This is a continuation of the previous article ‘Truth Unfolded.’ In this we are looking at reasons for not to celebrate the festivals of the West or any cultural celebrations.
In the previous part, we learnt that the agenda of the Jews and the Christians is to demoralize the Muslim Ummah and target them through their various plots. We also looked at the effects of celebrating the festivals of the West one of them being the moral deterioration of the Muslim Ummah. Propagating such false values is more damaging in nature than the results of what an actual war can bring.
Now, let’s look at the reasons as to why these non-Islamic celebrations and traditions are forbidden in Islam. It is important to understand why these celebrations are deemed as haram (impermissible).
1- Celebrating UnIslamic Days and Festivals Directly Impacts our Iman (Faith)
The simplest and basic reason for the forbidding of these traditional celebrations is the preservation of faith. In following these days, is the fear that our basic iman will be waivered and lost as we imitate the Disbelievers. The Islamic Jurisprudence has deemed their celebration as impermissible. Hence, as a Muslim, it is incumbent upon us that we steer away from such acts which may jeopardize our faith and belief system in any way. It is essential that we abstain from all acts that may draw us even closer to disbelief.
As Allah (SWT) states in the Qur’an:
وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِالْإِيمَانِ فَقَدْ حَبِطَ عَمَلُهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ ﴿٥﴾۔
“And whoever denies the faith – his work has become worthless, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.”
[AlMai’da:5]
We learn from this verse that to put aside the Islamic values and to follow the Disbelievers becomes a means to destroy our acts of goodness and may become a source of a complete loss in the Hereafter.
Allah (SWT), the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful values iman so much so that in the Qur’an where it is stated that a murder of an individual is like the murder of the entire mankind. Yet, being deprived of faith (which in itself is the biggest fitnah – [trial]) has been deemed a greater danger than even a murder. How do we know this?
In the Qur’an it is stated:
وَالْفِتْنَةُ أَكْبَرُ مِنَ الْقَتْلِ
“…And fitnah is greater than killing.”
[AlBaqara:217]
Here it is said ‘to spread corruption is much greater in sin than committing a murder.’
The ploy of the Disbelievers is that they desire, strive and plot against the Believers and want for us to adopt the ways of disbelief. They hope to achieve this even if they have to resort to murder and bloodshed.
As it is stated in the Qur’an:
وَلَا يَزَالُونَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَرُدُّوكُمْ عَن دِينِكُمْ إِنِ اسْتَطَاعُوا ۚ
“And they will continue to fight you until they turn you back from your religion if they are able.”
[AlBaqara:217]
This verse unfolds the truest feelings of the Disbelievers and their true agenda. This agenda is further pursued to target the Muslims through the propagation of celebrations, traditions and customs of the West. This is a subtle yet very powerful way the Disbelievers have tried to dissuay the Muslims with causing us to derail from our very own way of life and our belief system. This intricate planning is to lead the Muslim Ummah to shirk disbelief and atheism. To consider everything as permissible and worshipping the nafs (self) is a big deviation.
Sadly, we continuously want to indulge in such acts which cause us to sink as if we are stuck in quicksand with no way out. Out of the 365 days of the year, there is hardly a day which is not termed as “This Day,” or “That Day.” The West, under the name of progression and freedom of expression, rights and modernization, has changed our travel, customs, culture and art. Under the light of such fancy words, obscenity and indecency is widely spread and especially highlighted through the media. The results of all the hype is that the we, the so called “Muslims” have not only derailed from Islamic values but have also become belligerent.
This, by far is one of the main reason for such celebrations to be forbidden in Shariah.
2- Celebrating Un Islamic Days and Festivals is Against the Concept of Al-wala’ wa-l-bara’ (Loyalty and Disavowal)
Allah (SWT) has commanded Muslims to love, befriend, form relationships for the sake of Allah (SWT). Similarly, we are taught to hate and distance for the sake of Allah (SWT).
