christmas

Assalamualaikum. My question is my only remaining family are my siblings who are Catholic. (I am a convert) Is it acceptable to visit them, and give and receive gifts at Christmas?  All your past cases are referring to parents, both my parents have passed, leaving a sister and 2 brothers. My husband and I get into uncomfortable arguments every year around Christmas time.  Please put an end to this by clarifying if it is alright to be with the family at this time, show our love and accept their love in return.thank you. Salina

Assalamualaikum, I have a question about attending a christmas party. I have some Non-Muslims friends who give invitation every year. They come to our Eid party whenever we invite them. I feel bad about declining every time and want to know the rulings for this matter.thank you.

Scholars of Islam, as-salamu `alaykum wa rahmatu Allah. During the Christmas season, Christians all over the country illuminate their houses with lights, put up Christmas trees, and exchange gifts. TV is full of jingle bells and all the stores are decorated for Christmas. All this is very tempting to small children; children love putting up lights and decorating for holidays. Some Muslim families also put up Christmas trees and lights to keep their children happy. They argue that Christmas is, after all, Prophet Jesus' birthday and there is no harm in celebrating Christmas as long as children are happy. When our children started talking a few years back they started asking why we do not put up lights and trees during Christmas. I explained to them that we are Muslims and we don’t celebrate Christmas; we celebrate `Eids. To keep our children happy and to get them excited about `Eid, we started putting up lights (green and white) around the house and decorating inside the house during Ramadan until after `Eidul-Fitr and during `Eidul-Adha. We exchange gifts with our Muslims friends on both `Eids. Alhamdulillah, our children now wait for `Eid, not for Christmas. What is the Islamic position on these issues? Can we celebrate Christmas? Is it OK to put up lights during Ramadan and `Eid?

Respected schoalrs as-salamu `alaykum. We live in a Christian-dominated country in Asia. Every December, the government gives a Christmas cash bonus to all government employees nationwide, regardless of their religious affiliation. Is it permissible for a Muslim government employee to receive such amount without transgressing the Qur’an and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)? Jazakum Allah khayran.