Thanks Habib.  I admit I was not clear on this matter so I appreciate your
further explanation.

Take care everyone,
Halima S.


-----Original Message-----
From: Habib Ghanim [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2002 12:14 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Celebrating or Participating in Holidays of the Disbelievers



Yes sister you are right but it is secondary . It is recomended to avoid the
likes of crabs ,lobsters hardshells sea creatures like turtles because they
are SCAVENGERS. Even fish like catfish "kong" are discouraged . ( boy ! God
knows I love 'chew ee kong').

Let be be clear . It is not unlawful for us to eat them but only a
suggestion to avoid them(maybe for health reasons) There are differerent
schools of thought and the one we follow in the Gambia (Imam Malik) does not
object to us eating them.

Habib



>From: "Sukuna, Christine"
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Celebrating or Participating in Holidays of the Disbelievers
>Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 11:21:06 -0600
>
>I think I have read some restrictions on seafood like crab, shrimp but
>please correct me if I am wrong. I know fish is allowed but there are some
>other types of seafood which may not be permissible. Let me know if I am
>wrong on that.
>Thank you,
>Halima S.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Habib Ghanim [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2002 11:19 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Celebrating or Participating in Holidays of the Disbelievers
>
>
>
>Mr Mbooj,
>
>Muslims men are allowed to marry Christian or Jewish women ( Hindus
>,Buddists or idol worshipers excluded) Muslim women are allowed to marry
>only muslim men ( or any man who says the Shahada - believes in One God and

>all his prophets- )
>
>As far as food is concerned it is preferable we eat from Jews (first
choice)
>whose Kosher laws & practises are closer to ours (exceptions are alcohol
>-some modern distorted latter day Jews drink the forbidden liquid and use
it
>on their foods) and even Christians provided there is no pork or alcohol (
>we must invoke bismillah to our selves before eating the food) This
practice
>is allowed especially when invited by our Christian friends or neighbours
or
>family. Always ask politely about the contents of the food and let your
>friends know of the religious requirements of not eating pork or drinking
>alcohol. If they are unsure they it is best to avoid the main dish and eat
>may be fruits/salads ( if available ) and drink water only. It is important

>to be polite and respect them .
>
>What brother Malamin is probably refering to is the RITUALS only .( correct

>me if I am wrong)
>
>I hope that answers some of your questions.
>
>Lastly, There are some other ways to avoid this issue . Remember it is
>always safe to eat FISH ,so ask or tell them that you would like to eat
fish
>if available. We can eat all sea food.
>
>
>
>Habib
>
>
>
> >From: ALAN MBOOJ
> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: Celebrating or Participating in Holidays of the Disbelievers

> >Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 08:59:01 -0800
> >
> >malamin,
> >What does islam have to say about the treatment of one's neighbours?
> >One has to be very careful and refer to the Quraan and Hadiith. Afterall
>each
> >and everyone of us is human. What was the relationship of the
>prophet(SAW)and
> >his non-muslim neighbours in Madinah? Are the people of the book
>disbelievers
> >in the sense being inferred? Cant we marry Christians and Jews? Can't we
>eat
> >their food (meat etc.)?
> >
> >
> >--- Malamin Johnson wrote:
> > > Celebrating or Participating in Holidays of the Disbelievers
> > > Jamaal al-Din Zarabozo
> > > Al-Jumuah Magazine, Vol. 9 Issue 2 Vol. 9 Issue 2
> > >
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------

>-----
> > >
> > > Is it permissible for Muslims to celebrate or participate in holidays
>such
> > > as Halloween, birthdays, and Christmas functions?
> > >
> > > Answer (By J. Zarabozo)
> > >
> > > The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) made it very clear that in

>Islam
> > > there are two festivals or holidays. These are the Eid festivals. The
> > > celebrations and holidays of a people are from among the actions that
>most
> > > distinguish one people from another. In a Hadith in Sunan Abu Dawud,
the
>
> > > Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Whoever
>imitates
> > > (or resembles) a people is one of them." Therefore, it is not allowed
>for
> > > Muslims to participate in the holidays or celebrations of the
>non-Muslims.
> > >
> > > Shaikh al-Islam ibn Taimiya wrote in Iqtidha al-Sirat al-Mustaqeem
>(vol.1,
> > > p.470), "There are a number of points that must be considered when
> > > discussing (the non-Muslims') festivals and holidays. First, festivals

>and
> > > holidays are from the wide range of laws, ways, and rites that Allah
> > > (Subhaanu wa ta'ala) describes in the verse, "For every nation We have

> > > established rites that they follow," such as facing the Qiblah, prayer

>and
> > > fasting. There is no difference between joining them in their
festivals
>and
> > > joining them in their other rites. Agreeing to their holiday is
agreeing
>to
> > > infidelity (Kufr), and agreeing to some minor aspects (of their
>religion) is
> > > like agreeing to a branch of infidelity. In fact, the holidays and
>festivals
> > > are one of the major items that distinguishes their customs and laws,
>and
> > > are one of the most obvious of their rites. Agreeing to it is agreeing

