The celebration of Halloween on October 31 is a reformation of the Christian celebration of All Hallows’ Eve, the evening before All Saints’ Day, which has its roots in the ancient Celtic feast of Samhain that dates back to 1000 BC. Although it has Christian and Celtic origins, Halloween is enjoyed by members of various faiths, albeit not religiously. Due to its alleged association with devil worship, Muslims are forbidden from participating in Halloween celebrations. Halloween is considered “haram” due to its supposed roots in satanic rituals and customs, like the veneration of the dead. However, some Muslims in Arab countries and other nations like Turkey still celebrate Halloween in smaller groups since it’s considered a secular festival, despite Islamic teachings.
-> See also: Do Muslims Celebrate Christmas?
The Islamic Look on Halloween
Muslims tend to regard Halloween skeptically. Their opinion on Halloween is negative, and the holiday is not frequently observed.
- Origins: The ancient Celtic celebration of Samhain, from which Halloween was adopted into Christian traditions as All Hallows’ Eve, has nothing in common with Islamic history or customs.
- Superstition: Superstition and fear-mongering are assumedly encouraged by Halloween’s focus on ghosts, spirits, and the supernatural, which go against Islamic principles.
- Contradiction: Due to its historical connection with the summoning of spirits and other pagan traditions, some Muslims consider the celebration of Halloween to be a type of shirk (associating partners with God). Tawhid (the oneness of God) is a central tenet of the religion.
- Emulation: Muhammad (the founder of Islam) cautioned his followers against imitating the practices of non-Muslims without comprehending the theological ramifications of doing so. This idea is often used against celebrations with no biblical basis, such as Halloween.
History of Halloween
The history of Halloween spans 2000 to 3000 years. It has its roots in Samhain, a Celtic celebration celebrated with bonfires and costumed revelers to scare off the spirits of the dead.
The Celts, who existed two thousand years ago in what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, marked the beginning of the year on November 1. This day signaled the end of summer, the harvest, and the start of the dark, frigid winter, a season traditionally connected with the passing of human life.
Pope Gregory III established All Saints Day on November 1 in the eighth century, and the holiday quickly adopted many Samhain customs. Before Halloween, it was celebrated as All Hallows’ Eve. Trick-or-treating, jack-o’-lantern carving, parties, dressing up, and eating sweets are a few of the traditions that have sprung up around Halloween as the holiday has developed.
In terms of its commemoration in various nations and faiths, Halloween’s importance differs a lot. Halloween is the culmination of a three-day period known as Allhallowtide, during which Western Christians honor and pray for the souls of all their ancestors who have died in the Christian faith.
Halloween has no special meaning at all in other cultures and faiths. Some Eastern Orthodox congregations, for instance, do not celebrate or acknowledge it. Originally a Christian holiday, Halloween is not usually celebrated by Muslims, Jews, or some Mormons. However, in today’s secular culture, many people of many faiths try to enjoy this festival.
The Reasons Why Muslims Do Not Celebrate Halloween
Many Muslims don’t participate in Halloween festivities for religious and cultural reasons. Here are the main ones:
- Non-Islamic Festival: Halloween is not a Muslim celebration, and its rituals did not originate in Islam. Many Muslims believe it is the property of other faiths or cultures; in reality, it’s a secular festival.
- Maintaining Islamic Values: Muslims work hard to sustain values that are consistent with Islam. Many Muslims prefer to abstain from Halloween celebrations like trick-or-treating and costume parties since they tend to see them in conflict with their religion.
- Events of Islamic Significance: Muslims have their own religious observances, such as the month of fasting known as Ramadan, the celebration of the end of Ramadan known as Eid al-Fitr, and the Feast of Sacrifice known as Eid al-Adha. These celebrations are given more importance than secular holidays like Halloween because of their spiritual significance.
- Pagan Roots: Traditions associated with Halloween have pagan origins and are traced back to an ancient Celtic celebration. These pagan origins dissuade Muslims.
- Disputes Islamic Principles: Halloween’s emphasis on the paranormal and the otherworldly runs counter to Islamic beliefs. These ideas go against God’s unity (Tawhid) and the rejection of superstition.
Parts of Halloween That Align with Islamic Values
Ironically, the main activities behind Halloween actually align with some of the main values of Islamic cultures, such as sharing and caring.
- Sharing and Caring: People in Western cultures utilize the Halloween season to practice altruism by giving to others and caring for those less fortunate. Kindness and generosity are emphasized through the distribution of goodies to friends and neighbors.
- Visiting Family and Friends: Westerners utilize the Halloween season as an excuse to spend time with their loved ones to reiterate the significance of community and fellowship.
- Volunteering: Many Westerners try to aid those in need during Halloween. They volunteer at local charities and food banks. Gathering together as a community should improve the physical and mental health of everyone.
Myths Regarding Muslims and Halloween
Several common misunderstandings concerning Islam and Halloween must be cleared up:
–> Muslims can’t celebrate any holidays: A frequent misconception is that Muslims cannot participate in holiday celebrations. They celebrate their own holidays, such as Ramadan (September), Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha. These celebrations are met with spiritual fervor.
–> Not a single Muslim participates in Halloween: While Muslims are technically ‘forbidden’ from taking part in Halloween, some minority of them still celebrate it by dressing up and decorating their houses; however, the extent to which they do so is generally limited and private. Some youngsters from Muslim-majority countries, such as Turkey, organize Halloween-themed, small music festivals.
–> Halloween is viewed as Satanic: Some of the concepts connected with Halloween, such as ghosts and spirits, are defined as satanic in Islam. But their decision to not celebrate the festival is not motivated by hostility against other religions but to uphold their own Islamic traditions.
–> All Muslims share the same views on Halloween: Similar to various faith communities, Muslims defy singular categorization. While the majority of Muslims have very strict rules on how it should be avoided, some Muslims, who see the festival as secular, still celebrate Halloween in smaller groups.