Questions:

Salamu Alaykum Sheikh,

Q.1) Is it halal to accept gifts from Non-Muslims?
Q.2)  Every Christmas my friends get me gifts…would it be considered shrik if I accept?

Time: Wednesday December 2, 2009 at 10:02 am

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(Each answer below is based on each of the questions above)

A1) Yes, it is allowed to accept gifts from Non-Muslims .

Minor note of caution: However, if you can abstain from accepting it, it would be better for you. To bring things into ones life that is built on a foundation of pagan worship is frowned upon.

A2) It is not shirk to accept a gift for Christmas from a Non-Muslim. Shirk is when one ascribes partners with Allah.  Their religion allows them to give gifts. We cannot prevent others from giving what they wish to give.  However, it is best to make it known to your associates that you do not celebrate Christmas. More so, if there would be no adverse consequences for you making mention of the fact that you don’t celebrate it. Should a person persist in giving you a gift thereafter, you may accept it.

Added notes: Muslims have there own celebrations. To indulge in celebrations that contradict Islamic beliefs gradually takes away the value of ones own celebrations. Celebrating that which contradicts our values makes us lose sensitivity towards our sacred teachings. It is best to not involve ourselves in this Non-Muslim rituals.

Those that say no

Scholars that oppose secular holidays use the justification that it is based on something  nonreligious. Anything linked to paganism has no religious value. Allah has given us the best of holidays. To emulate pagan forms of worship becomes an insult to Allah and His prophetic counsel. It also goes against the following ayah:

This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have chosen (preferred) for you Islam as a religion. Quran 5: 3

Added to the above: Anas Ibn Maalik (RA) narrates that when the Prophet (SAW) came to Madinah, He (SAW) found people celebrating a two-day holiday that dated back to the period before Islam. Rasulullah (SAW) said: Allah has replaced these (two days of the Jahil holiday) for you with two better days, the day of Eid-ul-adhaa  and the day of Eid-ul-Fitr. (Imaam Ahmad, Imaam Abu Dawood)

Ibn Hajar makes mentions:  It is deduced from this Hadith that it is not permissible to resemble a holiday of disbelievers. Imaam Abu Hafs An-Nisfi stated: The one who offers an egg as a gift to a disbeliever in glorification of their day of celebration becomes a disbeliever. (Although we do not make such a bold claim, it remains that we should practice caution as to what we celebrate, and how we go about celedrating giving secular holidays.)

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

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