Exchanging Gifts & Greeting Non-Muslims on Their Holidays

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

Shaykh Nur ad-Din Abu ‘Ubadah ‘Ali ibn Juma’ah wrote, regarding exchanging gifts, and greeting non-Muslims on their holidays, that maintaining ties, giving gifts, visitation, and congratulating non-Muslims are from the acts of goodness.  Allah (s.w.t.) has Enjoined us to say good things to everyone without distinction.  He has Stated that we must speak fair to the people.  Allah (s.w.t.) also Commands justice and the doing of good.  Likewise, Allah (s.w.t.) has not prohibited us from being good to non-Muslims, from visiting them, giving them gifts, and receiving gifts from them.  Allah (s.w.t.) States: 

سُوۡرَةُ المُمتَحنَة

لَّا يَنۡهَٮٰكُمُ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمۡ يُقَـٰتِلُوكُمۡ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَلَمۡ يُخۡرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَـٰرِكُمۡ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمۡ وَتُقۡسِطُوٓاْ إِلَيۡہِمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُقۡسِطِينَ (٨) 

Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah Loves those who are just. (Surah al-Mumtahinah:8) 

The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) implemented this in his personal life, as he was a walking Qur’an, making its moral code his code.  There are many ahadits that demonstrate that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) accepted gifts from non-Muslims.  These ahadits are also transmitted through diffuse congruence and are therefore of the highest authenticity.  For example, “The Messenger of Allah sent Hathib ibn Abu Balta’ah to the Christian ruler of Alexandria, with a message for him, and the Patriarch accepted the letter, honoured Hathib, and made his stay comfortable.  The Patriarch then sent him back with a garment for the Messenger of Allah, a mule with its saddle, and two slave girls as gifts.  One slave girl was Umm Ibrahim and the other one the Messenger of Allah gave as a gift to Jahm ibn Qays al-‘Abdari.” 

Another anecdote occurred during the time when Sayyidina Abu ‘Abdullah Salman al-Farisi (r.a.) became Muslim.  Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) came to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) when he first entered Madina and had with him a platter of dates.  He placed this in the hands of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) and the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) asked him, “What is this, Salman?” 

He replied, “Charity for you and your companions.” 

The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said, “Take it since we do not eat from charity.” 

Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) took it and returned the next day with a similar platter and gave it to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) who asked him again, “What is this, Salman?”, and Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) replied, “Charity for you and your companions.” 

Again, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) told him, “Take it since we do not eat from charity.” 

So, Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) took it and came the following day with a similar platter and gave it to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) who asked him, “What is this, Salman?” and he replied, “A gift.”

 

The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said to his companions, “Come and have refreshments.”

 

Imam Zayn ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn al-Hasan al-‘Iraqi (r.a.) commented on this hadits, saying, “This is proof that accepting gifts from non-Muslims is permissible since Salman was still not a Muslim at this point in time.”  These texts demonstrate that receiving gifts from non-Muslims is permissible and is even considered a sunnah.  This accepting the gift is not only out of general kindness to humanity, but is also to follow the sunnah. 

Imam Zayn al-Din Abu Yaḥya ibn Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Answari as-Sunayki (r.a.) mentioned that, “It is permissible to accept a gift from a non-believer, following the example of the Messenger of Allah.” 

This is further emphasised by the words of Imam Radhi ad-Din Muhammad ibn Ahmad as-Sarakhsi (r.a.) who said, “It has been mentioned, on the authority of Abi Marawan al-Khuza‘i, who said, ‘I told Mujahid that there is a family relation between me and a certain person from the disbelievers and I owe him money.  Should I give it to him?’ 

And Mujahid said, ‘Yes, and you should keep family ties with him.’” 

According to this, we can deduce that there is nothing wrong with a Muslim maintaining family ties with non-Muslims, whether they be family or otherwise.  The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) also sent five hundred dananir to Makkah during their famine and he ordered that this amount be given to Abu Sufyan ibn Harb and Sayyidina Swafwan ibn Umayyah (r.a.) to disperse the amount amongst the needy of Makkah.  The two accepted the money but said, “Muhammad only seeks to trick our youth.” 

Keeping family ties is a praiseworthy act according to every sound intellect and every religion, and giving gifts is from good acts as the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said, “I was only sent to perfect moral character,” so we have come to understand that this act is good as far as Muslims and non-Muslims are concerned. 

Imam Shams ad-Din Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Muflih al-Maqdisi (r.a.), the great Hanbali jurist, spoke about this verse: 

سُوۡرَةُ المُمتَحنَة

لَّا يَنۡهَٮٰكُمُ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمۡ يُقَـٰتِلُوكُمۡ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَلَمۡ يُخۡرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَـٰرِكُمۡ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمۡ وَتُقۡسِطُوٓاْ إِلَيۡہِمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُقۡسِطِينَ (٨) 

Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah Loves those who are just. (Surah al-Mumtahinah:8) 

He said that Imam Abu al-Faraj ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn ‘Ali ibn al-Jawzy (r.a.) said, “The exegetes have stated that this verse is a dispensation to maintain ties with those who are not in hostility with Muslims, a dispensation to be kind to them even if there is no relationship between them.  Some have stated that this verse has been abrogated with the verse of the sword, however ibn Jarir says that there is no validity in this statement since Muslims treating those at war with them nicely, if these are family members or otherwise, is not prohibited as long as it does not aid the enemy in battle against the Muslims.  He then mentioned the two ahadits of ‘Umar (r.a.) giving a silk garment to his polytheist brother and the hadits of Asma’ (r.a.), he then said that, “These are examples of maintaining family ties with those at war with Islam.” 

Imam Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Mardawi (r.a.) the Hanbali scholar, mentioned that concerning the issue of extending condolences to non-Muslims when necessary, or sending holiday greetings the sound opinion is that it is permissible. 

It is also mentioned, in Fatawa al-Hindiyyah, that, “There is nothing wrong with being guests to non-Muslims and there is nothing wrong with having non-Muslims as guests even if the only thing between them is a simple acquaintance.  There is nothing wrong with a Muslim maintaining ties with a non-Muslim be they a close relative or not, a person at war with Islam and Muslims or a dzimmi.” 

Based on the textual evidence as well as the opinions of the prominent jurists mentioned in this answer, we find that it is from goodness that a Muslim keep ties with non-Muslims during all conditions such as: sick visitations, sending condolences upon death, giving gifts, accepting gifts, and having guests over.  Such actions are a way of showing people Islam by demonstrating good character.