehood,there is nothing in them that is of any religious benefit, and the instant gratification involved in them o*!nly ends up in pain. Thus they are falsehood,and witnessing them means attending them.This aayah itself praises and commends (those who do not witness falsehood), which has the meaning of urging people to avoid taking part in their festivals and other kinds of falsehood. We understand that it is bad to attend their festivals because they are called az-zoor (falsehood). It indicates that it is haraam to do this for many reasons, because Allaah has called it az-zoor. Allaah condemns the o*!ne who speaks falsehood (al-zoor) even if no-one else is harmed by it, as in the aayah forbidding zihaar (a form of divorce in which the man says to his wife, You are to me like the back of my mother), where He says:
And verily, they utter an ill word and a lie (zooran) [Soorah al-Mujaadilah (58):2]
And Allaah says: So shun the abomination of idols, andshun lying speech (false statements) (az-zoor).[Soorah al-Hajj (22):30]
So the o*!ne who does az-zoor is condemned in this fashion.
In the Sunnah, Anas Ibn Maalik (radiAllaahuanhu) said, The Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahualayhe wa sallam) came (to Madeenah) and they had two days in which they would (relax and) play. He said, What are these two days? They said, We used to play(on these two days) during the Jaahiliyyah. The Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu alayhe wa sallam)said, Allaah has given you something better instead of them: Yawm al-Duhaa (Eid al-Adha) and Yawm al-Fitr(Eid al-Fitr). [Reported by Abu Dawood]
This indicates clearly that the Prophet (sal-Allaahualayhe wa sallam) definitely forbade his Ummah to celebrate the festivals of the kuffaar, and he strove to wipe them out by all possible means. The fact that the religion of the People of the Book is accepted does not mean that their festivals are approved of or should be preserved by the Ummah, just as the rest oftheir kufr and sins are not approved of.
Indeed, the Prophet (sal-Allaahu alayhe wa sallam)went to great lengths to command his Ummah to be different from them in many issues that are mubaah(permitted) and in many ways of worship, lest that lead them to be like them in other matters too. This being different was to be a barrier in all aspects, because the more different you are from the people of Hell, the less likely you are to do the acts of the people of Hell.
The first of them is the hadeeth, Every people has its festival, and this is our festival. This hadeeth implies exclusivity, that every people have their own festival, as Allaah says:
For every nation there is a direction to which they face (in their prayers) [Soorah al-Baqarah (2):148]
And Allaah says:
To each among you, We have prescribeda law and a clear way [Soorah al-Maaidah (5):48]
This implies that each nation has its own ways. The laam in li-kulli (for every, to each) implies exclusivity. So if the Jews have a festival and the Christians have a festival, it is just for them, and we should not have any part in it, just as we do not share their qiblah (direction of prayer) or their laws.
The second of them is o*!ne of the conditions set out by Umar Ibn al-Khattaab (radiAllaahu anhu) and agreed upon by the Sahaabah and by all the Fuqahaa after them is, Those of the People of the Book who have agreed to live under Islamic rule (Ahlul-Dhimmah) should not celebrate their festivals openly in Daar al-Islaam (lands under Islaamic rule). If the Muslims have agreed to prevent them from celebrating openly, how could it be right for the Muslims to celebrate them? If a Muslim celebrates them, is that not worse than if a kaafir does so openly? The o¬nly reason that we forbade them to celebrate their festivals openly is because of the corruption involved in them, because of the sin or symbols of sin. In either case, the Muslim is forbidden from sin or the symbols of sin. Even if there was no evil involved apart from the kaafir feeling encouraged to celebrate openly because of the Muslims actions, how can a Muslim do that? The evil involved (in their festivals) will be explained below, inshaa-Allaah.
Al-Bayhaqee reported with a saheeh isnaad from Sufyaanal-Thawree from Thawr Ibn Yazeed from Ata Ibn Deenaar who said, Umar (radiAllaahu anhu) said, Do not learn the language of the non-Arabs, do not enter upon the mushrikeen in their churches o¬n their feast-days, for the wrath (of Allaah) is descending upon them. [Baabkaraahiyat al-dukhool ala ahl al-dhimmah fikanaaisihim wal-tashabbuh bihim yawmi nawroozihim wamaharjaanihim (Chapter o*!n the abhorrence of entering the churches of Ahlul-Dhimmah o*!n the occasion of their New Year and other celebrations)]
Umar Ibn al-Khattaab (radiAllaahu anhu) said, Avoid the enemies of Allaah o*!n their festivals. It was reported with a saheeh isnaad from Abu Usaamah, Awn told us from Abul-Mugheerah from Abdullaah Ibn Amr (radiAllaahu anhu), Whoever lives in the land of the non-Arabs and celebrates their New Year and their festivals, and imitates them until he dies in that state, will be gathered with them o*!n the Day of Resurrection.
