Last year we had a discussion on Halloween in Pakistan and this year we’ll try to see the issues faced by the Pakistani community when they try to celebrate or try to shy away from Halloween while living abroad.
It has been boiling inside of me since that fateful day when I went to a mosque for an Iftari last Ramzan. I have a very good friend who is a part of the management at one of mosques and he invited me to come to the mosque for an iftari and a dars (sermon) by the resident maulvi. Coincidentally, I had to pass a few of his earlier invitations because of one commitment or another, so I decided to go this time. I sent him a confirmation email a day before that I will be there. However, I asked him that will he exclude me from Daira-e-Islam (circle of Islam) if I did not listen to Mullah and leave before he speaks. My friend, as expected from a gentleman that he is, sent me an email indicating his agreement with a smiley at the end.
Just to give you a little background. I am not an atheist. I consider myself a proud Muslim. I have indeed gone through my phases of atheism, agnosticism and all kinds of confusions when it comes to religion but I am thankful to God that I have evolved as a believer. When I look back, I realize that I never had any issues with Islam but I have always had issues with Muslims. To this day, I hate to see Islam used and abused by none other than the followers of this great religion.
Anyway, when I arrived at the mosque for the Iftari, my friend introduced me to the Maulvi. He seemed like a decent educated chap. After my meeting with him, my friend asked me again, if I wanted to stay for the sermon. It was hard to say no at that point. The sermon started off well and then at one point the maulvi revealed to the crowd in a very dramatic tone, that if all of the people in the mosque knew that their house was on fire. There was a silence in the room. The maulvi took another dramatic turn and said “ your house is on fire”! There was a murmur in the crowd. The maulvi repeated this statement three or four times and then asked the people, “do you want to know why?”. Some of the front row enthusiasts replied in a yes and the maulvi unfolded the mystery. The point was that our houses were on fire was because we live next to the biggest Satan, the United States. Damn! I mumbled under my breath.
I hate this meaningless US bashing. I am no fan of Mr. Bush and in fact I have several issues with the US policies. I think most of the times they are manipulative and sometimes just plain stupid. Having said that, I want to emphasize on the fact that I have no hard feelings against the American people. As a Pakistani Muslim, I believe we have a political conflict with the Unites States government and it does not translate into a war between Americans against the Muslims. The American people are simple and ignorant people like us. The difference is that they have been trapped inside a bubble. They have no idea about the outside world. All there is to them is the US and all they know about the outside world is via a biased media. It is not their fault that they are not aware of the reality of the Middle Eastern conflict. If you live with these people, you discover that hey are friendly, family oriented people with their own value system. Not every one is having sex with everyone else. Jerry Springer is not depicting the real American culture. Like us, these people too work hard to provide for their families and are not striving or conniving to destroy Islam or Muslims. It’s a political conflict , let’s keep it a political conflict!
The next trigger for this article was an email in one of the mail lists that I subscribe to titled “Surviving Halloween”. The title pretty much describes the essence of the e-mail. Here is a quote from the e-mail.
“How can we worship only Allah, the Creator, if we participate in activities that are based in pagan rituals, divination, and the spirit world? May Allah protect us from such misguidance”.
This email also had several quotations from Quran and forbade muslims to become a part of the pagan ritualistic tradition of Halloween like
“So many people participate in these celebrations without even understanding the history and the pagan connections, just because their friends are doing it, their parents did it (”it’s a tradition!”), and because “it’s fun!” Allah described such people in the Qur’an: “When it is said unto them, ‘Come to what Allah has revealed, come to the Messenger,’ they say, ‘Enough for us are the ways we found our fathers following.’ What! Even though their fathers were void of knowledge and guidance?” (Qur’an > 5:104)
I am not a religious scholar and so the first question I raise is what is the context of this quotation from Quran? Is it not that Arabs had traditions of burying daughters, worshipping idols, etc or it can be applied to children dressing up in cartoon characters and going to every home in the neighborhood to collect candy?
The second question I would raise is what does Quran say about people who use religion and quotations from Quran to serve their personal hidden agendas and what does it say about the people who in their sheer ignorance propagate these views by forwarding such emails. This emotional, exploitive rhetoric is shaping up the views and opinions of our new generation.
The third question is that being a Pakistani Muslim living in North America, if our children go “trick or treating” are they really defying the principles of Islam? I may not have an answer to the first two questions but I do believe that I know the answer to third question. I do believe that Islam is about sharing joy and love. As some one on the same mail list pointed out that we should be celebrating to the extent that we understand that it is sharing in other peoples ‘happiness and festivals’. However, at the same time we should be explicitly clear in our understanding (and our communication to kids) that this is not part of our religion. There should not be any harm as long as this understanding is clear. The gentleman also pointed out a risk that with the passage of time, this understanding or differentiation may not remain clear, and these festivals may be considered a part of Islam. I agree and with my decision to live in the “West”, I took the responsibility to provide and maintain that line of demarcation bteween our’s and their’s culture and religion.
