Shirk of Christmas

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم والصلاة والسلام على رسول الأمين نبينا محمد و على آله وصحابته أجمعين

Assalaamu Alaykum,

What is shirk?

Shirk is having partners with God. It is the worst sin any human being can commit. There are many ways you can do this but they’ve been split into 3 main categories. Shirk by Lordship, Shirk by Names and Attributes, and Shirk by Worship.

Shirk by Lordship is believing someone else has control over the universe, or knows things only God can know. So believing mother nature is in control of world phenomenons or believing that luck is what decides if something good or bad happens. Or believing there are many gods and they each share in their powers or rule.

Shirk by Names and Attributes is when you give some of Allah’s Names and Attributes to His creation. For example believing Energy can not be created or destroyed, when Allah is the Creator. Or believing the universe always existed, when Allah is the First. Or saying someone is the best, when only Allah is the Greatest.

Shirk by worship is the last category. This happens when people pray to anything other than Allah. Some people believe in many gods. Other people pray to saints. Some worship their own desires, by ignoring the rules and laws of Allah and following only their desires.

So now that we know what shirk is, why is celebrating Christmas shirk?

Simply put, celebrating Christmas is shirk because you are approving of the belief that Jesus is the son of God. By doing this you are agreeing with there being 2 Gods which as we discussed above is clear shirk. Even if you know Jesus isn’t the son of God, and you know there’s only one God, you are approving and celebrating a lie. It’s like celebrating the murder of someone, or celebrating the drinking of alcohol. In actual fact it’s worst than all of that. You are celebrating the worst sin that a human being can ever commit, which is having partners with Allah.

What counts as “celebrating?”

Even saying “Merry Christmas” is unacceptable for a Muslim. So any form of celebrating is much worst. Celebrating would be taking part in the celebration. Going to the parties or gatherings. Eating the Christmas food that is offered. Decorating our trees, buying or exchanging gifts, singing the Christmas songs and so on are forms of celebrating. Allah says in the Quran:

وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
And whoever desires other than Islam as religion – never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.

What should I tell my family?

What we as Muslims need to do is stay far away from any acts of shirk. So we can politely explain to the person that we don’t celebrate Christmas, and we cannot accept their invitation. As servants of God, we must obey His commands as best as we can and not fear the people. If we follow their celebrations then how are we different from them? Why should they become Muslims if a Muslim and a non-Muslim act the same? The Prophet PBUH (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: