The Hindu festival of Diwali marks the destruction of Mahisha by the goddess Durga, and the return of Sita and Rama after 14 years of exile to Ayodhya (an important pilgrimage site in India).
But what about Muslims who have Hindu friends? can they wish them or celebrate it with them?
Can Muslims Celebrate Diwali?
Muslims can’t celebrate Diwali as it is considered Shirk.
No, it is most definitely not. Allah has no partners. In Islam, the biggest sin is SHIRK, and Diwali is a celebration of SHIRK.
Reference:
- al-Maa’idah 5:2
- Aal ‘Imraan 3:85
- al-Maa’idah 5:51
- al-Mumtahanah 60:1
Can Muslims Wish Diwali?
Muslims are not allowed to wish Diwali as it is considered Haram.
The Prophet commands us to refrain from emulating the kuffaar and adopting their ways. As a result of participating in the celebration of the Kuffaar out of respect for such occasions, a person will be considered a kaafir.
The great jurist, Abu Hafs al-Kabeer (Rahmatullahi Alaihi), wrote: “A person who worships Allah Ta’aala for fifty years and gives an egg to a disbeliever to commemorate the Kuffaar festival will become a kaafir and lose all his righteous deeds.” Participating in a celebration without respecting and honoring the event will not result in becoming a kaafir.
In spite of this, this action would be considered makrooh-e-tahreem. According to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam): He who imitates a people will be counted among them (when Allah Ta’ala looks upon him).
As a consequence, it is not permissible to wish “Happy Diwali” to non-Muslims due to the fact that one will be wishing them well in their kufr and shirk practices.
Reference:
- Fatwa by Mufti Zakaria Makada
- Sanan Ibn Dawood 4033
- Al Mukhtar 6/754
Got a question? Feel free to ask mufti and get quick answers.
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