Fatwa: # 23096
Category: Misc. Fiqh
Country: United States
Date: 7th November 2012

Title

Is it permissible to celebrate Thanksgiving?

Question

Please tell me more about Thanksgiving day because there are a number of Muslims in America celebrating that day.  Is it right or wrong?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. It is said that Thanksgiving had roots in religious and cultural tradition but today Thanksgiving is primarily celebrated as a secular holiday. [1] 

In principle, imitating the disbelievers in any of their religious festivals (holidays) is totally impermissible and intolerable.  It is also impermissible to imitate non-Muslims by celebrating their national festivals (holidays). [2] Therefore, even if Thanksgiving does not symbolize or represent any non-Muslim ideology, it is nevertheless a distinguishing mark of the nation, making its celebration impermissible.   

As Muslims, Allah Taa’la has showered his mercy upon us by bestowing us with the wealth of Islam.  Islam is the way of life that is perfect and complete.  There is no need to look towards other avenues and roads when success of both the worlds is guaranteed in loyalty to Allah and His Deen. In conclusion, to celebrate Thanksgiving is totally against the sense of honor of a believer and impermissible.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Abdul Azīm bin Abdur Rahman,
Student Darul Iftaa
U.S.A.

Checked and Concurred by,
Moulana Ismail Desai.   

daruliftaa.net

 

 

 


[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving Last accessed on Nov. 4, 2012

 

[2]  تحفة العلماء ، ج 2، ص 121، دار الاشاعت

فتاوي محمودية، ج 19، ص 553،557، 575-576، فاروقية

 

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