Shiekh Sameh Abdel Hamid Hamouda, a leader of Egypt’s Salafis, has issued a fatwa banning Muslims from congratulating Christians during their Christmas celebrations.
According to Hamouda’s fatwa, Muslims are permitted to greet Christians over more generic celebrations, such as birthdays or weddings. However, congratulating Christians over their religious celebrations—such as Christmas or Easter—renders a Muslim an infidel, or kafir.
Salafis are Muslims who pattern their lives after the literal words and deeds of Islam’s prophet Muhammad and his original companions.