Q&A EPIC Replay Questions on Issues Pertaining to Christmas

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Smilla Rahmanir Rahim Al hamdu Lillahi Rabbil Alameen wa salatu salam ala Sayidina Muhammad in while early he was a big marine and Mulberry. So all of today's shallow Tada, we were doing miscellaneous questions about the season tis the season. And so we have a lot of questions about the issue of Christmas. So we began to shell out the other first one, somebody emails and says, By the way, all of these have been compiled from many weeks. I'm just waiting for this for this particular season. So the first question we have any practical advice about how I can explain to my children, why we do not celebrate Christmas, when we drive around, we find all of the lights and all of the, you know,

celebrations there and my young child, any practical advice? So this is a psychological question more than a 51. The parent is saying, How do I explain to my I'm assuming very young children that we are not celebrating and the other culture is celebrating. So I think that this is a very a question that is very sensitive to the age of the child. And if you ask those who are more of age appropriate, there's not a fifth question, but I'll give you some generic advice. If they're very young, I think one of the best ways is soda teleclass because this is a beautiful to the point Surah we explain them yet one of you that will make a local phone we explain that every OMA every nation

has its rituals has its festivals. We are Muslims, we have our two reads, if they're a little bit older, we can present to them evidences from the Quran and from the Sunnah about this issue of them is that when the Prophet of Islam came to Medina, and he found they were celebrating two festivals, he said, that every nation has this festival Allah has given you two festivals better than this one there you do not have and they will filter. And of course of the reasons why we do not celebrate other religious festivals is because our Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, Man, Tasha Bobby Holman, for whom in whom Whoever imitates a group of people will be considered to be amongst them,

and imitation that is forbidden, as I had mentioned before, and I will mention it in the future as well. In a detailed lecture, the forbidden imitation is to imitate the rituals of another civilization and society. This is what is forbidden to do something that is unique to Buddhism, to Hinduism, to Christianity to Judaism, something that is a sign of Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, we cannot take that and then make it our sign, because that is unique to that faith tradition. So Christmas is clearly something that is a fundamental ritual and a fundamental festival that is associated with a faith tradition. It is not our faith tradition. And of course, by the way,

we can even tell our teenagers a little bit more than this, we can tell them that even early Christians did not celebrate this holiday. In fact, this holiday was invented in the year 320 Or so sr 350 BCE. It was first introduced by Pope Julius the first not even something the disciples did. In fact, many Christian researchers believe that Jesus was born in the spring season, and not even in the winter season anyway. So this whole even if he was he was born in the winter doesn't mean but the point is, this festival of December 25. In fact, this festival does not originate in Christianity. This festival is pre Christian, and it goes back to a holiday that was found in pagan

Rome that is called Saturnalia, Saturnalia and this holiday was to mark the winter solstice, which is basically this season right now. And this season, of course, this is when the time changes, as you know, this is when the short days become the shortest and then they start becoming more and more and because of this civilizations across the globe, welcome that this is now essentially the beginning of you know the new season coming in. So we have the Celts, we have the ancient Nordics, we have Malta and the ancient pagans of Rome, multiple civilizations celebrated December 25. Not early Christians. They didn't do this. However, when the Roman Emperor converted to Christianity.

They adopted certain pagan festivals because as you all know, Roman the Roman civilization you

To be pagan, up until around 300 or so, when the Emperor Constantine made Christianity a state religion and he himself converted to Christianity before this point in time, Christians were persecuted in the same timeframe. December 25, which used to be a pagan festival,

Moroccan miraculously became a Christian festival. It was simply adopted, and it was then made into a Christian festival. And so you know, the point is, it's really and of course, as we said, even the ancient Nordic gods and by the way, a lot of the symbolism and the rituals and the icon an icon of graphs is actually coming from other pagan civilization. So for example, Santa Claus, they say, he is actually Odin of the ancient Nordic gods, he is the god Odin, and is being you know, basically iterated until he becomes Santa Claus and other things, the wreath and the heart symbol of the, the fir tree all of this comes from certain pagan symbols, none of it is coming from Jesus and the

disciples of Jesus. And even if it did, by the way, come from the disciples of Jesus, we say that's their religion. We have our own faith tradition, the bottom line, we as Muslims, we are very clear about this. Our Shetty does not allow us to actively participate and celebrate other religious festivals, any festival that is a symbol and an icon of another civilization of another faith tradition, excuse me, in which other gods are worshipped. We are not allowed to participate. And we are not allowed to import those icons. No Muslim should have a fruit tree in their house. No Muslim should have special lights and decorations around this timeframe. Because the cooler Coleman read,

