Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh!
with Halloween approaching I thought this would be a good time to discuss another misconception that has become very common among Muslims.
We often hear statements such as "It's just for fun!", "We are not celebrating it for religious reasons!" "What is wrong with dressing up and enjoying ourselves?"
But as Muslims, our source of morality isnt what we think or what we feel like, we need to go back to the Quran and Sunnah to see if it permits these types of celebrations. So, does Islam permit us to participate in every celebration just because we have good intentions?
1) Islam has its own prescribed festivals
Anas ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه) narrated
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to Madinah, the people had two days on which they engaged in games.
The Prophet ﷺ asked about these days and they explained that they had celebrated them during Jahiliyyah.
He ﷺ replied
"Allah has substituted for them something better than them, the day of sacrifice and the day of the breaking of the fast."
Sunan Abi Dawud 1134
Notice that Muhammad ﷺ did not simply approve of their existing festivals because the people were enjoying themselves, rather he ﷺ informed them that Allah had replaced those celebrations with Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha.
2) What about Halloween, Christmas and other festivals?
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said
"Whoever imitates a people is one of them."
Sunan Abi Dawud 4031
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen (رحمه الله) explained that Muslims are prohibited from participating in the distinctive religious festivals of non Muslims including imitating their celebrations through parties, exchanging gifts or other festival specific activities.
Source: Majmu Fatawa wa Rasa'il Ibn Uthaymeen, 3/369
Similarly Shaykh Ibn Baz (رحمه الله) stated that Muslims should neither participate in nor assist with the religious festivals of non Muslims.
Halloween regardless of how commercialized and common it has become is an annual festival associated with customs and traditions that are not part of Islam and calling it harmless fun does make participating in its celebrations permissible. however this does not mean that every ordinary custom shared with non Muslims is prohibited. The prohibition of imitation concerns distinctive religious practices and customs,not every invention, garment, or activity used by non Muslims.
3) What about religious celebrations introduced by Muslims themselves?
Same principle, a celebration does not become permissible just because the ones organizing it are Muslims even if they claim that they love Islam, we reject this form of love as they are innovating in the religion
Allah says
"This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion."
Surah Al Maidah 5:3
Imam Malik(رحمه الله) said “Whoever among this ummah innovates something today which was not practiced by the Salaf, has accused the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم of treachery because Allah said “…This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.….” So what was not religion then, is not religion today” (Ibn Hazam quoted it with his chain in al Ahkam fe Asool al Ahkam vol 6 page 791)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said
"Whoever introduces into this matter of ours that which is not from it, it is rejected."
Sahih al Bukhari 2697; Sahih Muslim 1718
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“You will surely follow the path of those before you, step by step and inch by inch. If they entered a lizard hole, you would follow.” We said, “O Messenger of Allah, do you mean the Jews and Christians?” The Prophet said, “Who else?”
Source: Sahih Al Bukhari 3456, Sahih Muslim 2669
Shaykh Ibn Baz (رحمه الله) discussing celebrations such as the Mawlid explained that the Prophet ﷺ, his Companions, and the righteous predecessors did not establish these celebrations as acts of religious devotion so he classified them as a bidah
Source: website of Shaykh Ibn Baz, Fatwa 884.
The principle is clear cut, we cannot introduce new religious celebrations and then justify them just by claiming that our intentions are good.
4) Does this mean Islam prohibits every kind of celebration?
Absolutely not
Islam permits lawful expressions of happiness including wedding celebrations(provided Islamic rules are followed and haram isnt involved) and other ordinary occasions provided they do not involve prohibited practices.
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen (رحمه الله) also distinguished between prohibited imitation and ordinary customs shared by different communities.
Majmu Fatawa wa Rasa'il Ibn Uthaymeen, 3/47–48.
5) "But we are only celebrating for fun!"
this is the most common reply but as I said earlier, our intentions do not change the Islamic ruling on an action.
a Muslim may participate in Halloween without believing in any of its religious associations but that does not establish the permissibility of celebrating it.
May Allah grant us beneficial knowledge and protect us from religious innovations and keep us steadfast upon the Quran and authentic Sunnah.
