Why it is Not Haram to Have a Christmas Tree?
C.J Ahmed-20.05.2023
Having a Christmas tree is a form of celebrating the pagan festival which is attributed wrongly to the birth of Jesus Christ (PBUH) and is considered as mimicking the non- muslims. Still you can have a Christmas tree with the intention of not celebrating Christmas just like painting your house on new years eve as a routine and not to celebrate New Year.
Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (rali) narrated that he heard the prophet (sal) say,
"Verily actions are by intentions, and for every person is what he intended” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Having a Christmas tree is like giving gifts to non-Muslims without the intention of celebrating any of heir celebrations.
Abd-Allaah ibn Masud (Rali) narrated that the Prophet (Sal) said:
“Accept invitations, do not refuse gifts and do not beat the Muslims.”
(Ahmad in al-Musnad and It was graded sahih by al-Albani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel)
Narrated Aisha (Rali):
"I said, "O Allah's Messenger (Sal)! I have two neighbors; which of them should I give a gift to?" The Prophet (Sal) said, "(Give) to the one whose door is nearer to you."
(Bukhari)
All of these hadith proves that giving a gift is highly encouraged and you can make everyday look like a birthday for your loved ones by entertaining them and making their lives happy and wonderful. Having pickiniks or ceremonies if get together without copying the kuffar or involving Bidah or shirk is also allowed. Entertainment is encouraged in Islam.
Entertainment is done by boh Muslims and non-Muslims and it is the intention that matters.
Aisha reported: She prepared a lady for marriage to a man among the Ansar. The Prophet(Sal) said,
“O Aisha, do you have any entertainment? Verily, the Ansar are fond of entertainment.”
(Bukhari)
Marriage ceremonies are not only celebrated by Muslims. It was celeb rated even by non-Muslims but still the prophet (sal) encouraged celeb ration in marriages in a way without copying the non-Muslims. Similarly celebrating birthdays too can be done without copying non-Muslims.
It was narrated that Buraydah said: The Messenger of Allah (Sal) went out on one of his military campaigns, and when he came back, a black slave woman came and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I vowed that if Allah brought you back safe and sound, I would beat the daff before you and sing. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “If you vowed that, then do it, otherwise do not do it.’” So she started to beat the daff, and Abu Bakr came in whilst she was doing so. Then ‘Ali came in whilst she was beating the daff, then ‘Uthmaan came in whilst she was beating the daff, then ‘Umar came in and she threw the daff beneath her and sat on it. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “The Shaytaan is afraid of you, O ‘Umar. I was sitting and she was beating the daff, then Abu Bakr came in when she was beating the daff; then ‘Ali came in when she was beating the daff; then ‘Uthmaan came in when she was beating the daff, but when you came in, O ‘Umar, she put the daff down.”
(Tirmidhi-Graded Sahih by Albani)
Having a Christmas tree with a good intention is not haram.
Having a Christmas tree is a form of celebrating the pagan festival which is attributed wrongly to the birth of Jesus Christ (PBUH) and is considered as mimicking the non- muslims. Still you can have a Christmas tree with the intention of not celebrating Christmas just like painting your house on new years eve as a routine and not to celebrate New Year.
Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (rali) narrated that he heard the prophet (sal) say,
"Verily actions are by intentions, and for every person is what he intended” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Having a Christmas tree is like giving gifts to non-Muslims without the intention of celebrating any of heir celebrations.
Abd-Allaah ibn Masud (Rali) narrated that the Prophet (Sal) said:
“Accept invitations, do not refuse gifts and do not beat the Muslims.”
(Ahmad in al-Musnad and It was graded sahih by al-Albani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel)
Narrated Aisha (Rali):
"I said, "O Allah's Messenger (Sal)! I have two neighbors; which of them should I give a gift to?" The Prophet (Sal) said, "(Give) to the one whose door is nearer to you."
(Bukhari)
All of these hadith proves that giving a gift is highly encouraged and you can make everyday look like a birthday for your loved ones by entertaining them and making their lives happy and wonderful. Having pickiniks or ceremonies if get together without copying the kuffar or involving Bidah or shirk is also allowed. Entertainment is encouraged in Islam.
Entertainment is done by boh Muslims and non-Muslims and it is the intention that matters.
Aisha reported: She prepared a lady for marriage to a man among the Ansar. The Prophet(Sal) said,
“O Aisha, do you have any entertainment? Verily, the Ansar are fond of entertainment.”
(Bukhari)
Marriage ceremonies are not only celebrated by Muslims. It was celeb rated even by non-Muslims but still the prophet (sal) encouraged celeb ration in marriages in a way without copying the non-Muslims. Similarly celebrating birthdays too can be done without copying non-Muslims.
It was narrated that Buraydah said: The Messenger of Allah (Sal) went out on one of his military campaigns, and when he came back, a black slave woman came and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I vowed that if Allah brought you back safe and sound, I would beat the daff before you and sing. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “If you vowed that, then do it, otherwise do not do it.’” So she started to beat the daff, and Abu Bakr came in whilst she was doing so. Then ‘Ali came in whilst she was beating the daff, then ‘Uthmaan came in whilst she was beating the daff, then ‘Umar came in and she threw the daff beneath her and sat on it. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “The Shaytaan is afraid of you, O ‘Umar. I was sitting and she was beating the daff, then Abu Bakr came in when she was beating the daff; then ‘Ali came in when she was beating the daff; then ‘Uthmaan came in when she was beating the daff, but when you came in, O ‘Umar, she put the daff down.”
(Tirmidhi-Graded Sahih by Albani)
Having a Christmas tree with a good intention is not haram.