What Is The Ruling on Defining Non-Muslim Holidays?
Assalamu Alaikum,
Suppose, there is a website something like Wikipedia's little sister. In which they have a annual holidays (New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, Independence Day, Mothers' Day, Christmas Eve, etc.) calendar of world's major countries. Some of them holidays are religious like Ramadan.
So they also provide a summarized/detailed description (what is it, when its started, and when it will be in 2014 or next year, etc.) about each day, for the users who wanted to know about yearly holidays with their background and other core information. Then they earn money from advertisers (embedded advertisements as banners in web pages) when people reads web page content.
So what Islam says about to earn in that way by mentioning events (without adding any personal opinion) of other religions, is this permissible?
~ thisisme
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AsSalaamu Alaikum,
Perhaps your question is not completely clear to me, but in the way I understood it, I think it would depend on your duties in the job, and the availability of other different jobs. If your duties in particular do not involve the religious holidays that go against Islamic beliefs, then it's okay, but finding a new job that has nothing to do with religious beliefs that go against Islamic beliefs would be the best.
Please try discussing with a qualified Islamic scholar or an Imam at your area or local masjid to give you the appropriate and correct answer.
Allah subhanahu wata'la knows best.
I can't see what the problem is. You are relating facts about these holidays, not celebrating them in any way.
As'salam'alaykum,
Hope you and yours are well !
Now regarding your question, I suppose you are asking about 'earning money by means of teaching/explaining/describing events like "Christmas", "Easter", "Black Friday", "Thanks giving day", "Valentine day" etc etc online' ?. Now, we both agree that the list of holidays can go on and on but I only quoted few holidays which goes against the core Islamic belief and more or less constitutes 'Blasphemy'.
Now I know you ain't celebrating them, and as a member said, you are just "relating facts", but what we fail to realize is the fact that the descriptions about these holidays are "facts" to the Non Muslims. But to the Muslims, these are nothing but BLASPHEMOUS/PAGAN holidays.
These above mentioned holidays are some concepts in Christianity about 'death of Jesus', 'Resurrection of Jesus' etc which contradicts the Islamic belief and imitating the non Muslims with regards to other holidays as-well. Allah said "And among them are unlettered ones who do not know the Scripture except in wishful thinking, but they are only assuming. So woe to those who write the "scripture" with their own hands, then say, "This is from Allah ," in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn." (Al- Baqarah)
Just ponder over that Quranic verse and relate it to the kind of job you're seeking information on which involves promoting fictitious blasphemous ideology and earning money.
and our Prophet said: "Whoever imitates them belongs to them." (Sunan Abu Dawood, Imam Ahmad)
Furthermore, since we know that these holidays are fictitious, thereby promoting them as an event is a big LIE in all senses (I do not wish to offend anyone but it has to be stated in Islamic perspective). So now, we have another logical issue of concealing the truth and promoting lies ? "But Do they not know that Allah knows what they conceal and what they declare?" (Al- Baqarah) You see what I'm saying ?
I'm pretty certain that we (as Muslims) wouldn't want to teach/promote paganism or its likes, thereby earning money and the icing on the cake is that the whole act is 'SHIRK' while being oblivious. Do I want to live a life of 'Shirk' ? O Allah protect me !!
Lastly, if wikipedia's little sister is only talking/teaching/describing about Ramadan or Eid any other Islamic or non paganistic holidays, then I see no fault in earning through this way. My man, Allah wants us to do what He loves. He knows that we are weak and He is known as the most Tolerant and so He gives us a million chances to correct ourselves. The state in which we die is what matters most. I don't want to imagine dying while typing/posting "Jesus was crucified and then resurrected etc etc" naudhubillah. Theoretically, Allah gives us so much time to repent. Do not wait for the unexpected.
If you are already into it, put a stop real quick and make sincere repentance and start finding better jobs. Allah is oft-forgiving most merciful.
MashaAllah brother Ali. Nice to see you again.
Same pleasure man !! Been a while, I guess like 2 years or so lol.. Hope all is great on your side 😀