What is forbidden with regard to congratulating the Christians on the occasion of their festivals is expressing joy to them, being overly polite and showing approval of their actions, even if that is only expressed outwardly without feeling it inwardly.

• It is not permissible for the Muslim to take part in the religious celebrations of the non-Muslims and it is not permissible for them to congratulate them. • It is permissible for Muslims to attend celebrations of the non-Muslims on their special occasions such as marriage, recovering from sickness and return from travel on condition that it serves a legitimate Shar`i interest. • It is not permissible for the Muslim to attend celebrations of the non-Muslims or the Muslims in which there is propagation of any false religion or ideology. • It is not permissible for the Muslim to attend any celebration of the non-Muslims or the Muslims if it is done in the manner of a repeated festival every year or every month and so on, like birthdays and Mother’s Day. • It is not permissible for the Muslim to attend any celebration of the non-Muslims or the Muslims that is a prohibited celebration in terms of the occasion, such as Valentine’s Day. • It is not permissible for the Muslim to attend any celebration of the non-Muslims or the Muslims in which there is mixing with women, or music, or where forbidden food is eaten.

A Muslim husband has the right to forbid his non-Muslim wife to commit evil openly in the house such as setting up statues or ringing bells. This also includes celebrating innovated festivals, such as Easter, because that is an evil action according to Islam. The Muslim husband does not have the right to force his Christian wife to give up her beliefs, but he may denounce her open profession of falsehood.

There is nothing wrong with accepting a gift from a non-Muslim on Christmas and that is not regarded as participating in it or approving of it, rather it should be accepted as an act of kindness with the aim of softening his heart and calling him to Islam.

Muslims cannot celebrate Christmas because it is an imitation of the unbelievers. Also decorating Muslim houses with balloons at Christmas is obviously joining in with the unbelievers and celebrating their festival.

It is not permissible for the Muslims to attend the festivals of the polytheists, according to the consensus of the scholars. It is also prohibited to greet the non-Muslims on Christmas and other religious holidays.

It is not permissible for the Muslim to eat foods that the Jews, Christians and disbelievers make for their festivals. It is also not permissible to give them anything on the occasion of their festivals.

It is not permissible for any Muslim to join in the festivals of the non-Muslims, whether by attending the festivities or enabling them to hold their celebrations, or selling any goods or products that have to do with these festivals.

It is not permissible for the Muslim to join the non-Muslims in their festivals and to express joy and happiness on these occasions, or to take the day off work, whether the occasion is religious or secular.