Halloween: Harmless or Haram? An Islamic Perspective

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 who 
misled people toward the worship of false idols. Thus, they rejected the 
customs associated with Hallow'een, 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 practises 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 kufar 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 practises, as evidenced by a statement from the 
Prophet (s.a.s.) "Every innovation (in our religion) is misguidance, 
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 practises.

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 practises 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 practising 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 accomodate 
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 practises, 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 grevious 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.

-By Br. Feyoun Khan