The Lajnah ad-Da’imah was asked a lengthy question concerning the ruling on participating with the Kuffar in their religious holidays and from what they were asked specifically about was:

منهم من أعلن عن تخفيض على بضاعته بهذه المناسبة

Question:

“Some advertising announce discounts to their products due to this occasion [so what is the ruling on this]?”

Therefore from what the Lajnah Daa’imah answered with was the following words:

لا يجوز لمسلم التعاون مع الكفار بأي وجه من وجوه التعاون في أعيادهم ومن ذلك… عمل التخفيضات التجارية والجوائز المادية من أجلها

“… It is not permissible for a Muslim to cooperate with the kuffar in their holidays in any way whatsoever whether that be… by carrying out commercial discounts and giving out valuable gifts due to it…”. End quote. [Fatwa #2540]

Ash-Shaykh Abdul Azeez ar-Raajihi, hafidaho-Allah, said:

وعلى التجار كذلك أن لا يوافقوهم لا في احتفالاتهم ولا يهنئونهم ولا يخفضون الأسعار

“… And it is likewise upon the business men not to agree with them, not in their celebrations nor by congratulating them and nor by lowering the prices… “. End quote. [Fataawa Munawa’ #12]

Note: This is the original ruling [which is] that the Muslims should avoid carrying out discounts to suit the holidays of the kuffar or to advertise promotions and offers specifically for the occasion of their religious holidays. However, there is an exception mentioned by Shaykh Sulaymaan ar-Ruhayli hafidaho-Allah for certain time periods in the year wherein the market orients by lowering its prices to get rid of old products and to energize the economy, whereby in such a case the goal is not to celebrate a certain holiday but merely to renew the market from one time of the year to another. Follows is an audio by Shaykh Sulaymaan ar-Ruhayli for further information on the matter:

Translated by

AbdulFattaah Bin Uthman
Abu Fajr