Can Muslims say 'Merry Christmas'?

Mahmudi Asyari and Muizzudin ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 12/24/2008 10:49 AM  |  Opinion

Indonesian Muslims still have very different opinions about wishing someone "Merry Christmas". Some of them believe it is OK to do so, while some others see it differently.

The former group base their opinion on the spirit of religious tolerance and the latter group consider it harmful for the religion and relate their opinion with the forbidden action of mixing one religion with another. This group seems to be dominant in Indonesia.

In defending their opinion, they use a hadith as mentioned in Bukhari: "It related from *Aishah that a group of Jews came to God's Messenger and said, 'as-sam *alayk (death be on you). I understood it and said to them, as-sam wa al-la*nah (on you be death and curse).

God's Messenger said, 'Be calm! O *Aishah, for God loves that one should be kind and lenient in all matters.' I said. 'O God's Messenger! Haven't you heard what they have said?' God's Messenger said, '(Haven't you heard what I have said.) I said (to them), *alaykum (upon you).'" According to them, responding to a greeting with non-Muslims is limited and so is wishing "Merry Christmas".

Based on a literature study, the writers believe that the ban of wishing "Merry Christmas" directly from the prophet is not found. This is due to the fact that historically there was relatively no clear contact between Muslims and Christians in Madinah as Muslims had with the Jews.

The Madina Charter, for example, indicates how intense the contact was with the Jews because they had economical and political power in Madinah. Conflict and cheating occurred between them which forced the Jews to leave Madina. This kind of contact didn't occur between Christians and Muslims in Madinah.

That is why there is no proof that the prophet said anything about wishing someone "Merry Christmas". The type of greeting between the Jews and Muslims at that time was the result of the political situation, which triggered a conflict. This is the reason why the prophet issued the hadith which the ulemas later interpreted as limiting and/or prohibiting Muslims to greet or reply using the word assalamu'alaikum or anything similar with non-Muslims.

Concerning using the Christmas greeting, there is no obvious Koranic verse or hadith regarding this matter. The Prophet Mohammad only had contact with a few Christians before he became a prophet and there was no further contact after he became one. Due to this fact, the reasoning of Muslims who ban wishing "Merry Christmas" is obviously questionable.

Whether an Indonesian Muslim is allowed or not to use this greeting is debatable following the level of the harmony that avails. Some years ago the Indonesian Ulema Council issued a fatwa banning the wishing of "Merry Christmas". Since there was no obvious proof from the prophet banning it, the Indonesian Ulema Council based their reasoning on the actual political situation. In this case, the political situation played a significant role.

Actually, what all Indonesian Muslims do now is to refer to the Holy Koran, Mary Chapter, verses 33-34. "Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive! Such was Jesus, son of Mary: (this is) a statement of the truth concerning which they doubt."

The two verses do not ban Muslims from wishing "Merry Christmas" as long as they mean to confess that Jesus is just a human and not God (Tafseer Ibn Katsir, Vol. III/127). M. Quraish Shihab even mentioned that the human aspect is significant in Islam. If there is no problem with the human aspect, there is no problem then for Muslims to extend a congratulations to anyone who celebrates the birthday of someone who later became a Prophet and a Messenger.

Understanding the two verses, Indonesian Muslims should question why a hadith from Aishah became a basic reason for prohibiting Muslims from giving the Christmas greeting just because of the political situation in which they assumed that the so-called Christianization of Indonesia was at an alarming rate.

The Indonesian Ulema Council based the fatwa on what is in the Islamic jurisprudence named as sad al-dzari*ah (protecting Muslims from falling into something unexpected in Islam). In this case, the Council set the ruling for Muslims to stop them from falling into two unexpected things: Confessing Jesus as God, which is interpreted as an effort to mix a religion with another religion, and converting to Christianity.

Since every December Indonesian Muslims face this issue, it is better that all religious leaders have a mutual understanding and an open dialog and so contribute to a conducive atmosphere for harmony and tolerance among the followers of different religions. In the matter of wishing "Merry Christmas", Muslims should take all aspects comprehensively. Muslims can wish Christians "Merry Christmas" as if they were celebrating the birthday of another Prophet and Messenger whom Islam acknowledges.

