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With The Name Of Allah
The Merciful, Bestower of Mercy
Unofficial Translation of the
Statement From The Permanent Council For Academic
Research and Rulings
Regarding The Ruling On Celebrating The European Year
2000 And Related Matters
(No: 21049 Dated: 12/8/1420
Alhamdulillahi wahdahu was salaat was salaam ‘alaa man
laa nabiyyi ba’dah
All praise is due to Allah Alone and may Blessing and
Exaltation be upon the one after whom there will be no
other prophet.
To Proceed:
Many inquiries directed to the Mufti (principle
religious authority of Saudi Arabia) have been read by
the Permanent Council as well as those addressed to
them under the auspices of the Committee of Senior
Scholars…(a list of reference numbers and dates
given). The questions asked were for rulings
concerning the year 2000 and celebrating it and other
related matters. It is sufficient that we mention just
two of those questions:
One: We see this year many announcements regarding
preparations in anticipation of the year 2000 Meelaadi
and the start of the third millennium. The
disbelievers among the Jew and the Christians, as well
as others are delighted and happy and have many hopes
put in this occasion. The question to you honorable
shaykh (i.e. the Mufti) is: There are some among the
claimants to Islam who are greatly concerned with this
and consider it a joyous occasion and they have even
tied their weddings or work to it. They have taken up
giving invitations for the occasion at their stores
and businesses and likewise in a manner that saddens
and aggrieves the Muslim. What is the Islamic ruling
on glorifying this occasion and celebrating it and
exchanging congratulations for it either verbally or
by exchanging cards and the like? May Allah reward you
and Muslims the best of rewards.
Two: The Jews and Christians are preparing for the
arrival of the year 2000 according to their reckoning
in an extraordinary manner to propagate their plans
and beliefs throughout the world, particularly in
Islamic countries. Some Muslims have been influenced
by this propaganda and have begun preparing for it by
announcing discounts on products and one fears the
matter being raised to the point of affecting Muslim
belief and their allegiance and support of the
non-Muslims. We hope for a statement of ruling on
Muslims participating with disbelievers in their
celebrations and making propaganda for it and
celebrating it or extending work hours in some
establishments and companies for this occasion. Does
acting upon any of these things and their like or
accepting them have an affect on the Muslim’s belief
After researching the questions the Council replied
thusly:
The greatest of favors, which Allah has bestowed upon
His slaves, is the favor of Islam and guidance to the
Straight Path. It is from His mercy subhaanahu to have
obliged His believing slaves to seek guidance in their
prayers and they therefore seek attaining that
guidance to the Straight Path and to be made firm
thereupon. Allah has characterized this Path as being
the one that is the path of those whom Allah has
blessed from among the prophets and the truthful and
the martyrs and the righteous and not the path of the
deviants from it among the Jews and the Christians and
the remainder of the disbelievers and mushrikeen
(polytheists).
If this is realized, then it is a duty upon the Muslim
to recognize the measure of blessing and favor of
Allah upon him and therefore must thank Allah verbally
and by action and by belief. It is upon him to
safeguard this favor and look after it and do that
which will safeguard it from decline. A look by anyone
who has been given insight in the deen of Allah at
today’s world where truth is mixed with falsehood for
many people, he will see the clear efforts of the
enemies of Islam to eradicate its realities and
extinguish its light as well as the efforts to
distance the Muslims from it and cut their ties to it
by every means possible. Not to mention distorting its
image and making accusations and insinuations and lies
in order to block humanity from the Way of Allah and
belief in what was revealed to his Messenger Muhammad
Ibn Abdullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). This is
affirmed by the statement of Allah: Many of the People
of the Scripture desire that you would revert after
having accepted faith to being disbelievers out of
envy within themselves after the truth has been made
plain to them. Also is His statement: A group of the
People of Scripture desire that they could lead you
astray but they misguide none but themselves although
they perceive it not. Also His word: O you who believe
if you follow those who disbelieve they will surely
cause you to turn upon your heels and then you would
become losers. And His statement: Say: ‘O People of
the Scripture why do you block those who believe from
the Path of Allah, seeking crookedness while you are
witnesses and Allah is not unaware of what you do?’
and other similar aayaat (verses).
However, despite all that, Allah the Mighty and
Majestic has promised to preserve His deen and His
Book and He Most Glorified said: Verily We have
revealed the Remembrance and verily We are its
protectors. Much praise is due to Allah. And the
Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) informed that
there will always be a party from among his Ummah
standing upon the truth who would be victorious and
none who would abandon or oppose them would harm them
until the Final Hour comes. So much praise is due to
Allah and we ask Him subhaanahu, and He is The Close
and The Answerer of prayers, to make us and our Muslim
brethren from among them (i.e. the victorious group)
for indeed He is the Most Giving and Generous.
This, and indeed the Permanent Council For Islamic
Research and Ruling has heard and seen the major
preparations and extensive care taken by groups of
Jews and Christians and those influenced by them from
the claimants to Islam for the occasion of the
completion of the year 2000 and the entrance of the
third millennium according to the reckoning of the
European Calendar. There is nothing except to strive
to advise and explain to the general population of
Muslim the true meaning of this occasion and the
ruling of the pure shari'ah (Islam) regarding it so
that the Muslims will be aware and informed about
their deen and on guard against deviation toward the
misguidance and errors of those whom Allah is angry
with and those who are astray.