Umar (radiAllaahu anhu) forbade learning their languages, and even entering their churches o*!n the day of their festival, so how about doing some of the things they do o*!n those days, or doing things that area part of their religion? Is not going along with their actions worse than learning their language? Is not doing some of the things they do o*!n their festival worse than just entering upon them? If divine wrath is descending upon them o*!n the day of their festival because of what they do, then is not the o*!ne who does what they do, or a part of it, also exposed to the same punishment? Do not the words Avoid the enemies of Allaah o*!n their festivals mean that we should not meet them or join them o*!n those days?
So how about the o*!ne who actually celebrates their festivals? Abdullaah ibn Amr clearly stated, Whoever lives in the land of the non-Arabs and celebrates their New Year and their festivals, and imitates them until he dies in that state, will be gathered with them o*!n the Day of Resurrection. This implies that the o*!ne who joins in with them in all of these matters is a kaafir, or that doing this is o*!ne of the major sins (kabaair) that will doom o*!ne to Hell; the former meaning is what is apparent from the wording. He mentioned and Allaah knows best the o*!ne who lives in their land, because at the time of Abdullaah Ibn Amr and the other Sahaabah (radiAllaahu anhum ajmaeen), they used to forbid open celebration of kaafir festivals in the Muslim lands, and none of the Muslims imitated them in their festivals; that was possible o*!nly when living in the lands of the kaafirs.
Alee (radiAllaahu anhu) refused to even acknowledge the name of their festivals which were exclusively theirs, so how about actually celebrating them? Ahmad rahimahullaah mentioned the meaning of the reports narrated from Umar and Alee (radiAllaahuanhumaa) o*!n this topic, and his companions discussed the matter of festivals. Imaam Abul-Hasan al-Aamidi said, the o¬ne who is known as Ibn al-Baghdaadi said, It is not permitted to attend the festivals of the Christians and Jews.[Umdat al-Haadir wa Kifaayat al-Musaafir]\Ahmad stated this in the report of Muhannaa, and his evidence for that is the aayah,
And those who do not witness falsehood(az-zoor) [Soorah al-Furqaan (25):72]
He said, (This is) al-Shaneen and their festivals. He said, The Muslims are to be prevented from entering upon them in their synagogues and churches.
Iqtidaa as-Siraat al-Mustaqeem Mukhaalifat Ashaab al-Jaheem
Shaykh ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullaah said in his commentary o*!n the aayah:
And those who do not witness falsehood (az-zoor). [Soorah al-Furqaan(25):72]
As regards the festivals of the Mushrikeen: they combine confusion, physical desires and falsehood,there is nothing in them that is of any religious benefit, and the instant gratification involved in them o*!nly ends up in pain. Thus they are falsehood,and witnessing them means attending them.This aayah itself praises and commends (those who do not witness falsehood), which has the meaning of urging people to avoid taking part in their festivals and other kinds of falsehood. We understand that it is bad to attend their festivals because they are called az-zoor (falsehood). It indicates that it is haraam to do this for many reasons, because Allaah has called it az-zoor. Allaah condemns the o*!ne who speaks falsehood (al-zoor) even if no-one else is harmed by it, as in the aayah forbidding zihaar (a form of divorce in which the man says to his wife, You are to me like the back of my mother), where He says:
And verily, they utter an ill word and a lie (zooran) [Soorah al-Mujaadilah (58):2]
And Allaah says: So shun the abomination of idols, andshun lying speech (false statements) (az-zoor).[Soorah al-Hajj (22):30]
So the o*!ne who does az-zoor is condemned in this fashion.
In the Sunnah, Anas Ibn Maalik (radiAllaahuanhu) said, The Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahualayhe wa sallam) came (to Madeenah) and they had two days in which they would (relax and) play. He said, What are these two days? They said, We used to play(on these two days) during the Jaahiliyyah. The Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu alayhe wa sallam)said, Allaah has given you something better instead of them: Yawm al-Duhaa (Eid al-Adha) and Yawm al-Fitr(Eid al-Fitr). [Reported by Abu Dawood]
This indicates clearly that the Prophet (sal-Allaahualayhe wa sallam) definitely forbade his Ummah to celebrate the festivals of the kuffaar, and he strove to wipe them out by all possible means. The fact that the religion of the People of the Book is accepted does not mean that their festivals are approved of or should be preserved by the Ummah, just as the rest oftheir kufr and sins are not approved of.
Indeed, the Prophet (sal-Allaahu alayhe wa sallam)went to great lengths to command his Ummah to be different from them in many issues that are mubaah(permitted) and in many ways of worship, lest that lead them to be like them in other matters too. This being different was to be a barrier in all aspects, because the more different you are from the people of Hell, the less likely you are to do the acts of the people of Hell.
