Answers:
1) Can Muslims send postal cards made by non-Muslims and representing
something of the Christian religion or something of the western celebrations?
Muslim should not help non-Muslims to celebrate their holidays because these
holidays are unlawful to Muslims. Muslims should not send postcards to non-Muslims
on this occasion and should not send them gifts or present items non-Muslims would buy
in such occasions. Greeting the non-Muslims on Christmas and other religious holidays
of theirs is haraam. To say ‘A happy festival to you’ or ‘May you enjoy your festival,’
and so on is forbidden. It is like congratulating someone for prostrating to the cross, or
even worse than that. If they greet us on the occasion of their festivals, we should not
respond, because these are not our festivals, and because they are not festivals which are
acceptable to Allaah. We should not do so even to be polite or because we are shy, or
else.
2)
Can a Muslim celebrate a non Muslim holiday like Thanksgiving?
It is haraam to help non-Muslims in their celebrations.
Following the same idea, it is unacceptable for a Muslim to sell the non-Muslims grapes
or juice which they will use to produce wine or alcoholic beverages; it is unacceptable for
a Muslim to sell them weapons that will be used to fight Muslims. It is wrong to help
people do something wrong.
If you do so, "If you disbelieve, then verily, Allaah is not in need of you, He likes not
disbelief for His slaves. And if you are grateful (by being believers), He is pleased
therewith for you. "[al-Zumar 39:7]
Furthermore, these festivals are innovations in their religions.
Similarly, Muslims are forbidden to imitate the non-Muslims by having parties on such
occasions, or exchanging gifts, or giving out sweets or food, or taking time off work, etc.,
because the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him, said:
"Whoever imitates a people is one of them."
3)
Can Muslims imitate non-Muslims in deed and worship?
Indeed, the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him, went to great lengths
to command Muslims to be different from non-Muslims in many issues that are mubaah
(permitted) and in many ways of worship, lest that lead them to be like them in other
matters too. This being different was to be a barrier in all aspects, because the more
different you are from the people of Hell, the less likely you are to do the acts of the
people of Hell.
4)
Can non-Muslims celebrate their holidays in a Muslim land?
Those of the People of the Book who have agreed to live under Islamic rule
should not celebrate their festivals openly in Daar al-Islam, which means lands under
Islamic rule. But it is ok for them to celebrate in their homes because of the corruption
involved in some of them, because of the sin or symbols of sin.
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