every nation has its aid, liquid ginger and lemon culture and when we Hajj Allah saying every one of you has their own way and their own Jonnie methodology. And it's not just us, by the way, even most of the Orthodox rabbis, most of the conservative rabbis, they prohibit their followers of the Jewish tradition from celebrating the symbols of Christmas, because again, this is something that is not cultural, it is religious, this these prohibitions, of course, they are separate when they become cultural, then we can talk a different issue and I have given other lectures and maybe won't one day, we'll talk about them. Fourth of July, for example, and other things, which is no religion, you

cannot apply this hadith over there, because there's no religion, and there's no riba being done. And in my humble opinion, those types of celebrations don't come under this hadith at all. What comes under these traditions that are forbidding is when you take a festival that is a holy day, and you then adopt it, and you then follow it. This is not something that is allowed. They have their read, we have our read, and how you tell your children this best. It is psychology, I can give you generic advice. I also have four children and they're at all age levels. I've tried my best but at the end of the day, how you teach to a child is more psychological related than firstly, I can give

you generic advice, but we cannot adopt these festivals as our own. That's the easy question, Jay. We now move on to the more difficult ones the second question.

Sister, I don't know how to pronounce this Mary Lee, Mary Lee from Finland emails, Mashallah. We have people watching in Finland. I've never been to Finland. But we have a sister from Finland, saying that she is the only Muslim convert in her family. And all of her family gathers on Christmas. And is the only time of the year that her family meets, she is the only convert, apparently, from what I understand. She doesn't have a large community or whatever. And she goes online to do her fatwas. And she finds a website. I'm not going to mention it. But it is a website that I'm not too fond of in particular. And they say they have a lot of q&a answer on that website

related to Islam, but I don't personally like the website a lot anyway. So she goes on to this website. And she says the scholar sitting 5000 miles away in the land very far from Finland has said that it is sinful for a convert to go to her family or his family or whatever, on the day of Christmas, because it is a pagan festival. And she is saying, If I don't go, I will be very sad because my family has accepted my Islam and is the only time I can meet the extended family. And if I do go I'm going to feel guilty because this fatwah has said that I'm sinful for going and she has emailed me asking what is my opinion on this? The response to this question, what is prohibited in

our religion is to worship other than Allah subhanho wa Taala right law I would matter I don't want to answer I don't know ma but what is prohibited is to worship other than Allah subhana wa Taala

those fatawa that you're referencing in those websites with the respect that they deserve, they don't understand

And what exactly a family gathering at Christmas is, they have never interacted with a Christian civilization, they are living in a very different world than the ones we inhabit. And so their understanding is skewed. We all know that a family gathering together on the day of Christmas or the night of Christmas Eve, and they come together is more of a family event. Generally speaking, there's zero religion. And if there is, it'll be one or two phrases at the beginning in the very religious families, and then they'll move on from that. So the claim that attending a family gathering on the night of Christmas is the same as worshiping other than Allah subhanho wa Taala is

a claim that can only come from somebody who is not aware of the realities of the cultures that we are living in. And of course, this is the case here. In my humble opinion, we as Muslims do not celebrate Christmas, that is true. But your case is different. You're not celebrating, your family is gathering together, as is the culture. And she actually mentions in her in her email, that in fact, my family don't even believe in Christianity. And I say even if they did believe in Christianity, it doesn't matter. You are not celebrating Christmas, when you go to a family event in your mother and father's house, and they're having a family get together, the uncles and aunts are

coming. You are the only Muslim of your extended family, with my utmost respect to those scholars who say otherwise, if you're going to tell this only Muslim lady, the one time she can meet her family don't go, then you have no clue what Dawa is in the Western world. You don't understand what it means for a more hijab, a lady or a Muslim lady, a man or a woman, the only one to go and act in a positive manner. Show them the beauty of Islam, humanize Islam, to your uncles, and aunts and second cousins. And third, well, nobody's going to come together on this day, from all over, except on this day, excuse me. And the one day the family is going to come somebody 5000 miles away, says

oh, it is haram for you to go, No, it is not haram for you to go not at all. You are not celebrating Christmas, you are going to fulfill the ties of kinship. That's your new year, make that your new year, I'm going to meet my extended family on the one day where the whole family comes together. Now, if your family is going to do a religious ritual, before the meal, they're going to invoke a prayer they're going to say something at that point in time you step back, you excuse yourself beforehand, you tell them look because I'm a new, you know, convert or whatever, I'm not going to participate if you know them. In this case, she is saying there is no religion whatsoever. They

don't even have is as you know, the remnant I mean, Finland 70% agnostic anyway, these people 80% You know, as this as we know, in these lands, more Muslims go to jail more than Christians go to church on Sunday, Muslims are 234 percent. There's more Muslims in Juba to three 4% of the population, then the 70% nominal Christians on Sunday. Look at the statistics going on here. So even if they were practicing Christians, when they do something that is related to worshiping Jesus, you do not participate in that after they're done with that, to sit on the table to eat with them to be happy with them. Obviously you do not you know drink haram you do not do anything. Obviously you

