Halloween is a tradition that Muslims do not celebrate. Halloween goes against important beliefs held in Islam. Muslims are taught which holidays they are allowed to celebrate in their religion. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are the main festivals celebrated by Muslims.
Muslims are taught by Quranic teachings, Hadith and influential scholars that all of Halloween’s traditions are things they should keep away from.
On every October 31st, people from many countries come together to celebrate Halloween. Many dress themselves up, decorate their houses and kids go about asking for sweets. The entertainment aspect of it is obvious upon first sight. In truth, its origins share a different side of the story. Halloween can be traced back to a festival celebrated by early pagans, referred to as Samhain.
The pagans believed that the spirits of the dead visited Earth on that evening. Bonfires were set and scary costumes were put on to either avoid or resemble different spirits. As the centuries passed, Halloween mixed with many traditions, making it what it is today.
Islam does not allow people to follow beliefs and practices related to spirits, superstitions or rituals found only outside the Quran and Hadith. On Halloween, ghosts, witches and other mythical beings are often used as symbols. Muslims cannot worship these entities since this would be against their belief in Allah, who should be worshiped by everyone.
It is not allowed in Islam to believe in powers that work outside of what Allah allows. For Muslims, Halloween goes against one of the main beliefs in Islam which is monotheism (Tawheed).
In the Quran, Allah clearly warns believers about following traditions rooted in superstition or idol worship:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْخَمْرُ وَٱلْمَيْسِرُ وَٱلْأَنصَابُ وَٱلْأَزْلَـٰمُ رِجْسٌۭ مِّنْ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ فَٱجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
“O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, stone altars, and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.” (Surah Al-Ma’idah Quran 5:90)
This verse tells Muslims to abstain from anything that involves false religions or superstitions. As Halloween originates from practices focused on spirits and ghosts, it belongs to the things that Islam forbids.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also warned Muslims against imitating customs of other cultures that conflict with Islamic values. He stated clearly:
“Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” (Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith 4031)
In other words, Muslims must stay true to their unique heritage. Islam motives Muslims to follow a unique way of living advised by their faith. By observing Halloween, Muslims put their religious identity at risk.
Many Islamic scholars respect and promote this position. Sheikh al-Uthaymeen unequivocally stated that Muslims should stay away from Halloween. In his opinion, some of the festivities are not in line with Islamic ideals. Ali called on Muslims not to follow any practices unrelated to Islam.
Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Baz also recommended Muslims not to celebrate non-Islamic holidays. To him, the focus of Muslim religious festivities should be only on those set out in the Quran and Sunnah. He explained that during Halloween, Muslims neglect their religious duties. Getting involved in it is against the purity Islam calls for.
Muslims commemorate two major events each year, not the holiday of Halloween. After the month of Ramadan comes Eid al-Fitr, giving everyone a reason to feel thankful and happy. In mosques, Muslims participate in prayer, share a meal together and give to the poor.
It marks the story of Prophet Ibrahim being prepared to sacrifice his son as Allah wished. It highlights people’s deep faith, hard work and willingness to obey. During Eid, Muslims offer prayers, share their resources with others and share food with their loved ones.
Nowadays, many Muslims in Western countries come under pressure to become part of Halloween events. Both their education, work and social life encourage them to get involved. There are Muslims who believe that Halloween is just a fun holiday.
Nonetheless, the religion specifies what can be done and what should not be done. Anyone observing Islam closely is recommended to politely refuse when offered a ticket to a Halloween gathering. They can take advantage of these occasions to talk about their faiths and support mutual understanding.
Younger Muslims should make sure they understand the reasons why Halloween is not acceptable for them. Parents and members of the community should support Muslim youth in learning and loving their religion and the special holidays that come with it.
Therefore, Muslims should stay away from celebrating Halloween. Paganism and superstition in this tradition are straightly against the main beliefs of Islam. The Quran and the teachings of Muhammad advise Muslims not to take part in non-Islamic traditions’ festive occasions.
Many experts discourage it to protect the unique identity of Islam. For this reason, Muslims should take delight in the heartfelt festivals of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha which play a key role in their faith and values.
