In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allaah [The Exalted] said:
وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ ۚ إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَالْبَصَرَ وَالْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُولَٰئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْئُولًا
And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart – about all those [one] will be questioned. [Surah Al-Israa. Aayah 36]
A blazing liberalist at ArabNews states: “The growing popularity of social media platforms has allowed Saudis to learn more about Easter celebrations and traditions. With the country’s moves toward promoting coexistence and harmony, there has been increased exposure and curiosity among Saudis about different holidays celebrated by expats in the Kingdom. Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, the head of the Muslim World League, last December reiterated that there was no text in Shariah law that disallowed Muslims from extending greetings to Christians”. https://www.arabnews.com/node/2283531/saudi-arabia
Firstly, what is Easter? Easter, Latin Pascha, Greek Pascha, principal festival of the Christian church, which celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his Crucifixion. The earliest recorded observance of an Easter celebration comes from the 2nd century, though the commemoration of Jesus’ Resurrection probably occurred earlier. [Encyclopedia Britannica]
Therefore, Easter is festival in opposition to what Allaah [The Exalted] has stated about His noble Messenger Eesa [peace be upon him], because neither was he crucified nor resurrected; rather this belief is one of the superstitions and false claims of the followers of abrogated religions. Allaah [The Exalted] stated about Eesa [peace be upon him]:
وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَٰكِن شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ ۚ وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ لَفِي شَكٍّ مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا لَهُم بِهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِلَّا اتِّبَاعَ الظَّنِّ ۚ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينًا
بَل رَّفَعَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا
But they killed him not, nor crucified him, but the resemblance of ‘Iesa (Jesus) was put over another man (and they killed that man), and those who differ therein are full of doubts. They have no (certain) knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely; they killed him not [i.e. ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary) ]: But Allah raised him [‘Iesa (Jesus)] up (with his body and soul) unto Himself (and he is in the heavens). And Allah is Ever All-Powerful, All-Wise. [Surah An-Nisaa. Aayaat 157-158]
Indeed, this Aayah is enough for the one who celebrates Easter, however, the repugnant blind followers of misguided Muhammad Al-Issa at ArabNews desperately seek to justify – to the ignorant masses – that Muslims can congratulate the adherents of abrogated religions during their festivals. Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] stated: “Congratulating the non-Muslims during their Christmas celebrations or other religious celebrations is forbidden by a consensus cited by Ibn Al-Qayyim in his book, Ahkām Ahlidh-Dhimmah…* If they congratulate us during their celebrations, then we do not respond to that, because it is not our celebration and it is a celebration that Allah is not pleased with. That is because either it is a celebration that they have innovated into their religion or it is one that is legislated in their religion but was abrogated with the advent of the religion of Islam which the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was sent with to the whole of mankind. It was regarding this that Allah said, “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter, he will be one of the losers.” (Āli ‘Imrān 3:85) Therefore, to accept an invitation from them at Christmas is forbidden because to participate with them (in a Christmas meal) is even more severe than congratulating them.” (Majmū’ Fatāwā 3/45-46, abridged)
Pay close attention to the statement: “If they congratulate us during their celebrations, then we do not respond to that, because it is not our celebration and it is a celebration that Allah is not pleased with. That is because either it is a celebration that they have innovated into their religion or it is one that is legislated in their religion but was abrogated with the advent of the religion of Islam which the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was sent with to the whole of mankind. It was regarding this that Allah said, “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter, he will be one of the losers”.
Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allaah have mercy upon him] stated: “Congratulating the unbelievers) by way of speech during their festivals, or by phone or printed cards, all of this is evil and it is not permissible for a Muslim to (do so), neither in Muslim countries nor in non-Muslim countries. Neither does he congratulate them during their festivals nor participate in them, nor does he work with them to aid them in that, because this is tantamount to aiding (someone) upon falsehood; therefore, he neither joins them nor help them (in this affair), nor congratulate them on their false festivals. (1)
Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allaah have mercy upon him] stated:
وأمَّا أعيادُ المشركين: فجَمَعتِ الشُّبهةَ والشَّهوةَ، وهي باطلٌ؛ إذ لا مَنفعةَ فيها في الدِّينِ، وما فيها مِن اللَّذَّةِ العاجِلةِ، فعاقبتُها إلى ألَمٍ، فصارتْ زُورًا، وحُضورُها: شُهودُها، وإذا كان اللهُ قدْ مدَحَ ترْكَ شُهودِها الَّذي هو مُجرَّدُ الحُضورِ برُؤيةٍ أو سَماعٍ؛ فكيفَ بالموافَقةِ بما يَزيدُ على ذلك، مِن العمَلِ الَّذي هو عمَلُ الزُّورِ، لا مُجرَّدُ شُهودِه؟
As for the festivals of of the polytheists, they combine between Shubhah [an affair that resemble truth but is falsehood in reality] and Shahwah [vain or impermissible desires], and it is falsehood, so there is no benefit in it in relation to religion, and what is in it of immediate pleasure, its end result will be pain. Therefore, being present (where it is established) and witnessing it is tantamount to falsehood. And when it is case that Allaah praises (the one) who abandons witnessing it, which is merely being present, seeing or hearing, then how about being in agreement with what is more than that, such as the deeds that are tantamount to falsehood and not just witnessing it?” (2)
Indeed, despite the fact that Easter is based on falsehood – a clear contradiction of that which Allaah has stated about His Messenger Eesa [peace be upon him], the blazing liberalists at ArabNews blindly follow their misguided Saudi Pseudo Shaikh (Muhammad Al-Issa) who says that there is no text that prohibits Muslims from extending greetings to Christians during their festivals. The liberalists wage war against the Sunnah in the name of reform whilst following the false verdicts of misguided Muhammad Al-Issa. Al-Allaamah Saalih Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] stated: “At present when someone desires something he would say, “Such and such a person has given a verdict on this (affair)” without considering whether it has a basis in the Book and the Sunnah. And you say to him, “This verdict is wrong”, he says, “It has nothing to do with me” as long as the verdict was given by such and such (person)”. And if the verdict is not in agreement with his desires, he says, “This verdict is not correct or it is a harsh one”. (3)
We ask Allaah to guide these misguided ones or protect us from their falsehood Aameen.
[Ref1:https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/21240/%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%85-%D8%AA%D9%87%D9%86%D9%89%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%87%D9%85. paraphrased ]
[Ref 2: Iqtidaa As-Siraat Al-Mustaqeem 1/483. paraphrased]
[Ref 3: An Excerpt from Sharh Masaa’il Al-Jaahiliyyah. pages 74-77]
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