" Fiqh- Islamic Jurisprudence "
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Is it Permissible to Take Part in the Nativity Play?
I would like to know if it is permissable for my son to take part in the school nativity play if he only plays a small role. I personally would prefer him not to take part as it is about christmas but i am feeling pressure from the school to include him.
Answer:
Our Prophet (pbuh) states the following hadith about performing an action that belongs to another religion:
“He is not one of us who resembles people other than us. Do not resemble the Jews or the Christians.” (Tirmidhi)
Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar:
“The Prophet (pbuh) said: He who copies any people is one of them.” (Dawud, Book 32, Hadith, 4020)
Each society and nation has a particular way of life and its own traditions. Communities called “ummah” that believe in the same prophet also have some specific practices, comprehensions and common worships as a result of sharing the same belief.
The hadith above declares that the Islamic ummah has a quite different and a specific identity that differentiates them not only from the disbelievers and the polytheists but also from the people of book (the Christians and the Jews). Today, the importance of this principle is quite clear in terms of preserving the identities and the characteristics of ummahs and nations. (Prof. Dr. Ismail Lütfi Çakan/ Facts Through Hadiths)
Another important point about this issue is that such plays are performed to celebrate the New Year which is a part of Christianity. Scholars agree that it is not proper and permissible for a Muslim to perform an action that is representation of another religion. Therefore, joining the celebrations of other religions, joining and helping the organizations of such celebrations or being in the places where the verses of Allah (swt) are opposed are not considered as permissible either. Actually, just joining such organizations do not mean for a Muslim to accept another belief; however, physical imitation may lead to imitation of creed.
Allah (swt) orders in the Quran to abandon the places where the Quranic verses are opposed
“And it has already been revealed to you in the Book (this Quran) that when you hear the Verses of Allah being denied and mocked at, then sit not with them, until they engage in a talk other than that; (but if you stayed with them) certainly in that case you would be like them.” (An-nisa, 140)
A Muslim should abstain the actions which are the signs of another religion
A person only imitates what he loves, admires and looks up to. Physical imitation leads to imitation of creed. Celebrating a Christmas Holiday can weaken the belief of a person who has accepted the basic of Islam. So it is not permissible for a Muslim to celebrate the New Year which is a Christian tradition. (Modern Life through Fatwas)
It is not permissible for a Muslim to join the celebrations of holidays of other religions, to congratulate each other, buy and eat turkey for that occasion, to give presents and to have a feast. If a person insists on committing these actions and does not repent, his/her faith is in serious danger.
Moreover Hanafi Scholars’ opinion on this subject is as such:
Whoever joins the celebrations of holidays of other religions and doesn’t repent becomes an unbeliever like followers of those other religions.
Therefore for a Muslim to sit with these people, help them cut and cook for the feast makes him/her a sinner. (Turkmani, Kitabu'l-uma fi'havadisi va'l-bida', 1/293-94.)
As a conclusion, the most proper thing for your son to do is surely, if there isn’t an obligation, not to join the nativity play and even not to join the celebration as audience. However, if there is an obligation, since the situation is out of your desire and your will, we suppose that you will not be responsible for joining. So, we recommend you to review your situation and decide if the situation is an obligation or not. Kaynak: http://askaquestionto.us - Is it Permissible to Take Part in the Nativity Play?
Allah knows the best…