Can a Muslim exchange gift with non-Muslims, especially during their religious festivities?
As Regards receiving of food and gifts from Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians and others during their religious festivals such as Christmas, Easter, Hanukkah, Passover, Nayrouz, Diwali, etc., there appears to be no categorical evidence from the Qur’an, Sunnah of the prophet (p) or statement of the Companions prohibiting it.
On the contrary, available evidence indicates that a number of his companions actually accepted food and gifts from non-Muslims during their religious festivals. This include companions such as Ali, Aisha, Abu al-Darda and Abu Barzah who approved of such gifts. (Ibn Abu Shaybah, Al-Musannaf, al-Maktabah al-Shamilah 3.13, vol.5, p.548; Ibn al-Arabi, Ahkam al-Qur’an, Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, vol.3, p.56) They did not appear to perceive such gestures as being in any way consenting to unbelief or aiding the cause of disbelief (shirk or kufr), but simply a show of appreciation towards another person’s generosity and kindness.
Commenting on the instances where the Companions of the Prophet (p) permitted the acceptance of gifts from people of other faiths during their religious festivities, Ibn Taimiyyah concluded that “all of these indicate that celebrations or festivals play no part in prohibiting the acceptance of gifts. In fact, the ruling for gifts pertaining to religious festivals remains the same as the ruling pertaining to accepting gifts on any other occasion, since the acceptance of gifts cannot be considered as aiding the promotion of their religious rites (sha’air).” See Ibn Taymiyyah, Iqtida’ al-Sirat al-Mustaqim, Edited by Nasir Abdu al-Karim al-‘Aql, Dar ‘Alam al-Kutub, Beirut, 1419AH, 7th Edition, p.45.
According to Imam Ashraf Ali al-Tahanawi, “as far as giving and accepting gifts during the period of non-Muslim religious festivals is concerned, such as at the time of Christmas, Diwali, etc., it would be permitted, as it is not per se a religious act, but a social custom. The intention of giving gifts is not to respect the religious festival, but rather to respect and show courtesy to the one whom the gift is given.” Ashraf Ali al-Tahanawi in his renowned Imdad al-Fatawa, 3/482.
