Celebrating Thanksgiving

mercenary2k · Oct 10th, 2008, 03:40 PM

I have celebrated thanksgiving each year since I moved to Canada.

Some of my muslim friends have said that Islam forbids celebrating non-Islamic festivals such as Thanksgiving....

What say the Islamic experts about muslims celebrating thanksgiving?

AQ · Oct 10th, 2008, 03:47 PM

Every year, we discuss this issue...

Thanks giving is not religious event and more to do with culture and has a historic background.

Celebrating cultural events so long as they do not violate Islamic teachings are legal and one must enjoy them.

Prophet

used to attend Festival of Ukaaz in his early days as well...

Mirch · Oct 10th, 2008, 03:55 PM

It is odd that they would say it, otherwise anything which gives a chance, to some mullahs or their followers, to enjoy a feast will not be forbidden in their eyes. Like celebrating , shab e barat , shab a meraj, eid a milad un nabi , Rajab kay koonday, Chahlum , barsee/death anniversary, bismillah ( thanks giving when a kid starts reading Quran) , ameen( it is thanks giving celebration when a kid finishes reading of Quran), Jum-a-raat ko dada key fateha etc ,etc.
There is nothing in Quran against it and there is no hadees in Bukhari either. So I guess you are safe in this regard , if someone gives fatwa against it then remember fatwa is opinion , not a verdict , so opinion is non binding anyway.

a1kashur · Oct 10th, 2008, 04:27 PM

^^ There's no need to bring mullahs into this.

If a festival doesn't conflicts with the Islamic teaching then it's your choice.

Croquet · Oct 10th, 2008, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirch

It is odd that they would say it, otherwise anything which gives a chance, to some mullahs or their followers, to enjoy a feast will not be forbidden in their eyes. Like celebrating , shab e barat , shab a meraj, eid a milad un nabi , Rajab kay koonday, Chahlum , barsee/death anniversary, bismillah ( thanks giving when a kid starts reading Quran) , ameen( it is thanks giving celebration when a kid finishes reading of Quran), Jum-a-raat ko dada key fateha etc ,etc.
There is nothing in Quran against it and there is no hadees in Bukhari either. So I guess you are safe in this regard , if someone gives fatwa against it then remember fatwa is opinion , not a verdict , so opinion is non binding anyway.

that is a solid point actually

EcoShan · Oct 10th, 2008, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirch

It is odd that they would say it, otherwise anything which gives a chance, to some mullahs or their followers, to enjoy a feast will not be forbidden in their eyes. Like celebrating , shab e barat , shab a meraj, eid a milad un nabi , Rajab kay koonday, Chahlum , barsee/death anniversary, bismillah ( thanks giving when a kid starts reading Quran) , ameen( it is thanks giving celebration when a kid finishes reading of Quran), Jum-a-raat ko dada key fateha etc ,etc.
There is nothing in Quran against it and there is no hadees in Bukhari either. So I guess you are safe in this regard , if someone gives fatwa against it then remember fatwa is opinion , not a verdict , so opinion is non binding anyway.

couldnt explain better
u rock budd

Terrible Guy · Oct 10th, 2008, 05:51 PM

I'm certainly no expert, but I don't celebrate it myself. I will however enjoy the day off, get the extra sleep and what not. Other than that it wouldn't be any different from any other weekend, aside from being a long weekend.

Magic Stick · Oct 12th, 2008, 10:15 AM

It is allowed as long as you get hammered.

bunnyhoney · Oct 19th, 2008, 04:08 PM

Its not a christian celebration like xmas, but more of a cultural event. In that case, it is OK. I think it would be more OK to celebrate thanksgiving then xmas and many muslims, especially those who live in non-muslim countries, celebreate xmas to 'join' in..... as the first poster said, its cultural and doesnt have any religious significance, otherwise UK people would celebrate it, but they dont.

dewdrops2 · Oct 19th, 2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Can a muslim celebrate a non muslim holiday like Thanksgiving?