avoid anything that is haram to consume pork or anything but other than that your participation in the family festival does not constitute worshiping other than Allah subhanho wa taala. And there is no hint of servitude to other than Allah in a generic fest festival of this nature. So make your Nia to give Dawa. And by the hour, I don't mean you have to pass pamphlets out to your family. I mean, your presence, your dignified presence, your luck, your manners, whoever you were pre Islam, they're going to see a new you. And that new you will be 1000 times a million times better than the old do. That is your Dawa right there. And so your participation, far from being haram, I actually think it

is Mr. Hub, go go and participate. And your Nia should be I'm participating to present what it means to be a Muslim in this society. And insha Allah with either the Soviet stepping stone for others to ask you more and more so that Insha Allah, many of them will be sympathetic to Islam and maybe even beyond this and convert to Islam. So that is the next question. No problem to go to a and this is for the Convert of viously. The Muslim should not have any festival on their own. That's not what they should do. And the Muslim should not for no reason go to a friend's house on this day. What's the purpose of doing that? You're we have our culture we have our civilization. This is the fatwa

I'm giving to the Convert whose whole family is

Christian in that scenario is different and Allah azza wa jal knows best. Next question, we have brother Nadeem, asking that, and this is actually brother in an email, but we have at least three or four questions. So I'm going to combine them all together that in his workplace, there is a gift exchange that takes place around this timeframe. And even though the word Christmas is not mentioned, still it happens around this season. And everybody is supposed to give an anonymous gift, they put it into the pool, and then somebody gets good this person and gives the person in an anonymous manner. So basically, you are participating. So he is saying, If I don't participate, it

looks very bad. And if I do, am I committing any sin? as well? We'll add on we'll tack this on as well. That what should I do? If my colleague passes by me and says Merry Christmas to me? What should I do if they greet me with Merry Christmas? Okay, so this is now the corporate setting. Okay, we are now talking about you in your office place. And you have these various things taking place in your office. Once again, we need to look at in them an AMA loop in the yard and what is going on? What is going on with this gift exchange? Is there any hint of worshipping other than Allah subhanho wa taala? Are people giving their servitude to another god in this corporate environment? Or is it

being done for camaraderie for a pleasant environment of the corporation? I think it is very clear that given the circumstances that we live in now, given especially the secular nature of the Western world, that these gifts are not being done to worship other than Allah subhana wa Tada, you are not presenting it to a God, a false god, you're not presenting a platter to an idol. This is a mutual gift exchange that is done for camaraderie for building some office rapport. And in fact, we have authentic narrations from the Sahaba in this regard, of accepting gifts. In fact, this is much more the rewired I'm going to report to you is much more than what this brother is asking about. This

Brothers is asking about secular corporate generic festivals in the America that we live in. This is not in the church, the Sahaba, the Athar, I'm quoting you, they were gifted from the religious communities because of the religious has festival, not just some generic stuff, and realize that the Sahaba they conquered lands that were majority non Muslim, and in particular, Iraq when they conquered it, and of course, Syria, but in Iraq when they conquered it was a land that predominantly was the restaurant, Zoroastrian right they were what we now call in our lands Parsis, we call them in our India, Pakistan Parsis, right. They will call Parsees because they came from Persia fatos

Farsi, so we call them Parsees. So this Zoroastrians, they came because the Muslims conquered that's when they came to India. So these rosters were the predominant people of those regions. And there are multiple narrations from the Sahaba regarding the gifts that happen on their festival days, the festival they have no rules for example, so of them for example, alira the Allahu Allah when he was the Khalifa of Kufa and of course he was surrounded by Zoroastrians on the day of Noah ruse he was gifted with many gifts from the religious leaders from the people he's the leader now and these are minorities so they want to now basically give so he was gifted many gifts and he accepted all of

them no problem another narration I love this narration you'll see why

he was gifted something called follow the edge this is in the Hadith by the way, okay. They see people polluted isn't Pakistani Don't worry. It goes back ancient forests ancient Persia you did not invent follow that you don't worry it goes back okay, but the term is exactly the same. Now there falou that wasn't mango and coffee and ice cream there falou that was honey and milk and other things. But the Apostle was you know what we have it's been of course we have now version 3275 I think but there are still falou that was a cold drink of milk and honey and other things. Now we have added mango lassi and other things and you know the weird weird worms and I don't know what you

call it, whatever you call it, you know, but what do you call it?

spaghetti noodles that are there all of that. I'm pretty sure the ancient Iranians did not have that. Oh, Arabs. You don't have to do that right? Arabs. You have no idea what falooda just you don't know what you're missing. You don't know what you're missing. So, Oliver the Allah one

and you will see why I love this narration and my respect for it really Allah went up 10 notches after this narration when I first came across it, I do the Allah one was gifted follow that

