Question:
Salam alaykum Shaykh…
Are we allowed to congratulate Nasara (Christians) on Dec 25 for Jesus birthday (as our Prophet, not son of Allah)? Please advise. Thank you.
Salam,
Answer:
wa `alaykum salam,
The Holy Quran, Mary Chapter, verses 33-34. {Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive! Such was Jesus, son of Mary: (this is) a statement of the truth concerning which they doubt.} The two verses do not ban Muslims from wishing “Merry Christmas” as long as they mean to confess that Jesus is just a human and not God (Tafseer Ibn Kathir, Vol. III/127).
Imam Senad Agic
The Islamic Cultural Center of Greater Chicago