What is the ruling on celebrating the Christians’ new year?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

It is not permissible for any Muslim to join Christians in their celebration of their new year or even to congratulate them upon it. This is because their celebration is related to their invalid religion or is a motto for it. Muslims are forbidden from imitating Christians or celebrating their feasts. This ruling is supported by evidence from the Quran, the Sunnah, consensus, and common sense.

Regarding proofs from the Quran, Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And [they are] those who do not testify to falsehood, and when they pass near ill speech, they pass by with dignity.}[Quran 25:72] Mujaahid said when interpreting this verse that it refers to the disbelievers’ celebrations. Also Ar-Rabee‘ ibn Anas, Al-Qaadhi Abu Ya‘laa and Ad-Dhahhaak were of the same opinion. Ibn Seereen said that the word “ill speech” in the verse refers to Sha‘aaneen Sunday (Palm Sunday), which is a Christian feast celebrated on the Sunday before Easter. Christians celebrate this feast by carrying palms. They claim that this is the anniversary of Christ's entrance to Jerusalem. The evidence here is that Allaah The Almighty praised those who do not attend such celebrations.

Thus, this means that it is impermissible to approve of such celebrations or to share in them.

In the Sunnah, it was narrated on the authority of Anas ibn Maalik that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, disapproved of the two days that the people in Madeenah used to celebrate and told them that Allaah had substituted these two days with the two ‘Eeds of Islam: Al-Fitr and Al-Adhha. [Abu Daawood, Ahmad, An-Nasaa’i: Saheeh (Authentic)]

The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not approve of these two feasts and told them that Allaah had substituted them with better days. Substitution entails giving up what is substituted for, which in this case was the two days celebrated before the advent of Islam. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, informed us that our ‘Eeds are better than those of Jaahiliyyah (the pre-Islamic era). This means that what Allaah has made lawful for us should be sufficient.

As for evidence from consensus, Jews and Christians have always lived in Muslim countries and celebrated their feasts, but the righteous predecessors did not share in their celebrations. Moreover, among the conditions that ‘Umar stipulated in the covenant with the Christians and Jews was that they should not celebrate their feasts publicly, which was later approved by the Companions and all jurists. Jews and Christians were prevented from celebrating their feasts publicly, so how can Muslims share in their celebrations? Is this not worse than disbelievers' celebrating such things in public? It was narrated that ‘Umar forbade Muslims from entering churches on the days of their feasts because wrath would befall them on those days. [Abu Ash-Shaykh Al-Asbahaani and Al-Bayhaqi (Saheeh – Authentic))]

It was narrated that ‘Umar ordered people to avoid the enemies of Allaah at their feast times. [Al-Bayhaqi] Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said that as ‘Umar forbade us from entering their churches, we must not participate in their celebrations. Ibn Taymiyyah added that as 'Umar said that wrath befalls them on their feasts, this indicates that anyone who joins them will also be afflicted by the wrath.

As for common sense, it is said that ‘Eeds are part of the legislation, methodology and rituals that Allaah refers to in this verse (which means): {To each of you We have prescribed a law and a method.}[Quran 5:48] Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said that this verse proves that feasts are legislated, so sharing in their celebrations means sharing their legislation. Also, celebrating disbelievers’ feasts means approving of their disbelief, and this may lead a Muslim to disbelief. Ibn Taymiyyah added that their feasts are part of a religion whose followers are cursed, and anyone who approves of this will also be cursed.

Moreover, approving of just a small part of their deeds may lead to more approval and this may, eventually, make it a habit or a feast for laypeople.

Therefore, it is not permissible for Muslims to partake in the celebrations of the People of the Book or even to wish them a happy feast, because these feasts are among the characteristics of their religion and invalid beliefs. Ibn Al-Qayyim said that it is prohibited to wish disbelievers happy feasts. He considered this a greater sin than wishing drunkards and committers of adultery well. He resembled wishing them a happy feast to blessing someone who prostrates to the cross!

If someone says that the People of the Book wish us happy feasts, and so why can’t we do the same in order to show them the tolerance of Islam and so forth, then the answer is that it is impermissible to wish them well for their feasts, even if they wish us well for our feasts. This is because there is a difference: our feasts are valid and part of our valid religion, while theirs are invalid. Thus, if they congratulate us on our valid religion we should not congratulate them on their invalid one.

Moreover, their feasts are inevitably accompanied by sins and evil, as they glorify the cross and associate partners with Allaah in them. In fact, there is no greater sin than their saying that ‘Eesa (Jesus) is a god or the son of Allaah, Exalted is He above what they say. Furthermore, their celebrations include evils such as drinking wine and other acts that make Allaah The Almighty, angry and lead them to His punishment. Therefore, could it be appropriate for a believer and a monotheist to join such misled people in their celebrations or even to wish them happy feasts? Should not those, who take such matters lightly, fear Allaah and return to their religion?

We ask Allaah to guide all Muslims.

And Allaah Knows best.