As it is stated in the Qur’an:
لَّا تَجِدُ قَوْمًا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّـهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ يُوَادُّونَ مَنْ حَادَّ اللَّـهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَوْ كَانُوا آبَاءَهُمْ أَوْ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ أَوْ إِخْوَانَهُمْ أَوْ عَشِيرَتَهُمْ ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ كَتَبَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ الْإِيمَانَ وَأَيَّدَهُم بِرُوحٍ مِّنْهُ ۖ وَيُدْخِلُهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ رَضِيَ اللَّـهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ حِزْبُ اللَّـهِ ۚ أَلَا إِنَّ حِزْبَ اللَّـهِ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٢٢﴾۔
“You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred. Those – He has decreed within their hearts faith and supported them with spirit from Him. And We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him – those are the party of Allah. Unquestionably, the party of Allah – they are the successful.”
[Al-Mujadila:22]
Elsewhere in the Qur’an it is said:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا دِينَكُمْ هُزُوًا وَلَعِبًا مِّنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَالْكُفَّارَ أَوْلِيَاءَ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٥٧﴾۔
“O you who have believed, take not those who have taken your religion in ridicule and amusement among the ones who were given the Scripture before you nor the disbelievers as allies. And fear Allah, if you should [truly] be believers.”
[AlMa’ida:57]
Here we are clearly advised to refrain from heartfelt friendships with the Disbelievers. To be able to do this is an act of taqwa (piety) and a condition of iman. Hence, the choice of acception their form of entertainment is the first stepping stone of adopting a soft corner for them. This then further leads to a deep friendship and love for them. This completely negates the concept of loyalty and disavowal.
In essence, our love and deep friendships are to be only with the Believers.
As Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an:
إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّـهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ ﴿٥٥﴾۔
“Your ally is none but Allah and [therefore] His Messenger and those who have believed – those who establish prayer and give zakah, and they bow [in worship].”
[AlMa’ida:55)
3- Celebrating UnIslamic Days and Festivals Encourages Worship of the Nafs
The essence of all such days and traditions is to busy the self and focus on becoming immensely self-centered catering only to desires. Everything becomes about the self and leads to neglecting all other relationships. Whether it be celebrating birthdays or anniversaries, it leads to the center of attention as you alone. Hence, to you, you are the most important thing in life and all that matters. This is against the very basic teachings of Islam where we are brought into this world to worship Allah (SWT) and not to worship our own selves. Such celebrations lead to weakness of faith as well as amal (actions).
Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an:
أَفَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَـٰهَهُ هَوَاهُ
“Have you seen he who has taken as his god his [own] desire,”
[Al-Jathiya:23]
In a hadith we learn:
Narrated Abu ‘Amir or Abu Malik Al-Ash’ari (RA) that he heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying,
“From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful.”
(Sahih Bukhari: 5590)
So, we see that the Disbelievers are looking for ways for the Muslim Ummah to follow them and have the Muslims also become the fuel of the Hellfire just as they will be. Following the desires directly weakens the faith. Such celebrations are the trap that lead us to that. May Allah (SWT) protect us all. Ameen.
4- Celebrating UnIslamic Days and Festivals Encourages Public Sin
Some actions in Islam are considered more rewarding than others. Some of which are done publicly or with others in a group such as prayers in congregation as opposed to praying alone. In a hadith we learn,
The Prophet ﷺhas said,
فَضْلُ صَلاَةِ الجَماعة عَلَى صَلاَةِ الوَاحِدِ خَمْسٌ وَعِشْرُونَ دَرَجَةً
‘A prayer performed in congregation is twenty-five times more superior in reward to a prayer performed by a single person.
(Sahih Bukhari)
The wisdom behind is that a congregation encourages all others to join in and is a heartwarming experience. It motivates others to join into the act of goodness.
Similarly, a sin has affects on those around. When a sin is practiced openly, it encourages others to follow suit so much so that the entire community becomes desensitized to sin and becomes accepting of it. A sin in public motivates others and the sinner becomes proud of that sin and is encouraged to continue. Whereas, if a sin is carried out at a hidden and a personal level, it holds less chances of influencing others. This is not to say that sinning is allowed in any way or form.
