- Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrahim (Abraham) and those with him,
- “Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allah, we have rejected you,
- and there has started between us and you, hostility and hatred forever until you believe in Allah Alone,”
قَدْ كَانَتْ لَكُمْ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ فِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ إِذْ قَالُوا لِقَوْمِهِمْ إِنَّا بُرَآءُ مِنكُمْ وَمِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ كَفَرْنَا بِكُمْ وَبَدَا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةُ وَالْبَغْضَاءُ أَبَدًا حَتَّىٰ تُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ إِلَّا قَوْلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ لَأَسْتَغْفِرَنَّ لَكَ وَمَا أَمْلِكُ لَكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ ۖ رَّبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ
Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrahim (Abraham) and those with him, when they said to their people: “Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allah, we have rejected you, and there has started between us and you, hostility and hatred for ever, until you believe in Allah Alone,” except the saying of Ibrahim (Abraham) to his father: “Verily, I will ask for forgiveness (from Allah) for you, but I have no power to do anything for you before Allah.” Our Lord! In You (Alone) we put our trust, and to You (Alone) we turn in repentance, and to You (Alone) is (our) final Return,
তোমাদের জন্যে ইব্রাহীম ও তাঁর সঙ্গীগণের মধ্যে চমৎকার আদর্শ রয়েছে। তারা তাদের সম্প্রদায়কে বলেছিলঃ তোমাদের সাথে এবং তোমরা আল্লাহর পরিবর্তে যার এবাদত কর, তার সাথে আমাদের কোন সম্পর্ক নেই। আমরা তোমাদের মানি না। তোমরা এক আল্লাহর প্রতি বিশ্বাস স্থাপন না করলে তোমাদের মধ্যে ও আমাদের মধ্যে চিরশত্রুতা থাকবে। কিন্তু ইব্রাহীমের উক্তি তাঁর পিতার উদ্দেশে এই আদর্শের ব্যতিক্রম। তিনি বলেছিলেনঃ আমি অবশ্যই তোমার জন্য ক্ষমাপ্রার্থনা করব। তোমার উপকারের জন্যে আল্লাহর কাছে আমার আর কিছু করার নেই। হে আমাদের পালনকর্তা! আমরা তোমারই উপর ভরসা করেছি, তোমারই দিকে মুখ করেছি এবং তোমারই নিকট আমাদের প্রত্যাবর্তন।
My Understanding and Critical Reasoning:
Look here, this is a clear instruction from Allah, Ibraheem alaihi wa Sallam is to be followed.
Then come next, what are Ibraheem alaihi wa Sallam’s actions?
- He DISASSOCIATES with the KAFIRS.
- He DISASSOCIATES with what they WORSHIP.
This Ayah is enough as evidence that GREETING Kafirs in their religious festivals, APPRECIATING their religious festivals, taking photos with their festivities or ASSOCIATING with their religious festivals is prohibited. Allah, the Only Guide, instructed us to do as Ibrahim alaihi wasallam did with kafirs, disassociate with kafirs. Then what does friendship with Kafir and Mushrik means? Disobedience of Allah! And know that disobedience of Allah is Kufr! (as shaitan disobedient of Allah and became kafir)
Not only that Allah Subhanahu Ta’ala asked us to reject them but He goes further, that Muslims must treat Kafir and Mushrik as enemies until they believe in the oneness of Allah and leaves their false gods and false religious systems.
And since the religious festival is a clear manifestation of shirk therefore, all activities that originated from that festival such as greetings, giving gifts, buying, selling of festival materials, taking photos (to name a few) are clear shirk though outwardly it seems these are just social practices but those acts are originated from clear shirk. Therefore associating with these activities is shirk, It’s just simple to understand.
What does this mean for us? Again, this means straightforward rejecting and disassociating with their religious programs like Christmas or anything that related to Christmas (and you will be surprised by knowing that there are many Christians group (seventh day Adventist, United Church of God, Jehovah witness, Unitarian church and many of them do not believe in trinity either) those who themselves reject Christmas because they know Christmas has nothing to do with Jesus, peace be upon Him) their ‘Puja’ programs, their all celebrations of ‘days’ which is basically originated from their worshiping of money.
What a shame that to make ‘Muslims’ understand the command of Allah, Allah’s command or His prophets actions are not enough but I have to bring out the examples of what many kafirs do not also agree or reject those religious programs! Shame on those Muslims, that’s why Allah said them, they are ‘worst than cattle’ That’s why Rasulullah sallillahu alaihi wa Sallam said Munafiq’s place is at the bottom of Hell. And Allah knows best. May Allah guide Muslims. Ameen!