Praise be to Allaah.
Greeting the kuffaar on Christmas and other religious holidays of theirs is haraam, by consensus, as Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy on him, said in Ahkaam Ahl al-Dhimmah: "Congratulating the kuffaar on the rituals that belong only to them is haraam by consensus, as is congratulating them on their festivals and fasts by saying ‘A happy festival to you’ or ‘May you enjoy your festival,’ and so on. If the one who says this has been saved from kufr, it is still forbidden. It is like congratulating someone for prostrating to the cross, or even worse than that. It is as great a sin as congratulating someone for drinking wine, or murdering someone, or having illicit sexual relations, and so on. Many of those who have no respect for their religion fall into this error; they do not realize the offensiveness of their actions. Whoever congratulates a person for his disobedience or bid’ah or kufr exposes himself to the wrath and anger of Allaah."

Congratulating the kuffaar on their religious festivals is haraam to the extent described by Ibn al-Qayyim because it implies that one accepts or approves of their rituals of kufr, even if one would not accept those things for oneself. But the Muslim should not aceept the rituals of kufr or congratulate anyone else for them, because Allaah does not accept any of that at all, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

"If you disbelieve, then verily, Allaah is not in need of you, He likes not disbelief for His slaves. And if you are grateful (by being believers), He is pleased therewith for you. . ."
[al-Zumar 39:7]

". . . This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion . . ."
[al-Maa’idah 5:3]

So congratulating them is forbidden, whether they are one’s colleagues at work or otherwise.

If they greet us on the occasion of their festivals, we should not respond, because these are not our festivals, and because they are not festivals which are acceptable to Allaah. These festivals are innovations in their religions, and even those which may have been prescribed formerly have been abrogated by the religion of Islaam, with which Allaah sent Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to the whole of mankind. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Whoever seeks a religion other than Islaam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers." [Aal ‘Imraan 3:85]

It is haraam for a Muslim to accept invitations on such occasions, because this is worse than congratulating them as it implies taking part in their celebrations.

Similarly, Muslims are forbidden to imitate the kuffaar by having parties on such occasions, or exchanging gifts, or giving out sweets or food, or taking time off work, etc., because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever imitates a people is one of them." Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyah said in his book Iqtidaa’ al-siraat al-mustaqeem mukhaalifat ashaab al-jaheem: "Imitating them in some of their festivals implies that one is pleased with their false beliefs and practices, and gives them the hope that they may have the opportunity to humiliate and mislead the weak."

Whoever does anything of this sort is a sinner, whether he does it out of politeness or to be friendly, or because he is too shy to refuse, or for whatever other reason, because this is hypocrisy in Islaam, and because it makes the kuffaar feel proud of their religion.

Allaah is the One Whom we ask to make the Muslims feel proud of their religion, to help them adhere steadfastly to it, and to make them victorious over their enemies, for He is the Strong and Omnipotent.

Majmoo’ah Fataawa wa Rasaa’il al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 3/369)

dewdrops2 · Oct 19th, 2008, 04:25 PM

Quote:

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Celebrating Non-Muslim Holidays Is Prohibited

(Friday Speech was delivered by Imam Mohamed Baianonie at Islamic Center of Raleigh, NC on November 6, 1987)

Allah Almighty (S.W.T.) said in surat Al-An’am, (Verse 153), what can be translated as, "And verily, this is my straight path, so follow it, and do not follow other paths, for they will separate you away from His path. This He has ordained for you that you may become Al-muttaqun, the pious."

There are three main ideas mentioned in this verse:

1. In this verse Allah (S.W.T.) is assuring us that this deen of Islam, which he ordained for his servants with all its implied laws and rules concerning beliefs, worshipping acts, human interactions, and moral issues, is a straight path with neither curves nor deviations.

2. In the middle part of this verse, Allah (S.W.T.) commands us to follow this deen by abiding strictly to its rules, and not to follow other paths. These other paths are actually not from the deen of Allah (S.W.T.). If these paths are followed in any major or minor matter they will definitely lead the people to go astray and deviate them from this straight deen of Allah.

3. In the last part of this verse Allah (S.W.T.) instructs us to be very careful, and stay for away from what he prohibits us to do.

So, this is Islam, a single straight path, the guidance is its result, paradise is its destiny. On the other hand, Satan invented different non-linear paths. Misguidance is its result, hellfire is their destiny.

Imam Ahmed, An-Nisa’i, and Al-Hakim reported an authentic hadith that the prophet (S.A.W.) drew on the ground with his hand a straight line and said, "This is the straight path of Allah" Then he drew many other curved lines to the right and to the left of that straight line and he said, "And these are the other paths. There is a Satan on each of these other paths calling people to follow them." Then the prophet (S.A.W.) recited the verse, "And verily, this is my straight path, so follow it, and do not follow other paths, for they will separate you away from His path."

