And [they are] those who do not testify to falsehood, and when they pass near ill speech, they pass by with dignity. [al-Furqan (25): 72]

Muhammad ibn Sirin said: it is the Palm Sunday (that is the Sunday before Easter)

Mujahid said: it is the festivals of Mushrikeen (polytheists)

Anas ibn Malik said: these are the festivals of Mushrekeen.

Amrou ibn Murrah said: they do not resemble the Musrikeen and does not mix with them.

Ata’ ibn Yasar said, Omar said: do not resemble the foreigners in your speech, and do not go to the festivals of Mushrekeen inside their churches.

 
These are some of the sayings of scholars on this verse. As for other sayings on this verse that, it is the songs, or meetings of Jaheliyyah (days of ignorance), or a Statue in the antiquity, all these sayings does not contradict with each other, because those scholars answered according to the questioner’s needs, and pick one type from a species. It is like someone asking: what is bread? And in answer someone shows him a loaf and says: this is it, to indicate the class of bread and not this particular loaf of bread.

 The word “Zour” (falsehood) in the verse refers to: something that appears attractive, whereas in reality it is not. It is narrated in hadith:

المتشبع بما لم يعط كلابس ثوبي زور

The one who decorates himself with something he does not possess, it like the one who wears garments of Zaour (falsehood) [Bukhari and Muslim]

 This is why the one who witnesses Zaur is the one who shows something that contradicts the actual. This is why, these scholars interpreted the Zaur as something that appears attractive because of lust, or because of ideological attractiveness, but in reality it is ugly. So, the shirk and the alike appears attractive ideologically, and songs and alike, appears attractive because of lust.

 As for the festivals of non-Muslims, they combined both lust and ideological trials, and in reality they are false, because there is no benefit in them. And the temporary pleasure it yields leads to permanent pain and torment. If Allah in this verse, praised those who do not attend these festivals –by hearing or viewing only-, so what happens to those who actually participates in their festivals through performing actions?! But this verse alone does not indicate that, only attending these festivals –without participation through action- is Haram, rather it indicates it is disliked.

 Hadith No. 1

 Anas ibn Malik narrated that the Prophet –peace be upon him- came to Medinah, and there were two days where people used to feast and play. The Prophet inquired: “what are these two days?” they said: these are two days we used to feast since long time back. The Prophet –peace be upon him- said:

إن الله قد أبدلكم بهما خيراُ منهما: يوم الأضحى ويوم الفطر

Indeed, Allah has substituted two better days for you: the Day of Adha [10^th dhul Hajj] and the day of Fitr [breaking fast after Ramadhan] [this hadith in Abu Dawood]

This hadith indicates that the Prophet did not let the Muslims observe the two days of Jahiliyyah [day’s of ignorance] and play in these two days –although just playing is permissible in Islam. Instead the prophet informed that Allah has substituted two other days for them. The word “substitute” indicates that the past items are void and the substituted items replaced the old items. Because if both old and replaced items stay together, then there is no meaning of substitute, especially the Prophet indicated that the new days are better.

 Also, these two old days of feast, had become dead in Islam, after the Prophet came. However, if the Prophet did not comment on these two days, the people of Medina would continue to play on these two days as a habit, because the old habits do not change without a changing agent. Especially, the nature of children and women and many street people, are very much inclined to observe days where they play, amuse, and feast. Many kings and presidents fail to change the habits of the public which are historically rooted in them. If these  festivals were not strongly disliked by Allah, it would have continued as a habit of history in the people of Medina. Any item that the Prophet strongly resisted must be a Haram item.  

 The case of the festivals of Jews and Christians, where they are allowed to perform these festivals [privately] in the land of Islam, is far more dangerous than the festivals of the days of Jahiliaah (prior to Islam), which is declared void after the advent of Islam. It is so because, this Ummah is strongly commanded not to mimic the People of the Book (Jews and Christians), and the Prophet already informed that a group among the Muslims will follow the Jews and Christians. On the other hand, the cult of Jahiliyyah became dead after Islam –and only will be revived at the end of the Days.

