Those who think that all religions are equal and Allah and Brahman and Christ are one will do well to read the following article, which shows the authentic Islamic perspective over Millennium celebrations:
___________________________

UK Islamic fatwah Or Divine Decree concerning Christmas an the Millennium
Dome

By
THE SHARI'AH COURT OF THE UK
In co-operation with The London School of Shari'ah and The Society of Muslim
Lawyers

Case No: XMAS/M/F42
Your Ref.: The Millennium Dome
Date: Monday 12th of Ramadhan 1420 or the 20th of December 1999

Question: What is the Islamic verdict regarding those Muslims who celebrate Fridays, Christmas and the New Year or those who follow or imitate
non-Muslims? What is the Hukm (Islamic rule) for visiting the "Millennium Dome" for the celebration especially after the alleged threat which has been attributed by the FBI and the CIA to some Islamists?

Answer: God (SWT) has favoured us with Islam, and commanded us to implement it; He (SWT) has made Islam a unique way of life, a distinct pattern in
terms of its concepts and rules, and a complete and comprehensive system engulfing all life's affairs. However, since Islam was discarded from
temporal life, as a ruling system, the Ummah (i.e. world-wide Muslim community) has gone from bad to worse, man-made rules were implemented upon
her and the concepts of disbelief became predominant over her. The west invaded her with its rotten culture and its despicable liberalism and succeeded in corrupting her Deen (Ideology). One of the many cultural concepts imposed by the west upon the Muslims is to have annual and weekly
holidays, the celebrating of Christmas, the celebrating of New Year and in a few days we are going to witness the celebration of the new Millennium!!

The Islamic Rules Regarding Following and Imitating non-Muslims: Following or Imitating non-Muslims is Haram Prohibited and a sin. The divine evidence for this from the Quran is that God (swt) says: " If anyone contends with the Messenger even after guidance has been plainly conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that becoming to men of faith (i.e. Muslims), We
shall leave him in the path he has chosen, and land him in Hell, what an evil refuge!" [EMQ 4:115] And God (swt) informs us that the deeds of
non-Muslims are not a good example to follow rather they will be punished for them and they will vanish. The divine evidence for this from the Quran is that God (swt) says: " And we shall turn to whatever deeds they did (in this life), and We shall punish them for such deeds which will be as floating dust scattered about" [EMQ 25:23] Moreover, Allah (swt) forbids us to participate in, co-operate with or to be present at the places of sin and corruption such as The Millennium Dome or Trafalgar Square on new years eve or to witness those who commit such acts. The divine evidence for this from the Quran is that God (swt) says "And (The servants of God most Gracious are) those who witness no falsehood and, if they pass by futility, they avoid it with honour" [EMQ 25:73].

In addition, celebrating or participating in non-Muslim festivals is an indication of love and inclination towards them, whereas God forbids us to keep them as friends let alone to love them, even if some pretend to love Muslims. The divine evidence for this from the Quran is that God (swt) says: " Never will the Jews or the Christians be satisfied with you (Muslims)
unless thou follow their form of life and religion. Say: the guidance of God (Islam) is the only guidance. And were thou to follow their desires after the (Quran) which hath reached thee, then wouldst thou find neither protector nor helper against God" [EMQ 2:120] And Allah (swt) says: " O' you who believe! Take not into your intimacy those outside your Deen (Islam):
they will not fail to corrupt you. They only desire your ruin: rank hatred has already appeared from their mouths what their hearts conceal is far worse. We have made plain to you the Signs if you have wisdom" [EMQ 3:118]
Allah (swt) says: " It is never the wish of non-Muslims of the people of the Book, nor of the Pagans that anything good should come to you from the Lord but God will choose for His special mercy whom He will, For God is Lord of grace abounding" [EMQ 2:105].

Regarding Celebrating Fridays: Unfortunately, some Muslims have become consumers of the western culture to the extent that many Muslims celebrate
and wrongly take the day of Friday as a weekly holiday in contrast to Saturday of the Jews and Sunday of the Christians. Whereas the idea of a
holiday does not exist in Islam and contradicts with the Islamic culture which states that time is valuable, represents our life-span and must not be wasted. God (swt) requested us to seek his bounty and not to stop producing what benefits us in terms of good deeds and wealth in this life and the Hereafter.

The divine evidence for this from the Quran is that Allah (swt) says: "O'you who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday hasten
earnestly to the remembrance of God, and leave off trade that is best for you if you but knew. And when the prayer is finished, then should you
disperse through the land and seek of the bounty of God: and remember the Praises of God often (and without stint) that your may succeed " [EMQ
62:9-10]. And He (swt) orders us to keep aware about the time which we have spent on earth and the consequence of our deeds here in the Hereafter. Allah (swt) says: " O' you who believe ! Fear God, and let every soul look to what
(deeds) he has sent forth for the Hereafter, fear God: for God is well-acquainted with all that you do"[EMQ 59:18].

The Islamic verdict regarding celebrating Christmas, the new Millennium and visiting the Millennium Dome. It is very painful and very sorrowful to witness with our own eyes events and hear news about the mass killings in Chechnya, Kashmir and south Lebanon, beside the expulsions and humiliation of Muslims at the hands of the enemies of Islam all over the world, while some Muslims in the west or the east are preparing to celebrate Christmas and the new Millennium.

