Ucapan Selamat Natal Dalam Perspektif Hukum Islam (Studi Komparatif Pendapat Quraish Shihab Dan Muhammad Ibn Shaleh Al- Utsaimin)

Abstract

This research examines the differing views of Muhammad Quraish Shihab and Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Shalih Al-Utsaimin regarding the Islamic ruling on offering Christmas greetings. This topic has become a subject of debate among Muslims, especially in Indonesia’s religiously diverse context. The purpose of this research is to analyze the legal reasoning of both scholars and to explore the social implications of their views in interreligious life. The study employs library research with a normative-sociological approach, utilizing Islamic legal sources such as the Qur’an, hadith, tafsir literature, and fatwas, while relating them to contemporary Indonesian societal conditions. The findings show that Quraish Shihab permits offering Christmas greetings, as long as the greeting does not imply acknowledgment of Christian theological beliefs. He classifies the greeting as part of social interaction (mu‘āmalah) aimed at maintaining harmony and interreligious tolerance. His reasoning emphasizes the maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah, particularly social benefit and peace. In contrast, Ibn Utsaimin prohibits the greeting, arguing that it may imply affirmation of Christian doctrines, even if unintended. His reasoning is based on the principle of sadd al-dharī‘ah, preventing acts that could potentially compromise Islamic creed. This research concludes that the differing opinions represent the richness of Islamic scholarship. Rather than causing division, these differences should serve as opportunities for dialogue to strengthen tolerance and social unity within a pluralistic society