By Sadaf Afshan
Can Muslims celebrate Halloween ? How is Halloween perceived in Islam? There are some who argue that Halloween is a cultural holiday, with no religious significance and hence its ok to join in the “fun”. To make an informed decision, we need to understand the origin and traditions of this festival.
Halloween: Pagan Origins
Halloween originated as the Eve of Samhain, among ancient pagans of the British Isles. It was a celebration marking the beginning of winter and the first day of the New Year. On this occasion, they believed that spirits from other worlds (such as the souls of the dead) were able to visit earth and roam about. At this time, they celebrated a joint festival for the sun god and the lord of the dead. The sun was thanked for the harvest and given moral support for the upcoming “battle” with winter. The pagans made sacrifices of animals and crops in order to please the Gods.They also believed that on October 31st, the lord of the dead gathered all the souls of the people who had died that year. The souls upon death would dwell in the body of an animal, then on this day the lord would announce what form they were to take for the next year.
Christian Influence
When Christianity came to the British Isles, the church tried to take attention away from these pagan rituals by placing a Christian holiday on the same day. The Christian festival, the Feast of All Saints, acknowledges the saints of the Christian faith in much the same way that Samhain had paid tribute to the pagan gods. The customs of Samhain survived anyway, and eventually became intertwined with the Christian holiday. These traditions were brought to the United States by immigrants from Ireland and Scotland.However, even today there are a number of God fearing Christians as well as Jews who object to Halloween, seeing it as more than a costume and candy day of fun for kids (and adults). They connect their disapproval to the pagan and Satanic origins of Halloween.
Halloween Customs and Traditions
Trick or Treating
It is widely believed that during the Feast of All Saints, peasants went from house to house asking for money to buy food for the upcoming feast. Additionally, people dressed in costumes would often play tricks on their neighbors. Blame for the resulting chaos was placed on “spirits and goblins.”
Bobbing for apples and other games: The ancient pagans used divination techniques to foresee the future. There were various methods of doing this, and many have continued through traditional games, often played at childrens park.
Images of bats, black cats, etc.: These animals were believed to communicate with the spirits of the dead. Black cats especially were believed to house the souls of witches.
Jack-O-Lantern: The Irish brought the Jack-O-Lantern to North America. The tradition is based on a legend about a stingy, drunken man named Jack. Jack played a trick on the devil, then made the devil promise not to take his soul. The devil, upset, promised to leave Jack alone. When Jack died, he was turned away from Heaven because he was a stingy, mean drunk. Desperate for a resting place, he went to the devil but the devil also turned him away. Stuck on earth on a dark night, Jack was lost. The devil tossed him a lighted coal from the fire of Hell, which Jack placed inside a turnip as a lamp to light his way. Since that day, he has traveled the world over with his Jack-O-Lantern in search of a resting place. Irish children carved out turnips and potatoes to light the night on Halloween. When the Irish came to America in great numbers in the 1840s, they found that a pumpkin made an even better lantern, and this “American tradition” came to be.
Islamic Perspective
Thus, we see that all Halloween traditions are based either in ancient pagan culture, or in Christianity. From an Islamic point of view, they all are forms of shirk. As Muslims, our celebrations are the two Eids that honour and uphold our faith and beliefs. How can we worship only Allah, the Creator, if we participate in activities that are based in pagan rituals and the spirit world ? Many people participate in these celebrations without even understanding the history and the pagan connections, just because their friends are doing it, and because “its fun!”
As parents, what can we do, when our children see others dressed up, eating candy, and going to parties? While it may be tempting to join in, we must be careful to preserve our own traditions and not allow our children to be corrupted by this seemingly innocent and harmless fun. When tempted, remember the pagan origins of these traditions, and ask Allah to give you strength.
Make the Eid celebrations a special time for fun and games. Try to engage children in other activities on Halloween Day so that they dont feel that they are missing out on the fun. Some scholars state that if kids come to your house and ask for candies and you happen to have a treat, you can give them something and wish them a safe night. This is not a form of celebration in their opinion, rather it is good manners to not let those knocking on our door leave empty handed, and it makes us more accepted and trusted by our neighbors.
If you have young kids and feel that they might be tempted by looking at all the trick and treaters, its recommended that you shut off the lights in your front porch and keep yourself away from all such activities. And Allah knows best.
About the author:
Sadaf Afshan is an editor at MuslimMoms.ca
What is your opinion about celebrating Halloween ? Please share your views in the comments section below.
Rumina Rizvi
October 30, 2014 3:45 amPerfect piece and too apt for many of our muslims sisters to read and understand why things are forbidden in Islam. It’s simple and very logical. We all must first seek knowledge to know what’s permissible in our religion and avoid anything that isn’t appropriate. And above all seek guidance from Allah SWT. Insha’Allah
Nazia Asad
October 30, 2014 2:42 pmAn amazing article.Thanks a lot for sharing.it is no doubt very informative.