He ate it and he loved it mashallah Tabata cola mad after my heart. He said what is this? They sent it his follow that said what? What's this? Why are you gifting what is going on? So they said today is no rules. No rules of course, by the way, what is notice? narrows still in our Sanskrit and order narrows new day. Nowruz today is no rules. It's the Festival of the New Years, the holy day, the holiest day for the Zoroastrians, and still to this day Iran celebrates no rules even the Muslim population celebrate nor is it has become a different thing. But anyway, back then it was a religious festival, akin to Christianity of sorry, akin to Christmas or Hanukkah or whatever. Today

is the day of no rules. No rules is a religious festival they gifted it to the law one follow the edge What did my man say when he was gifted follow the edge May every day be a notice for you?

He went up respect Marsh anyway there's just he deserving of our respect, whether we like follow that or not, but if you like follow this then Mashallah. But here's the point And subhanAllah Anna again,

to be gentle, some strands, they interpret Islam in a manner that life becomes so difficult and unreasonable. And they claim to follow the self and the self themselves have very different lives from those who claim to follow them in our times.

Hollywood the Allah one is the who is he? I mean this I mean, do I need to give you the formula Valley? Is anybody gonna accuse him of not being following the self and if he is the self, or the Rhodiola? One is being gifted follow that on the day of no ruse.

Like, imagine a Christian gifting you because it is Christmas, I'm gifting you this. And he sparks he smiles he goes great. Every day should be notice give me this every day. I don't mind. You are not worshipping other than Allah when you eat falou there are no rules Alhamdulillah for that you're not worshiping other than Allah. If you're Christian neighbor gives you something on Christmas. He's being happy on his date. He gives you a now there are some conditions and I mentioned them. Inshallah, the Allahu Allah.

Aisha Radi Allahu Allah was asked by one of the Sahaba we have some Zoroastrian neighbors. So some of the Sahaba back in Medina, no, okay, I should never went over there to that place just to live there. Somebody's in the Medina and she asks our Isha, we have some Zoroastrian neighbors. They gift us on their Nowruz feed them which is their nose. They gift us what do we do? Can we accept or not? What does our mother say about the Allahu Allah? Listen, whatever was sacrificed on that day, do not eat. But whatever comes to you from fruits and plants, meaning vegetables and non meat eat, so on that day, they're going to sacrifice to the false gods.

They're going to mention the name of other than Allah azza wa jal don't eat that meat. There are strains because they're Austrian meat is different than Ali kitab. You should notice the restaurant meat is not adequate. So the meat don't eat, but the fruits and vegetables and follow the urges, basically, non non meat, I'm the law. Okay. The fruits and vegetables is that eat from the sweets eat from it, no problem. This is our issue of the Allahu Anhu as well we have a brother who settled also in Iraq, and he will tell his family, his wife and his children that on the day of no ruse, anything that comes to you from the meat, don't eat, but anything else that comes go ahead and

accept it and eat from it. So what was haram was their sacrifice because the Zoroastrians are not adequate up. So if they give you some meat, do not take their meat. But if they give you anything else, sweets, halwa love do anything, no problem, except it. These are the Sahaba and their day was the Holy Day. So in the corporate world that we live in, this isn't even Christmas. What they're asking us to do. There is no deification done. Nobody is worshipping a baby God, nothing like this is happening. It's just a generic. Now obviously, if we're in a Muslim land, and you are a corporate owner, why would you do this on the 25th of December for you, I will say fear Allah azza wa jal, we

have our rituals, we have a festival, but when you are going to work and the corporate over here has announced that Okay, on the What day is it July 15 20th? What is usually the 20th or so, right? Anybody? What is usually done was before Christmas or after Christmas, before Christmas, the 20th or so, right? And the week before? Yeah, so yeah, the 15th whatever

On this day, everybody bring a $20 gift. We'll pull our names from a bag and we'll just swap over gifts. Okay? Where is the worship being done to other than Allah? Nothing? How can it be made haram? I agree. If you are in charge of the company and you're in a Muslim, then why would you bring in on the 25th of December, but that's not the case here. So call us will only hire them off. There is nothing wrong whatsoever in participating in this exchange of gifts. In fact, even more than this, if they actually gift you on the day for the day, because of the day, we have the authority of the Sahaba here, you can accept and then when your turn comes, you give them back when it's the day of

read. I actually encourage all of you on the Day of read to bring something special for your colleagues to bring something extra This is the means of Dawa nobody can say no to some baklava. Okay, nobody can say no to some nice, you know, gulab jamun or bring falou that Masha Allah because we have adopted for losers you know, we took it from them, we upped the bar we raised it mashallah because now falooda has mashallah the mother of all which is ice cream. Now you have ice cream, mashallah Tabata Cola, Ben and Jerry's vanilla, by the way that will do works good on falooda. So just FYI. So if you give your colleagues value that are going to be difficult, but if you manage to

do that, or anything good on the day of eat, and then they gift you back on their Christmas or holy days, there's nothing wrong with this, as long as what they're gifting you is halal, obviously. As for

taking advantage of other things going on, I'll just add some other stuff here as well. How about going to the bazaars on the day of their EADS, Okay, how about going to their

shopping malls, and taking advantage of

sales?

How about that? Mr. Muhammad was asked

about going to the bazaar on the day of the Christian celebrations. And by the way, in all civilizations, the bazaars have extra on this days of celebration, this is human culture, correct, is human culture. When you're in India, Diwali the bizarre idea that when you're in, you know, the Zoroastrian places knows when you're in these lands, you know, Thanksgiving, what is human nature, when you're in Pakistan, the days of eight by one, get three free in Pakistan every time you know, then you still bargain for the fourth one for you anyway. So the point being that it's human nature, where there is a holy day, there's going to be bazaars that are offering concessions, Imam Muhammad

was asked, Can we go to the bazaars of the Christians on their holy days, and he said, if he is going to the bazaar, and he doesn't go to the church, that is not a problem, and Imam Muhammad was on the more stricter side of the muda had been this, but even he's like, what's the big deal, you're going to the bizarre, you're taking advantage of the shopping, you're not getting involved in the worship, you're not going to the church on the holy day. And even shareholders aren't even Taymiyah, who generally speaking is one of the strictest aroma when it comes to celebrations. And I have no problem with that opinion. But do realize there are other opinions as I'm going to mention. But even

shareholders have even Taymiyah, he was asked about buying on the holy days of the Christians and whatnot. And he said that no problem you can purchase from them on their holy days. But he did add, you should not sell to them things that they're going to use for their festivals. So they're going to they're going to do something that is going to be under worshipping other than Allah, you should not sell it to them. So that's with regards to taking advantage of sales and whatnot, no problem. As for congratulating them, this is a much more detailed question. I'm going to summarize it and maybe one day I'll give a long Grindstone I have given a longer lecture, you will find it online. But to

summarize, there is nothing explicit in the Quran, or the Sunnah, or any of the four Imams, or any of the early scholars in this regard. One of the earliest scholars to write a treatise or I should say, have a detailed discussion about this is Ibrahim in his famous book, Allah Jim, or the rulings of the people of them. And he made a very famous remark there, which is now well known and a lot of people quoted, in which he very, very strongly prohibited congratulating the non Muslims on their days of holy days on their days of celebration. And he said, a phrase here to congratulate them on their holy days is worse than congratulating them for a major sin, like drinking alcohol or like

murder, so to congratulate them for committing a sin. He is saying to congratulate them on their holy day because of their holy day. It is a bigger sin than to congratulate them for a sin that they do and oh, by the way, because of this, people don't read Arabic or don't understand it, some neophyte said in a lecture, to come to say Merry Christmas is worse than murder. And this is the position immediately

Jim, he said, and nothing could be further from the truth. And this guy's video went viral, the Wright took a hold of it and this and that. Just you don't understand Philco, solar, an athlete and you start giving photos. This is what happens if you've never said that have no claim said what I had explained. And even that is one opinion and I respect that opinion. It is a great scholar, he has the right to say that. But that is one opinion. There are other opinions as well. And if you look at the fatawa of so many modern councils, the European Council of fatwa and so many they disagree with this fatwa. And the reason is very simple. So here's the URL here is the cause.

When you congratulate somebody for their holy day,

do you mean to congratulate them for worshiping other than Allah? If you do then AIIMS photo is at its place. If your intention is or if your paradigm is that yes, you're worshiping other than Allah. Yes. Good Millbrook to that congratulations more power to you than ignore volumes fatwa is 110% accurate? How can you congratulate somebody for worshiping other than Allah? But see, here's the point. When you say congratulatory phrases, positive phrases, is that what is implied?

That is the issue of controversy between am and between many other scholars of our times, when you go and you say, some generic greeting, okay? Even if you say the phrase Merry Christmas back on to you, if he comes in says Merry Christmas, and then you say, oh, Merry Christmas to you as well. Even though I'm gonna say we shouldn't say that at the end. But I'm saying even if you said it blunt question in the context that we live in, Will anybody understand from you that you are congratulating them for worshiping other than Allah? Is this the understanding of the phrase? No, what is the understanding?

Just a greeting. And this is the paradigm that so many other alum of our times, by the way, you will find very little classical discussion on this only a few. And also this must be said, most of these fatawa are in the context of a Muslim dominant Islamic land, where the dynamics are very different. And one needs to ask, why would a Muslim man be celebrating Christmas of course, you should be ultra strict, etc, etc. None of these fatawa deal with minorities except until modern times. So in my humble opinion, even to quote even Taymiyah copy and paste and apply to America or Europe in itself is a mistake. Because the fact to have had been Tamia is a different context, different time

different place, and even that it is one opinion. Nonetheless, there are a whole host of Roma in our times who have said that it is permissible to generically greet, and I personally say get out of the controversy. And do not say the word Merry Christmas. This is my personal advice. Rather, when somebody comes and says Merry Christmas to you say something generic and response. God bless you. God bless you. Generic.

May Allah bless you with hidayah with Eman with Islam with good health you can make dua for the non Muslim, right? God bless you, okay. Or something generic of this nature. There should be nothing wrong with this. Allah says in the Quran where either who eaten butter Hey yet in for how you be asked. And I mean, when somebody comes and greets you greet him back with a better greeting, or at least returned the same greeting. This is a generic verse. So if somebody says good morning, you say good morning to you as well. Somebody says Good afternoon. Good afternoon to you as well. Somebody says Merry Christmas, in my humble opinion. Even though I do not say it is haram. By the way, I want

to be very clear. Still just to get out of the controversy. Don't say back Merry Christmas, just say May God bless you, God bless or happy seasons or something of this nature. And

conclude this question. We have one more question after this conclude this question. Even Abbas said,

If Phil Brown said to me,

Rahimullah, I would say May Allah have mercy on you as well.

If that around, were to make a dua for me, I would say back unto May Allah also have mercy on you. And what's wrong if Iran were alive, meaning and he said this to me? Why can't I respond even to fit down with a similar thing? So there's nothing wrong with giving a generic response back and it does not imply any type of servitude to other than Allah subhanho wa taala. Our final question for today.

What is the verdict on attending gatherings or meetings or office part?

Are these where there is alcohol?

What is the verdict on going to these types of occasions where there is alcohol response? The consumption of alcohol is something that we all know is completely forbidden in our religion. Our Prophet salallahu Alaihe Salam has called it The Mother of All Evil or the source of all evil. And it is a tool of shaytaan. We all know that, in this country, one of the leading causes of liver cancer, heart disease, even other types of cancer. In fact, almost 100,000 deaths in North America alone is because directly of alcohol and it is one of the leading causes of preventable death in this country. By the way, one of the leading causes of preventable death is the consumption of

alcohol as harms are well known. And it is because of this that the Sharia has not just forbidden drinking alcohol. The Shetty has also forbidden anything related to it, such as transporting, buying, selling, witnessing the transaction. These are all called preventative measures said the dirty when something is haram. Allah azza wa jal makes the things leading to it haram as well. Obviously, the level of aroma of the things leading to it is not the same as the level of itself. You understand this point and that's what we're going to come to now. When something is haram, the avenues that lead to it also become haram. But those avenues are not as sinful as the Haram itself

obviously. And this is called in the Sharia said do the lawyer cutting off the doors to this to this avenue. And one of those prohibitions when it comes to alcohol is to sit at a table where alcohol is served Hadith isn't mustard Imam Muhammad it is Hesson which is acceptable, it's not so hey, it's not the if it is a has an Hadith that the Prophet sallallahu sallam said, Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not sit at a table where alcohol is passed around Youdao or LA Hellhammer. Okay, so one should not sit at a table where alcohol is being passed around. This is a Hadith in mustard, Imam Muhammad. And this is the default position that a person should avoid sitting at a

table where alcohol is served. And one should try to get out of this as much as possible. Now, this is the default.

The problem is that this default becomes very difficult or at times logistically impossible in the world that we live in. And I have asked over a dozen mentors and teachers of mine and peers of mine this particular issue, these are one of the questions that are on my mind, and I asked many people, and I'll just mention some names here. But the opinion I will give you ascribe it to me. But I'm telling you just because understandably, I never claimed to be a scholar. I'm a student of knowledge. I'm not a scholar. I'm a student of knowledge. So understandably, people say who are you to say things and that's a valid concern. But I try to quote positions that have basis and that have

precedents. I never ever tried to bring an opinion that is unprecedented. I don't feel myself qualified to do that. But I tried to find precedents. And when it comes to this issue, I have asked over a dozen people whom I look up to including people like Salah Hassan we Dr. Hatem, Alhaji of USofA, Judea, Shia, called CORBA. We others I've asked all of these specific questions specifically, I've asked them about this hadith, in light of modern times, and in light of corporate America. And by the way, FYI, I have worked in corporate America for a period of my life. And for 15 years, I was in academia, which is a different type of corporate America, I had to meet many people, politicians,

business interviewers, presidents of universities, presenting papers, at Harvard and Princeton, I have been in that environment. So I understand what it is like to be the only Muslim in a room full of people that are coming together for another cause they're not coming together to get drunk, you're not going to a pub to socialize, you're going for a conference, you're going for a job issue, you're going because your boss's boss, or the company's president has thrown a big party, and you're a member of that audience. And once again, with my utmost respect, many of our scholars and teachers have never been in that situation. And so they give fatawa that they are there and hardly anybody

can follow them. Because those fatawa cannot be applied by the average person working in a corporate environment. And that's why the one who knows knows the one who is there understands and that's why I myself have been very eager to ask many of my mentors and teachers, pretty much all of them who live in these lands or at least are well aware of the situation of our lands because again, what you need to realize when you ask a person or a shoe that has never been in these lands, they're too so what is very different of reality, they can

