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(Article found in: www.islam-qa.com - Question on Halloween )

Every year, on the evening of October 31st, millions of children across North

America paint their faces, dress up in costumes, and go door to door collecting treats. The

adults often decorate their houses with ghostly figures, carve scary faces on pumpkins,

and put candles in them to create "Jack-O-Lanterns." Unfortunately, among the millions

of North Americans indulging in this custom, many are also Muslims. This article will

shed some light on the significance and origins of Hallow'een, and why Muslims should

not participate in it.

Origins of the Hallow'een Festival?

The ancient Celtic (Irish/Scottish/Welsh) festival called Samhain is considered by

most historians and scholars to be the predecessor of what is now Hallow'een. Samhain

was the New Year's day of the pagan Celts. It was also the Day of the Dead, a time when

it was believed that the souls of those who had died during the year were allowed access

into the "land of the dead". Many traditional beliefs and customs associated with Samhain

continue to be practiced today on the 31st of October. Most notable of these customs are

the practice of leaving offerings of food and drink (now candy) to masked and costumed

revelers, and the lighting of bonfires. Elements of this festival were incorporated into the

Christian festival of All Hallow's Eve, or Hallow-Even, the night preceding All Saint's

(Hallows') Day. It is the glossing of the name Hallow- Even that has given us the name of

Hallow'een. Until recent times in some parts of Europe, it was believed that on this night

the dead walked amongst them, and that witches and warlocks flew in their midst. In

preparation for this, bonfires were built to ward off these malevolent spirits.

By the 19th century, witches' pranks were replaced by children's tricks. The spirits

of Samhain, once believed to be wild and powerful, were now recognized as being evil.

Devout Christians began rejecting this festival. They had discovered that the so-called

gods, goddesses, and other spiritual beings of the pagan religions, were diabolical

deceptions. The spiritual forces that people experienced during this festival were indeed

real, but they were manifestations of the devil who misled people toward the worship of

false idols. Thus, they rejected the customs associated with Hallow'een, including all

representations of ghosts, vampires, and human skeletons - symbols of the dead - and of

the devil and other malevolent and evil creatures. It must also be noted that, to this day,

many Satan-worshippers consider the evening of October 31st to be their most sacred.

And many devout Christians today continue to distance themselves from this pagan

festival.

The Islamic Perspective?

Iman (faith) is the foundation of Islamic society, and tauheed (the belief in the

existence and Oneness of Allah) is the essence of this faith and the very core of Islam.

The safeguarding of this iman, and of this pure tauheed, is the primary objective of all

Islamic teachings and legislation. In order to keep the Muslim society purified of all

traces of shirk (associating partners with Allah) and remnants of error, a continuous war