Salafi Research Institute SRI
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In this article, we shall be discussing with evidences which all celebrations that are reoccurring (whether yearly, monthly or weekly) are allowed for us Muslims to engage in and celebrate thereby.
||Meaning of ‘Eid||
Al-Azhari (D. 370) said in Tahdhīb al-Lughah (3/84):
“And ‘eid for the ‘Arabs means: the time wherein happiness and sadness is (frequently) returned”
al-Nawawī (D. 676) said in Al-Majmū’ (5/2):
“’Eid is from ‘Awd which means to return as it repeats”
Ibn Manẓūr (D. 711) said in Lisān al-’Arab (3/319):
“Any day where there is a (repetitive) gathering”
Ibn Taymiyyah (D. 728) said in Iqtiḍā al-Ṣirāṭ al-Mustaqīm (1/496):
“’Eid is a name for what repeats with a general gathering and repetition”
al-Fīrūzabādī (D. 817) said in Al-Muḥīṭ (p. 302):
“what repeats from distress, sickness or sadness etc. Or a day where people gather”
And other scholars whose mentioning would prolong the article
||Number of ‘Eid in Islam||
Ibn Ḥazm (D. 456) said in al-Muḥallā (3/293):
“They are ‘Eid al-Fiṭr of Ramadan which is the first day of Shawwāl and the day of (‘Eid) al-Aḍḥā which is the tenth day of Dhul Ḥijjah. There is no ‘Eid for the Muslims apart from them except Friday and the three days (tashrīq) after the day of al-Aḍḥā as Allah Ta’ala has not made for them an ‘Eid other than what we mentioned, nor His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم and there is no dispute between the people of Islam over that”
We know that Ijmā’ (consensus) is one of the proofs of our religion, perhaps I may write an article on that too if Allah allows
(1) ‘Eid al-Fiṭr and ‘Eid al-Aḍḥā
Narrated ‘Āishah رضي الله عنها that once Abu Bakr entered upon her on the day of ‘Eid al-Fiṭr or ‘Eid al-Aḍḥā while the Prophet (يصلى الله عليه وسلم) was present and there were two girl singers with her, singing songs of the Ansar about the day of Bu’āth. So Abu Bakr said twice: “Musical instrument of Satan!” But the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “Leave them Abu Bakr, For every nation has an ‘Eid and this day is our ‘Eid.” [al-Bukhāri 3931 & Muslim 892]
Anas رضي الله عنه reported:
Allah’s messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم arrived in Medina during two days in which they were celebrating. The Prophet said, “What are these two days?” They said, “We would celebrate these two days in the time of Jāhiliyyah (before Islam)” The Prophet said, “Verily, Allah has replaced these two days with two better days: Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr.” [Abu Dawud 1134 & Nasai 1556 both with Sahih isnad]
‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin al-‘Āaṣ رضي الله عنهما said that Allah’s messenger said to a man:
“I have been instructed to take the day of al-Aḍḥā as an ‘Eid which Allah, ‘Azza wa Jall, has ordained for this Ummah.” [al-Nasai 4365 & Abu Dawud 2789 with Hasan Isnad]
(2) Friday
Ibn Khuzaymah (D. 311) named a chapter in his Sahih:
“The evidence that Friday is an ‘Eid” (before hadith 2161)
Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما recited: “’This day, I perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and chose for you Islam as your religion’ [5:3] and a Jew was with him who said: ‘If this Ayah was revealed to us then we would have taken that day as a day of celebration.’ So Ibn ‘Abbas said: “Indeed it was revealed on two ‘Eids: On Friday, and on the Day of ‘Arafah.” [al-Tirmidhi 3044 with Sahih Isnad]
(3) Days of Tashrīq (the three days after ‘Eid al-Aḍḥā)
Narrated Uqbah bin ‘Amir رضي الله عنه that Allah’s messenger said:
“The day of ‘Arafat and the day of sacrifice and the day of At-Tashriq are our ‘Eid, the people of Islam, and they are days of eating and drinking.” [al-Nasai 3007, al-Tirmidhi 773, Abu Dawud 2419 all with Hasan Isnad]
Note: Just because they are named as ‘Eid does not mean all the rulings of the two ‘Eid also apply
||It is not allowed to engage in any other festival||
Allah said: “For every religion We have appointed rites which they perform.“ [al-Hajj 22:67]
Thābit bin al-Ḍaḥḥāk رضي الله عنه reported:
A man in the time of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم made a vow to sacrifice a camel at a placed called Buwanah. He came to the Prophet and he said, “I have made a vow to sacrifice a camel at Buwanah.” The Prophet said, “Were there any idols worshipped there in the time of ignorance?” They said no. The Prophet said, “Were any of their idolatrous festivals celebrated there?” They said no. The Prophet said, “Fulfill your vow, for a vow in disobedience to Allah must not be fulfilled, nor a vow over which the son of Adam has not control.” [Abu Dawud 3313 with Sahih Isnad]
We know the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم does not ask a question without any reason, this shows that sacrificing at a place where festivals of the disbelievers are held is a preventive factor, even if the intentions are pure, for we do not engage in what the non-Muslims do.
