In this file photo, a man in Riyadh checks a Haia-installed Tawasul machine that issues moral instructions and lessons. (SPA)

The Health Ministry has instructed all public hospitals and health facilities not to allow celebration of “religious or personal” birthdays inside their compounds. The ministry’s religious awareness department said Sunday that the circular was based on a religious edict issued by the Dar Al-Ifta 27 years ago.

Dar Al-Ifta had given the verdict in 1409H after it came to know that a government hospital allowed its non-Muslim employees to celebrate Christmas in the housing compound for nurses.

Saudi Arabia does not allow the celebration of the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) considering it as an innovation in religion.

Sheikh Mohammed Al-Oraifi, a Saudi scholar, said Muslims are not allowed to greet non-Muslims on their religious occasions like Christmas. “If they celebrate the birth of God’s son and you greet them…it means you endorse their faith,” he said.

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