Christmas for Indonesian Muslims: Controversy on Saying ‘Merry Christmas’

Abstract

This study analyses the controversy in Indonesia regarding the permissibility of giving Christmas greetings by Muslims. Although there is no conclusive argument for this matter, the same “discussion” surfaces during Christmas season every year. Some Muslims actively participate in Christmas ceremonies to demonstrate inter-religious harmony. In this article, different positions taken by religious figures, intellectuals, and other notables in and outside Indonesia are introduced, together with the famous fatwa of the Indonesian Ulama Council. Finally, the author suggests that Christmas functions as a yearly occasion in which Muslims think about their faiths and peaceful coexistence with the adherents of other religions.