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There is a lot of difference surrounding us. That is because the human being as an
important driving forces in life, born to be different from one another. One of the common
differences exist in social life is like nationality, culture, language, religion, mindset, and so
forth. These differences give certain color to our life that can bind a sense of togetherness and
diversity as mankind. Yet these differences can often actually cause discordance. Various
conflicts arise because of those differences are such as terrorism issues are being talked about,
the conflict among religious believers, and the other.

A case I intend to cover in this paper is the  

       
   This is a fundamental difference of belief enabling the emergence
of split unless supported by wisdom in thinking based on clear resources. I chose this theme with
the consideration that this controversy is a matter that has been discussed and even debated for
long time. But some people who perform these activities do not yet have strong clear resources
to reinforce what they believe. Therefore, this paper also reviews matters related to Islamic
jurists¶ decision (doctrine) that permit, prohibit, or neutralize on the issue.


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There are various opinions about the law of congratulating Christmas to Christian. There are
scholars who prohibit it absolutely. But there are experts allow them to do so with some
guidance. There are also opinions being in the middle and sort out the problem in detail.

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uuslims who forbids saying uerry Christmas is primarily driven by doctrine of scholars in
Saudi Arabia. He is Sheikh Al-'Utsaimin who also quotes the opinion of Imam Ibn al-
Qayyim to reinforce his belief.

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As contained in the book uajma 'Fadlilah Fataawa ash-Shaykh uuhammad ibn Saalih al-
'Utsaimin, (vol. III, h.44-46, No.403), stated that:

Congratulating them is proscribed, just the same whether against them (disbelievers) who are
involved business with someone (uuslim) or not. So if they congratulate us with their
holiday greeting, we are forbidden to answer, because it is not our holiday. Their holidays are
not blessed by God (Allah). It is one of the heresies (bid¶ah) in religion.

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In his book µAhkamu Ahlidz Dzimmah¶ he said, "By consensus of the scholars,
congratulating Christmas is proscribed because it contains the approval of spreading of denial
(kufur) that they do.

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uUI doctrine in 1984 stated that it is an unlawful conduct for the Islamic followers to
celebrate Christmas together. Still there is no clear explanation about legitimacy of saying
Christmas greeting. Based on the discourse of www ... .... Com, I quoted the Secretary
General of the uUI statement, Dr. Dien Syamsudin uA, who was then serving as Chairman
of the Central Executive (PP) uuhammadiyah. He stated that the uUI does not prohibit a
Christmas greeting, but the essence is to forbid uoslems joining the sacrament (ritual) of it.

³Kalau hanya memberi ucapan selamat tidak dilarang, tapi kalau ikut dalam
ibadah memang dilarang, baik orang Islam ikut dalam ritual Natal atau orang
Kristen ikut dalam ibadah orang Islam.´

("congratulating Christmas is not forbidden, but if you participate in their

worship, it is proscribed, either uuslims participated in the ritual of Christmas
or

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Even once in front of hundreds of Christians, in the nationality Insights seminar X BAuAG
Java in Surabaya, he expressed, "I congratulate Christmas to Christian friends every year."

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Dr Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qardhawi said that celebrating the religious holiday is the right of each
religion As long as there is no harm among other religions. Including the right of every
religion also to give greeting (tahni'ah) while other religious celebrations.

So, we, as of Islamic followers, our religion do not forbid us to give tahni'ah to non-uuslim
in the day of celebration of their religion. Even this action is included in category of al-birr
(good deeds), as Allah SWT¶s decree:

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Whenever you are greeted with a greeting, you should greet with a better than it or at least
answer back similarly. Indeed Allah will take account of all your deeds., #$-
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 However, Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qardhawi is firmly says that is not lawful for a uuslim to
participate in religious rituals and celebrations of other faiths.

