10 Reasons Why Wishing a Merry Christmas is Forbidden (Haram)

There are still those who permit wishing a "Merry Christmas" (selamat natal). We do not know whether this permission stems from their ignorance or perhaps their hypocrisy. This is especially concerning if it comes from some preachers (dai) or those considered "scholars" (ulama). One of the most difficult things for a knowledgeable person is to be honest in their knowledge. Because today, many people are "knowledgeable" but do not use their knowledge as they should. Consequently, their knowledge, which should be a source of pride for Islam, instead leads to the destruction of the 'aqidah (creed) of Islam and its Shari'a (law). This was warned against by the early pious predecessors (salaf).

Ziyad bin Hudair said,

قَالَ: قَالَ لِي عُمَرُ: هَلْ تَعْرِفُ مَا يَهْدِمُ الْإِسْلَامَ؟ قَالَ: قُلْتُ: لَا، قَالَ: يَهْدِمُهُ زَلَّةُ الْعَالِمِ، وَجِدَالُ الْمُنَافِقِ بِالْكِتَابِ وَحُكْمُ الْأَئِمَّةِ الْمُضِلِّينَ

"'Umar (bin Al-Khatthab) said to me, 'Do you know what destroys Islam?' I replied, 'No.' 'Umar then said, 'What destroys it is the slip/error of a scholar ('alim), the argumentation of a hypocrite (munafiq) using the Book (Al-Kitāb), and the rule of misleading leaders (al-a'immah al-muḍillīn).'" (AR. Ad-Darimi: 220)

How excellent is the statement of Imam Abdullah bin Al-Mubarak:

وَتَرْكُ الذُّنُوبِ حَيَاةُ الْقُلُوبِ ... وَخَيْرٌ لِنَفْسِكَ عِصْيَانُهَا وَهَلْ بَدَّلَ الدِّينَ إِلَّا الْمُلُوكُ ... وَأَحْبَارُ سُوءٍ وَرُهْبَانُهَا

"Abandoning sins is the life of the hearts... and protecting yourself from them is best for you." "Nothing has distorted this religion except for the tyrants... and the evil scholars and their monks." (AR. Ibn Abdil Barr in Jami’u Bayanil Ilmi: 1100)

Here are 10 reasons why wishing a Merry Christmas is forbidden (haram). This is so that Muslims are not deceived by modern-day preachers who permit this greeting, and so that every Muslim has no doubt in their own conviction when facing the various traps set by those who allow the Christmas greeting:

1. Ijma' (Consensus) of the Scholars

The scholars agree on the prohibition of offering congratulations for the specific religious holidays of other faiths besides Islam. This ijma' was reported by Imam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah Al-Hanbali:

وَأَمَّا التَّهْنِئَةُ بِشَعَائِرِ الْكُفْرِ الْمُخْتَصَّةِ بِهِ فَحَرَامٌ بِالِاتِّفَاقِ مِثْلَ أَنْ يُهَنِّئَهُمْ بِأَعْيَادِهِمْ وَصَوْمِهِمْ، فَيَقُولَ: عِيدٌ مُبَارَكٌ عَلَيْكَ، أَوْ تَهْنَأُ بِهَذَا الْعِيدِ، وَنَحْوَهُ، فَهَذَا إِنْ سَلِمَ قَائِلُهُ مِنَ الْكُفْرِ فَهُوَ مِنَ الْمُحَرَّمَاتِ، وَهُوَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ أَنْ يُهَنِّئَهُ بِسُجُودِهِ لِلصَّلِيبِ، بَلْ ذَلِكَ أَعْظَمُ إِثْمًا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَأَشَدُّ مَقْتًا مِنَ التَّهْنِئَةِ بِشُرْبِ الْخَمْرِ وَقَتْلِ النَّفْسِ وَارْتِكَابِ الْفَرْجِ الْحَرَامِ وَنَحْوِهِ

"As for congratulating someone for the specific rituals/symbols of disbelief (kūfr) related to that disbelief, it is forbidden by agreement (haramun bil-ittifāq). This includes congratulating them on their festivals and their fasting by saying, 'May your holiday be blessed,' or 'May you enjoy this holiday,' and the like. Even if the speaker avoids falling into disbelief (kufr), this is definitely among the forbidden acts (muharramāt). It is comparable to congratulating someone for prostrating to the cross. In fact, that (the holiday greeting) is a greater sin (a'ẓamun ithman) in the sight of Allah and more severely disliked than congratulating someone for drinking alcohol (khamr), committing murder, committing illicit sexual relations (zinā or rape), and the like." (Ahkam Ahli Ad-Dzimmah, 1/441).

