Matrix
Halloween is observed in many countries on 31 October. It is a holiday celebrated each year on October 31st. The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. Pope Gregory III, in the 18th century designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween.
Halloween activities include attending Halloween costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, divination games, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories, as well as watching horror films.
In many parts of the world, the Christian religious observances of All Hallows’ Eve, including attending church services and lighting candles on the graves of the dead, remain popular, although elsewhere it is a more commercial and secular celebration. Some Christians historically abstained from meat on All Hallows’ Eve, a tradition reflected in the eating of certain vegetarian foods on this vigil day, including apples, potato pancakes, and soul cakes.
Why are Muslims opposed to it:
Sheikh Idris Palmer, author of A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam, has ruled that Muslims should not participate in Halloween, stating that “participation in Halloween is worse than participation in Christmas, Easter, … it is more sinful than congratulating the Christians for their prostration to the crucifix”.
It has also been ruled to be haram by the National Fatwa Council of Malaysia because of its alleged pagan roots stating “Halloween is celebrated using a humorous theme mixed with horror to entertain and resist the spirit of death that influence humans”.
However, Dar Al-Ifta Al-Missriyyah disagrees with other more conservative religious scholars saying “provided the celebration is not referred to as an ‘Eid’ and that behaviour remains in line with Islamic principles”.
