Do not join holidays that deny Allah's oneness
“It is not permissible for you, Ibadallah, to eat from the food that was prepared for the sake of a pagan holiday and a pagan belief system.”
The khutbah argues that Muslims must protect pure monotheism by avoiding participation in non-Muslim religious holidays rooted in beliefs that attribute a son to Allah.
The khutbah in 5 steps
- Condemns the belief that Allah has a son as a grave violation of tawhid.
- Calls Muslims to distinguish themselves from non-Muslim religious holidays rooted in that belief.
- Interprets “those who do not witness as Zohr” as avoiding pagan festivals.
- Prohibits greetings, gift exchanges, assistance, celebration, and other forms of participation.
- Extends the prohibition to food prepared for the holiday, including leftovers, and warns against treating the matter lightly.
In the khateeb's words
“That he should not resemble the kuffar and those things that are specific to them. He should not imitate them in any of those affairs that are specific to them.”
“Whether it is giving greetings and responding to greetings when they give it to you, exchanging of gifts.”
“It is not permissible for you, Ibadallah, to eat from the food that was prepared for the sake of a pagan holiday and a pagan belief system.”
For the dinner table
This khutbah focused on tawheed, the belief that Allah alone is God and has no son. The khateeb reminded listeners that Allah knows every person and that each of us will answer to Him for our actions. He urged Muslims to protect their faith by staying apart from other religions' holiday practices. His guidance included avoiding holiday greetings, gift exchanges, helping with celebrations, and eating food prepared for those holidays, even afterward. He also mentioned passing by vain talk and evil speech with dignity, giving us something to reflect on together as we think about our beliefs and conduct.
- What is one choice you could make this week while remembering that you answer to Allah?
- How could you explain a religious boundary to a classmate in calm, clear words?
- What would it look like to walk away from hurtful talk with dignity?
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