The debate about saying "Merry Christmas" is still a polemic in the public. This polemic that always occurs every year is related to istinbath al-hukmi, so the Tarjih Council and Tajdid PP Muhammadiyah discussed it at the Tarjih Study on Wednesday (12/22/2021) with the speaker, Assoc. Prof. H. Wawan Gunawan Abdul Wahid, Lc., M.Ag. He explained that the reason the scholars have different opinions regarding this issue is because of their Ijtihad in understanding the generality of the Quran verses or Hadith. There are scholars who allow saying Merry Christmas because the legal basis for following the christmas procession for them is indeed allowed. There are also scholars who prefer to be careful because when saying merry christmas means that he has given false testimony. 

He also explained that the scholars who forbid the pronunciation of merry christmas because it is based on the interpretation of the QS. Maryam:23-26.  In this Qur'an verses, Jibril ordered Maryam who was giving birth to Isa al Masih to reach towards the base of the date palm tree and take its ripe fruit to eat. The presence of dates gives a signal that the birth of Isa al Masih was not in winter. Thus, December 25 is not the birthday of the son of Maryam. 

Meanwhile, the scholars who allow to saying merry christmas are based on the QS. Al Mumtahanah verse 8. In that verse, Allah does not forbid to do good to people who do not fight Muslims. Therefore, saying merry christmas is a form of good deed to non-Muslims, so this act is permissible. 

In Religious Questions and Answers volume II, the Tarjih Council issued a fatwa by suggesting not to wish Christians a Merry Christmas. Meanwhile, in Tarjih's Fatwa contained in Suara Muhammadiyah No. 5 of 2020, it is stated the ability to help superiors in the office during Christmas celebrations such as providing chairs, ornaments, and others. Therefore, Prof. Wawan concluded that the law of pronouncing Christmas includes aspects of muamalah that must be adapted to the situations and conditions that accompany us.

"In a minority situation, he is in a minority environment, if he doesn't saying Merry Christmas something will happen, then saying it is part of what is said (permissible). But in a certain environment, for example, they often share food with non-Muslims in local RT meetings, and there is no need to saying merry Christmas, because there has been a good relationship with non-Muslims," ??said Prof. H. Wawan Gunawan Abdul Wahid.

The difference in Tarjih's Fatwa contained in Religious Questions and Answers volume II and Suara Muhammadiyah no. 5 of 2020 can actually be seen with al-jam`u wat taufiq or compromise. In minority conditions where tolerance is so necessary for harmony to exist, it is permissible to wish me a merry Christmas. Meanwhile, in a situation that does not require tolerance in our environment (because it is already harmonious), it is better to avoid saying Merry Christmas to Christians. 

Source : Muhammadiyah