As the Christmas holiday season approaches, during which millions of people around the world exchange greetings, along with the queries and interpretations by some regarding the legitimacy of participating in it and the limits of its public appearance, between those who see it as a special religious occasion that should respect its privacy, and those who consider it a global event with social and cultural characteristics that do not conflict with the values of coexistence and openness.
In this context, the Secretary General of the Muslim World League, chairman of the Assembly of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa revealed the religious ruling related to congratulating non-Muslims on their holidays, confirming that there is no scriptural text that prohibits doing so.
Al-Issa explained in a previous conversation through the program «In the Best Way Possible», that congratulating non-Muslims on «Christmas» or other holidays does not contradict the rules of Islamic Sharia, noting that fatwas from prominent scholars in the Islamic world permit this practice.
He stated that contentious issues should not be objected to, confirming that objection only applies to issues that have definitive consensus, not to speculative matters, pointing out that congratulating non-Muslims serves an apparent interest that contributes to enhancing the positive image of Islam.
He added that Islam permits eating the food and slaughter of the People of the Book, without that implying an endorsement of their beliefs, clarifying that this approach aligns with the purposes of Sharia.
Al-Issa concluded his discussion by emphasizing that exchanging greetings aims to enhance values of coexistence and harmony, in a world that today more than ever needs to establish a culture of understanding among peoples and religions.
