Celebrating the festivals of the disbelievers

Question:

My son studies in an Islamic school in india which celebrates annual day. On this day the children put up a performance of slight dance on Islamic nasheeds and english rhymes which are free from music. Is it permissible for my son to participate in it?

Answer:

It is not permissible to participate in the festivals of disbelievers with or without dance. It is prohibited to participate in their happiness and their festivals. So the day of this festival he should be absent not attend the school.

If he does that then he would be helping them in their falsehood and increasing their numbers. So it is not permitted that he celebrates their festival. The people of knowledge have said that even the gifts which the disbelievers give on the Day of their festival, do not accept it and may be some of them have seen the matter more worse and made it close to disbelief. The hanafiyyah have given the ruling of disbelief on such a person.

So the matter is very dangerous. Helping the disbelievers in their celebrations and celebrating is actually endorsing it.

But due to the ignorance amongst the people none of the rulings apply on them otherwise its a great affair.

” A person is deemed to be with the one he loves” (Bukhari – 6168 – Hadith Abdullah ibn Mas’ood)

This affair includes loving them. Similarly,

“The one who immitates a people then he is from amongst them” (Abu Dawood 4031 – Hadith Ibn Umar)

This is very dangerous that you immitate them and celebrate their festival. Shaykhul Islaam (Ibn Taymiyyah) has a commentary on this hadith in his book “Iqtida siraatal mustaqeem” (Following The Straight Path)

Translator’s Note:

I asked the shaykh personally whether the ruling changes if annual day is not co-inciding the celebrations of the kuffar.

The shaykh said that the basis of many of these kinds of events is that they are following certain days of celebrations of the kuffar like the new year. The muslims should not be flexible and extend their celebrations to “so-and-so day” which have no basis in the shariah and may be considered innovations.

Answered by

Shaykh Abu Bilal Al Hadhrami hafidhahullah

Answered on

8 Rajab 1441

(1st March 2020)

Dars between Magrib and esha

Translated by

Abu Muhammad Nezam Al-Hindi