You have a fatwa. And they don't understand that that was impossible to apply. Always go to people who live in your lands for your scholarship, especially for these minutia issues. And as I said, I've asked over a dozen. To be brutally honest, I think it might be two dozen, because I've been talking about this for these are some of the issues I've always discussed with my peers and my mentors. And every single one of them, without exception, has given caveats and exceptions to this hadith. None of them unconditionally said it has always held on and you have to stand up and leave every time there's alcohol within five feet of you. None of them have said this, because they

understand that you cannot be that strict. This hadith is not meant to be used as an elastic band and apply to every scenario. That hadith is a general ruling. Let's keep that as the default. Let's not become comfortable, but they're always going to be difficult scenarios. And by the way, this isn't without precedents. Again, there are minor precedents. of them is the issue of the Muslim man married to the Christian lady. And we find a number of exquisite narrations, even from the very strict rule AMA, like your mama who didn't humble somebody came to him and said that a man is married to a Christian lady, can he force her to not drink alcohol? Now remember, it's her right as

a Christian, and it may be even some in her Shetty it's allowed. And maybe even in her rituals is what she does. If she's a Catholic, she's giving an a drink it right. And Imam Muhammad said he does not have the right to forbid her from drinking her alcohol. He doesn't have that. Right. So this is someone I came up Muhammad, and the context is in a Muslim land, and it's in the person's household. Now, by the way, think about the technicalities. Whose money is she typically going to use to go buy the alcohol? Think about the technicalities. Where will that alcohol be stored in whose house think about these technicalities right before you make these blanket statements of haram haram haram think

things through. And that's why fic is very different than just quoting Hadith and extrapolating. My dear brothers and sisters, extremism typically occurs with people who don't understand they just take a verse or a hadith, and they become folk AHA overnight, actual folk Aha, or always much more understanding much more reasonable. As I said, more than a dozen scholars I asked personally this question more than a dozen, every one of them, they gave slightly different but every one of them is given caveats if this if that. So the position I'm going to present is coming from me, don't ascribe it to them. But I will tell you, all of them have given caveats and exceptions to this hadith. So

based on this, I formed and educated each jihad, if I'm right, it is from Allah file, it is wrong than it is from myself. And I ask Allah is refuge, what I say is as follows. This is my advice.

The Muslim working in corporate America should never make it the norm to feel comfortable around alcohol. This Muslim should make it known to his or her close colleagues that they don't like alcohol and the presence of alcohol, it should be something that is known that they feel uncomfortable around the presence of alcohol, it should not just become overlooked, not a green light. Anytime there's alcohol, let it be. Occasionally such a Muslim might find himself or herself in a situation where it's just the battle is not worth fighting. For example, the annual meeting, for example, the CEO comes in and the whole staff is there. For example, the ceremony that is going

to take place around this time when the raises are given and announcements are made right before Christmas and your presence and your your your point is a part of being with the community of your corporation, you need to be there because that's what everybody is doing. So on those exceptional scenarios, try your best to avoid being in the direct vicinity. So if the alcohol table is there, you go on another side and you intermingle with the people over there. And if you are forced to sit down, try your best to get a few people that you know will not be drinking and sit. One of my teachers actually said this, I'm not going to mention it but a respect to him as the one of my

teachers actually said, there's a large table, get three, four or five people sitting next to them and in your mind, draw an imaginary line. This is my table. There's no alcohol on it. Point is you have to work your way. What are you going to do if there's 50 people at a corporate meeting and you're all sitting at a table and they're drinking alcohol over there? What are you going to do?

I mean, if you really thought it's necessary to stand up believe that's your business. And I'm not saying don't do that. But I'm saying now you can live for long enough sun Illa WUSA, how unreasonable is it for you to stand up

and leave because somebody else is drinking your boss's boss's drinking alcohol. You will not be able to function in corporate America this way. You cannot function in a regular. You're going to a job interview for example, right? That stage you're going to tell other people Hey, you got you can't drink by the way, huh? You're gonna get that job or not?

