LAW SAY "HAPPY DEEPAVALI" AND CELEBRATE DEEPAVALI FOR THE MUSLIM

As the Malaysian society is a pluralistic society, then there are people asking about the permissibility of Muslims celebrate Deepavali. The question is whether Muslims are allowed to join in the non-Muslim celebration?. Cultural festivals that shaped not be a problem, but what about the religious celebrations, whether it should be celebrated by the Muslim community?

Celebrations in Islam is an act of worship. It is not the custom and culture. Worship means devotion to God alone. Worship is done as a symbol of devotion to God. Hence, the Prophet forbade the celebration Ansar Jahilliyah already practiced by society Medina before the advent of Islam. Our Prophet says: "Allah has replaced for you better than them (feast) of Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr." (Hadith narrated by Abu Dawud 1134, Nasaei 1556 and Ahmad 1241).

Sheikh Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and his student Ibn Qayyim to be very strict in this matter that they strictly forbids Muslims to engage and participate in any celebration against the unbelievers and the scripture. Ibn Taymiyyah also said that the festival is an Islamic ruling. Ibn Taymiyyah said: "the festival is part of the Shari'a, manhaj and worship mentioned by Allah in the Holy Quran that says: 'every nation We appointed ways of worship have experienced' (Refer Iqtidha 'al-Sirat al-Mustaqim juz 1, p. 207 ).

Muhammad Saleh al-Munajjid, a prominent scholar and member of the ruling government of Saudi Arabia and several Saudi government cleric others feel that the law congratulate the non-Muslims in the days of their greatness as on Christmas day and so is illegal and against the base- basic Islamic faith.

The argument put forward by them is the feast day of the non-Islamic religion in fact are among the symbols of their religion. Muslims are commanded not to imitate the teachings and culture of non-Muslims. This is based on a hadith of the Prophet s.a.w. which means: "He who imitate symbols of a people (non-Muslims), then he belongs to them - (Reported by Abu Dawud number 4031. Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, number 5093). 

While Prof. Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the time to debate this matter has indicated that it would not be an offense to give a congratulatory feast to friends and neighbors that pagans, because Islam does not cover the relationship between two people of different religions and belief. This permissibility is based on the word of Allah in Surah al-Mumtahanah verse 8, which means: "Allah does not forbid you to be kind and fair to people who do not fight you because of religion and do not (yet) in driving you out of your land: for Allah loves those who happen fair ". However, al-Qaradawi hard prohibit from participating in religious ceremonies based festival because it involves faith and belief.

Prof Dr Abd al-Sattar Fathullah Said, a lecturer Tafsir and 'Ulum Qur'an Azhar University also argues that congratulations and merry at the feast of non-Muslims is permissible as long as not in conflict with the law of Shari'ah. But if it were congratulations and merry was expressed in the form of prayer as 'May Allah bless the family and possessions', it is illegal and strictly prohibited. Similarly, according to him should give as a gift to congratulate non-Muslims on their festive days, but the gift is not something that should be banned as alcohol, pornography portraits and so on.

Sheikh Dr. Mustafa Zarqa about when discussing this issue has stated that congratulate or merry greeting to contact non-Muslims are included in the chapter decency (mujamalah) and comeliness in the association. However, anyone who is confused, for example by saying that the celebration of the birth of Jesus is their celebration (like Fitr and Eid Al-Adha), then it is illegal, because it has to do with the Christian beliefs of the divinity of Jesus.

The argument put forward by him among others, the events of the Prophet's Narrated that the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. stand when a Jewish funeral through the area occupied by the Prophet and his companions. Founding Prophet is an explanation about how great and superior death, has nothing to do with the remains of the faith (ie not due to respect the beliefs of the deceased).

However, it should also be noted that, bid farewell feast to my friends on the ground of non-Muslims keep friendships and relationships (not on the basis of the faith) is a must, but keep it with the filling-filling wrong in it, it is illegal.

Therefore, if no other religions celebrate deny racial tolerance? Tolerance still exist with non-Muslims, but not in matters involving worship and religious festivals. Racial tolerance can be fostered at every day in daily interactions. Racial tolerance can also be nurtured during the anniversary of the country's independence day and other patriotic celebrations. Accordingly, fertilizer racial tolerance without jeopardizing the Islamic faith.