Questions Other faiths and new Muslims

Can non-Muslims celebrate Eid?

Checked by our team

Short answer

Yes. Non-Muslim friends, neighbours and colleagues are welcome to share Eid: to say Eid Mubarak, come to the meal, receive sweets and gifts, and enjoy the day. The Eid prayer itself is worship for Muslims, but guests may come and watch respectfully.

Hanafi position

Muslims may invite non-Muslims to Eid meals and give them gifts and food, including meat from the Eid al-Adha sacrifice, which the Hanafi school permits giving to non-Muslims. Eid duties such as the Eid prayer and zakat al-fitr apply only to Muslims.

The four schools agree on this.

Explanation

Muslims have two festivals: Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha during the Hajj season. They are days of prayer, family, food and gifts. When Abu Bakr objected to girls singing at the Prophet's ﷺ house on Eid, the Prophet ﷺ said: every people has its festival, and this is our festival. Joy on Eid is part of the religion.

  • Greetings: Eid Mubarak (blessed Eid) is perfect. Muslims will be delighted to hear it.
  • Meals: if invited, go. Bring something sweet or a small gift; check any food you bring is halal, or bring fruit or flowers.
  • Eid prayer: held in the morning at a mosque or an open space. Visitors may watch from the side, dressed modestly.
  • Eid al-Adha meat: Muslim neighbours may share meat from their sacrifice with you. It is a gift; accept it happily.

For Muslims, Eid is a lovely time to welcome others. The Quran allows and encourages kindness to neighbours who live in peace with you. Inviting colleagues to an Eid lunch, or taking sweets next door, gives friends a warm, true picture of Islam. See Eid dates, the Eid prayer and what is Eid al-Adha.

The evidence

Quran, Surah Al-Mumtahana 60:8

لَّا يَنْهَىٰكُمُ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَٰتِلُوكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَٰرِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُقْسِطِينَ ﴿٨﴾

Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.

Sharing kindness and food with peaceful neighbours is good.

Quran 60:8, translation by Sahih International

Sahih al-Bukhari 952

Sahih

... يا أبا بكر إن لكل قوم عيدا وهذا عيدنا ...

"O Abu Bakr, every people has its festival, and this is our festival."

Eid is a day of joy for Muslims.

Sahih al-Bukhari 952 · Sahih · Read on sunnah.com

Where the ruling is recorded

  • al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Udhiya, the chapter on using the sacrificial meat. Permits giving qurbani meat to non-Muslims.

Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.