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In the site www.Islamonline.net, Dr. uustafa Ahmad Zarqa ' states that there is no proof
expressly forbidding a uuslim to say greeting to the heathen.
He quotes the hadith which states that the Prophet uuhammad once stood honoring Jewish
death. It has nothing to do with recognition of the truth of the religious affiliation of corpse.
According to him, congratulate to followers of Christian brothers who are celebrating their
big day, not related to the recognition of the truth of their beliefs, but only part of
3 , !0 *  of a uuslim to friends and colleagues who
happens to different religions.

But he said that the greeting must be distinguished by contributing directly to celebrate the
big day, such as by attending Christmas celebrations are held in various places. Attending
Christmas celebration and other religious ceremonies is proscribed and including sin deeds.

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Doctrine and Research of European Council also believes the same as a doctrine Dr. Ahmad
Zarqa' in terms of congratulating Christmas permissibility, because there is no direct
command (dalil) that forbids it.

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Beside the two differing opinion above, I also find some mid doctrine which is not absolutely
forbidden, but also absolutely not allow it too. One of them is the doctrine of Dr. Abdussattar
Fathullah Said. He is a professor of Tafsir Science and Ulumul-Quran at Al-Azhar University
in Egypt. In this problem, he becomes somewhat cautious and sorts them into two cases.
They are permitted and unpermitted congratulation.

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$!  According to him, it is lawful even included in the part of good morality
 which ordered to the uuslims. For example saying, "uay God (Allah) gives His guidance to
you on this day." He tends to allow a greeting like this.

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  It is unlawful. For example this tahniah, "uay God blesses your family
yourself."
He allows uuslims to give gifts to non-uuslims, provided that it is neither a lawful prize nor
the alcohol. Immoral pictures and anything that God forbidden are unpermitted.

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The difference is a common occurrence. Still do not let it make us, as religious people,
divided. Pancasila ideology is expected not only to be a middle way that bridges the differences
within the Indonesian state, but also to be able to reduce the plurality of socio-political ideology,
ethnicity and culture. The Five Principles should be able to find something harmonious synthesis
between religious pluralism, multiculturalism, ethnic diversity of cultural, political and social
ideology, in order to avoid any form of conflict that will only drop the dignity of humanity.
We need to also re-contemplate the various teachings that have been conveyed God through His
Apostle (Rasulullah), contained in the book of the Holy Qur'an. We should be able to optimize
the role of religion as a factor of integration. Al Qur¶an contains many verses that can become a
principle to respect and reconciliation among human beings as follows.

" (All) uankind was but a single nation, then Allah raised Prophets as bearers of good tidings
and warners, and He sent down with them the Book with the Truth that it might judge between
people on that wherein they differed. And none were at odds over it, except those very (people)
whom it was given unto, after clear arguments had come to them, revolting among themselves.
So Allah guided by His Will, those who believed regarding that which people had differed about
the truth. And Allah guides whomever He wills to the Straight Path. "(Surah Al-Baqarah: 213)

Through this verse, the Qur'an confirms the concept of Islamic universal humanity guiding that
mankind is one. Disputes occur due to the emergence of various vested interests of each group of
humans. Each of them holds different interpretations about the nature of truth according to his
vested interests.

Although their origin is one, the way of their life embraces the law of diversity because God set
different path for each man community. Differences should not be a cause of dispute and
hostility, but the base of performing a variety of goodness.

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As layman, we should respect and reflect those different scholars opinion wishfully.
We should respect either to the side that his doctrine is in accordance with our belief or opposite.
Those differences will not be there unless there is supporting trusted and strong hadits. If there
had been a verse or hadits that clearly states about Islamic legitimacy in congratulating
Christmas, certainly there might not have been contrary among all scholars.

All judgment (ijtihad) and interpretation done is come from global texts. Thus, if the
result of judgment is true, mujtahid (scholars who carries out ijtihad) will get 2 merits from God.
On the contrary, if it is wrong, mujtahid will only get a merit. Hopefully we do not get trap with
such a bad presumption atmosphere and instead of tending to blame with fellow uuslims
because it may escape harmony created for long time.