Ibn al-Qayyim not only stated that congratulating a disbeliever on their religious celebration is forbidden, but also that it is a major sin and close to disbelief. He considered it a greater sin than congratulating someone on murder or rape. No one hates and is angered by murder and rape, yet a greeting on the religious festivals of others (including Christmas) is a greater sin than that. Do you still want to wish a Merry Christmas?

This ijma' stated by Ibn al-Qayyim has not been challenged by any scholar, either in his time or after him. It is even supported by the statements of other scholars.

Imam Ad-Damiri Asy-Syafii said,

يُعَزَّرُ مَنْ وَافَقَ الْكُفَّارَ فِي أَعْيَادِهِمْ، وَمنْ يَمْسَكُ الْحَيَّةَ، وَيُدْخِلُ النَّارَ وَمَنْ قَالَ لِذِمِّيٍّ: يَا حَاجٌّ، وَمَنْ هَنَّأَهُ بِعِيدٍ وَمَنْ سَمَّى زَائِرَ قُبُورِ الصَّالِحِينَ حَاجًّا، وَالسَّاعِيُّ بِالنَّمِيمَةِ

"And it is appropriate that one who imitates the disbelievers during their religious festivals be punished (yu'azzaru), as well as one who keeps snakes, introduces fire (or keeps a fire burning for worship), one who says to a dhimmī (non-Muslim subject) 'O Hajj,' one who congratulates him on his holiday, one who calls a visitor of the graves of the righteous a Hajj, and one who engages in slander (namīmah)." (An-Najm Al-Wahhaj, 10/244).

Here, the scholars not only prohibited the act but also commanded that the perpetrator be punished and sanctioned. Essentially, a believer (mukmin) is commanded to reject and not be pleased with any religious celebration outside of Islam, especially Christmas, because it involves shirk (polytheism), associating partners with Allah, and opposition to the Shari'a of Prophet Muhammad.

2. Athar (Saying) of the Prophet's Companion

Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As said,

مَنْ بَنَى بِبِلَادِ الْأَعَاجِمِ وَصَنَعَ نَيْرُوزَهُمْ وَمِهْرَجَانَهُمْ وَتَشَبَّهَ بِهِمْ حَتَّى يَمُوتَ وَهُوَ كَذَلِكَ حُشِرَ مَعَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ

"Whoever settles in the lands of the non-Arabs (a'ājim), celebrates their holidays of Nairuz and Maharjan, and imitates them until he dies in that state, he will be resurrected with them on the Day of Resurrection (Yawm al-Qiyāmah)." (AR. Al-Bayhaqi in Al-Kubra: 18863).

Everyone understands that wishing a Merry Christmas is a specific custom of the Christians during Christmas. This statement of the Ṣaḥābī (Companion) Ibn 'Amr bin Al-'As was not denied by any other Companion in his time. This acts like a tacit consensus (ijmā' sukūtī) among the Ṣaḥābah. This further strengthens the ijma' reported by Ibn al-Qayyim and Ibnul Haj mentioned above.

3. Contradiction with the Requirements of a Believer's Iman

Some supporters of the 'Merry Christmas' greeting often argue, "We say Merry Christmas not because we believe in the content of Christmas itself, but to show respect." Others argue, "We don't acknowledge Jesus as God," or "We don't acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God," or "We still believe Allah is One, with no partner." People who make such arguments show ignorance and foolishness in understanding Iman (faith) in Islam.

Imam Asy-Shafi'i explained the correct understanding of Iman:

وَكَانَ الْإِجْمَاعُ مِنَ الصَّحَابَةِ وَالتَّابِعِينَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ مِمَّنْ أَدْرَكْنَاهُمْ أَنَّ الْإِيمَانَ قَوْلٌ وَعَمَلٌ وَنِيَّةٌ

"The consensus (ijma') among the Ṣaḥābah and the Tābi'īn after them, whom we met, was that Iman is utterance(qawl), action ('amal), and intention (niyyah, i.e., belief)." (AR. Al-Lalikai’i in Syarh Ushul I’tiqad Ahli As-Sunnah: 1593).

Iman must encompass these three components: utterance, action, and belief. Meaning, these three aspects must be consistent. They cannot contradict each other. This shows the ridiculousness and deviation of those who say, "It is permissible to wish a Merry Christmas as long as one does not believe in it." How is it not ridiculous, when one permits an utterance that contains affirmation of a religious holiday that associates a partner with Allah (Prophet Jesus), as long as the heart does not believe it? If it is not believed, why is it uttered? This is exactly the typical behavior of hypocrites(munāfiqūn) - as mentioned in Q.S. Al-Fath: 11 - who say with their tongues what is not in their hearts.

4. Contradiction with the Content of a Qur'anic Verse

It is contradictory because it clashes with Surah Al-Furqan, verse 72:

وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَشْهَدُونَ الزُّورَ وَإِذَا مَرُّوا بِاللَّغْوِ مَرُّوا كِرَامًا

"And those who do not witness/attend 'az-Zūr' (falsehood/vanity) and when they pass by 'al-Laghwu' (vain/idle talk), they pass by with dignity/turning away." (QS. Al-Furqan: 72).