Afshan
October 31, 2014 1:55 amvery well said. whatever i wanted to tell others i found in this article. wake up call for Canadian Muslims Momsssssss
Fatima
October 31, 2014 2:36 amSalams,
I am confused as these celebrations were not there when Islam was introduced then how did one find fatwa against it? It’s simple to understand that such celebrations are given a blow out of proportion by the multi million companies to turn it in to a business. And Islam has given us a scale to measure the act and decide weather it is permissible or not and such events are lahuwalaab(not sure how to translate it) and lahuwalaab is haram, but how did it become shirk? Why is there only one scale called shirk?
I feel kids can taught with full understanding so they could stand firmly against it with knowledge that it’s waste of money and time,rather not knowing just plain thing shirk. As nowadays seems like it that everything is becoming shirk without explain or any understand, don’t know the answer say it’s shirk.
But thank you for the effort you have put in this article. Hope ppl understand and stay firmly against it rather run away.
Sadaf Afshan
November 14, 2014 2:18 amWaleykumassalam Sr. Fatima,
I’m sorry I don’t know what the term ‘lahuwalaab’ means.I would appreciate it if you could please elaborate on it.
You are right there are different levels of prohibited things in Islam. Sins are classified as major sins( Kabair sins -shirk, kufr, bidah) and minor sins (saghair sins).
Regarding shirk, it’s clearly mentioned in the Quran that shirk means ascribing partners to Allah Subhan Wa Ta’ala i.e polytheism/idolatry which is a major sin. .
“Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshipped)”
[al-Baqarah 2:22]
“And they set up rivals to Allaah, to mislead (men) from His path! Say: ‘Enjoy (your brief life)! But certainly, your destination is the (Hell) Fire!’”
[Ibraaheem 14:30]
If you read the above article carefully, it states that the various customs and traditions on Halloween originated from celebrations which were done to worship the Sun God, the Lord of the dead and later Christian saints. If we follow these customs we are inadvertently accepting the existence of other gods besides Allah and worshiping those Gods. Thus, eminent Muslim scholars such as Dr. Bilal Philips, Mufti Ismail Menk and many others have stated that following Halloween customs amounts to shirk. Allah knows best and may He protect us from everything He has prohibited.
Rida Hassan
October 31, 2014 5:57 amWonderful post, it was an eye opener, inspirational and interesting. Thanks.
Abbas
October 31, 2014 4:34 pmThe author probably does not know that the circumambulation around Kaba Muslims do today and have been doing for the 14 hundred years was also done the pagans of pre-Islamic period
Sadaf Afshan
November 14, 2014 3:40 amPagans did that naked for their idols, we do it for Allah in a different way, the way that was taught to us by Prophet Ibrahim (peace upon him).Circumambulating the Kaaba is a symbolic act of worship, whose wisdom may be hidden from some. It indicates the believer’s utter submission to Almighty Allah alone. The pilgrims go to Hajj in response to the divine order that Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) conveyed to people.
“And (remember) when We showed Ibrahim the site of the (Sacred) House (the Kaaba at Makkah), saying: Ascribe not anything (in worship) with Me, and sanctify My House for those who circumambulate it, and those who stand up (for prayer), and those who bow (submit themselves with humility and obedience to Allah), and make prostration (in prayer). And proclaim to mankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Hajj).” (Al-Hajj, 22:26-27).
khudaija
October 31, 2014 4:55 pmWonderful piece mashaAllah. I totally agree with Sister Rumina. Well worded and we’ll written mashaAllah Sadaf. May Allah swt reward you abundantly for taking the time out to write this important piece. Aameen. Keep it up!
Ashley Mungar
November 3, 2014 1:00 amExcellent article! May Allah guide us all, ameen.
Aisha
October 30, 2015 11:21 amWhy do you all want to live in a western country then?Why not live in an Islamic country?
Kaneez
October 30, 2015 3:55 pmRespectfully, I have a very different perspective on this. By participating in Halloween by dressing up or trick or treating, one doesn’t commit shirk. They are not bowing down or acknowledging other gods. There are plenty of customs in the Indo-Pak community that incorporates traditions that are historically paganistic.
Mudasir Ali Shah
November 2, 2015 2:37 pmSr.Kaneez respectfully are you trying to make or point or are you clearly denying the fact celebrating Halloween, Christmas, Egg Day, Monkey Day, valentines Day, Easter and all days except for 2 Eid Days…are Haraam..Also those plenty of customs celebrated in Indo-Pak are haraam as well.. which lead to hellfire..May Allah SWT save is from it…Something widely done or celebrated does not make it halaal…we have been given clear guidelines in Quran and Sahih Hadith…its just matter of reading and following… Alas! How unfortunate we all these days want to make a point without any knowledge..