Question
I work at a company, and part of my job is to put up holiday-themed displays for example, New years or Halloween decorations. Is this permissible in Islam?
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ‘ala Rasulillah, wa ‘ala alihi wa sahbihi ajma‘in.
This matter involves a balance between preserving one’s faith identity and fulfilling professional obligations in a non-Muslim environment. The ruling depends on the nature of the decorations, the intention behind the act, and the degree of religious symbolism involved.
1. The Shar‘i Basis Dealing Justly Without Religious Participation
Allah says:
لَا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُمْ مِنْ دِيَارِكُمْ أَنْ تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ
“Allah does not forbid you from being kind and just toward those who do not fight you because of religion or expel you from your homes. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.”
(Surat al-Mumtahanah 60:8)
This verse establishes that Muslims may interact, work, and cooperate with non-Muslims in worldly and civil matters, as long as it does not include participation in their religious practices.
2. Scholarly Opinions
Two opinions were transmitted from Imam Malik regarding the issue of renting animals or boats to Christians and selling them meat for their festivals one opinion permitting it and another viewing it as disliked (makruh). Ibn Rushd authenticated the opinion of dislike (not prohibition) from both Imam Malik and his student Ibn al-Qasim, denying any narration of prohibition. He justified this position with two reasons:
1. The Sharia has acknowledged and allowed them to practice their own religious laws.
2. They are not held accountable for the subsidiary rulings (furu) of Islamic law.
In al-Bayan wa al-Tahsil it is mentioned:
“Malik was asked about selling a carrot to a Christian, knowing that he intends to use it for slaughtering an animal for their church festivals. Malik disliked that. He was then asked: ‘May one rent animals or ships to them for their festivals?’ He replied: ‘It is better to avoid it.’ Ibn al-Qasim was asked about renting to them, and he said: ‘I do not consider it forbidden, though avoiding it is preferable.'”
Muhammad ibn Rushd commented:
“This is as they both said, it is disliked but not forbidden. The Sharia has permitted buying and selling with them, trading with them, and granting them protection (dhimmah) under Muslim rule to continue their religious practices, including their festivals. However, it is disliked for a Muslim to assist them in such acts. Imam Malik therefore considered this, in this narration, a form of assisting them in their festivals, and thus disliked it. Yet, it has also been narrated from him that he permitted it, based on the opinion that they are not addressed by the detailed rulings of Islamic law.”
Thus, putting up general, non-religious decorations (like snowflakes, lights, or generic greetings such as “Happy Holidays”) is permissible when done as part of one’s job, not as an act of religious celebration.
However, decorations containing religious symbols — crosses, nativity scenes or images of deities (ex: Buddhist statues) would not be permissible, as they express religious participation, not cultural decor.
3. Usul Principle
الوسائل لها أحكام المقاصد
“Means take the ruling of their ends.”
If the purpose of putting up decorations is to fulfill a work duty or comply with company policy, and not to honor or glorify a religious festival, then the act takes the ruling of the intention it is permissible, provided the decorations are not religious symbols themselves.
4. Professional Context and Limitations
If the employee has no choice but to comply, and the decorations are generic or seasonal, such as snowflakes, winter colors, pumpkins, or lights, it is tolerated (mubah), This aligns with the principle:
“يغتفر في التابع مالا يغتفر في الأصل”
“What is excused in a secondary matter would not be excused in a primary one.”
However, if one is asked to decorate explicitly religious items, one should politely request exemption or delegate the task if possible.
Final Ruling
- Permissible:
- Putting up non-religious, seasonal decorations as part of your work responsibilities (e.g., snowflakes, winter lights, pumpkins, general “holiday” themes).
- Doing so without the intention of honoring the religious occasion.
- Not Permissible:
- Setting up religious displays crosses, nativity scenes, depictions of saints, or overtly religious slogans.
- Taking personal initiative to celebrate or promote the holiday.
Thus, in your case, if your role merely requires arranging neutral, seasonal items, it is permissible, provided the intent is work-related and not participation in a religious ritual.
And Allah knows best.