Imam Al-Wahidi said,

مَعْنَى {الزُّورَ} هَاهُنَا الشِّرْكُ بِاللَّهِ فِي قَوْلِ أَكْثَرِ الْمُفَسِّرِينَ... وَنحْوُ هَذَا قَوْلُ مَنْ فَسَّرَ: {الزُّورَ} بِأَعْيَادِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَهُوَ قَوْلُ الضَّحَّاكِ...

"The meaning of 'az-Zūr' here is shirk (polytheism) towards Allah according to the opinion of the majority of exegetes... and similar to this is the opinion of those who interpret 'az-Zūr' as the festivals of the polytheists (al-mushrikīn)..." (Al-Basith, 16/601-602).

If merely witnessing it is forbidden, how about congratulating someone on it? All these interpretations from the experts in tafsir (exegesis) show the prohibition of offering greetings for the specific religious festivals of other faiths. Imam Ar-Razi Asy-Syafii said, "Attendance and observation of the event is a sign of one's contentment with it..." If seeing it is not allowed, then wishing well upon it is certainly worse.

5. Violating the Guidance and Demands of Shari'a (Tasyabbuh)

Wishing a Merry Christmas is fundamentally a custom unique and specific to those celebrating Christmas. One of the core principles of Islam is to differ from the customs of other religions and consistently follow the rules of Islamic Shari'a, making Rasulullah our role model. This is clearly shown in the command of the Prophet to differ from other groups, especially in matters related to their specific religious symbols or practices, which is called tashabbuh (imitation).

Rasulullah said:

لَتَتَّبِعُنَّ سَنَنَ مَنْ قَبْلَكُمْ شِبْرًا بِشِبْرٍ، وَذِرَاعًا بِذِرَاعٍ، حَتَّى لَوْ سَلَكُوا جُحْرَ ضَبٍّ لَسَلَكْتُمُوهُ، قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ: الْيَهُودَ، وَالنَّصَارَى قَالَ: فَمَنْ

"You will certainly follow the paths of those who came before you, span by span, and cubit by cubit, until even if they entered the hole of a lizard, you would enter it too (in imitation of them)." The Companions asked, "O Messenger of Allah, do you mean the Jews and the Christians?" He replied, "Who else (if not them)?" (HR. Al-Bukhari: 3456 and Muslim: 2669 from Abu Said Al-Khudri).

6. Contradiction with the Islamic Creed (Aqidah)

Everyone agrees that Christmas is a celebration by a group that believes in the divinity of Prophet Jesus (Isa). The essence of Christmas is to commemorate the birth of Isa Al-Masīh, a celebration built on the foundation of Isa's divinity and Allah's incarnation in him, which is a key belief of mainstream Christianity. This worship and belief in the divinity of Isa Al-Masīh is a belief of kufr (disbelief), shirk (polytheism), and is clearly and unequivocally rejected by the Qur'an.

Allah Ta'ala says:

لَقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَقَالَ الْمَسِيحُ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ مَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنْصَارٍ (72) لَقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلَاثَةٍ وَمَا مِنْ إِلَهٍ إِلَّا إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَنْتَهُوا عَمَّا يَقُولُونَ لَيَمَسَّنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ (73)

"They have certainly disbelieved who say that Allah is Christ, the son of Mary... They have certainly disbelieved who say, 'Allah is the third of three.' And there is no god except one God..." (QS. Al-Ma'idah: 72-73)

Is it logical for a Muslim to offer congratulations for a celebration built on such a belief of kufr?

7. Tasyabbuh (Imitating) the Customs of Disbelievers

Congratulating others on Christmas is a specific custom performed by those celebrating it. When a non-adherent of that religion does the same—whether by greeting, exchanging gifts, or showing joy during this festival of shirk—they fall under the Prophet's saying:

مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ

"Whoever imitates a people is one of them." (HR. Abu Dawud: 4031 from Abdullah bin Umar).

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah stated,

"There is no difference in participating with them in their festivals or in their entire way of life. Full involvement in all their festivals is involvement in kufr, and involvement in some aspects of the festival is involvement in the branches of kufr... Congratulating (on the festival) is a sign of joy and approval of the values contained in the Christmas teachings, whose values contradict the 'aqidah of Islam in all aspects." (Iqtidha-u As-Sirathi Al-Mustaqim, 1/528).

