[41th Thread: Is wishing non-muslims prohibited in Islam?]

The objective of this thread is to review critically the mainstream opinion on the prohibition of wishing non-muslims on their festivals, in particular Christmas,& to seek a contrast perspective to the issue. 1/

The proponents of prohibition argued this issue based on 3 evidences.
1. A famous Hadith
2. A fallacious argument
3. Majority

Many scholars even argued for its absolute prohibition & stated that if a Muslim responds to their greetings on his festival then it's a sin & may 2/

even be an act of kufr(disbelief).

What are the evidences for such conclusion?

EVIDENCES
I- Qur'an
First & foremost, there is no explicit verse in Qur'an which forbid wishing to non-muslims but rather using analogy a differing conclusion could be derived 3/

which I'll discuss later.
Many of these scholars apply verse(s) as an analogy to argue against wishing however if the premise of the argument is faulty then the evidence becomes irrelevant.

II- Riwayaat/Narrations

1. The most crucial evidence on which they based 4/

the prohibition is this narration:--
من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم
(Whoever imitates a people is one of them).

2 points:-

- The Hadith(tradition) is Hasan Sahih[good authentic] as per Tirmidhi & Sahih(authentic) by Albani(a scholar of Hadith sciences)

- It's khabar al wahid

5/

which means solitary report.

CRITIQUE
[Note:- I'm ignoring all sort of technicalities in my critiques & will try to make it easy as possible for readers to understand]

a. In علم البلاغة(Science of Rhetoric), we've تشبيه(Similes) & this Hadith is an example of تشبيه بليغ
6/

where 2 integrals are missing -
The particle of simile(آداة التشبيه) & The feature of comparison/the perspective of similarity (وجه الشبّه)
How?

Whoever - (Notion being compared)

People - (Notion to which comparison is being made)

Imitate - verb

One of them - Noun phrase
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Thus there is no feature or perspective of similarity here.

In other words,it means if a person imitates ppl(of a particular group),he doesn't become part of their group. He'd simply share an attribute/act etc. common to both.

b.Tirmidhi mentioned this Hadith in the chapter
8/

of Fame & Vanity.
Vanity & Fame is an attribute a person possesses which can be shared by any human being, both Muslims & non-Muslims.
It simply means, don't imitate ppl of fame & vanity else you'd lose your good character & become like them.

No evidence against wishing.
9/

c. Those who prohibit wishing non-muslims mentioned two kinds of imitation.

Permissible imitation (تشبه المباع)
Prohibited imitation (تشبه المحرمة)

Since greeting/wishing is very common among ppl & isn't restricted to non-Muslims or their religions, then it comes under
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Permissible imitation.
Evidence for it is mentioned in Quran,
وإذا حييتم بتحية فحيوا بأحسن منها أو ردوها
(When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally)

Again no evidence against wishing.
11/

d. The above mentioned is similar to this Hadith,
غيروا الشيب، ولا تشبه باليهود و النصارى
(Modify the grey hairs, & don't imitate the Jews & Christians).

The reason for this isn't the hatred but to have a distinct identity for Muslims. Similarly, for above Hadith it's the
12/

matter of identity between pious & show-off ppl.

Conclusion :- This Hadith proves nothing on wishing non-muslims on their festivals.

2. The proponents bring a narration for its prohibition

Critique:-

a. The narration doesn't mention which traditions are these; cultural, religious, social etc

b. The narration mentions Nawruz(Persian new year)& Mehregan(Persian harvest festival).

Why Abdullah only
13/

mentioned Persian thing when it's conquered 6-7 yrs after the passing away of the Holy Prophet?

In a different narration, we find Imam Ali wishing & celebrating Persian festival.

"It was[Abu Hanifa’s grandfather]who gifted Ali bin Abi Talib with Faluda on the day of Nawruz
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Ali said, ‘May every day be like Nawruz!’ It was also said, ‘This is done as part of Mehregan. So he replied, ‘May every day be as Mehregan!”