 Hadith No. 2

نذر رجل على عهد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن ينحر إبلا ببوانة فأتى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال إني نذرت أن أنحر إبلا ببوانة فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم هل كان فيها وثن من أوثان الجاهلية يعبد قالوا لا قال فهل كان فيها عيد من أعيادهم قالوا لا قال فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أوف بنذرك فإنه لا وفاء لنذر في معصية الله ولا فيما لا يملك ابن آدم

A man vowed to slaughter a camel in a place called Bowana. This man came to the prophet and said: “I vowed to sacrifice a camel in Bouana”. The Prophet asked: “was there a statue among those statues that people used to worship at the time of ignorance?” he replied “No”, again the Prophet asked: “Was there a festival among the festivals of the time of ignorance?”, again he replied: “no”. Then the Prophet –peace be upon him- said: “Fulfill your vow, as a vow should not be fulfilled when it carries a sinful action, or it involves a property which the vowing person does not possess.” [Abu Dawood, a part of it in Bukhari as well]

 This hadith indicates that making sacrifice in a place where non-Muslim’s festival is performed, or where a statue is worshiped is a sinful action. This hadith indicates that through the following points:

First, the hadith clearly mentioned: “then fulfill your vow”, so the word “then” indicates that carrying this vow is tied with not having a statue or festival in that place.

Second, the hadith explicitly mentioned that: “no vow should be fulfilled where a sinful action is involved”, indicating that if there would be a festival for non-Muslims then it would be a sinful action.

 In fact, a “Eid” or festival has few characteristics: (1) it is repeated over time, like eid of Ramadhan, or the Day of Jumah (Friday) (2) there is a gathering (3) some acts and rituals are performed. This festival can be tied to a place or it may not be. All these forms may be called Eid or Festival. As for the time-bound Eid, the Prophet –peace be upon him- said about Friday: “Allah has made this day, a day of Eid for Muslims”. As for the congregation and actions, Ibn Abbas said: “I witnessed the Eid with the Prophet –peace be upon Him”. As for the place, the Prophet –peace be upon him- said supplicating to Allah: “do not make my grave Eid” (meaning the place of my grave as a place of festival). It might happen that Eid is a combination of a day and the associated rituals in that day, in fact, this is the common form of Eid, as the Prophet said: “Let them [play] O Abu Bakr, as every nation has Eid, and today is our Eid”.

 As for this hadith, the Prophet wanted to make sure that this particular place (Buana) was not a revered place where festivals used to be done in old times. When the answer was negative, then the Prophet allowed the sacrifice. So, if this is the position of Islam in prohibiting sacrifice for Allah in a place where some people used to feast in old days, then what would be Islam’s stand for participating in the festivals of the non-Muslims?

 This story happened at the time of the farewell Hajj of the Prophet, where all the Arabian peninsula became land of Islam. So, it was clear that the Prophet did not meant to prohibit sacrifice in a spot where non-Muslim festival is going on at the time of sacrifice, but he questioned about the past, at the time before Islam.

 So, if the Prophet –peace be upon him- did not allow to slaughter in a place where Kuffar used to feast, although, these kuffars converted to Islam and no more festival is performed in that place, and the questioning person will not take that place as festival, but just for slaughtering, all these facts indicate that Islam wants to close doors that might lead one day to revive the festivals of the time of ignorance. The festival in Bouana -if happened in the past- might have been only a market place where people used to trade and play and amuse, as the Ansar (people of Medina) said: “these two days, we used to play in Jahiliyyah”, and the days of Jahiliyyah used not to be days of worship. This is why, the Prophet distinguished and asked first about worshiped statues, and then about place of festival.

 The festivals of kuffar are same, whether these kuffar are among the people of Book or else, as their infidelity is same. However, one form of infidelity is greater than other form. As for the people of the Book (Jews and Christians), they are allowed to celebrate their eves in the land of Muslims, with the condition that they do not openly exercise their celebrations, and other rituals of their faith. However, for other religions, they are not allowed to practice any rituals in the land of Islam. In fact, the festivals of Jews and Christians –which are part of their religion- is greater a prohibition than, other’s festival where only play and amusement are exhibited. It is so because, performing worship as such to anger Allah, is greater than committing prohibition by following desires and lusts. This is why Shirk is greater a sin than Zina (fornication). This is why, jihad against Jews and Christians, is more virtuous than jihad against the polytheists, and those Muslims killed by Jews and Christians gets the reward of two martyrs.