It is forbidden under Shari'ah rules to take part in the celebrations of the non-Muslims or to make such occasions public holidays, for all this would be an imitation of the non-Muslims. To imitate the non-Muslims in matters of Deen or national or partisan celebrations is decisively prohibited (Haram).
Bukhari reported in his Saheeh on the authority of Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (R) that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "You shall follow the ways of those who came before you inch by inch and a step by step, even if they entered a lizard's hole you would follow them". We said: "O Messenger of Allah, you mean the Jews and the Christians?" He replied: "Who else?"

In this Hadeeth the Messenger of Allah (SAW) is mocking those who imitate the non-Muslims, and it serves as evidence about the decisive prohibition of following them and as a reproach to whoever commits such acts; this clearly indicates that it is forbidden to imitate the Jews and the Christians in whatever celebration or occasion related to them and to their religions they
may celebrate. To celebrate the feasts of the non-Muslims and their anniversaries is an imitation to them which Islam has forbidden, and which
the Messenger of Allah (SAW) has warned us against. Al-Tirmithi reported on the authority of Ibn Omar that the Messenger Muhammad (SAW said: "He is not one of us he who imitates other people. Do not imitate the Jews and the Christians."

Al-Tabarani and Ibnu Dawood reported on the authority of Ibn Omar and Huthayfa that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "He who imitates other people becomes one of them." It has also been stated in the Sharia'a texts that it is forbidden for the Muslims to have any Eids (divine
celebrations)apart from the two days of Eid i.e day of Al-Fitr and day of Al-Adh'ha. Al-Bayhaqi reported in his Sunann on the authority of Anas Ibnu Malik who said: "The Messenger of Allah (SAW) came to Madina while the Madinans had two days in Jahilyya which they celebrated, so he (SAW) said: "I came to you while you have two days from the times of Jahilyya which you
celebrate, and Allah (SWT) has swapped these two days by two better days: The day of sacrifice (Adh'ha) and the day of breaking the fast of Ramadhan (Fitr')."

These texts serve as clear evidence that it is forbidden for Muslims to have days of celebration other than those decreed by Allah (SWT). They
therefore are forbidden from taking part in the non-Muslims celebrations and from celebrating such occasions themselves, they are also forbidden from attending such celebrations even if they are invited. Such occasions lead to
corruption, vice and debauchery, they have become an opportunity for many people to commit sinful acts, and consume alcohol and drugs. The official
media tends on these occasions to broadcast programs of bad taste and of all types of immoralities and corruption.

These programs pollute people's minds and kill off all kinds of high morals, dignity and chastity. Indeed that is the non-Muslims way of life and Muslims must avoid it because they have their own way of life. Allah (swt) says: "
O' you that reject Islam!. I (worship, Follow, Obey and submit) not that which you (worship, Follow, Obey and submit).. To you be your Deen (way of life) and to me mine (Islam)" [EMQ 109:1-6]. Regarding The CIA And The FBI Allegations: Regarding the alleged threat to attack Americans or western people which has been propagated by the CIA and the FBI and attributed (falsely) to some Islamists, although some non-Muslim forces are legitimate targets for Muslims because they are occupying Muslim land or attacking Muslims, the Millennium Dome and Muslim or non-Muslim civilians have sanctity and must not be targeted by any person. However, it is obligatory upon Muslims to take precaution and not to be in any places such as the Milliennium Dome which may be targeted. Allah (swt) orders us to protect
ourselves and to take precaution. Allah (swt) says: " O believers Take precaution" [EMQ 4:71].


Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad, Judge of The Shari'ah Court of The UK

The ongoing Hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane by Islamic terrorists is another instance of implementation of Allah's command. For a correct perspective on this drama, read the current issue of

http://www.swordoftruth.com

Today, my attention was brought to another site which shows how pseudosecularists (actually Muslims and Marxists and Missionaries posing as 'progressives' are trying to white wash Islam. The URL is

http://www.icare-islam.org

This site contains an expose of women's role in Islam by Pundit Anwar Shaikh, a Pakistani Muslim who has apostasized and has adopted the Hindu Vedic Dharma.

For more of Pt. Anwar Shaikh's writings, see the link at

http://www.hindutva.org

Ashegan particularly can show the collection of websites on Islam posted by me under the thread "Some Websites on Islam" under the category "Hindu-Muslim Relations'(at this forum) to those who try to convert Hindus to Islam. In particular, the Satyameva Jayatey site is very relevant.

Our scriptures command us to read the texts of other religions, accepting what is good, and rejecting what is bad in them. This was the purpose of the last 2 chapters of Satyartha Prakash of Swami Dayanand as well.

ummm... vishalji, i don't really recall seeing those sites or that thread... are you sure you mean me?

Namaste Ashegan!

Here is a link that will be useful for you

http://www.hindunet.org/forum/discus/messages/35/278.html?FridayFebruary2619990242pm

Note that some of the links are outdated and might not work.

Best wishes

Vishal

dhanyavaad... nice to see the seedy side of islam, all too often hidden behind a fundementalist abaaya, exposed for all to see and to know the blood that stains their hands and their book..

Remember that not everyone obeys scriptures and religious leaders to the very letter. I grew up in the company of many Muslims and I also partake in a Muslim chat room, and I will testify to the kindness and tolerance of many Muslims.

As for the white-washing of Islam, I say let it go on. I know that the Qu'ran is intolerant and anti-Hindu, but if Muslims are making an effort to change the way people see it, why should we as Hindus interfere if the changes help us? Perhaps many Muslims are coming to the realization that women and "idolaters" deserve respect.