A man asked Ibn-Mas’oud (may Allah be pleased with him), "What is the straight path?" Ibn-Mas’oud answered, "The one the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) left us in its beginning and its end is paradise. To the left and right of this path are many paths on each of these paths are men asking whoever passed by to follow them. The people who followed those paths ended in the hell fire and those who followed the straight path ended in paradise." Then Ibn-Mas’oud recited the same verse.

Hence, the Islamic path is distinguished and original. It has its features and pillars that result from its own essence. In fact, it is represented by two types of inspiration; the book of Allah (S.W.T.), the Qur’an and the authentic sunnah of the prophet (S.A.W.). So, Whoever follows the guidance of Allah (S.W.T.), will be protected from going astray and pain in this life and the Hereafter. As a matter of fact, Allah (S.W.T.) promised the believers to have a peace of mind, they will neither suffer fear nor grief. Allah (S.W.T.) said in surat Taha, (verse 123), what can be translated as, "Whoever follows My guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery." Also Allah (S.W.T.) said in surat Al-Baqarah, (verse 38), what can be translated as, "Whoever follows My guidance, there shall be no fear on them, nor shall they grieve."

This is how our righteous ancestors understood this deen. They continuously tried their best to act and interact in harmony with what comes from Allah (S.W.T.) and his messenger. Our righteous ancestors were extremely cautious not to go against these teachings. They practically represented, this perfect deen, in their personal and social life. As a result Allah (S.W.T.) exalted them and they became the leaders of the world.

If one looks at the situation of many Muslims now a days, he will see a weakness in their belief, a declination in their personalities, and a serious deviation from the guidance of their prophet. As a result they became easy victims of imitating non-Muslims. This situation is confirmed by the following hadith of the prophet (S.A.W.) that was reported by Imam Bukhari and Muslim, "You will follow the way of those who preceded you in every small matter step by step, even if they entered the narrow hole of Dab, a (spiny-tailed lizard) you will follow them." They asked O Messenger of Allah, "Do you mean the Jewish and the Christians?" The prophet (S.A.W.) answered "Who else!"

Also, now a days, there are many Muslims who share non-Muslims in their holidays and celebrated with them in the same way like Easter, St. Patrick Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. This is prohibited in Islam and we should avoid it and warn other Muslims from it as well. Imam An-Nisa’i and Ibn-Hebban reported in an authentic chain that when the prophet (S.A.W.) migrated to Madinah, he saw the Ansar (natives of Madinah) celebrating two holidays that they inherited from Jahiliyah time (period before Islam). He (S.A.W.) said, "Allah, the Exalted, has replaced these days for two days better than them: the day of breaking the fast and the day of sacrifice." It is very clear in this hadith that the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) did not allow the Muslims to celebrate non-Islamic holidays. Also Imam Bukhari reported that Omar (May Allah Be Pleased With Him) said, "Avoid non-Muslims in their holiday." Also in an another authentic chain of narration, Ali (May Allah Be Pleased With Him) had been given a gift. He asked, "What is this?" The people said, "O Leader of the believers today is An-Nayrouz, (non-Islamic Holiday). Ali rejected the gift and said angrily, "Do you make up every day a new holiday?!!"

Imam Ibn-Taymiah was asked about the Islamic ruling of this case. He answered, what may be summarized as follows: "Muslims are not allowed to imitate non-Muslims in any way, this includes celebrating their holidays, special way of their food, dresses, etc. Also it is prohibited to have a feast, exchange gifts, and to sell anything that may be used in these activities. In addition it is not allowed to give permission to the children to celebrate the same way of non-Muslims in their holidays. This includes the type of playing, and special decoration.

In summary, Muslims are not allowed to practice any special things in Non-Muslim holidays, but that day has to be a normal day as other days. This ruling is agreed upon by all the Muslim Scholars.

A group of scholars went beyond this limit and considered whoever performs the above activities during non-Muslim holidays as Kafer a disbeliever. Abdullah son of Amr Bin Al-Aus said, "Whoever imitates the disbelievers, make their feasts and celebrations, till he dies, he will be gathered with them on the day of judgment."

Imam Ahmad and other hadith collectors reported a good hadtih that the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said, "Whoever imitates some people, he is considered as one of them." In another narration the prophet (S.A.W.) said, "A person is not one of us (Muslims), if he imitates others (non-Muslims)."

