In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Quote from Arab News: “Some Muslim scholars over the years have triggered debates by labeling Christmas greetings as un-Islamic and thus prohibited”. https://www.arabnews.com/node/2222176/saudi-arabia

Response to the above

“Some Muslim scholars over the years…..” What is apparent from the context of the article is that this is a view of the deceivers at Arab News and not Dr Mohammad’s. Indeed, we don’t know whether this statement should make us laugh or cry, because it is as if the deceivers at Arab News do not want to acknowledge the fact that the verdicts related to this subject matter can be traced back to the early generations of Islam. Once again, we remind them that Allaah [The Exalted] said: [والذين لا يشهدون الزور – And those who do not witness falsehood..]. [Surah Al-Furqan. Aayah 72]

Abu Maalik and Ad-Dahhaak said that الزور – falsehood – means Shirk. Ad-Dahhaak reported from Ibn Abbaas it was an idol of the idol worshippers. Rabee Bin Anas said that it is the festivals of the polytheists. Muhammad Ibn Hanafiyyah said that it is music. Layth reported from Mujaahid who said, “They do not listen to music”. [Zaadul Maseer Fee Ilmit Tafseer page 1024. 1st Edition 1424AH (2002). Publisher: Maktabah Al-Islami and Daar Ibn Hazm] Read more here by Shaikh Abu Khadeejah: https://abukhadeejah.com/ibn-taymiyyah-on-participating-in-the-annual-celebrations-of-the-unbelievers/

Finally, even if this was a contemporary subject matter that has triggered debate, the scholars are not allowed to conceal truth. Ibn Aqeel [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “If the truthful ones were to keep silent and the falsifiers speak, then the creation would have relinquished what they have witnessed [of truth] and reject what they have not witnessed. So when the devout ones desire to revive the Sunnah, the people would reject it and think that it is bidah”. [Shifaa As-Sudoor Fee Ziyaaratil Mashaahid Wal-Quboor. page 148]

Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “The student of knowledge is very eager not to hide anything he knows. He is eager to clarify the truth and refute the opponents of the Religion of Islaam. He is neither lackadaisical nor does he seek to escape. He is always manifesting due to his endurance. So when the opponents of Islaam appear with that which obscures and defames Islaam, he brings forth refutation against them by writing, and by word of mouth, and other than that. He is neither lackadaisical nor does he say, ”these affairs are for other than me”, rather he says, ”it is for me, it is for me”. Even if there are other scholars, he still fears that the affair will slip away. So he is constantly salient and does not seek to escape, rather he comes forward at the appropriate time in order to aid the haqq, and refute the opponents of Islaam by writing and other than it…by means of the radio, or the newspapers, or TV, or through any means he can. He also does not hide what he has of knowledge, rather he writes, gives khutbah and refutes the people of innovation and other than them from the opponents of Islaam, with what Allaah has bestowed upon him of strength, in accordance to his knowledge, and with that which Allaah has made easy for him of various capabilities. Allaah [The Exalted] said:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنزَلْنَا مِنْ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالْهُدَى مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّاهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِي الْكِتَابِ أُوْلَئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمْ اللَّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمْ اللاَّعِنُونَ
إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَأَصْلَحُوا وَبَيَّنُوا فَأُوْلَئِكَ أَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَنَا التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ

Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences and the guidance, which WE have sent down, after WE have made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allaah and cursed by the cursers. Except those who repent and do righteous deeds, and openly declare (the truth which they concealed). These, I will accept their repentance. And I am the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful” (2:159-160) [The Responsibilities of the Student of Knowledge. page: 15-16]

Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadi Al-Madkhali [may Allaah preserve him] said: The scholar who fears Allaah – the one (constantly conscious of the fact that Allah sees, hears and knows everything about him) – acts upon what he knows, seek after Allaah’s pleasure and keep away from what angers Allaah. He knows what pleases Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] and what angers Allaah.