I agree that Halloween may have roots in pagan rituals but why do we care? Can’t we look at the bigger picture? Do you know where suit and tie comes from that you wear to work everyday? Tie symbolizes a cross. It is a very Christian thing but wearing a suit and tie does not make me Christian because that is not the ‘Neeyat’ (intention). Even your namaz (prayer) is not complete unless you make a ‘Neeyat’. Do you know where Mehndi (before your wedding) comes from you? Who cares? We adapted Hindu culture because we lived with them from hundreds of years. We didn’t adapt worshipping their gods but things that don’t hurt our basic religious principle are fine. Spreading joy and laughter is not unislamic!!! We live in multicultural society. Why can’t we be a part of other people’s festivities and share happiness? I loved it when my white, Canadian friends come to my house on Eid for Sheer Qurma. Why can’t we stop bashing everything American (even though Halloween is not originally American)? Why can’t we spread some joy and love in the world? Why do we have to highlight the differences and spread hatred? Why can’t the world be just one big happy place?
I watched the Halloween episode of the show “little mosque on the prairie”, and I loved the idea. a Halloween with a cultural twist? Can’t we have our children dressed up like chotay nawab with the kurta, pajama and topi? Can’t we have the bulbul and Jugnoo from Iqbal’s nazm Hamdardee. Can’t we have the Khattak dancer and girl from Thar costumes? If someone comes and tell me this is un-Islamic, the I only thing I can tell them is …Hip Hip Hurrah for Halal-oween!!!
About the Author: Muslim Rizvi is working as a Solutions Manager for an IT service company. He is based just outside of Toronto, Canada . Muslim is a writer, a poet, a painter, a playwright, an actor and a director and has been associated with theatre for over a decade. These days however, he is playing the role of a full time father and in his own words: “the artist in me died when a father in me was born”.
Muslim sahab
nice post but u have missed the basic!many in pakistan and in islamic world cat celebrate this ritual as it will create rifts!in sense that many kids will be enjoying it an many of their non affording friends will be looking at them and ? it create unbalance!and whats the big issue of halloweeen celebrations in pakistan? forget abt islam how can kids in pakistan actually celebrate it? whats the historical cultural connection nothing!now people have tried to find ways to use islam to prove their way.Its a kind of defense mechanism that one uses to be at peace ones own subconcious.
You wrote about neyat and some bloggers agreed with u,but u equalised neyat of namaz with what? dont use this logic “amaal ka daromadar niyatoon per ha” that is more defense mechanism than a logic. and the thing that religion someone personal matter is total contradiction to the message of islam,some wrote its persoanl choice but what stands islam tall is its togetherness.some time u have to sacrifice ur own for its glory.This line isnt for halloween. Its for who believe islam is ones personal choice.
Haloween will create a social rift like basant,where aprents cant even afford their kids school expenses.Y to add to their misery.Basant is unislamic not for fun sake,but the way fun is done,loud music dances and firings thats unislamic,and to curb that what will u do?u will tell people to stop flying kites like on basant.do it for fun like any other day but not like celebrate it with dresses alcohol and dancers from heera mandi. many kids dont afford kites and are killed on roads trying catching them. coz kids are kids they need fun but at what cost? for some lous fun where many loose their lives? thats what islam speak against for. Islam aint against fun or sports but that should have equal rights for everyone. for that very fact we fast as well so that we can feel what ot feels like to be empty stomach to do fitrana and zakat so that needy can get some share. so in fun time islam never forgets the unprivlidgedDo not add something thats not ones culture.In USA if someone celebrate it let them,even if muslims so that the kids dont feel neg;ected.but implement islamic thoughts too so that they dont neglect islam as well. Thats ones duty as well thats not so importnat in pak as kids are amony 99% msulims and catch many things. I living in usa have seen muslim kids know nothing about islam but everything about christmas and halloween. They are more ecstatic abt these days than they are for eid.lol Then thats our fault as well. we want them americanised but when they grow,we yes we ourselves take a PIA flight and get them married to a pakistani gal/boy brought up in a total diff culture.these are double standrds and we follow them.
Halloween or anyother thing in USA is ok but elsewhere means nothing.and im in favor of no basant coz actually we play with some ones feelings!Even in usa many cant enjoy halloween as many kids parents are affording.affording ones enjoy and that who cant feels bad or try to do something unfair to get hold of some dress to celebrate!
“Under most circumstances it is not allowed because it promotes nationalism above religion”
Whatever happend to “hubul watnay minal eimaan”? How is one over the other?
I didn’t want to write a comment on this post because the arguments are the same…just the wordings are different. But, I give in! I’m writing this to answer the following questions:
Are birthdays okay? are they okay only if we follow the lunar calander?