Whose narration we take?

c. The Abdullah narration also mentioned "imitates them till he die".
Again, wishing is a common thing
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among ppl in any society & is part of respecting someone & treating them justly[unless they exhibit open enmity & wage wars]& also among permissible imitation.

In fact, the narration mentioning Imam Ali is more closer to Qur'an(60:8)

Wishing & greeting also show kindness
16/

Which again Qur'an commanded us to practice, both in deeds & speech, like:-
وقولوا للناس حسنا
(speak kindly{or good}to mankind)

Conclusion:- These evidences suggest that there is no issue in wishing anyone(Muslim or not); as opposed to Abdullah narration which is ambiguous.
17/

III- Fallacious argument

Many ppl have posted this clip of Mufti Menk explaining the prohibition.

Critique:-

a. Mufti Menk claimed to explain the issue logically but unfortunately he commit a logical fallacy: non-sequitur. The premise doesn't support the conclusion.
18/

Wishing ≠ accepting a belief.
Since the premise is faulty & the conclusion is incorrect; the evidence from Qur'an is irrelevant for this issue.

b. He completely ignored the notion of "Intention" while the Hadith says,
إنما الأعمال بالنيات
(Acts are judged by the intention)
19/

c. Even if we accept that wishing = approval of belief, this ruling is negated due to عرف(customary usage)of wishing & زمان و مكان(time & place)as living in pluralistic & multicultural societies, where wishing doesnt connot to acceptance/approval of belief & lastly intention.
20/

d. Mufti ignored the jurisprudential principle of 'Reconciliation of Hearts'(تأليف القلوب), we'd built an affinity with non-Muslims & act with goodness(as mentioned in Qur'an[60:8] while maintaining our identity as Muslims & our beliefs.

e. Mufti ignored the Golden Rule
21/

(القاعدة الذهبية)
An ethical principle which states,
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". This principle assists Muslims in their personal interactions with others; so if one wishes a Muslim on Eid, he'd reciprocate it by wishing them on their festivals.
22/

f. Mufti ignored the fact that there are Christians like Unitarians who don't consider Jesus as son of God.
Even if one believes him as son of God, it doesn't mean wishing = approving it.
It's an is-ought fallacy.
Wishing *is* imitating so we *ought* to accept their belief.
23/

He made a jump by not providing an evidence how wishing leads to acceptance.

Conclusion :- Mufti Menk fatwa is incorrect with no concrete evidence.

IV- Majority

The majority bears no weight when there is no explicit evidence from the Holy Prophet prohibiting 'wishing'.
24/

Since there is no explicit evidence for the prohibition except views based on conjectures, one can apply إصالة البرأة(principle of non-obligation) which states that "things are permitted(halal) until proven otherwise (or hārām)".

Lastly, some argued that if you wish today
25/

It'll lead to accepting their beliefs gradually.
Again, this is based on conjecture & Qur'an states,
ان الظن لا يغنى من الحق شيئا
(Surely conjecture will not avail against the truth).
And the truth for Muslims is Jesus is a prophet of God, not son...

That's all...
END!
26/

This is a thread with a contrast view on 'whether wishing non-Muslims on their festivals is allowed or not'.

Read, critique & share...
@neha__says @DrSyed93 @khatta_neembu @ftmaw
@intothenoor @depressed_cule_ @blob_of_butter @The_Sherry_ @AlishaSpeaks_ @AashnaSays
@Nap_Starr

The thread on wishing non-muslims on their festivals...[Lengthy & Technical read ]

@SitaraMThomas
@Kisan_IT_cell @Babu90_ @Delhiite_ @Cometics_ @its_huz
@UrbanXpat @NoorainAhmed1 @zoyarasul @ItsmeAqsaa @nazmaaman @elmir_khan @ks_NotANiceGirl @Alya_ism
@Ruthless_Cold

Give this thread a read & share on the subject of 'wishing non-Muslims on their festivals' - a different opinion...

@monerief
@BasKhamaKha_ @FirdausLaibah @asifahmedapt @Obaidullahkalim @M__Syed @AafreenShaa @larissafernand @IKON1436_