>to
> > > one of the most specific of the acts of infidelity and one of the most

> > > blazon of their rituals. There is no doubt that agreeing to or being
in
> > > accord with something of that nature can only lead to apostasy, in
>general,
> > > given its conditions"
> > >
> > > Indeed, beyond that, the scholars have even stated that it is not
>allowed
> > > for Muslims to congratulate the non-Muslims on their holidays or
>festivals.
> > > Ibn al-Qayyim in Ahkam Ahl al-Dhimma (vol. 1, p. 205) writes, "Giving
> > > congratulations on the special events that are specific to the
>disbelievers,
> > > such as congratulating them on their holidays by saying, "Blessed
>holiday
> > > for you" or other similar greetings, is considered forbidden by the
> > > agreement of the scholars. Even if the one who states it is free from
>any
> > > aspect of apostasy, it is still a forbidden act and it is the same as
> > > congratulating them upon their prostrations to the crucifix. In fact,
>that
> > > is one of the greatest sins in Allah's (Subhaanu wa ta'ala) sight.
That
>is a
> > > greater sin than congratulating them for drinking wine, having illegal

> > > sexual intercourse and so on. Many of them who are not very religious
do
>
> > > such things and they do not know how evil what they are doing really
is.
>
> > > Whoever congratulates another human for any sin, heresy, or act of
>apostasy
> > > has exposed himself to the punishment and anger of Allah (Subhaanu wa
> > > ta'ala). The pious people from the early scholars would avoid
>congratulating
> > > the oppressors when they received positions of authority or the
ignorant
>
> > > when they were given judicial or teaching positions in order to avoid
>the
> > > punishment of Allah (Subhaanu wa ta'ala) and falling from His Grace.
If
>a
> > > person would be compelled to go to such people to repel any evil that
he
>
> > > expected from him, only to speak well to him and to ask Allah
(Subhaanu
>wa
> > > ta'ala) to guide him, there is nothing wrong with that."
> > >
> > > Ibn al-Qayyim has included a beneficial section mentioning the
opinions
>of
> > > the scholars concerning this matter (Ahkam Ahl al-Dhikmma, vol. 2, p.
>722).
> > > It shall be reproduced here with some abridgment: "In the same way
that
>is
> > > not allowed for them to publicly (celebrate their holidays), it is not

> > > allowed for the Muslims to assist them for the holidays or to help
them
>or
> > > to attend (their ceremonies) with them according to the agreement of
the
>
> > > people of knowledge. In fact, the jurists who follow the four legal
>schools
> > > have made this clear in their books. Abu al-Qasim al-Tabari wrote, "It

>is
> > > not allowed for Muslims to attend their (the disbelievers') holidays
and
>
> > > festivals because they are a type of evil falsehood. If the people of
>good
> > > mix with the people of evil without putting an end to what they are
>doing
> > > then they become like those who are pleased and influenced by the
evil.
>And
> > > we fear falling into Allah's (Subhaanu wa ta'ala) anger because of
their
>
> > > gathering."
> > >
> > > Then he stated relying on Abu Hatim's narration, that Amir ibn Murra
>said
> > > about the verse, "Those who do not witness falsehood," that "they do
not
>
> > > assist the pope of idolatry in their idolatry nor do they associate
with
>
> > > them." And al-Baihaqi recorded with a Sahih chain that Umar ibn
>al-Khattab
> > > said, "Do not learn the lingo of the foreigners and do not enter the
> > > polytheists' churches on the days of their holidays for (Allah's)
anger
> > > descends upon them." And he also recorded with a Sahih chain that
>Abdullah
> > > ibn Umar stated, "Whoever stays in the lands of the foreigners and
> > > celebrates their New Year's Days (of the festivals of the
disbelievers)
>and
> > > behaves like them until he dies, he shall be resurrected with them on
>the
> > > Day of Resurrection." And ibn al-Qayyim said, "Ibn al-Qasim disliked
for
>a
> > > Muslim to give a Christian a present during his (the Christian's)
>holiday;
> > > he considered this action as honoring his (the Christian's) holiday
and
> > > assisting him in disbelief. In the same way, it is forbidden for
Muslims
>to
> > > sell Christians anything they may use in their holidays of meat,
blood,
>or
> > > clothing, nor should he loan him an animal to ride on, nor help him
with
>
> > > anything concerning his festival because all of that would be a way of

> > > dignifying their idolatry and helping them in their Kufr. It is a must

>for
> > > the rulers to prevent Muslims from doing such deeds. This is the
opinion
>of
> > > Malik and others. And I do not know of any difference of opinion
>concerning
> > > this matter." These are his words from al-Wadhiha. And in the books of

>the
> > > students of Abu Hanifa it states, "Whoever gives them a present,
during
> > > their holidays, of a watermelon, meaning by that to honor their
holiday
>has
> > > committed act of Kufr (apostasy)."
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _________________________________________________________________
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