Is It Permissible for Muslims to Offer Sharadiya Greetings? What Does Islam Say?

Questions about whether Muslims may extend greetings, attend ceremonies or exchange gifts during the religious festivals of other faiths continue to generate discussion. As the Hindu community celebrates Sharadiya Durga Puja, a recently published fatwa has addressed the Islamic perspective on offering festival greetings and participating in religious observances.

The fatwa, published on September 30, 2025, examined the Islamic ruling on extending Durga Puja greetings. In his response, Mufti and Hadith scholar Saiduzzaman Qasemi discussed the issue with reference to the views of prominent Islamic scholars Ibn al-Qayyim and Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen.

According to the fatwa, a group of Islamic scholars considers offering congratulations on the religious festivals of non-Muslims, including Christmas, impermissible. Their position is based on the view that congratulating someone on a religious occasion may be interpreted as expressing approval of the religious beliefs or practices associated with that celebration. In support of this position, the fatwa refers to Ibn al-Qayyim’s book Ahkam Ahl al-Dhimmah.

The discussion also cites verses 7 of Surah Az-Zumar and 3 of Surah Al-Ma’idah from the Holy Quran. These verses are referenced in the context of maintaining Islamic beliefs and religious identity.

The fatwa further addresses related practices, including responding to festival greetings, accepting invitations to religious ceremonies, exchanging gifts and distributing sweets on such occasions. It presents the view that Muslims should refrain from activities associated with the religious observances of other faiths. Direct participation in religious rituals is described as a more serious matter than offering verbal greetings.

In support of this argument, the fatwa cites a hadith commonly translated as, “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” It argues that social courtesy or the desire to maintain relationships does not, in itself, change the religious ruling concerning participation in religious ceremonies. The discussion also refers to Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen’s Majmu‘ Fatawa wa Rasa’il, Volume 3, page 369.

The issue raises broader questions about the distinction between religious participation and maintaining cordial relationships with people of different faiths. Interfaith respect, social courtesy and participation in religious rituals are separate matters, and their religious implications may be assessed differently depending on the circumstances.

It is worth noting that this report presents the position expressed in a particular fatwa and should not be taken as a comprehensive account of all scholarly opinions on the subject. Readers seeking a detailed religious ruling may consult qualified Islamic scholars and verify the original sources.