Indeed, Allaah and His Messenger praised knowledge and the scholars, and the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] informed us that the scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets; however, not every scholar is an inheritor of the prophets; rather one has to be sincere in the path of knowledge, implement knowledge, act upon it and spread it amongst the people. So, he rectifies himself through this knowledge and rectifies others. If he does not act, knowledge will be a tool of corruption and destruction, and Allaah’s refuge is sought. And because of this, Allaah dispraised the one who does not act upon the knowledge he has acquired and promises him the severest punishment. Allaah said:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِنَّ ڪَثِيرً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلۡأَحۡبَارِ وَٱلرُّهۡبَانِ لَيَأۡكُلُونَ أَمۡوَٲلَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلۡبَـٰطِلِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَكۡنِزُونَ ٱلذَّهَبَ وَٱلۡفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَہَا فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَبَشِّرۡهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ۬

O you who believe! Verily, there are many of the (Jewish) rabbis and the (Christian) monks who devour the wealth of mankind in falsehood, and hinder (them) from the Way of Allah (i.e. Allah’s Religion of Islamic Monotheism). And those who hoard up gold and silver [Al-Kanz: the money, the Zakat of which has not been paid], and spend it not in the Way of Allah, -announce unto them a painful torment. [Surah at-Tawbah. Aayah 34]

Allaah [The Exalted] said:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفۡعَلُونَ
ڪَبُرَ مَقۡتًا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُواْ مَا لَا تَفۡعَلُونَ

O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is with Allah that you say that which you do not do. [Surah Saff. Aayah 3]

One of the most hateful [deeds] is that one speaks and gives admonition based on knowledge, but he does not act. Allaah said:

أَلَمۡ يَأۡنِ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَن تَخۡشَعَ قُلُوبُہُمۡ لِذِڪۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَلَا يَكُونُواْ كَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبۡلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيۡہِمُ ٱلۡأَمَدُ فَقَسَتۡ قُلُوبُہُمۡ‌ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ فَـٰسِقُونَ

Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism) to be affected by Allah’s Reminder (this Qur’an), and that which has been revealed of the truth, lest they become as those who received the Scripture [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] before (i.e. Jews and Christians), and the term was prolonged for them and so their hearts were hardened? And many of them were Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah). [Suarah Al-Hadeed. Aayah 16]

It is obligated on the Islamic Ummah to avoid the path of these misguided ones amongst the people of the scripture – those who acquired knowledge but did not act, so their hearts became corrupt and the majority of them became rebellious, disobedient. That is because not acting on knowledge leads to hardness of the heart. And when this hardness afflicts the heart, it destroys it and thus neither does the heart accept truth nor act upon knowledge. It leads to concealment of knowledge, acting contrary to knowledge, leads [the person to] follow desires and rejects truth that is a clear as the sun.

This is found in this Ummah, just as the Prophet said: ‘’The best of the people are those living in my generation, then those who will follow the latter and then those who come after them. Then there will come after them people who will be treacherous and will not be trustworthy, they will bear witness without being asked to do so (Footnote 1), and they will vow, but will never fulfil their vows, and fatness will appear among them.’’ (Footnote 2).

They give false testimony, act treacherously and deceitfully. They behave a very sinful manner and follow evil desires, except those whom Allaah safeguards amongst the Taa’ifatul Mansoorah [i.e. the aided group of Muslims upon the straight path] – those whom Allaah’s Messenger [alayhis salaatu wassalaam] praised. Therefore, it is obligated on us to acquire knowledge for the sake of Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] and act upon it. Ignorance is a deadly disease and knowledge is a weapon that will destroy you if you do not act upon it, and Allaah’s refuge is sought. [Marhaban Yaa Taalibal Ilm pages 268-270]

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[Footnote 1]: Regarding the statement, ‘’They will bear witness without being asked to do so.’’ This can mean that they bear witness before being asked, or they bear witness based on falsehood, or they give witness without being from those who are worthy of it. (For further details see Sharh Saheeh Muslim 12/17)]. However, there is another Hadeeth in which the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] stated: ‘’Should I not inform you about the best of witnesses, they are those who bear witness before being asked.’’ The scholars say that what is intended by this hadeeth is for example: someone has a witness to give on behalf of another person based on truth, but the person does not know about it, so he [i.e. the one who should give the witness] informs the person about it; or for example, a person has already passed away and another person knows what the deceased person has left behind as inheritance, so he bears witness to that and makes it known. [For further details see Fat-hul Baari 5/260]

[Footnote 2]: And regarding the statement, ‘’And fatness will appear among them.’’ – Meaning: These people give importance to the means of fattening themselves – food, drink and over-abundance. So, their only concern is their bodies and fattening themselves. As for being fat without choice, then one cannot be blamed for that, just as a person cannot be blamed for being tall, short, black or white…[For further details, see Majmoo Al-Fataawaa 10/1056 -By Shaikh Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah)]