Over recent years, Halloween night has gained popularity worldwide as a day of celebration and merriment. It is a day of masks and costumes, jack-o-lanterns and "trick or treating". For the grown ups, it is a night of partying and "letting loose", usually till the break of dawn.Question is though, is it an innocent celebration or is there more to it than this?
If we go by definition and a brief history of the event, we find the following comments in the Encyclopedia Britannica:
“Halloween had its origins in the festival of Samhain among the Celts of ancient Britain and Ireland.”
“The date was connected with the return of herds from pasture, and laws and land tenures were renewed.The souls of the dead were supposed to revisit their homes on this day, and the autumnal festival acquired sinister significance, with ghosts, witches, hobgoblins, black cats, fairies, and demons of all kinds said to be roaming about. It was the time to placate the supernatural powers controlling the processes of nature. In addition, Halloween was thought to be the most favorable time for divinations concerning marriage, luck, health, and death. It was the only day on which the help of the devil was invoked for such purposes.”
So does Islam agree with the above? Allah (SWT) mentions in the Qur’an:
“Verily, the Promise of Allah is true, let not then this (worldly) present life deceive you, nor let the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allah.”
[Qur'an 31:33]
The commandment does not end there, Allah, the Almighty, has asked us not to even follow anything remotely associated to Shaytan (Satan).
“O you who believe! Follow not the footsteps of Shaytan.”
[Qur'an 24:21]
Below is a short video clip on the subject of Halloween by Sheikh Abdul Hakim Quick. See what he has to say.
The Messenger of Allah (peace & blessings be upon him) warned us about blindly imitating the ways of the disbelievers. He said:
"Whoever imitates a people, is one of them."
[Abu Dawood, 3512]
Even if you look at the issue of Halloween from a purly non-Muslim perspective, you will in-sha'Allah find the truth to be surprisingly clear. Let us see what the experts have to say.
Brothers & sisters in Islam; we claim to love Allah and obey Him, can we then associate ourselves to rituals and practices that are a celebration of all things displeasing to Allah? Which way of life are we preferring for ourselves and our families? Allah (SWT) makes it clear in the Noble Qur'an:
"Whoever seeks a religion (a way of life) other than Islam (complete submission to Allah), it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers."
[Qur'an 3:85]
To conclude, we are commanded in Islam to do all things pure and righteous, staying away from those that are based upon falsehood, rebellion against Allah and disobedience to His commands; for that is the real & true path to success both in this life and in the ever-lasting life of the Hereafter.
“Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment."
[Qur'an 5:2]
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