Is a law requiring you to be that unreasonable? I don't think so. will lie. I do not think so at all. And is the position that many of my teachers have as well. You're going to a job interview you're going to the annual corporate event or whatnot. Now is not the time to enforce Shetty on other people.

Their drinking is there a bit you obviously are not going to drink you will say I don't drink okay? You order your alka seltzer water or whatever you want to do, you know is like what you you do whatever you want, but you do not obviously, obviously drink yourself. And if they're drinking that one fine, then when you get in, and your colleagues and you should then say You know what, you guys are going there. If it's just a regular chilling event, just to evening out, you should not compromise on that type of thing. Why? You know, you guys go ahead and enjoy. And you don't have to say even I'll call you. So you guys go ahead, I'm a bit tired, make an excuse of I'd rather I'd make

a few phone calls, whatever. But if your presence is important, not the rural life and death because this is not a matter of life and death, it's a matter of reasonable your job is at line here. Your presence is required for the promotions, your ambiences there you you being there is going to show the company that you're a part and parcel to the company, in these types of scenarios, be reasonable, and participate what needs to be done. And then as you all know, as the evening winds down the party, River State and then people who want to leave can leave right up of those who leave as fast as you reasonably can fit to Allah must start from fear Allah subhana wa Taala as much as

you can. And even as you are there, in your heart do not like it because our Prophet sallallahu sallam said, Whoever can change mancha with his hands good if not that with his tongue. If not that what?

Don't like it in your heart, hate it in your heart. I'm being very explicit. Don't make it the norm that I'm surrounded by alcohol. No, it should never be the norm. Don't make it lackadaisical. No big deal. It is a big deal. And you should not just be observing people getting drunk. But once in a while.

You cannot enforce 100% When you need to be as minimal as you need be as discreet as you need to be do what you need to do. And then make your excuse and then be away from there. And then ask Allah azza wa jal forgiveness, but I do not think it is a sin. When, as we said, when you're pressured into this type of scenario, that you're in the presence where alcohol is, nonetheless, if it is not something that is required, and it is simply a pure socialization of pure merriment, in this case, no need for you to compromise. And you can give an excuse when I give you a classic example, you're going to a meeting or a conference somewhere else, then your office is going to go out for a dinner.

And you know, there's going to be shut off and laughter and merriment, and there's no need for the business has been done. Right? The meeting has been done. Now, we're not talking about a business meeting with a client where you have to be, again, be sensible. You all know the difference when your office colleagues are just going to chill because the company tab is paying for it. Right? No need for you. When you know there's going to be alcohol, you're not going to lose your job. If you don't show up to that thing, no big deal. I and give an exclusive view. And you don't have to say because I'm a Muslim, I'm like if you want to it's case by case. If you don't have that authority,

they can excuse and I'm feeling tired. I have to make a few phone calls. I'll see you guys tomorrow. Simple as that and then be away from there. But if you do need to go for reasons that you know best for your job sake. In my humble opinion, it is not haram and the Hadith will not apply to you. Final point one of my teachers made a very good point one of my mentors, he's at a very good point. He said one needs to look at the context of this hadith. What is the context of this hadith? A group of Muslims sitting and drinking alcohol to for the point of getting drunk you doubt Alejandra means Hamid is being passed around.

Why would you be in such a gathering of Muslims? What excuses they're one of my teacher said this hadith needs to be understood as silent approval of other Muslims getting drunk. You shouldn't be there. You cannot just copy and paste and apply it to a corporate setting where your non Muslim colleagues are drinking a cup or two with their meals. They're not even getting drunk because they're not supposed to technic as you know, you know, they're not even doing that. It's just what they're doing on this site. So Allah azza wa jal knows best. The footwear that I have given based on years of research and asking many of my colleagues and mentors avoided as much as possible

Don't make this the norm, your colleagues should know that you feel uncomfortable around alcohol. But when push comes to shove, and you're in a situation where you kind of sort of for the greater good of your job and career, you have to be in there, do the bare minimum, do what needs to do try your best to take reasonable precautions, try your best that alcohol is not immediately around you if you're able to do that. And if you're not, for example, a job interview with you're the boss that's going to hire you, it's you and that boss, and you're on one table, what are you going to do? You go to the job interview, tell your bosses your future boss, I'm sorry, you cannot drink, let's

be real here. You're not going to get that job. And that we fully understand why because you're not somebody that company can work with. If you're going to enforce your policy on other people, that's not going to work right. So

the wise person uses the right time in place. And in my humble opinion, that's not the right time and place in the job interview to to demand that your boss doesn't drink or what not. And so if that is the case and that is happening, ask Allah's forgiveness, try your best to be as minimal as possible do what needs to be done and then remove yourself from that and insha Allah to Allah there will not be a sin on you if you hate it in your heart and with that inshallah we conclude for today and tomorrow will be our classes often will occur said I'm wondering what I missed a lot here but I catch

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