The scholars are of the opinion that it is not allowed. Birthdays happened at the time of Rasoolullah (saw) and his sahabah and none of them took the opportunity to celebrate them. And, as Muslims we are asked to follow the mannerism of Rasoolullah (saw) as much as possible. Secondly, birthday celebrations are a cause of israaf. Thirdly, it is a cause to create even more division between rich and poor. Fourthly, such celebrations usually accompany haram actions including music, mixing of sexes, etc. It doesn’t matter what calender you follow.
What about Independence Day?
Under most circumstances it is not allowed because it promotes nationalism above religion, and it is imitation of others and not from Islamic history. Secondly, it usually involves harams such as music, dancing and giving respect to superficial things such as flag, national anthem, etc. Parade in essense is allowed if the purpose is to show your might (to deter somebody) and if there is no haram involved, but parade doesn’t have to take place on a specific day every year. Hence, no need for “independence day”.
The basic point is all these periodic (annual/weekly/etc.) celebrations fall under the heading of “Eid”, which literally means celebration. And, any celebration not prescribed in Islam is not allowed. And, they are usually accompanied with other haram things, to top it of.
Can I take my son to a ballgame?
One lacks the fahm (understanding) of Islam if he/she thinks Islam somehow restricts entertainment. No, Islam restricts haram ways of entertainment and encourages balance in pure/innocent entertainment. Indeed, Rasoolullah (saw) raced against his beloved wife Ayesha (but with noone watching), sahabah used to swim, women use to sing nice lyrics (usually involving praise of Allah) with no music on the two Eids, weddings, etc. So, yes one can take his son to a ball game if there is no haram involved or it won’t detract the person from his obligations, like not missing your salah, the sport doesn’t revolve around gambling (i.e. horse racing), the men playing have their satr covered/are dressed properly (i.e. unlike wrestling), no music/songs is being played, so on and so forth.
Can I buy my wife flowers?
Yes, why not?! Rasoolullah (saw) was the most compassionate and loving person. Rasoolullah (saw) said: “The most perfect of the believers in faith are those who are the best in attitude, and the best of you are those who are best to their women”.
Again, in matters like these the underlying point is not purely whether Rasoolullah (saw) didn’t do a specific thing…the point is: Is a (new) action according to the shariah and principles he preached? So, doing something haram to show love to your wife won’t be allowed, of course. Giving flower (without israaf) is an act of showing love to your wife, and there is nothing wrong unless it is done on a specific day such as Valentine’s Day.
All this is from scholars and not from my own imaginations! I’m just passing on the information. Allahu Alam
Hassan, the problem with “these folks” is their utter lack of perspective and imagination. Just imagine the reverse situation: a white, American, Christian family living in Karachi who makes it a point on Eid to visit their neighbors, wish them Eid Mubarak, eat siwwaiwan and participate in the obligatory hug fest.
As long as they don’t go attend the Eid prayers (now, that would be weird), would their behavior be viewed by other Americans as treasonous to Christianity? The answer is a big, resounding NO!! It wouldn’t even come up in a discussion. They would be viewed as doing the good neighborly thing and promoting cultural harmony and that’s it.
Muslim Rizvi,
Though I find Halloween not for me or for my family yet I got your message behind this post, thats why I say “Nice Post” . You are in Toronto GTA right, maybe you would like to attend the meeting on Nov. 3rd organized by Tarek Fatah,”The Toronto Progressive Muslim MeetUp”. I have never been there so I cannot say how it will be, me & my husband are planning to attend this meeting as well.
LOL @ MQ and Akif, great stuff.
I know I am also going off on a tangent but what the heck .. .here goes.
When did Islam and Western cultures become mutually exclusive? I thought Islam was a “universal” religion and last I checked Western world was still part of this universe. In fact if anything there are so many Islamic qualities that today are more apparent in Western cultures then any of our so called Islamic countries.
Please keep one thing in mind there is no “Islamic culture” .. there are Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Mughal(Indian/Afghani) cultures and then there is religion …… 2 quite different but not mutually exclusive things. Muslims of the sub-continent have adapted certain local cultural traditions and so have Muslims living in other parts of the world, so what’s the harm if Muslims in the Western world dress-up in costumes and pass/collect candy on Halloween? It’s not like they are stripping down and dancing around fire while drinking human blood. Let’s not lose perspective and over react people.
Seriously … how did an article on something as harmless as Halloween turn into this mud-slinging match?
“pappoo yaar tang naa kar”
Its sensational to discover Pakistani opinions for the
first time, interesting to see how Pakistanis impose
and super impose on each other their point of vue,
they are capable of making a mountain out of a “Rai”.
So unimportant priorities, do get lost in them, don’t find
the way out, abandon it and move to another one.
Arguement for the arguement’s sake.
MQ, thank you and I think you are right on all counts as to what the response would have been, had it come from we-know-who.