Question:
Is it prohibited to accept candy that’s offered on Halloween?
Answer:
A Phone Conversation between Ash-Shaykh Albany rahimahullah and a Person who is asking regarding the food which is given out on Christmas. (i.e. Holidays of Kufr):
The Questioner:
As-salaamu alaykum.
Shaykh:
Wa alaykum as-salaam.
The Questioner:
How are you, Oh Shaykh?
The Shaykh:
May Allah preserve you.
The Questioner:
Can I ask you a question, Oh Shaykh?
The Shaykh:
Go ahead.
The Questioner:
In Relation to the holiday of Christmas which they are celebrating, is the food that they are giving out permissible for us to eat from?
The Shaykh:
No (i.e. It’s not permissible).
The Questioner:
Even if it may be after the celebration?
The Shaykh:
No no, its not permissible.
The Questioner:
Is it possible I can ask a second question, Oh Shaykh?
The Shaykh:
No, is not possible, you said to me only one question and that’s all.
The Questioner:
Jazaakallahu khairan.
The Shaykh:
Wa iyyak.
Translated by
AbdulFattaah bin Uthman
Abu Fajr
—
Added to what Abu Fajr mentioned, some of the Scholars permitted taking the gifts on the Non-Muslim festivals.
Shaikhul Islaam Ibn ul-Taymiyyah rahimahullah said:
فصل حكم قبول المسلم الهدية من الكفار يوم عيدهم وإيراد النصوص على جوازه
وأما قبوله الهدية منهم يوم عيدهم، فقد قدمنا عن علي بن أبي طالب – رضي الله عنه – أنه أتي بهدية “يوم نيروز” فقبلها.
وعن عائشة – رضي الله عنها – أنها قالت: “أما ما ذبح لذلك اليوم، فلا تأكلوا، ولكن كلوا من أشجارهم”.
وعن أبي برزة أنه كان يهدي إليه مجوس في “نيروزهم” فيقول لأهله: ما كان من فاكهة فكلوه، وما كان من غير ذلك فردوه” فهذا كله يدل على أنه لا تأثير للعيد في المنع من قبول هديتهم، بل حكمها في العيد وغيره سواء؛ لأنه ليس في ذلك إعانة على شعائر كفرهم، لكن قبول هدية الكفار من أهل الحرب وأهل الذمة مسألة مستقلة فيها خلاف وتفصيل ليس هذا موضعه
“Chapter: The Ruling on a Muslim accepting the gifts of the Disbelievers on their Festival and the Reports That Have Come in Its Permissibility
As for accepting the gifts from them on their festival, then the narraion from Ali ibn Abi Talib radiallahu anhu has preceded that he was given a gift on the day of Nayrooz and he accepted it. And on the authority of Aisha radiallahu anha that she said: “As for what is slaughtered that day, then do not eat it however eat from their trees”. And on the authority of Abu Barzah that the Zorostarains gave him a gift on their Nayrooz so he said to his family: Whatever is from their fruit then eat it and whatever is from other than that then do not”
So this all indicates that there is no effect on the eid in preventing accepting their gifts. Rather its ruling on the eid is like other than it. It is the same. This is because there is no support of the signs of their disbelief. However, accepting the gifts of the disbelivers from the people of war and the ahlul dhimmah is a separate issue which has a debate in it and detail. This is not the place for it”
[Iqtidaa Siratul Mustaqeem]
Imam Dhahabi rahimahullah said as well:
فقبول الهديَّة من الجارِ النصراني إذا أهدى لك في عيده من البيض وغيره () ذلك مُباحُ () وشراء البيض وصبغهُ مذمومُ
“So accepting the gift of a Christian Neighbor if he gifts you an egg or other than it on his Eid is permissible and buying a colored egg is disliked…” [This is regards to Easter-like festivals]
[Tashbih al-Khasis li Ahlul Khamees]
Translated by
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
—
Shaykh Abdur-Rahmaan al-Barraak, may Allah preserve him, said when he was commenting about the above opinion of Shaykhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and others about the permissibility of accepting the gifts of the Non-Muslims during their festivals :
فإن مشاركتهم في عيدهم بالدخول عليهم والجلوس معهم يتضمن الرضا بدينهم الباطل، ولذا جاء النهي عن ذلك عن عمر بن الخطاب وغيره،… فظهر الفرق عند السلف بين مشاركة الكفار في عيدهم وقبول هديتهم، والله أعلم.
“… For verily taking part with them in their festivals by entering upon them and sitting along with them (during their celebration) necessitates being pleased with their false religion. Thus the prohibition of that has been reported from Umar bin al-Khattaab and other than him… So it becomes clear the difference in the sight of the Salaf between participating with them in their festivals and between accepting their gifts (during their festivals).
Reference : The official website of Shaykh Abdurahman al-Barraak.
Although there is another opinion by the Lajnah ad-Da’imah that state :
“It is not permissible to accept or make use of the gifts given by disbelievers to Muslims on their festivals and religious occasions. Accepting such gifts is a sort of approval of their falsehood and being satisfied with what they do. Consequently, a Muslim should be mindful and be careful when it comes to matters related to his faith.
May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.”
The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’
Excerpt from alifta.net.
Mentioned by
AbdulFattaah bin Uthman
Abu Fajr