 If Islam has closed the door for the festivals of polytheists, so no Muslim can get contaminated by them, although, Satan has given up all hope that the praying Muslims in Arabian Peninsula would worship him (Satan). Then, the possibility of getting contaminated by Jews and Christians –who are allowed to practice secretly their religion- remains more plausible, and hence, staying away from their festivals become more applicable. Moreover, our Prophet already informed that a group of this Ummah will mimic the way of the people of Books.

 Our Prophet –peace be upon him- has commanded his Ummah to even stay away from many of permissible actions, just to distinguish from the People of the Book. The Prophet did so, so Muslims will not enter a door that leads in future to enter into greater haram that is practiced by Jews and Christians. The greater is the difference in actions between you and the people of hellfire, the greater will you be away from hellfire.

 Hadith No. 3

والوجه الرابع من السنة ما خرجاه في الصحيحين عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت دخل علي أبو بكر وعندي جاريتان من جواري الأنصار تغنيان بما تقاولت به الأنصار يوم بعاث قالت وليستا بمغنيتين فقال أبو بكر أبمزمور الشيطان في بيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وذلك يوم عيد فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يا أبا بكر إن لكل قوم عيدا وهذا عيدنا وفي رواية يا ابا بكر إن لكل قوم عيدا وإن عيدنا هذا اليوم

وفي الصحيحين أيضا أنه قال دعهما يا ابا بكر فإنها أيام عيد وتلك الأيام أيام منى

Ayesha narrated that her father Abu Baker came to her while two girls of Ansar were singing songs mentioning the Day of Buath [one of the battles of the people of Medina before Islam], but these two girls were not singers. Seeing this Abu Bakr said: trumpet of Satan in the house of the Prophet –peace be upon him?! That day was a day of Eid. So the Prophet –peace be upon him said: “O Aba Bakr, every nation has Eid, and today is our eid.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

In this hadith it is clear that “every nation has eid, and today is our eid”, and that means that Jews has their eid, where no other nation shares with them, and similarly, Christians has their unique eid, which no other nation shares with them, as these nations has their own rituals which no others share with them. In the same token, we Muslims have our own eid, and we will not share it with others as well.

 Also, in this hadith Prophet said: “and this is our Eid”, indicates that our eid is only this day. And this indicates the type of the day which include the two days of eids in Islam. This is why, the scholars of Fiqh say: Chapter on the Prayer of Eid, to indicate the two eids, and hence the word eid is meant to be a type under which two days are included.

 Also, in this hadith, the Prophet gave permission to sing on this day, and tied this permissibility with the condition of being on a day of eid of Muslims. It is obvious from this that, if that day was a Eid of Kuffar, the Prophet would not give permission to sing. So, this hadith gives a conditional permission, and when the condition does not exist, then the permission will not be applicable as well, otherwise, the prophet would not tie the permission with mentioning the eid of Muslims. Hence, this hadith indicates that we are not allowed to celebrate the festivals of Kuffar.

 Also, from looking into the biography of our Prophet it was clear that at the time of Prophet, there were many Jews in Medina and in Yemen, and there were Christians in Najran, and Persians in Bahrain [eastern parts of Saudi Arabia today], until they were sacked out of the Arabian Peninsula at the time of Caliph Omar. These nations used to have their own festivals and eids. And it is well-known that the amusement of eids with play, meals, clothes and relax, etc all these things attract the people especially the women, children and the idle people. Also, it is known that on these days, Muslims at the time of the Prophet used not to participate in their festivals. So, from these facts, we could conclude that our Prophet made all arrangements to eradicate the practice of Muslims in such eves. If Islam had stayed silent on this topic, then the people would –for sure- continued to participate is such attractive events.

