AsslamuAlaikum Brothers & Sisters.
I am pasting an email contents that I got on the day of halloween from/to our local moque yahoo group that I subscribed to. Here are the contents.
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Bismillah irRahman irRaheem
In the Name of Allaah, The Most Gracious, The Most Kind
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Hijri date: Tuesday 9th Shawwal 1427 A.H.
Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatu Allahi Wa Barakatuhu
Little long to read, but a MUST to educate ourselves and our
children about Halloween, as this practice of this pagan
festival is growing every year. May Allah guide us all.
Halloween - Harmless or Haraam? An Islamic Perspective
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by Feyoun Khan
Every year, on the evening of October 31st, millions of children across
North America paint their faces, dress up in costumes, and go door to
door collecting treats. The adults often decorate their houses with
ghostly figures, carve scary faces on pumpkins, and put candles in them
to create "Jack-O-Lanterns." Unfortunately, among the millions of North
Americans indulging in this custom, many are also Muslims. This article
will shed some light on the significance and origins of Halloween, and
why Muslims should not participate in it.
Origins of the Hallow'een Festival
The ancient Celtic (Irish/Scottish/Welsh) festival called Samhain is
considered by most historians and scholars to be the predecessor of
what is now Halloween. Samhain was the New Year's day of the pagan
Celts. It was also the Day of the Dead, a time when it was believed
that the souls of those who had died during the year were allowed
access into the "land of the dead". Many traditional beliefs and
customs associated with Samhain continue to be practiced today on the
31st of October. Most notable of these customs are the practice of
leaving offerings of food and drink (now candy) to masked and costumed
revelers, and the lighting of bonfires. Elements of this festival were
incorporated into the Christian festival of All Hallow's Eve, or Hallow-
Even, the night preceding All Saint's (Hallows') Day. It is the
glossing of the name Hallow- Even that has given us the name of
Halloween. Until recent times in some parts of Europe, it was believed
that on this night the dead walked amongst them, and that witches and
warlocks flew in their midst. In preparation for this, bonfires were
built to ward off these malevolent spirits.
By the 19th century, witches' pranks were replaced by children's
tricks. The spirits of Samhain, once believed to be wild and powerful,
were now recognized as being evil. Devout Christians began rejecting
this festival. They had discovered that the so-called gods, goddesses,
and other spiritual beings of the pagan religions, were diabolical
deceptions. The spiritual forces that people experienced during this
festival were indeed real, but they were manifestations of the devil
who misled people toward the worship of false idols. Thus, they
rejected the customs associated with Halloween, including all
representations of ghosts, vampires, and human skeletons - symbols of
the dead - and of the devil and other malevolent and evil creatures. It
must also be noted that, to this day, many Satan-worshippers consider
the evening of October 31st to be their most sacred. And many devout
Christians today continue to distance themselves from this pagan
festival.
Iman (faith) is the foundation of Islamic society, and tauheed (the
belief in the existence and Oneness of Allah) is the essence of this
faith and the very core of Islam. The safeguarding of this iman, and of
this pure tauheed, is the primary objective of all Islamic teachings
and legislation. In order to keep the Muslim society purified of all
traces of shirk (associating partners with Allah) and remnants of
error, a continuous war must be waged against all customs and practices
which originate from societies' ignorance of divine guidance, and in
the errors of idol worship.
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) issued a stern warning:
"Whoever imitates a nation is one of them!" (Abu Da'oud). Muslims
should heed this warning and refrain from copying or imitating the
kufar in their celebrations. Islam has strongly forbidden Muslims to
follow the religious or social customs of the non-Muslims, and
especially of the idol-worshippers or those who worship the devil. The
Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: "By Him in Whose hands is my life, you are
ordered to enjoin good and forbid evil, or else Allah will certainly
afflict you with torments. Thereafter, even your du'a (supplications)
will not be accepted." (Tirmidhi). From an Islamic standpoint,
Halloween is one of the worst celebrations because of its origins and
history. It is HARAM (forbidden), even if there may be some seemingly
good or harmless elements in those practises, as evidenced by a
statement from the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) "Every innovation (in our
religion) is misguidance, even if the people regard it as something
good" (ad-Daarimee.). Although it may be argued that the celebration of
Halloween today has nothing to do with devil-worship, it is still
forbidden for Muslims to participate in it. If Muslims begin to take
part in such customs, it is a sure sign of weak iman and that we have
either forgotten, or outrightly rejected the mission of our Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) who came to cleanse us from jahiliyyah customs,
superstitions and false practices. Muslims are enjoined to neither
imitate the behavior and customs of the non-Muslims, nor to commit
their indecencies. Behavior-imitation will affect the attitude of a
Muslim and may create a feeling of sympathy towards the indecent modes
of life. Islam seeks to cleanse the Muslim of all immoral conducts and
habits, and thus paving the way for the Qur'an and Sunnah to be the
correct and pure source for original Islamic thought and behavior. A
Muslim should be a model for others in faith and practice, behavior and
moral character, and not a blind imitator dependant on other nations
and cultures.