A sin that involves others has more dire consequences and is strictly forbidden in Islam. In fact we are taught not to even go near it as the act itself is so heinous and so are the results of it, such as adultery (zina).
In the Qur’an Allah (SWT) says:
وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ ۖ۔
“And do not approach immoralities – what is apparent of them and what is concealed.”
[Al-An’am:151]
Several of the days celebrated in the West lead towards illicit relationships and major sins. Hence, Shariah has stopped the spread of such immoralities and such public celebration of sins to take place as not to encourage others and act as catalysts to other forbidden acts.
5- Celebrating UnIslamic Days And Festivals Is Nothing More Than Being Slaves To The Self
One of the war tactics of nations is to weaken the mind of the opponents. The way this can be done is to shake the very foundation they stand on so they become slaves both physically and mentally. A nation with self respect would never want this for themselves. The biggest slavery is of the mind and to become slaves to the mind is the lowest form of existence for mankind. Sadly, today our culture, dress code, our ways of greeting and our systems easily depicts that we have blindly start following the ways of the Disbelievers.
Hence, the Shariah prevents us to fall below levels of self respect. In the celebration of such traditions, we lose focus and begin the rat race of being slaves to our desires.
The Prophet ﷺ feared the Muslim Ummah would follow in the footsteps of the Jews and the Christians.
In a hadith we learn The Prophet ﷺ said:
” لَتَتَّبِعُنَّ سَنَنَ مَنْ قَبْلَكُمْ شِبْرًا بِشِبْرٍ، وَذِرَاعًا بِذِرَاعٍ، حَتَّى لَوْ سَلَكُوا جُحْرَ ضَبٍّ لَسَلَكْتُمُوهُ ”. قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَهِ، الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى قَالَ ” فَمَنْ ”.
“You will follow the wrong ways, of your predecessors so completely and literally that if they should go into the hole of a mastigure (lizard), you too will go there.” We said, “O Allah’s Messenger, do you mean the Jews and the Christians?” He ﷺ replied, “Whom else?”
(Meaning, of course, the Jews and the Christians.)
(Sahih Bukhari)
The blind following of the Jews, Christians and even adopting the Hindu lifestyle has lead the Muslims to become handicapped and their ways are taking us away further and further away from the Islamic teachings. Our youth are swayed into their tacts and are immensely affected in negative aspects leading to the degeneration of the mind. Their ways are nothing but a materialistic gain leading to corrupted minds.
It is really sad and heartbreaking to see our Society fall prey to the agenda of the West. Where Allah (SWT) has placed the Muslims at a highest level of existence and thought through the implementation of Shariah, we are choosing to fall to the base level of existence.
Their influence upon us is so great that today, we feel ashamed of our Islamic education, our attire and the simple and modest approach to life with Islamic teaching. Of course, those who choose to be in the category of the followers find Islam to be a boring black and white religion and not as colorful. It is definitely misguided. It may seem charming and inviting but it is hollow. We feel honored by speaking the English language yet feel lowly to be learning Arabic. Why is this so?
Why is there such an after effect? Why is it that the person who has studied the courses of the worldly subjects is considered more educated and qualified than the individual who knows and understand the translation of the Qur’an and is one who teaches it? This by far is the result of following in the footsteps of the Disbelievers and the following of their traditions through their movies and dramas which has altered our thinking and self-concept.
The only way to escape from this slavery of the mind and soul is to accept Allah (SWT) as One and only Creator. This includes then following His ways and the way of the Prophet ﷺ
Hence, this is what has caused corruption, deprivation of reflection and connection to Allah (SWT) and a moral decline in our Society today. Their influence has caused Muslims question their beliefs and led to negative thoughts against the religion and those who follow it. Here, we have invited ourselves to such dangers of iman so it is best to abstain strictly from such following.
May Allah (SWT) protect us all. Aameen.
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