By Halloween is right around the corner and you know what that means — neighbors decorating their houses with spooky decorations, people splurging money on delicious sugary treats, and kids chatting enthusiastically in preparation for the big day.
However, as a child, unlike most of my friends and neighbors, I wasn’t allowed to participate in the celebration.
“Why can’t I celebrate Halloween?” was a question I found myself asking repeatedly to my parents when I was young. However, as I got older and learned more about the holiday, I finally understood the answer to my question.
Many Abrahamic prophets warned their followers to keep away from such practices. However, the Holy Qur’an takes this a step further by clearly defining the logic in not partaking in a holiday that celebrates such rituals.
While Halloween seems harmless, it has a background rooted in shirk (associating partners with God or worshiping anyone or anything besides God). Halloween entails the belief in the existence of evil spirits, as it was founded by the Pagans and was celebrated by the Celtics.
The Celtics believed that on Halloween, the dead came back to life. Therefore, they left food and wine in their homes as “offerings” to the dead. Also, by wearing costumes, people believed they could avoid evil spirits.
Many Abrahamic prophets warned their followers to keep away from such practices. However, the Holy Qur’an takes this a step further by clearly defining the logic in not partaking in a holiday that celebrates such rituals. Regarding this, the Holy Qur’an clearly states:
“That is because it is God alone Who is the True God, and whatever they call upon besides Him is falsehood, and because it is God alone Who is the Most High, the Incomparably Great.” (31:31)
As an Ahmadi Muslim teen, I don’t believe that the dead can come back to life, or have any power over me. When I read this verse I am reminded of how practices such as Halloween go against the idea of the omnipresence and oneness of God.
As American Muslims, we all have differing opinions about celebrating Halloween. However, whether or not you’ll be celebrating this October 31, be safe and I wish you all the best!