Are Christmas celebrations not considered a Bid‘ah (innovation in religion), based on Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen’s definition of Bid‘ah as "when a person worships Allah the Almighty with something that Allah the Almighty has not legislated," given that there is no act of worship to Allah involved in them?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Celebrating birthdays is an intrusive custom adopted from non-Muslims, for it involves imitating them, which is forbidden, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Whoever imitates a people is one of them." We, as Muslims, have no annual celebrations other than Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. If the celebration is performed as an act of worship, then it is an innovation (bid'ah), and it falls under the general meaning of the Prophet's saying, peace and blessings be upon him: "Whoever introduces into this matter of ours anything that does not belong to it will have it rejected."
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Read the full answer on Ftawy