Q243 :Back home, the followers of three religions
live side by side: Muslims, Christians and Hindus. In any feast of any
netmunity, members of the two other netmunities congratulate those who
have the festivity. For example, Hindus and Christians nete and greet
us on the occasion of Eid, and we congratulate Christians at Christmas
and so on. Some people protest saying that this is unacceptable. Please
netment.
A243 : Islam is keen on maintaining good relations
with neighbouring netmunities. It is clearly stated in the Qur’an that
Allah likes us to be kind to those of the followers of other religions
who do not try to fight us or turn us away from our land. And He loves
those who are fair. It is only those who are hostile to us and who try
to turn us out of our land with whom we are not allowed to have kindly
relations. When different religious netmunities live peacefully
together, it follows that they should congratulate each other on happy
occasions. There is nothing wrong in that, nor is it forbidden to
partake of their food unless we know that they slaughter their animals
in a way which Islam forbids [Added: or if the food offered is
otherwise forbidden by Islam.] Islam goes further than that and
imposes on the Muslims a duty to defend those non-Muslims who live
peacefully under its fold. If they are attacked by a foreign power, we
should help them repel it. [Added: Greeting them on their religious
festivities or feasting with them is one thing, but Muslims should not,
of their own, celebrate religious occasions of the non-Muslims.]
Our Dialogue ( Source : Arab News – Jeddah )