What’s Wrong in Saying Merry Christmas when My Intentions are Only to Improve Relations & not Shirk?

What is Wrong in Saying Merry Christmas to My Christian Friends when My Intentions are Only to Improve Relations and not Shirk? - Dr Zakir Naik

RMNSQA-11

Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum! My name is Adil Ahmed I’m a 16 years old student doing my GSES and my question regards Dr. Naik’s statement previously about saying Merry Christmas to non-Muslim makes us some how submit the fact that, well the idea that Christ was the son of God and it makes us one of them. Now that’s what shocked me, in a sense that, surely Allah in his All Mightiness would know that my intention saying someone ‘Merry Christmas’ is as you said is to improve relations. Now the thing is most people at least of my generation, people who I come in contact with, they don’t actually celebrate Christmas because they celebrate Christ’s birth but actually it’s a commercial thing to get the latest PS2 or whatever it is… so could you just please expand on that I am sought of confused how saying marry Christmas could some how bring blasphemy?

Dr. Zakir: The brother’s asked a question that he wants to wish Merry Christmas to his friends so that he can build relationships so tomorrow he will ask me the question why can’t I have a peg of alcohol build relationship. Why not? Why, what’s wrong? Why can’t I eat some pork with them? Why can’t I go to Church and worship Jesus Christ (pbuh)? See you don’t have to do anything Haraam for doing Da’wah. For reaching the goals you cannot use wrong means brother. What is haraam for them is haraam for you also. When you are wishing ‘Merry Christmas’ to them you are agreeing that Jesus Christ (pbuh) was born on the 25th of December and you are agreeing that he is the begotten son of God which is Shirk.

Why it is wrong? Because the Christians they believe that Jesus Christ (pbuh) is the begotten son of God. Now irrespective whether he may be a practicing Christian or not they celebrate because it’s the Birthday, why don’t they celebrate any other day? So if you tell your Christian friend “okay, forget if you don’t believe in that lets celebrate instead of 25th of December, let’s celebrate on the 10th of October.” Will they agree? They’ll say ‘no’. but that does not mean don’t do Da’wah, I do Da’wah on Christmas. I ask them that this is your Christmas season, why is it Christmas? So they tell me “Oh! its Christmas because Jesus Christ (pbuh) was born on 25th of December.” “Who is this Jesus pbuh?” “Oh Jesus is the begotten son of God.” Then I tell him that can you prove to me from one unequivocal statement from the complete Bible where Jesus Christ pbuh himself says that where he said “I am God” or where he says “Worship Me” I do Da’wah. Why do you have to use wrong means for doing Da’wah? Questioner: Is saying Merry Christmas wrong?

Dr. Zakir: you asked the question is saying Merry Christmas wrong means I am telling you it is wrong.

Questioner: Okay.

Dr. Zakir: 100% wrong according to me. If you don’t know what Christmas is celebrated for like by mistake if you don’t know it is alcohol and you think it is Pepsi and you have it, Allah may forgive you, So if you don’t know what is Christmas standing for being in UK.. Do you know what Christmas stands for?

Questioner: Well as of now..

Dr. Zakir: Have you come from somewhere outside?

Questioner: Well as of now I think it stands for a commercial…

Dr. Zakir: Do you know what… do you know…

Questioner: I think it stands for ...