We say:
Firstly: The Jews and the Christians have attached to
this millennium misfortunes, suffering and
expectations that they are wrapped up in making sure
of or plot because they are resultant of purported
research and study. Just as they have tied certain
issues of belief to this millennium according to their
claims of what is reported in their distorted
scriptures. It is obligatory for the Muslim to not
even look to them or give them any weight. Indeed he
should be satisfied with the Book of his Rabb (Creator
and Sustainer), subhaanahu, and the Sunnah of His
Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) above all else.
Any other theories or speculations and opinions
divergent to those two sources should neither be
considered of any importance.
Secondly: This occasion and its like is not at all
free from the mixing of truth and falsehood nor the
invitation to disbelief and misguidance nor
licentiousness and apostasy and is a manifestation of
evil according to Islam. From among them: Calling for
the unification of religions and the equalization of
Islam along with belief systems and religions that are
false; showing deference to or pleasure in the cross
(crucifix); manifesting the signs and symbols of the
kufr (disbelief) of the Christians and Jews and any
other similar actions or statements which comprise
part of the now abrogated and substituted laws of
Christianity and Judaism as being attributable to
Allah; or approval of some of what involves opposing
the Deen of Islam or any other matters that amount to
disbelief in Allah and His Messenger or Islam
according to the consensus of the Ummah. This is all
in addition to the fact that is among the means of
distancing the Muslims from their deen.
Thirdly: There is abundant evidence form the Kitaab
and Sunnah as well as authentic traditions (of
companions etc.) on the forbiddance of resembling or
imitating the disbelievers in what is particular to
them. Among that is resembling or imitating them in
their holiday festivals and celebrations. Al-‘Eid -
is a generic noun that includes any recurring day that
is repeatedly given significance or glorified by the
disbelievers or the places in which they hold their
religious gatherings. Everything that they innovate
within these places and times is considered among
their recurring festivities (‘a’yaadihim). Therefore
the prohibition is not particularized to the
festivities but includes every aspect of what they
attach importance to at these times and places which
have no basis in Islam. It (the prohibition) applies
to what they innovate in deeds and activities
including what comes before or after of the days that
are sacred as mentioned by Shaykhul-Islam Ibn
Taymiyyah rahimahullah ta’aalaa.
As far as what has come forbidding what is particular
similarity in festivities (al-‘ayaad) is the statement
of Allah: Those who do not witness falsehood (az-zoor)
in describing the believing slaves of Allah. This has
been explained by a large number of the predecessors
(as-salaf) such as Ibn Sireen, Mujaahid and Rabee’ Ibn
Anas that “az-zoor” means the festivities (‘ayaad) of
the disbelievers. It is confirmed and verified from
Anas Ibn Malik (radiallahu ‘anhu) that he said: The
Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) came
to Al-Medinah and they had two days that they had fun
and played in so he asked, “What are these two days?”
They replied, “We used to play in them in the times of
Jaahiliyyah (pre-Islam)”. The Messenger of Allah
responded, “Verily Allah has substituted then for you
with what is better than them: the day of Adhaa
(Sacrifice) and the day of Fitr (fast-breaking).”
Imam Ahmed, Abu Dawud, An-Nasaaee have graded it as
authentic.
It is authenticated that Thaabit Ibn Ad-Dhahaak
(radiallahu ‘anhu) stated, “A man in the time of the
Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) made an oath to
sacrifice a camel in Bawaanah so he came to the
Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and
said, ‘I have made an oath to sacrifice a camel at
Bawaanah.’ The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)
responded asking, “Were there any idols from the idols
of Jaahiliyyah worshipped there?” They replied, “No.”
He asked: Were there any festivities held there from
among their festivities (‘ayaadihim)?” They replied,
“No.” The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa
sallam) said, "Fulfill your oath for not do fulfill
the oath is disobedience to Allah and this does not
fall in the possession of the children of Aadam (i.e.
people have no part of this)” Abu Dawud with a saheeh
isnaad.
‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab (radiallahu ‘anhu) stated, "Do
not go among the mushrikeen in their churches on their
holidays (‘ayaadihim) for the anger of Allah descends
upon them.” He also said, “Stay away from the enemies
of Allah on their ‘Eid.”
It is related that Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr Ibn Al-‘Aas
(radiallahu ‘anhumaa) said: Whoever builds in the
lands of the foreigners and celebrates their Nayrooz
and festivals and imitates them and he dies in that
condition, will be raised among them on the Day of
Resurrection.”
Fourthly: Festivities with the disbelievers is
forbidden for many other considerations such as:
Their (Muslims) imitating or resembling them in some
of their holidays necessitates that they feel
happiness in their hearts and delight within the
breasts for the falsehood they are upon. Imitation and
resemblance in outer matters necessitates imitation
and resemblance in inner matters such as sharing
corrupted, incorrect beliefs in the form of deception
and concealed gradualism.
