QUESTION:

What do the scholars and muftis of the noble Shari’ah say regarding the following matter; is it permissible to wish happy holidays— instead of happy Christmas— to Christians? Sometimes, wishing them becomes a compulsion.  

Questioner: Faizan  from  UK

ANSWER:

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب

“Happy holidays” is an expression that is used to wish someone a blessed holiday. It is a statement of supplication and hence one must abstain from saying it. However, it would be permissible to use it if there is a compulsion. If someone says “happy holidays” with the intention that the one being wished is blessed during the holiday in such a way that the truthfulness of Islām becomes apparent to him, then it is absolutely permissible. In this case, this statement is a prayer for them to become believers. Praying for the disbelievers to become believers is proven from Islamic texts. The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ prayed for Sayyidunā ‘Umar bin Khattāb (may Allāh be pleased with him) to accept faith and supplicated,

اللَّهُمَّ أَعِزَّ الْإِسْلَامَ بِعُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ

“O Allāh, strengthen Islām with ‘Umar bin Khattāb.”

[Sunan Ibn Mājah, no. 105]

واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری

Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri 
Translated by the SeekersPath team

Read the original answer in Urdu here – [Q-ID0413] Can we wish people ‘Happy Holiday’ instead of ‘Happy Christmas’?

Please also see:

[Q-ID0543] What is the ruling on wishing ‘Merry Christmas’, exchanging gifts and having parties during Christmas?

[Q-ID0542] Is it permissible to buy items during the Christmas sales?

[Q-ID0148] Can Muslims celebrate Christmas?

The Scholars of the past on resembling and imitating the disbelievers [Christmas]

[Q-ID0136] The ruling on saying ‘Merry Christmas’ or ‘Shub Diwali’

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