We can find some reasons behind the prohibition of the imitation of the non-Mulsims in their feasts or holidays and the things that are special to them. The first reason has to do with imitating them in their feasts and holidays. This is

because Islam views the feasts and holidays as one of the worship acts, and therefore, it is not allowed for a Muslim to worship the way the non-Muslims do. Ibadah or worship in Islam has to be according to the teaching of Islam only.

Another reason has to do with imitating them with that which is special for them, including their distinct characteristics. This is because imitating them will lead to integration and eventually assimilation into their society. It should be clear that melting and assimilating into the non-Muslims culture leads to Kufr (May Allah protect us…Ameen)

This danger of assimilation is especially important when the Muslims live among the non-Muslims (like our situation). We need to pay special attention to the children because the assimilation machinery of this system targets them most.

For that reason, the scholars have said that imitating the non-Muslims leads the Muslims to their love and liking their ways and life styles. Finally, we say that any minor or major act that leads to the assimilation of Muslims in a non-Islamic society is haram, because whatever leads to a haram is also haram.

Islam strongly prohibited imitating non-Muslims Even if it is in a worship act. The prophet (S.A.W.) did not allow the Muslims to imitate the Jews by fasting Ashorah the tenth of the month of Muharam. Imam Bukhari and Muslim reported that when the prophet (S.A.W.) arrived to Madinah he found the Jews fasting that day. He asked what is this day? They answered it is a special day when Allah saved mosses and his followers from their enemy,(Pharaoh) so Mosses fasted that day. The prophet (S.A.W.) said, "I have more rights to follow Mosses than you" So he fasted that day and he also ordered the Muslims to fast it and he said, "If I live till next year I’ll fast the ninth" which means the ninth and the tenth.

Allah (S.W.T.) warned whoever disobeys the prophet (S.A.W.) by following and imitating non-Muslim in surat An-Nisa’, (Verse 115), what can be translated as, "And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger after the Right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers’ way. We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell, what an evil destination.

It is very important to know what is meant by not imitating non-Muslims. It applies only with what is special to them, and their feast celebration activities. But as far as the scientific matters, inventions, and modern technology are concerned, Muslims are allowed and urged to follow and benefit from these important issues.

Celebrating Non-Muslim

Hope this helps.

bunnyhoney · Oct 19th, 2008, 07:51 PM

Thank you for this information.

Mirch · Oct 19th, 2008, 09:03 PM

Celebrating a non religious , secular holiday is not going to make someone a non- Muslim , if that is so then we will have to prohibit all kinds of days in all Muslim countries . Every Muslim country celebrates independence day there is nothing in Quran and sunnah about it. Celebrating all the death and birth anniversaries of leaders of those Muslim countries is also imitating non Muslims.
Come in you Mullah types grow up , your hate for Jews and Christians is only limited to your conversations , when it comes to celebrating any non-religious and secular non - Muslim holiday all those Mullah type just shut their eyes and attend the parties , conventions etc on those occasions.
Tomorrow someone will release a fatwa that Muslims living in USA are all kaffir because they are celebrating Independence day , "haza kulun haram".

Look at the long speech in post # 13 above . On one hand it is saying that Prophet(SAW) prohibited Muslims from imitating non Muslims but a few lines later it is being quoted that Prophet (SAW) imitated Jews and celebrated 10th of Muharram the day on which Allah saved Moses(AS) and his followers . Prophet celebrated that day saying ""I have more rights to follow Mosses than you" .
We can use the same example and we will be following tbe Sunnah of our holy Prophet(SAW) if we celebrate thanksgiving because this is the day Allah showed this land of opportunities for the benefit of all the humanity. This country is not for Christian and Jews only it is a country where 6 Million Muslims also live and reap the fruits of the finds of Original Pilgrims from Thanks giving story. We go to mosques for our prayers,we celebrate our Islamic festivals with all the zeal and fervor we hold big Islamic , Muslim conferences , should we not be thankful to Allah about granting us all those opportunities ? We should be thanking Allah for all Allash's blessings every moment of our lives and also on Thanksgiving day by frying , baking or roasting a big huge Turkey , so All the Muslim brothers and sisters go and order your Halal Turkey now and invite your non-Muslims neighbors to share Allah's bounties which Allah out of Allah's mercy has bestowed upon you all.