The first of them is the hadeeth, Every people has its festival, and this is our festival. This hadeeth implies exclusivity, that every people have their own festival, as Allaah says:
For every nation there is a direction to which they face (in their prayers) [Soorah al-Baqarah (2):148]
And Allaah says:
To each among you, We have prescribeda law and a clear way [Soorah al-Maaidah (5):48]
This implies that each nation has its own ways. The laam in li-kulli (for every, to each) implies exclusivity. So if the Jews have a festival and the Christians have a festival, it is just for them, and we should not have any part in it, just as we do not share their qiblah (direction of prayer) or their laws.
The second of them is o*!ne of the conditions set out by Umar Ibn al-Khattaab (radiAllaahu anhu) and agreed upon by the Sahaabah and by all the Fuqahaa after them is, Those of the People of the Book who have agreed to live under Islamic rule (Ahlul-Dhimmah) should not celebrate their festivals openly in Daar al-Islaam (lands under Islaamic rule). If the Muslims have agreed to prevent them from celebrating openly, how could it be right for the Muslims to celebrate them? If a Muslim celebrates them, is that not worse than if a kaafir does so openly? The o¬nly reason that we forbade them to celebrate their festivals openly is because of the corruption involved in them, because of the sin or symbols of sin. In either case, the Muslim is forbidden from sin or the symbols of sin. Even if there was no evil involved apart from the kaafir feeling encouraged to celebrate openly because of the Muslims actions, how can a Muslim do that? The evil involved (in their festivals) will be explained below, inshaa-Allaah.
Al-Bayhaqee reported with a saheeh isnaad from Sufyaanal-Thawree from Thawr Ibn Yazeed from Ata Ibn Deenaar who said, Umar (radiAllaahu anhu) said, Do not learn the language of the non-Arabs, do not enter upon the mushrikeen in their churches o¬n their feast-days, for the wrath (of Allaah) is descending upon them. [Baabkaraahiyat al-dukhool ala ahl al-dhimmah fikanaaisihim wal-tashabbuh bihim yawmi nawroozihim wamaharjaanihim (Chapter o*!n the abhorrence of entering the churches of Ahlul-Dhimmah o*!n the occasion of their New Year and other celebrations)]
Umar Ibn al-Khattaab (radiAllaahu anhu) said, Avoid the enemies of Allaah o*!n their festivals. It was reported with a saheeh isnaad from Abu Usaamah, Awn told us from Abul-Mugheerah from Abdullaah Ibn Amr (radiAllaahu anhu), Whoever lives in the land of the non-Arabs and celebrates their New Year and their festivals, and imitates them until he dies in that state, will be gathered with them o*!n the Day of Resurrection.
Umar (radiAllaahu anhu) forbade learning their languages, and even entering their churches o*!n the day of their festival, so how about doing some of the things they do o*!n those days, or doing things that area part of their religion? Is not going along with their actions worse than learning their language? Is not doing some of the things they do o*!n their festival worse than just entering upon them? If divine wrath is descending upon them o*!n the day of their festival because of what they do, then is not the o*!ne who does what they do, or a part of it, also exposed to the same punishment? Do not the words Avoid the enemies of Allaah o*!n their festivals mean that we should not meet them or join them o*!n those days?
So how about the o*!ne who actually celebrates their festivals? Abdullaah ibn Amr clearly stated, Whoever lives in the land of the non-Arabs and celebrates their New Year and their festivals, and imitates them until he dies in that state, will be gathered with them o*!n the Day of Resurrection. This implies that the o*!ne who joins in with them in all of these matters is a kaafir, or that doing this is o*!ne of the major sins (kabaair) that will doom o*!ne to Hell; the former meaning is what is apparent from the wording. He mentioned and Allaah knows best the o*!ne who lives in their land, because at the time of Abdullaah Ibn Amr and the other Sahaabah (radiAllaahu anhum ajmaeen), they used to forbid open celebration of kaafir festivals in the Muslim lands, and none of the Muslims imitated them in their festivals; that was possible o*!nly when living in the lands of the kaafirs.
Alee (radiAllaahu anhu) refused to even acknowledge the name of their festivals which were exclusively theirs, so how about actually celebrating them? Ahmad rahimahullaah mentioned the meaning of the reports narrated from Umar and Alee (radiAllaahuanhumaa) o*!n this topic, and his companions discussed the matter of festivals. Imaam Abul-Hasan al-Aamidi said, the o¬ne who is known as Ibn al-Baghdaadi said, It is not permitted to attend the festivals of the Christians and Jews.[Umdat al-Haadir wa Kifaayat al-Musaafir]\Ahmad stated this in the report of Muhannaa, and his evidence for that is the aayah,
And those who do not witness falsehood(az-zoor) [Soorah al-Furqaan (25):72]
He said, (This is) al-Shaneen and their festivals. He said, The Muslims are to be prevented from entering upon them in their synagogues and churches.