Among the greatest corruptions also is –and it has
already happened – imitation of the disbelievers
outwardly leads to internal love and admiration and
allegiance. Love and allegiance to them negates eemaan
as Allah stated: O you who believe! Do not take the
Jews and the Christian as your loyal friends and
protectors (awliyaa’)! They are friends and protectors
of one another. Whoever takes them as friends and
protectors from among you is one of them and Allah
does not guide the wrongdoers. And Allah said: You
will not find a people who believe in Allah and the
Last Day loving those who turn away from Allah and His
messenger.
Fifthly: Based on the above it is not permissible for
the Muslim who believes in Allah as Rabb and in Islam
as Deen and in Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)
as Prophet and Messenger to hold parties for holidays
that have no basis in the religion of Islam. Among
them is the so-called millennium. It is also not
permissible to be present at them or to share in them
nor congratulate for them in any shape or form because
it constitutes and sin and going beyond the limits set
by Allah and Allah says: Do not cooperate in sin and
enmity and fear Allah. Verily Allah is intense in
punishment.
Sixthly: It is not permissible for the Muslim to
cooperate with the disbelievers in any manner in their
holidays (‘ayaadihim). For example: Advertising and
announcing their holidays the likes of which are the
mentioned millennium. Nor is inviting to it by any
means allowed whether it is through the media or
erecting billboards or posters or countdowns or
clothing memorabilia or printing cards or notebooks or
making discounts and prizes for it or sports
activities or spreading any logo or sign especially
for it.
Seventhly: It is not permissible for the Muslim to
consider the holidays or celebrations of the
disbelievers, among them the millennium, and the like
as happy occasions or blessed times and therefore make
vacations or days off work or hold wedding ceremonies
or inaugurate businesses or start projects and the
like. It is not permissible to believe that these are
special days any more than any day because they are
indeed like any other day. To believe otherwise is a
corruption that does not change the reality in the
least. Indeed to hold such beliefs is a sin among
those that we ask Allah for protection and security
from.
Eighthly: It is not permissible for the Muslim to give
congratulations fro the holidays of the disbelievers
because this is a type of acceptance of the falsehood
that they are upon and it brings them joy.
Ibnul-Qayyim (rahimahullah) said, “Giving
congratulations for the particular rites of kufr is
haraam by consensus. Such would be congratulation them
for their ‘Eids and fasting saying ‘A blessed holiday
to you’ or ‘Congratulation on this holiday’ and so
forth. It is haraam even if said by the one who is
free from disbelief in himself. It is on the level
congratulating him for his prostration to the cross.
Indeed it is a greater sin with Allah and a worse
calumny than congratulating him for drinking alcohol
(i.e. ‘cheers’ – trans.) or killing someone, or having
illicit sex and the like. There are so many who do not
full appreciate their deen who fall into this not
knowing the ugliness of what they have fallen into for
whoever congratulates the slave for his disobedience
or his heresy (bid’ah) or disbelief has in effect
exposed himself to the hatred of Allah and His anger.
Ninthly: It is a distinction and honor for the Muslims
to adhere to the Hijri calendar, the calendar marking
the migration of their Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa
sallam) upon which the companions (radiallahu ‘anhum)
agreed. They did so without any celebration and the
Muslims after them inherited it and have followed it
for fourteen centuries to this day. For this reason it
is not permissible fro the Muslim to turn away from
the Hijri calendar and taking up other than it among
the calendars of the nations of the world such as the
Meelaadi (Gregorian) calendar. It is substituting that
which is worse for that which is best. Thus we advise
all of our Muslim brethren to fear Allah as He should
be feared and to act in obedience to Him and to
distance themselves from sinfulness and disobedience
as well as to admonish for that and to patience.
Let every sincere believer strive to the utmost to
protect himself from the anger of Allah and His curse
in this life and the Hereafter by actualization of
knowledge and eemaan by taking Allah as his Guide,
Helper, Ruler and Protector. Indeed He is the best
Protector and the best Helper. It is sufficient to
have your Rabb as a guide and helper and to make the
supplication of the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa
sallam): O Allah! Rabb of Jibraa-eel and Meekaa-eel
and Israafeel, Fashioner of the heavens and the earth,
the Knower of the Unseen and Seen, You are the judge
between Your slaves about what they have differed in.
Guide me to what has been differed upon to the truth
by Your will. Verily You guide whom You will to the
Straight Path. All praise is due to Allah the Rabb of
all that exists.
Wa sallallahu wa sallam ‘alaa nabiyyinaa Muhammad wa
‘alaa aalihi wa sahbih
The Permanent Council For Academic Research and
Rulings
Abdul-Azeez Ibn Abdullah Ibn Muhammad Aalish-Shaykh ,
President
Abdullah Abdur-Rahmaan Al-Ghadayaan, Member
Bakr Ibn Abdullah Abu Zaid, Member
Saalih Ibn Fawzaan Al-Fawzaan, Member
Translation: Abdul-Qaadir Abdul-Khaaliq
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Abu-Mohammed, A.M.Zugail
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