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HALLOWEEN - Harmless or Haraam? An Islamic Perspective
By Anwar-ul-Islam
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 Hallow'een, 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 Hallow'een. 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 Hallow'een.
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 that 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.
The Islamic Perspective
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.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
kuffar 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.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, Hallow'een 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 practices, as evidenced by a
statement from the Prophet (s.a.s.) "Every innovation (in our religion) is
mis-guidance, even if the people regard it as something good" (ad-Daarimee.).
Although it may be argued that the celebration of Hallow'een 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.s.) who came to cleanse us from jahiliyyah customs,
superstitions and false practices.
Muslims are enjoined to neither imitate the behaviour
and customs of the non-Muslims, nor to commit their indecencies.
Behaviour-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 behaviour. A Muslim should be a model for others in faith and practice,
behaviour 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 Hallow'een 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 Hallow'een, 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 practise 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 Hallow'een
and other non-Muslim
celebrations, such as birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas,
Valentines Day, etc. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.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, practise 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
We have established, beyond doubt, that the celebration of Hallow'een 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 Hallow'een night. Our children must be told why
we do not celebrate Hallow'een. 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. (Eid-ul-Fitr is fast approaching, and this is the
perfect time to start preparing them for it.) 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 neighbours 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.
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