Hadith No. 4

أبو هريرة رضي الله عنه أنه سمع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول نحن الآخرون السابقون يوم القيامة بيد أنهم أوتوا الكتاب من قبلنا وأوتيناه من بعدهم فهذا يومهم الذي فرض الله عليهم فاختلفوا فيه فهدانا الله له فالناس لنا فيه تبع اليهود غدا والنصارى بعد غد متفق عليه

Narrated Abu Huraira, I heard the Prophet –peace be upon him- saying:

We the last, yet the first on the day of Judgement, although they got a Book before us, and we got it afterwards. Hence, this is the day which Allah prescribed them, and they disputed, but Allah guided us, and as a result others follow us, tomorrow (Saturday) the Jews follow us, and the day after tomorrow (Sunday) for Christians. [Agreed between Bukhari and Muslim]

وعن أبي هريرة وحذيفة رضي الله عنهما قالا قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم اضل الله عن الجمعة من كان قبلنا فكان لليهود يوم السبت وللنصارى يوم الأحد فجاء الله بنا فهدانا ليوم الجمعة فجعل الجمعة والسبت والأحد وكذلك هم تبع لنا يوم القيامة نحن الآخرون من أهل الدنيا والأولون يوم القيامة المقضى لهم وفي رواية بينهم قبل الخلائق رواه مسلم

Narrated Abu Huraira and Hudhaifa, they said, the Prophet –peace be upon him said:

Allah has misguided the people before us about Friday, so the Jews took it on Saturday and the Christians on Sunday, and Allah came to guide us to Jumah (Friday), which is followed by Saturday and then Sunday. And in the similar manner they will be our followers on the day of Judgement, so we are the last in this world, and the first in the hereafter who will go to their final destination. [Musim]

And in many places, the Prophet –peace be upon him- called the day of Jumdah as a day of Eid, and disliked making fast on this day, because it has the meaning of a Eid.

 Also, in this hadith, the Prophet made Jumah for us, as Saturday is for Jews and Sunday for Christians. So, this notion of belonging indicates that these days are only dedicated for these designated sects. As if someone has three clothes and he distributes among three men, and each one get one cloth which belongs to this person only. So, if we joined them on Sunday or Saturday, then we are violating this hadith. If this is the case with the weekly eid, then the same ruling should be applied for the yearly eid. Moreover, if this is applicable to a eid that can be known by Arabic calendar which is east ti trace and is well-known, so what would be the case for the eids which are calculated by calendars of Christians or Jews or Persians, which is ambiguous.

 Being first means, this Ummah is the first to enter Paradise, and Prophet Muhammad –peace be upon him- is the first to whom the gate of Paradise will be opened. It is so because, we got the Book (Quran) last, and we were guided to a day which they disputed, and as a result, our righteous deeds became more, and as a result we got reward before.

Hadith No. 5

روى كريب مولى ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال أرسلني ابن عباس وناس من أصحاب النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى أم سلمة رضي الله عنها أسألها أي الأيام كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أكثرها صياما قالت كان يصوم يوم السبت والأحد أكثر ما كان يصوم من الأيام ويقول إنهما يوما عيد للمشركين فأنا أحب أن أخالفهم رواه أحمد والنسائي وابن أبي عاصم وهو محفوظ من حديث عبد الله بن المبارك عن عبد الله بن محمد ابن عمر بن علي عن أبيه عن كريب وصححه بعض الحفاظ

Abu Kuraib –the servant of Ibn Abbas- narrates that Ibn Abbas has sent him and some other companions of the Prophet –peace be upon him- to Umm Salamah –may Allah be pleased with her- to ask her on days when the Prophet –peace be upon him- used to fast the most. She said: the Prophet used to fast most on Saturdays and Sundays and used to say: “these two days are the days of Eid for Mushrekeen, and hence, I love to be unlike them” [Ahmed, Nasayee, Ibn Abi Asem]

 
So this hadith is clear to be unlike them, even if it is only a voluntary action.

 
Reference: Abridged from

Ibn Taymiyya, “Iqtidha as Sirat al-Mustaqeem”, commentary by Nasir al-Aql, Vol.1 pages 427-453

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