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Is it acceptable for Muslims to mark festivals of other religions (particularly, given the time of year, Christmas)?
Does our acceptance of these 'holy days' give legitimacy to beliefs which, as Muslims we know to be clearly false?
Or should we once again put our feelings to one side in order to maintain harmony (with neighbors who don't afford the same respect towards us)?
Briefly speaking concerning your inquiry(s):
Is it acceptable for Muslims to mark festivals of other religions (particularly, given the time of year, Christmas)?
Does our acceptance of these 'holy days' give legitimacy to beliefs which, as Muslims we know to be clearly false?
Or should we once again put our feelings to one side in order to maintain harmony (with neighbors who don't afford the same respect towards us)?
You ought to pay heed to this significant issue that as a brief answer, on the whole, attending in such celebrations which are related to non-Muslim customs, it is counted as a haram act. Because the attendance of Muslims can demonstrate their celebrations as a true action and actually you’d confirm their practices by attending in such celebrations. In regard to your question “Does our acceptance of these 'holy days' give legitimacy to beliefs which, as Muslims we know to be clearly false?”, the answer is that our acceptance would give legitimacy to beliefs of them. Then we should avoid attending in such celebrations in order to demonstrating that we do not counted it as a righteous celebration.
Conclusion:
Celebrating religious festivals of non Muslims are not allowed in Islam, and it is the duty of the Muslims not to attend in such celebrations in order to demosntrating that their practices are not true from our view (Islam), because we are Muslims and we have to observe some issues, since in truth, each of us can be considered as a Representative of Islam who ought to be aware in observing many Islamic related acts.
Reference:
The Prophet (PBUH) said:
نْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ الله عَنْهُ قَالَ: كَانَ لأَهْلِ الجَاهِلِيَّةِ يَوْمَانِ فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ يَلْعَبُونَ فِيهِمَا فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ المَدِينَةَ قَالَ: "كَانَ لَكُمْ يَوْمَانِ تَلْعَبُونَ فِيهِمَا وَقَدْ أَبْدَلَكُمُ الله بِهِمَا خَيْرًا مِنْهُمَا: يَوْمُ الفِطْرِ وَيَوْمُ الأَضْحَى" أخرجه النسائي (1 / 231) ، والطحاوي في "مشكل الآثار" (2 / 211) ، وأحمد (3 / 103 , 178 , 235 , 250)
It was reported that the prophet PBUH said: In the days of Jahilia, there were 2 days a year that people used to celebrate and when the Prophet PBUH came into the Madina, he said you used to have 2 days to celebrate and Allah replaced them with 2 days that are better, Aldhua and Alfitr days.
There is also another hadith:
مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ ، وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ قَوْمًا حُشِرَ مَعَهُمْ " .
A person who does similar acts to certain people he is one of them, and whomever loves certain people he is risen with them in the day of Judgment.
Those two hadiths (and similar ones) are the ones some scholars use to say that it is not allowed to celebrate other holidays.
Personally, I think that if the celebrations are not religious in nature, it is fine. For example, the prophet celebrated the Day Allah saved Moses from the Jewish culture because we are more of his followers then they are.
Also keep in mind that the Majority of Muslims are Non-Arab and there are many converts and the only time they get to meet their family and friends (even Arab Muslims) except on National holidays.
Additionally, say celebrating "days" is OK but not holidays. For example many scholars said it was OK to celebrate national Labor day or independent day. From such ruling you can infer that any celebration that does not have to do with religion (ex: Christmas, Hanukkah or Halloween). There are many days people celebrate which have nothing to do with religion like Birthdays, thanksgiving, secretary day, etc. Which I personally think it is OK to participate in.
IMHO:
انما العمال بالنیات deeds are weight(have virtue) by their intention.
If you celebrate eid fitr as in if you go there and just dance, play, drink wine for the sake of it's just a gathering among Muslims and we should have fun then you have committed Haram.
If you celebrate festivals of non-Muslims as if it's true, then it's haram.
If you celebrate festivals of non-Muslims as if it's not-true and you know that in heart, and your intention is only to show up there. I repeat show up there but not actually vigorously engage in their party, then it's not a haram. It will be recorded as you are doing socialization. Having that said one can't and shouldn't go to a festival where there is dancing, innuendo, flirting, drinking and say I was there only to socialize. Islam doesn't work that way.
