Can a Muslim decorate his/her home with Christmas items such as a tree, candles etc at Christmas just for decoration or is it forbidden?
Submitted by on Wed, 26/12/2012 - 11:03
Dear Brother / Sister,
Before answering this question let us give a brief information about that tradition
Christmas Tree
The pine tree which Christians cut down and ornament for Christmas attracted attention firstly in Germany in 1605. Later in the mid of 19th century, it was brought to France by Helene de Mecklembung. God of the New Year in Armenian mythology is called “Amanor”. In the era of Paganism, animals were hunted and hung on pine trees in honor of Amanor. The ceremony carried out by hanging various things on pine trees entered Christianity from that Pagan tradition. Today, tree festivals are a tradition coming from the primitive people’s worshipping trees. People used to glorify trees for their longevity.
So the consensus of Islamic sources agrees that it is not permissible to celebrate all special days and festivals emerged outside Islamic rules with an aim to be like them. It is wrong of a Muslim to celebrate Christmas, New Year’s Day, or other days established by specific people or institutions.
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Questions on Islam
- Is it permissible for a Muslim to decorate his/her room with a Christmas tree?
- What is the judgment about celebrating a birthday in Islam?
- Is it permissible to congratulate non-muslim neighbors or acquaintances on their festivals, new year and Christmas?
- Is it a bid’ah (something which is entered into religion afterwards) to celebrate the birthday of our Prophet, Mawlid Qandil (the Eid Milad an-Nabi)? If it is not, how should we evaluate it? Is there a kind of prayer exclusive to Eid Milad an-Nabi?
- Is it a bid’ah to celebrate the birthday of our Prophet, Mawlid Qandil?
- What should our understanding of New Year's Day be?
- What should our understanding of New Year’s Day be? What should we do to question ourselves before we die?
- Is it permissible for a man to buy a present for his wife on Valentine’s Day?
- The Sixth Proof: The Proof of Generosity
- Why is the birthday of the Prophet important for us?
Comments
So it's Haram to celebrate birthdays?
It is not a sin, in general, to hold ceremonies and meetings for wedding anniversaries or birthdays. Rather, the actions during those occasions are under question. Sinful situations may occur in them.
People come together, eat lawful things, chat lawfully, ponder that one more leaf of the life has fallen, one more year from the life has gone, make useful chats. If they entertain like that, surely, such celebrations are permissible. No drawback is considered. However, if unlawful deeds are committed, bad examples are displayed through extravagant entertainments and excessive food waste, then we can conclude that the sin occurs from the wrongdoings within, not merely from the gathering.