Non-Muslim holidays...What does Islam say?

Asalaamu Aliakum!!!

I know am kinda late with the whole Christmas Holiday talks but I wanted to gather as much authentic sources as I can before I just say "Its haraam or Halal." So the main discussions/questions that I have seen on Facebook were: "Can we say happy holidays when a Non-Muslim says happy holiday?" Can we join our Non-Muslim friends for dinner on Christmas Day? My friend gives me a gift on Eid why can't I give her something on Christmas?" And all other questions related to this. So how do answer this or how do we deal with this, after all we do live in their country...do we comply?

Before I give you any evidences, I want to ask all of you readers to open your heart first and foremost because all day I can give you all the evidences in the world but if your not open to guidance then you will not receive guidance. Like they say if you turn the cup upside down water cant get through it BUT if you turn it up you will be able to fill the cup. 

Now another thing I want to mention is that WE really need to be serious about our religion. Saying La ilah ilalah means that you are submitting yourself to Allah ONLY and to submit means to give over or yield oneself to power or authority of another which in this case is Allah. What Allah permits we do and what He forbid we must abstain from. What He hates we must hate and what He loves we must love. Now tell me does Allah love to be associated with partners? Does Allah love to be lied about? We would hate ANYONE who lies about our parents imagine ALLAH. 

       "They have said, " Allah has taken a son." Exalted is He; He is the [one] Free of need...Do you say about Allah that which you do not know?

       "Say, "Indeed, those who invent falsehood about Allah will not succeed."- Surah 10:68-69.

So our so called "friends" or those whom greet us happy holidays, we definitely know that they ASSOCIATE Jesus(a.s) with Allah...so how can we claim to love Allah while giving in to those whom He hates? No one said be mean or insult them but we must be firm and not compromise our deen. We cant take these issues lightly just because its an utter of words..."happy holidays"...because we know as Muslims we are accounted for EVERYTHING whether its words or actions.. 

    The Prophet(saw) said, "A slave (of Allah) may utter a word which pleases Allah without giving it much importance, and because of that Allah will raise him to degrees (of reward): a slave (of Allah) may utter a word (carelessly) which displeases Allah without thinking of its gravity and because of that he will be thrown into the Hell-Fire.-Bukhari

We are in the same predicament that the Prophet(saw) and his companions were in during the Meccan period(before they migrated to Medina). The Quraish which were the disbelievers at the time saw the effect of Muhammed(saw) Dawah and were frustrated about it. So they sought to find a solution to stop this Dawah since torture and boycotting the Muslims didnt work. The solution that they thought might work was asking for a compromise from the Prophet(saw).  They proposed the idea that for one year the Prophet(saw) should worship their gods and that in turn they would worship Allah for a year. If this was proposed to us I think we would have given in after all they are soooo nice and they're "our friends." But what response did the Prophet(saw) give them for this proposal? The response of the Prophet(saw) was what Allah revealed to him in Suratul-Kafiroon. Allah made sure that in this Surah all arguments and confusion  were cut short by firmly distinguishing between the two forms of doctrine and worships. When Allah says "Qul Ya aayuhal Kafiroon." Kafiroon refers to every disbeliever on the face of this earth. Allah is emphasizing that there is no meeting point which exists between us and them and that's why this Surah begins with "Qul Ya aayuhal Kafiroon" to bring in to reality difference between us and them which cannot be IGNORED . We are Muslims and they are kafirs. And finally this Surah ends with "To you be your religion and me my religion." Meaning there is no bridge to connect us. 

So my sisters and brothers in Islam leave them for theirs as they have left us for ours. I would have quoted what major scholars said about this topic but am sure you all have read it on facebook. I believe that the Quran and Sunnah is sufficient for us. So lets take it!   

#FEEL FREE TO COMMENT#  

Starting with the Basics

Asalaamu Aliakum

I have been studying from this book called The Three Fundamentals Principles (Thalatha-Usool) which by the way should not be confused with Usoolu-thalatha its a little similar but different. However, it is written by the same scholar: Muhammed bin Abdul-Wahhaab. I know your probably like WAIT WAIT WAIT! I cant read a book by this Sheikh. Isnt that the Sheikh the Wahhabis follow?...NO Ya Ikhwaan! This is not the type of mentality we should have. In fact, I bet most of us don't know ANYTHING about this Sheikh besides his last name WAHHAB. Inshaa Allah I will post a little biography about him another time but for now take the good from him. Anyways the reason am sharing this book with you is because I find it to be very beneficial and specially if your a student of knowledge this book would be perfect for you; in fact many scholars recommend that students of knowledge start with this book and master it. Because walahi your learning the basic fundamentals of the religion in the most easiest way. For example Suratul-Asr. A lot of us if not all of us have memorized this Surah but do we really derive anything from this Surah? Did we know that if this surah was the only surah to be revealed it would have been sufficient for us?

                                  

By the Time! Man is surely in loss, except those who believed and did good works, and exhorted one another to Truth, and exhorted one another to patience.¹

So lets see what we need to understand from this Surah:
    
     1. That we have to be Aware(believe) of Allah, His Prophet, and His religion based on evidences. 
     2. Acting on this(to be Aware of Allah and His messenger is not enough we have to work using our limbs as well). 
     3. Calling to it(A lot us think that giving Dawah is an option but clearly it's not).
     4. Patience with the harm that befall due to it(Acting upon the religion of Allah is not easy nor is calling people to the way of Allah, So we have to be patient).

I hope that we have benefited from this Bi'ithnillah. And remember try to purchase this book or look for an online version because as I said before it's very easy to learn! 

Reminder Benefits the Believers

Asalaamu Aliakum, 

"And Remind for verily a reminder benefits the believer"(51:55). 

I began with this verse as my first post in this blog because I believe it is relevant for all of us to understand that we do not necessarily have to be ignorant about an issue in order for someone remind us. To remind means to recall or to cause someone to remember something that they already know, but have forgotten. One of the weaknesses that we have as human beings is being forgetful. Allah gives us a great analogy in the Quran depicting this, saying: 

"And when some hurt touches man, he cries to his Lord(Allah alone), turning to Him in repentance. But when He bestows a favor upon him from Himself, HE FORGETS that for which he cried for before, and he sets up rivals to Allah, in order to mislead others from his path. Say: Take pleasure in your disbelief for a while: surely, you are(one) of the dwellers of the Fire." 

Therefore, Oh Muslims we must be willing to allow others to remind us that which we have forgotten, so that we may take heed. Do not be among those who are reminded but take no benefit, rather take the reminder and let it benefit you, for verily that is one of the characteristics of a believer.