Friday, May 25, 2012
Halloween: Not fun nor funny
As Muslims in America we often find ourselves confronted with difficult choices at holiday time. We feel the pressure of going to the Christmas party or leaving a tooth for the tooth fairy. With Halloween coming we are tempted to get the costume, the candies, the Pumpkins and all the fun trappings of the night. But wait! What are we promoting? As Ahmadis we signed on to some conditions. In fact condition of Baiat number 6 says that we “shall refrain from following un-islamic customs”. So is Halloween an Islamic custom?
Don’t think so!
Muslims don’t beg
We don’t dress up as ghosts or Spiderman (at least not publicly)
And we certainly don’t believe that dead people walk the neighborhood at night.
In fact our Holy Prophet (sas) in his last sermon said that he stomps on unislamic customs! Its true he said we should not just walk away from or avoid unislamic customs but that we should root them out of the world. He says:
‘Take note, that I trample underfoot all un-Islamic customs and traditions. (Muhammad Seal of the Prophets, Ch. Zafrullah Khan, Ch. 14).
In 2009 our beloved Khalifatul Masih V (Spiritual Leader) gave at least 7 reasons why Halloween is not fun nor funny:
- Halloween is a harmful innovation it is not in the Bible or any Book of guidance
- It takes one closer to shirk.
- Any ‘fun’ that is based on shirk or any harmful way is to be avoided.
- It is a hidden evil.
- It is against the dignity of an Ahmadi child to dress up in strange manner and go door to door like beggars, even if it is for chocolates.
- It is extremely wrong to ‘believe in’ things that are ‘supernatural’
- Dead spirits are not equal to God
Moreover those of us who are Muslim parents should raise our children with some key principles. These principles will protect their moral, emotional and physical well-being. This will help them to have stronger faith and stronger character in their later life. Some of these principles include:
- Inculcate dignity from childhood (KMV)
- Keep “children away from those absurd stories that leave wicked and profoundly evil influence on human nature.”
- Do not encourage children to believe in magic and in the existence of ghosts and do not put strange ideas in their minds.
- Do not let them become convinced that “magicians and witches play an important role in human lives.”
- “If a child becomes coward after reading such stories and is afraid of darkness and imaginary things, he will never be able to get rid of his fears. Some people carry the fears of their childhood into their old age.” (items 2 - 5 from KMIV)
So what to do to avoid the trick or treaters, candy askers and social pressure...
- Have a pre-halloween gift giving for your neighbors children. Tell them you do not do Halloween so you are giving your gifts just because you like to give gifts. Put a nice sign on your door that says so.
- Put a sign on your door and have a post Halloween gift giving session
- Take your children out to the mosque or to a local library on Halloween night to take their mind off the trick or treating
Review of Religion
Navida Sayed, "Harmless or Harmful fun?" Review of Religions (October 2011)
http://www.reviewofreligions.org/5071/halloween-harmless-or-harmful-fun/
References
Ahmad, Mirza Masroor, Khalifatul Masih V. (2010). Harmful innovations in religion. Friday Sermon: October 29th, 2010. Retrieved from. http://www.alislam.org/friday-sermon/20101029.html
Ahmad, Mirza Tahir, Khalifatul Masih IV. (1989). Friday Sermon , February 17, 1989 in Holland. Sermons of WaqfeNau. Retrieved from. http://www.alislam.org/library/books/Sermons-on-Waqf-e-Nau.pdf
Khan, Chaudhry Zafrullah. (1980). Muhammad: The Seal of the Prophets. First published in English by Routledge & Kegan Paul, London in 1980. Retrieved from. http://www.alislam.org/library/books/muhammad_seal_of_the_prophets/chapter_14.html
MKAUSA or Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya is an auxiliary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA. MKAUSA has been active in the spiritual development and character education of Muslim Youth in the United States since the 1960’s. MKA USA is also active in social service and community development in more than 76 cities. They most recently supported the MuslimsforLife Campaign and are currently engaged in The Walk For Humanity.
Comments (0)
Write comment