What is the ruling on describing Christians as brothers and congratulating them on their holidays?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is permissible to describe disbelievers—such as Christians—as "our brothers" if the intended meaning is brotherhood in lineage and humanity, citing Allah's saying: "And to 'Ad [We sent] their brother Hud." However, if the intended meaning is brotherhood in religion, then this is not permissible because their religion is either distorted or abrogated. Allah the Almighty says: "And whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers." Similarly, it is not permissible to congratulate them on their holidays.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/56919
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 56919
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy