Muslims generally do not celebrate Christmas due to its religious association with the birth of Jesus as the son of God, which contradicts Islamic beliefs. However, many, particularly in North America, participate in Thanksgiving as a secular, cultural holiday focused on family, gratitude, and food, rather than its religious origins.
As Muslims, we do not regard Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Eve as having intrinsic value. Rather, we celebrate our own special holidays prescribed to us by Allah (SWT) and based upon our own eventful Islamic history.
There are two main holidays in Islam that are celebrated by Muslims worldwide: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al Adha. The timing of both holidays are set by the lunar Islamic calendar, which is based upon the cycle of the moon, and so is different from the more common, European, solar-based Gregorian calendar.
Adam Zeidan is an Assistant Managing Editor, having joined Encyclopædia Britannica in 2018. He covers a range of topics related primarily to the Middle East and North Africa. Christmas is traditionally a Christian festival, with markedly Christian teachings, and so Muslims do not typically celebrate the holiday.
Allah told His Prophet Muhammad: (Nay, but worship Allah, and be of those who give thanks) (Az-Zumar 39:66). In Islam, thanksgiving is not only a particular religious act or service; it is the whole life. The whole life should be lived in obedience to our Ultimate Benefactor, Allah.
It is not permissible for Muslims to celebrate Christmas or say “Merry Christmas.” • Christmas is based on the belief that Jesus is God or the “son of God.” • Islam rejects this belief, and the Bible supposedly does not teach that Jesus is God.
Yes, Muslims can give gifts on Christmas, but it depends heavily on the individual's interpretation, focusing on general kindness and avoiding imitation of religious aspects, with some scholars permitting it as cultural exchange while others discourage participation in non-Islamic festivals, especially if the gifts promote religious symbolism. Many Muslims view it as a cultural event for strengthening bonds, allowing gifts like books or food, but avoiding items like religious ornaments, while others abstain to maintain distinct religious identity, seeing it as affirming another faith.
So, from this, scholars have deduced a juristic ruling that Muslims must not celebrate festivals or holidays that are for non-Muslims. They emphasize that Islam suffices Muslims. To be clear: it's not ok for Muslims to participate in any of the religious aspects of Christmas.
Having a Christmas tree for decoration is not allowed in Islam. Because celebrating Christmas in Islam is prohibited. Therefore, any act of celebration like exchanging gifts, having a decorated tree, or imitating their food is not allowed.
we do not celebrate Christmas or any other holiday that is not part of the Islamic tradition. This is because our celebrations are based on what has been prescribed by Allah and His Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
Muslims and Christians share a deep respect for Jesus, but their beliefs about him differ. For Christians, Christmas celebrates Jesus' birth and divinity, while for Muslims, Jesus is a beloved prophet whose teachings guide their lives but whose birth is not marked with a holiday.
As for my family, we eat a turkey, preferably one raised and harvested according to Muslim dietary guidelines. Instead of ham, we may also do a leg of lamb. More importantly, we look forward to gathering with extended family — cousins, aunts and uncles we sometimes only see on this day.
What do Muslims celebrate instead of Thanksgiving?
Muslims have been celebrating Eid (Muslim festival) holidays for the past 1,400 years. In general, Muslims observe two key holidays: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
What do Muslims do instead of celebrating Christmas?
Muslims don't celebrate Christmas; instead, they observe two major festivals, Eid al-Fitr (marking the end of Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha (the Festival of Sacrifice), focusing on communal prayer, charity (Zakat), feasting, visiting family, and giving gifts, rooted in Islamic traditions rather than Christian ones. While some Muslim families in multicultural settings might join secular holiday activities or share meals with non-Muslim friends, their core religious celebrations are the Eids, emphasizing gratitude and community.
This means that Muslims, like most other religious faiths, do not believe in celebrating the religious festivals of other traditions, as it is seen as paying homage to some beliefs that may be considered blasphemous. For Muslims, observing the Christian celebration of Christmas is “haram” – forbidden.
The "5 Gift Rule" for men (and everyone) encourages thoughtful, less-is-more gifting by focusing on five categories: Something they want, Something they need, Something to wear, Something to read, and Something to do/experience, which helps reduce clutter and stress while ensuring meaningful presents, often shifting focus to experiences over excessive items.
Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, is a major holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide for three to four days. Most Muslims will attend the special prayers held at major mosques and Islamic centers in the United States and throughout the world. Muslims usually wear new clothes and some exchange gifts.
For Muslims, there isn't a direct equivalent to Christmas; however, they do have significant celebrations that reflect their faith and values. One such occasion is Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan—the holy month of fasting.
2. Family Gatherings and Shared Meals. Similar to many American families, Muslim families often use Thanksgiving as an opportunity to come together. They may host or attend large family dinners, which can include traditional American Thanksgiving foods alongside halal (permissible) dishes from their cultural heritage.
1. Shukran (شكراً) Shukran is used in all Arabic-speaking countries, in both formal and informal settings, and is understood widely among speakers of all dialects of Arabic. It comes from the root verb shakara (شكر) meaning “to thank”.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "It is not permitted for a Muslim to forsake his brother for more than three (days); whoever does this and dies, he will enter Hell." (Reported by Abu Dawud, 5/215; see also Saheeh al-Jaami', 7635).
