Halloween

Halloween Alternatives

Recently, I noticed an issue rising in our Muslim communities regarding a new approach of teaching our kids about non-Muslim festivals, this issue is basically trying to find an Islamic way (alternative) of participating in these pagan holidays, for our kids not to feel left out or isolated, I see it as a very dangerous way of teaching our children about their religion, it will eventually make them think that there is always a way to tweak the Islamic verdicts to fit anything under it, which will cause their belief to be shaky instead of firm.

Let’s take Halloween as an example, so the idea of having a story night and treats on the same night of Halloween in the Masjid is basically seen by our kids as the Islamic way of celebrating it, or (Halaloween) as I heard from some kids, this leniency in addressing issues that can affect their creed (Aqidah) is exactly one of the problems that cause some kids to think that everything can be done with a justification, arranging for such event in the same night of the pagan festival with the same theme of tales and treats is not an alternative but a participation, it shouldn’t be difficult for Muslims to teach their kids about the concept of Halloween and how it’s pagan and doesn’t make any sense without these (alternatives), putting in consideration that a lot of non-Muslims are not celebrating it nor participating in it in any shape or form.

On occasions and celebrations that are unique to the kuffaar, it is not permissible for the Muslim to imitate the kuffaar in dress, eating certain types of food or activities that are exclusive to these occasions. That includes lighting candles and walking around with them. 

What the Muslim is required to do is not to single out these days for any kind of celebration, decorating or adornment, or special foods, otherwise he will be joining the unbelievers in their festivals, which is something that is undoubtedly haram. 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymin (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Similarly it is forbidden for the Muslims to imitate the unbelievers by holding parties on these occasions, or exchanging gifts, or distributing sweets or other foods, or taking time off work and so on, because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said in his book Iqtida’ al-Sirat al-Mustaqim Mukhalafat Ashab al-Jahim: Imitating them on some of their festivals implies that one is happy with the falsehood they are following, and that could make them (the non-Muslims) take this opportunity to mislead those who are weak in faith.”

Those who do any of these things are sinning, whether they do it to go along with them, or to be friendly towards them, or because they feel too shy (to refuse to join in) or any other reason, because it is a kind of compromising the religion of Allah to please others, and it is a means of lifting the spirits of the unbelievers and making them proud of their religion.” (Fatawa Ibn ‘Uthaymin, 3/44) 

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about a Muslim who makes the food of the Christians on Nawruz (Persian New Year) and on all their occasions such as Epiphany and other feast days, and who sells them things to help them celebrate their festivals. Is it permissible for the Muslims to do any of these things or not? 

He replied: “Praise be to Allah. It is not permissible for the Muslims to imitate them in any way that is unique to their festivals, whether it be food, clothes, bathing, lighting fires or refraining from usual work or worship, and so on. And it is not permissible to give a feast or to exchange gifts or to sell things that help them to celebrate their festivals or to let children and others play the games that are played on their festivals, or to adorn oneself or put up decorations. 

In general, (Muslims) are not allowed to single out the festivals of the unbelievers for any of these rituals or customs. Rather the day of their festivals is just an ordinary day for the Muslims, and they should not single it out for any activity that is part of what the unbelievers do on these days.” (Al-Fatawa al-Kubra, 2/487; Majmu‘ al-Fatawa, 25/329.

Explaining the ruling on Halloween to Your Children

You have to explain it in a way that doesn’t generate even more fascination in them with Halloween but also answered all the questions. When you answer their questions about things that non-Muslims do, generally stick to the truth and explain things matter-of-factly. never lie to them or pacify them with some little-kid fantasy that has no basis in reality.

“Do you guys know how Halloween started? It used to be called All Hallows Eve. It was made up by some pagans and polytheists.

These pagans were scared of things like ghosts, like dead people coming back to life. They had all these superstitions, which are irrational fears. They were scared of things like witches, bats, skeletons, ghosts. So they dedicated a whole holiday to these things to try to protect themselves from the things they feared.

Now it’s changed into a holiday that most non-Muslims, including Christians and Jews and people of other religions, celebrate by dressing up in scary costumes and going to strangers’ houses to get candy.

The phrase they say is: “Trick or treat!” This means: “Either you give us candy or we will do a trick on you!” So people give them candy.”

As Muslims, we know that dead people can never come back to life except for on the Day of Judgment.

Plus, as Muslims, we know that we don’t have to fear anyone or anything except Allah. We don’t fear fake things like witches or skeletons or ghosts. These are silly things that people made up themselves. They are not real. But Shaytan likes to make people feel fear, so they obey him and not Allah.

Besides, we have our own awesome Muslim holidays! Which we celebrate, “Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr!”

And those are based on true events and the revelation of Allah, not the imaginations of people who worship fake gods. We celebrate things that are worthy of celebration, not out of fear of imaginary things or stuff we made up ourselves.

Islam is perfect as it is, as Allah has revealed in the Quran and as the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has shown to us through his life. Imagine a cup that is filled with water, right up to the brim. What would happen if you tried to pour something else into it?”

“It would run over and spill!”

“If we try to add anything new to Islam that isn’t a part of it, something else will spill out. We are ruining the perfectly full cup and trying to add strange things to it that don’t belong. So we don’t celebrate other holidays other than the ones Allah has already given us.”

Below is a link to the famous website of History  mentioning the origins of the Halloween.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.history.com/.amp/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween