He said, “Their Palm Sunday and their other feast days. As for the goods they sell in the markets during those festivals, there is no harm in attending.” This was the explicit ruling of Imām Aḥmad in the narration of Muhannā. He also said, “They are only to be prevented from entering their synagogues and churches; as for the foodstuffs offered for sale in the open markets, there is no objection, even if they have been specially stocked and attractively arranged for the occasion.”

Al-Khallāl records in his Compendium: “Chapter: On the disapproval of Muslims going out on the idolaters’ feast days.” He relates from Muhannā: “I asked Aḥmad about attending the festivals that take place here in Syria—such as Ṭūr Yānūr, Dayr Ayyūb, and the like—which Muslims attend. They visit the marketplaces, bringing sheep, cattle, flour, wheat, barley, and other items. All of this happens in the markets, where they buy but do not enter the non-Muslims’ houses of worship. What is the ruling?”

He replied, “If they do not enter their houses of worship and merely attend the market, there is no harm.”

Thus, Imām Aḥmad—may Allah have mercy on him—granted a concession for visiting the marketplace on the condition that one does not enter their houses of worship, which clearly implies his prohibition of entering them. Al-Khallāl likewise understood from this the ban on Muslims’ going out during the unbelievers’ festivals, for Aḥmad’s ruling accords with what is reported from ʿUmar—may Allah be pleased with him—concerning the prohibition of entering