FatwaSarawakSocial & Contemporary Issues
Mengucapkan selamat untuk perayaan agama lain
May a Muslim extend greetings on another religion's festival in order to maintain good relations?
Short answer
The Sarawak Fatwa Council ruled that greeting non-Muslims on their religious festivals is permissible, including through cards or telecommunication means such as email and SMS.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Sarawak State Mufti Department
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Irsyad (Koleksi Kemusykilan Agama)
- Topic
- Social & Contemporary Issues
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
The Sarawak Fatwa Council ruled that greeting non-Muslims on their religious festivals is permissible, including through cards or telecommunication means such as email and SMS. The permission is conditional: the greeting must not involve matters of faith and belief, meaning it must not acknowledge, praise or honour the other religion, and must not use its religious symbols. The purpose must be solely to preserve communal welfare and harmony, such as unity, community life and social relations.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Memberi ucapan selamat atau mengirimkan ucapan melalui kad atau alat-alat telekomunikasi seperti e-mel atau sistem pesanan ringkas (SMS) dan sebagainya kepada orang bukan Islam sempena dengan perayaan agama mereka adalah harus.
Read the full fatwa on the Sarawak website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Sarawak State Mufti Department. “Mengucapkan selamat untuk perayaan agama lain”, 12 July 2024. https://muftinegeri.sarawak.gov.my/web/subpage/irsyad_list/#2024-07-12-mengucapkan-selamat-untuk-perayaan-agama-lain. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/muslims-greeting-other-religions-festivals-ruling/