Questions about responding to holidays and celebrations
Assalamu alaykum, I have a few questions about how to handle holiday greetings and celebrations in a mostly non-Muslim environment. I live in the U.S. and at work people often say things like “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Holidays,” or “Happy Birthday” during small talk. I work in health care, so I get lots of quick interactions and don’t want to get into long explanations about beliefs every time. Is it okay to reply to “Merry Christmas” with a neutral, polite line like “Thank you, have a great new year” or “Hope you enjoy your time off”? I don’t want to appear to endorse the holiday, but I also want to be kind and keep conversations short in a busy setting. For birthdays, are there neutral alternatives to “Happy Birthday” that would be acceptable? For example, would it be fine to say “Hope you have a blessed day” or ask casually “Do you have anything planned?” so I don’t sound rude but also don’t directly celebrate something I don’t observe? Finally, I’m wondering about participating in common national holidays like Thanksgiving, the 4th of July, or New Year’s when people plan activities because they have the day off. By “celebrating” I mean things like: 1. Thanksgiving: going out to eat with friends (not specifically a turkey/holiday ritual) 2. 4th of July: watching fireworks or attending a BBQ 3. New Year’s: a small gathering with close friends and family Are these kinds of social activities permissible, or should they be avoided? I’m looking for simple, practical advice so I can navigate polite interactions without compromising my beliefs. JazakAllahu khair.