Question
My boss is a catholic christian from Ireland. christmas is coming soon. All my Muslim colleagues will wish him – merry christmas. I know the fuqaha are very clear that we can’t wish them merry christmas but given the above situation is there a slight chance that I can wish him just to make him happy and that is all. Because all my Muslim colleagues are liberals and they take Deen very easily leaving me as an extremist and narrow minded individual. Also he is the boss. That makes me more worried.
Answer
It is not permissible to wish someone ‘merry christmas’ under any circumstances. In revering and approving of a non-Muslim festival which is rooted in disbelief and Shirk there is even danger of one leaving the fold of Islam.
The christians are celebrating that on this day Allah Subhaanahu wa ta’aala (God) sent His SON into the world! (We seek refuge in Allah from such belief). The rest of the world are blindly following the Christians in upholding and celebrating this horrendous belief with regards to Allah Subhaanahu wa ta’aala.
As Muslims, our fundamental belief is expressed in Surah Al-Ikhlas: “Say: He, Allah is One. Allah is Independent. He has no children and is not the offspring of anything. There is none equal to Him.”
Checked and Approved By:
Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.
References
في محيط البرهاني : اجتمع الجوس يوم النيروز فقال مسلم “خوب رسمي نهاده اند” او قال “نيك انيد نهاده اند” يخاف عليه الكفر. (٤٢٩/٧ ادارة القرآن)