Ibnul Qayyim (D. 751) said in Ahkaam Ahl al-Dhimmah (2/246):
“And indeed Allah Subhanah has named their festivals (the mushrikeen) as falsehood and falsehood is not allowed to be attended. Allah said: ‘And those who do not witness falsehood, and when they pass by ill speech, they pass by with dignity’” [25:72]
And he said in the next page:
“It is impermissible for the Muslims to attend the festivals of the mushrikeen or help them upon it, according to the consensus of the scholars whose words carry weight. The fuqaha’ who follow the four schools of thought have stated this clearly in their books”
Al-Khallal (D. 311) named a chapter in Ahkam ahl al-milal (before no. 126):
“impermissibility of Muslims to go out on the festivals of mushrikeen”
al-Bayhaqi (D. 458) named a chapter in his sunan al-Kubra (9/234):
“impermissibility of Muslims entering on ahl al-Dhimmah in their churches and imitating them on their Nawruz and Mihrajaan” (these are two festivals of the Persians)
||Any other festival is either imitating them or an innovation||
Allah said: “And for every nation We have appointed religious ceremonies” [al-Hajj 22:34]
Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” [Abu Dawud 4031; Hasan]
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas رضي الله عنهما reported:
“Whoever lives in the land of non-Arabs and engages in their Nawruz (persian new year) and Mahrajan (persian festival) and imitates them until he dies upon that, he will be resurrected with them on the day of judgement” [al-Sunan al-Kubra li al-Bayhaqi 18896 with Hasan Isnad]
The history of the festivals other than the ones permitted in Islam either go back to the disbelievers or due to an innovation which the Muslims performed without the Salaf preceding them. We shall present some examples.
Birthdays:
“The highest of all holidays in the Satanic religion is the date of one’s own birth” [Satanic Bible, ch. Religious holidays, p.53]
Independence day:
“I am apt to believe that it (decleration of independance) will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” [Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 July 1776, p. 3]
The Prophet’s birthday يصلى الله عليه وسلم:
It was started by the Fatimites, A sect from the Shi’ah [see al-Mawa’idh wal I’tibar (2/436) by Taqi al-Din al-Maqrizi (D. 845)]
||Conclusion||
As a Muslim, we should be steadfast according to what our creator has commanded with, as He said:
“So remain steadfast as you are commanded” [11:112].
Do not look at what the people do as Allah said:
“And if you obey majority of those on earth, they will mislead you from the way of Allah” [6:116]
and do not be surprised by their numbers for you have a great reward. Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said:“Islam initiated as something strange, and it would revert to being strange. so good tidings for the stranger.” [Muslim 145]
and he said:
“The nations were shown to me and one or two Prophets would pass by me with a group (of followers), and a Prophet who had no one with him…” [al-Bukhari 5705, Muslim 220]
Remember that Islam is a complete guideline of one’s life, we must implement Islam even when it comes to celebrating. Allah said: “Enter into Islam completely” [2:208]
Therefore my beloved brother/sister, leave these celebrations for Allah’s sake, He will reward you with something better. Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“Verily, you will never leave anything for the sake of Allah Almighty but that Allah will replace it with something better for you.” [Musnad Ahmad 23074 with Sahih Isnad]
Do not worry about others being displeased with you if Allah is pleased with you. Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whoever pleases Allah with the displeasure of the people, Allah will suffice him. And whoever displeases Allah with the pleasure, Allah leaves him to the people” [al-Ihsan fi taqrib Sahih Ibn Hibban 277 with Sahih Isnad]
