23.11.2022
Our Shaykh Abu Hakeem Bilal gave a detailed explanation of the many manifest forms of polytheism, paganism and idolatry in the celebrations of Christmas with evidences even from the bible Itself!

[0:57] Christmas revolves around Kufr (disbelief).
[1:03] Christmas revolves around Shirk (polytheism).
[1:06] Christmas revolves around Paganism.
[1:15] When one celebrates Christmas:
[1:17] 1. He is celebrating the belief that Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) was born!
[1:30] 2. He is celebrating that Allāh had a son that was born!
[1:48] 3. He is celebrating the birth of an individual who it is said shared and partook in the creation of the Heavens and Earth alongside Allāh!
[2:10] 4. He is partaking in festivities that in actuality have no connection to ʿĪsá ibn Maryum!
[2:31] These practices were brought into Christianity and accepted by Christians.
[2:58] The 25th of December was not the birth date of ʿĪsá Ibn Maryum - Jesus (ʿĪsá) was born closer to harvest time!
[3:46] The 25th of December - well-known pagan festivity known as Saturnalia.
[4:02] It was coupled with another festivity called Juvenilia.
[4:08] These festivities coincided with Winter Solstice and the birth of the New Sun.
[5:15] The pagans from the Roman era and the Persians used to worship the Sun and celebrate the birth of the New Sun.
[6:06] Lawless Practices During Saturnalia and Juvenalia: Debauchery, Drunkenness, Relations with children! (Juvenalia), Lawlessness for 8 days
[6:40] The Roman Christians who were trying to evangelize the pagans knew it was not possible to abolish Saturnalia and Juvenalia.
[7:05] Therefore instead they opted to transfer them to the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
[7:20] Those who had knowledge among the Christians knew that Jesus was not born during that period.
[7:32] The Romans began to say that it is not the celebration of the birthday of Jesus. It is the celebration of the fact that he was born, sent to earth and was with us.
[7:52] His birth has given us life, so we celebrate his birth; his existence.
[8:17] Some Pagan Practises Involved in Christmas:
[8:28] 1. Trees were decorated and worshiped by the pagans - this returns to the belief in the god of fertility - Ishtar.
[8:48] 2. Kissing and other acts under the mistletoe tree – its berries were white and resembled semen.
[9:30] Celebrating Christmas Means:
[9:37] 1. You are celebrating Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) being born!
[9:47] 2. You are celebrating a part of Allāh being born!
[9:57] 3. You are partaking in ancient pagan practices and celebrations!
[10:35] Ruling on the Christmas Greeting:
[10:52] Shaykh ʿUthaymīn (رحمه الله) quotes from Ibn Al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) from a book called ‘Aḥkām Ahl Adh-Dhimmah,’:
[11:20] “As far as the affair of the tahni’ah (‘greetings’), then it is from the manifestations of kufr and it is ḥarām by consensus of the scholars.”
[12:15] This involves anything related to it and prepared for it - ḥarām to participate in it or even appear to accept it.
[12:30] Regarding Christmas Dishes:
The dish that is prepared for the purpose of commemorating Christmas should not be consumed, nor accepted, nor participated in nor accepted as gifts from your neighbors.
[12:55] This should be used as a door opened for Da’wah – with wisdom reject offer but explain why.
[13:30] Even the Bible has dispraised many of these practices. E.g. the decorating of the tree.
[14:32] These verses are found in Jeremiah10; 1-5:
“Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. Thus says the LORD: “Do not learn the way of the Gentiles (non-Jews and pagans), do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven because the Gentiles are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are futile. One of them cuts a tree from the forest, the work of the hands of a workman with an axe. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails and hammers so that it will not topple. Those trees are upright like the palm tree, and they cannot speak; they must be carried, for they cannot go by themselves. Do not be afraid of them because they cannot do evil and they cannot do good.”