Even if one decides to go along with the outward practices of Halloween
without acknowledging the deeper significance or historical background
of this custom, he or she is still guilty of indulging in this pagan
festival. Undoubtedly, even after hearing the Truth, some Muslims will
still participate in Halloween, send their kids "trick-or-treating,"
and they will try to justify it by saying they are doing it merely to
make their children happy. But what is the duty of Muslim parents? Is
it to follow the wishes of their children without question, or to mould
them within the correct Islamic framework as outlined in the Qur'an and
Sunnah? Is it not the responsibility of Muslim parents to impart
correct Islamic training and instruction to their children? How can
this duty be performed if, instead of instructing the children in
Islam, parents allow and encourage their children to be taught the way
of the unbelievers? Allah exposes these types of people in the Qur'an:
"We have sent them the Truth, but they indeed practice falsehood"
(23:10).
Muslim parents must teach their children to refrain from practicing
falsehood, and not to imitate the non-Muslims in their customs and
festivals. If the children are taught to be proud of their Islamic
heritage, they themselves will, insha Allah, abstain from Halloween and
other non-Muslim celebrations, such as birthdays, anniversaries,
Christmas, Valentines Day, etc.
The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) said: The Final Hour will not come
until my followers copy the deeds of the previous nations and follow
them very closely, span by span, and cubit by cubit (inch by inch).
(Bukhari).
Islam is a pure religion with no need to accommodate any custom,
practice or celebration that is not a part of it. Islam does not
distinguish between "secular and sacred;" the shari'ah must rule every
aspect of our lives.
"You must keep to my Sunnah and the sunnah of the rightly-guided
Caliphs; cling to it firmly. Beware of newly invented matters, for
every new matter is an innovation, and every innovation is misleading."
(Bukhari)
"When the people see a person committing a wrong, but do not seize his
hand to restrain him or her from the deed, it is likely that Allah will
punish them both." (Abu Da'oud, Nasa'i, Tirmidhi)
"Whoever imitates a nation is one of them." (Abu Da'oud)
What to do on Halloween day ?
We have established, beyond doubt, that the celebration of Halloween is
absolutely forbidden in Islam. It is HARAM. The question arises as to
what to do on this night. Muslim parents must not send their kids
out "trick-or-treating" on Halloween night. Our children must be told
why we do not celebrate Halloween. Most children are very receptive
when taught with sincerity, and especially when shown in practice the
joy of their own Islamic celebrations and traditions. In this regard,
teach them about the two Islamic festivals of Eid.
It must also be mentioned that, even Muslims who stay home and
give out treats to those who come to their door are still participating
in this festival. In order to avoid this, leave the front lights off
and do not open the door. Educate your neighbors about our Islamic
teachings. Inform them in advance that Muslims do not participate in
Hallow'een, and explain the reasons why. (Give them a copy of this
flyer if needed.) They will respect your wishes, and you will gain
respect in the process. "A person who calls another to guidance will be
rewarded, as will the one who accepts the message." (Tirmidhi)
Finally, we must remember that we are fully accountable to Allah for
all of our actions and deeds. If, after knowing the Truth, we do not
cease our un-Islamic practices, we risk the wrath of Allah as He
himself warned us in the Qur'an: "Then let them beware who refuse the
Messenger's order lest some trial befall them, or a grievous punishment
be afflicted upon them!" (24:63). This is a serious matter and not to
be taken lightly. And Allah knows best. May Allah guide us, help us to
stay on the right path, and save us from all deviations and innovations
that will lead us into the fires of Hell.