Can You Eat Food Made by Non-Muslims for Their Festivals?

Question: 12666

Is it permissible for a Muslim to eat the foods that the people of the Book or the disbelievers prepare for their festivals or accept such foods if they are given on the occasion of their festivals?

Summary of answer

It is not permissible for the Muslim to eat foods that the Jews, Christians and disbelievers make for their festivals. It is also not permissible to give them anything on the occasion of their festivals.

Answer

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

It is not permissible for the Muslim to eat foods that the Jews, Christians and disbelievers make for their festivals. It is not permissible either for a Muslim to accept such things that are given to them on the occasion of their festivals, because that implies honouring them and cooperating with them in manifesting their symbols and propagating their innovations and sharing their happiness on the days of their festivals .

That may also lead to taking their festivals as festivals for us too , or to exchanging invitations to meals or to give gifts on one another’s festivals at the very least.

This is a kind of deviation and innovation in religion. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours that is not part of it, will have it rejected.”

It is also not permissible to give them anything on the occasion of their festivals .

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Source:

Al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 22/398