Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh All praise and gratitude are due to Allah SWT. May the blessings and peace of Allah SWT be upon His Messenger PBUH.
As Christmas is considered a festival day for Christians, it is not advised for a Muslim to participate in a Christmas lunch/dinner on this day, even if it is done for the sake of maintaining ties with their non-Muslim family. Allah SWT says in Surah Al Furqan: “And those who do not bear witness to falsehood, and if they pass by some evil play or evil talk, they pass by it with dignity”.
Many scholars of Qur’an such as Ibn Seereen and Mujahid interpreted the “falsehood” mentioned in this ayah as including the festivals of disbelievers, meaning that the believers should avoid partaking in these days.
It is therefore advised to try one’s best to organise a family gathering on a day other than Christmas in order to help maintain family ties. The other issue to consider is that alcohol is usually consumed on Christmas Day, and it is not permissible for a Muslim to remain in such an environment.
And Allah knows best.
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