8. Insult to Allah and Invocation of Punishment

One of the foundational beliefs of Christmas, besides the divinity of Christ, is the belief that Christ is the son of God. From the perspective of Islamic 'aqidah, this is an insult and an affront to Allah. Allah says in a Hadith Qudsī:

يَشْتِمُنِي ابْنُ آدَمَ، وَمَا يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يَشْتِمَنِي، وَيُكَذِّبُنِي وَمَا يَنْبَغِي لَهُ، أَمَّا شَتْمُهُ فَقَوْلُهُ: إِنَّ لِي وَلَدًا

"The son of Adam curses Me, and he has no right to curse Me, and he belies Me, and he has no right to belittle Me. As for his cursing Me, it is his saying: 'I have a son,'..." (HR. Al-Bukhari: 3193 from Abu Hurairah)

Due to this insult, the heavens and earth are almost shattered. Allah says:

وَقَالُوا اتَّخَذَ الرَّحْمَنُ وَلَدًا (88) لَقَدْ جِئْتُمْ شَيْئًا إِدًّا (89) تَكَادُ السَّمَاوَاتُ يَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِنْهُ وَتَنْشَقُّ الْأَرْضُ وَتَخِرُّ الْجِبَالُ هَدًّا (90) أَنْ دَعَوْا لِلرَّحْمَنِ وَلَدًا (91)

"And they say, 'The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son.' You have certainly brought forth a terrible thing. The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation. That is for claiming for the Most Merciful a son." (QS. Maryam: 88-91)

The Commander of the Faithful (Amīrul Mu'minīn) 'Umar bin Al-Khatthab said,

لَا تَعَلَّمُوا رَطَانَةَ الْأَعَاجِمِ وَلَا تَدْخُلُوا عَلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ فِي كَنَائِسِهِمْ يَوْمَ عِيدِهِمْ، فَإِنَّ السَّخْطَةَ تَنْزِلُ عَلَيْهِمْ

"Do not learn the utterances (raṭānatu) of the non-Arabs and do not enter upon the polytheists (al-mushrikīn) in their churches on the day of their holiday, for the wrath of Allah descends upon them." (AR. Al-Bayhaqi in Al-Kubra: 18861).

9. Participation in Falsehood

From an Islamic standpoint, the Christmas celebration is a fabrication in the name of Prophet Jesus. There is no explicit basis in the Qur'an (or even in the Bible) commanding its celebration or stating the exact date of Isa Al-Masīh's birth. The celebration is essentially a form of glorification of Isa Al-Masīh and a means to promote his alleged divinity, which completely contradicts Islamic teachings. Allah speaks of those who fabricate lies about Him:

قُلْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَ

"Say, [O Muhammad], 'Indeed, those who invent a lie about Allah will not succeed.'" (QS. Yunus: 69)

Congratulating someone on Christmas is equivalent to endorsing the doctrines and dogmas of falsehood established in the name of Allah, Isa Al-Masīh, and the teachings He conveyed.

10. Violation of the Principle of Tawhid

It is not an exaggeration to say that those who permit the Christmas greeting are people with a shallow 'aqidah and are far from the spirit of Tawhid (Oneness of God) taught by the Qur'an. The essence of the Qur'an's teaching is loyalty to Tawhid and rejection of everything that opposes Tawhid, whether from polytheists or People of the Book.

Rasulullah said:

مَنْ شَهِدَ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، وَأَنَّ عِيسَى عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولُهُ، وَكَلِمَتُهُ أَلْقَاهَا إِلَى مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِنْهُ... أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ الْجَنَّةَ عَلَى مَا كَانَ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ

"Whoever bears witness that there is no god but Allah alone, with no partner, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, and that 'Īsā is the slave of Allah and His Messenger, and His word which He bestowed upon Maryam and a spirit from Him... Allah will admit him to Paradise regardless of his deeds." (HR. Al-Bukhari: 3435 and Muslim: 28 from 'Ubadah bin As-Ṣāmit)

Therefore, it is highly contradictory for a Muslim who claims to believe in Tawhid to willingly support specific religious celebrations of others that involve kufr and shirk. The consequence of Tawhid is to disassociate from and avoid anything that involves shirk and kufr. Allah says:

قَدْ كَانَتْ لَكُمْ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ فِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ إِذْ قَالُوا لِقَوْمِهِمْ إِنَّا بُرَآءُ مِنْكُمْ وَمِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ كَفَرْنَا بِكُمْ وَبَدَا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةُ وَالْبَغْضَاءُ أَبَدًا حَتَّى تُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ

"There has already been for you an excellent pattern in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, 'Indeed, we are disassociated from you and from whatever you worship other than Allah. We have disbelieved in you, and there has appeared between us and you animosity and hatred forever until you believe in Allah alone,'..." (QS. Al-Mumtahah: 4)

It is clear that anyone who permits wishing a Merry Christmas, regardless of their reasons or identity, is someone who does not understand the essence of Islamic 'aqidah and its teachings, and is ignorant of the substance and implications of Tawhid.

Wallahu a’lam (And Allah knows best).