Mahmudi Asyari is a Doctorate Degree Holder from Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University and Muizzudin is a lecturer of University of Indonesia.

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Haryo — Fri, 12/26/2008 - 9:15am

We have to differentiate between greetings, wishing, saluting, and cursing. when one says "Good morning" what does this means? When one says "Happy birthday" what does it means. but when one says 'as-sam *alayk (death be on you), we know exactly what it means!

The Betawi said: "Ente jual anne beli!" (You sell, I buy). If you sell anger people will buy with hatred. if you sell symnpathy, people will buy with love. What you got is what you give away

Nietsche said: "I am affraid we can't get rid of god because we still believe in grammar" I am asking everyone on earth to deploy reasons, to use logic.

Islam, the religion of SALAM, the religion of peace is to shed love to the universe. I am a moslem, so let us proof that we are the khalifah to shed love over the universe. saying greetings, salutations, wishings, celebratings is only one way to shed love. the power of language to strengthen human ties. afterall we're just human.

Ege (not verified) — Fri, 12/26/2008 - 2:56am

Yes, we do acknowledge (as Muslims) that Jesus was born, but the question is do we know what day? (Christian authority themselves admit that Dec. 25 is NOT the birthday of Jesus). And even if we know the day, we as Muslims don't even (or are not supposed to) celebrate the birthday of anyone, not of Prophet Muhammad (may Allaah exalt his mention), not even our own birthdays. This is an innovation! So returning the greeting is like acknowledging and approving of the falsehood in their rituals.

But of course, I understand that one doesn't want to be rude by not saying anything (but this doesn't mean that we should go ahead and compromise our deen and just carelessly return the greeting). There must be limits. And we should have more shame (and taqwa) towards Allaah than towards the people.

Depending on each person's situation and knowledge, somebody greeting you a 'Merry Christmas' is a very good opportunity for da'wah (inviting people to Islaam)-> for those who are striving to get more rewards from Allaah. One could just politely say with a smile, 'Thank you, but as a Muslim, we don't celebrate Christmas.' (With this, you maintain your politeness, being nice and formal, at the same time, you're preserving the dignity for the deen and for yourself as a Muslim who is upon the truth, not stooping down just to please them) And you could continue by explaining the status of Jesus in Islaam, that we believe as Muslims that he is the Messiah, we believe in the virgin birth, we believe that he performed miracles by the will of Almighty God (Allaah), and so on..a (you'll be surprised that most Christians don't know how much Islaam and Christianity have in common about their beliefs about Jesus, they just think that Muslims hate Jesus, and this is totally false!)

May Allaah help us do that which would be more pleasing to Him ameen.

~~~~~
For a fatwa about greeting and celebrating non-Muslim holidays, kindly visit http://islamqa.com/en/ref/947

Fazly (not verified) — Thu, 12/25/2008 - 3:23pm

Dear Sir,

It was interesting to read your article. While I do not harbour any hatred for Christians as individuals I do not necesserily think that I should show solidarity with their false believes. If I'm not mistaken the concept of x-mas originated some where in the middle ages or the 18th centenery and it has got nothing to do with the birth of prophet Jesus ( PBUH). This should also give you some answers to your question why prophet did not come across a situation of wishing some one "Mary Christmas". There for my advise to Muslims is that you respect your Christian collegues for the humans that they are but that does not require you to ratify thier believes that are utterly false and have no solid bases.

Mohammed Hussain (not verified) — Thu, 12/25/2008 - 3:32am

This is a good article, and just to comment about the subject that all Muslims prohibits saying merry Christmas to Christians. I am a Muslim and we have no issue with saying merry Christmas to Christians. In addition to that we need to be aware that not all Muslims sectors believe in the Hadith from Aisha.

The writer (not verified) — Wed, 12/24/2008 - 8:11pm

I think it's just rubbish. Christians wish Happy eid all the time to the Muslim and it shows which religion that "tolerate" other people the most.

I know a person who is Muslim fanatic who refuses to wish her husband's parents (who happened to be Christians) merry Christmas although they are the ones who support the family.

Forget religion and religious practices, it's about ethics, politeness and compassion. You won't get struck by lightning just to wish merry christmas to other people.

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