Fatwa ID: 06860
Answered by: Alimah Saleha Bukhari Islam
Question:
I am a new Amazon seller to improve my listing and rank my products can I participate in festive season events by participating it will show a festive season badge on my listing of products. Because e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, and Meesho provide special features on the festivals of disbelievers can I participate in it. The current season is a great Indian festival. Sometimes it may mention the name of that festival) but during this season its name is the only great Indian festival it had period. Is it permissible for me to participate in these events or can I only participate in events with names in general that do not specify festivals? Can I participate in events which clearly show the Diwali offer and Christmas offer season?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
I commend you on seeking Islamic guidance as you begin a new business venture. This clearly shows you are consciously taking steps to protect yourself from wrongdoing.
With regards to your question, this is one many Muslims struggle with within many areas of their life, especially when it relates to religious festivals connected to other faiths.‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (ra) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” (Abu Dawud, 4031) [1]
In other words, imitation or participation in practices or supporting practices is considered acceptance. Therefore, the majority of scholars deliberate it impermissible to imitate the festivals of Christmas, Halloween, Diwali etc. based on this hadith as well as other supportive evidence in the Quran and Sunnah.
Provision (Rizq) has been determined by Allah and will not be reduced by remaining on the straight path and treading with caution. Allah ﷻ says in the Quran:
“If they had believed and been righteous we would open upon them the blessings of the sky and the earth.”[2] (Surah Al-A’raf 7:96)
Blessings and Barakah are granted by Allah ﷻ, and all difficulties are but a trial to test our Eeman. We pray for this in every rakah of every prayer we perform each day. In Surah Al-Fateha we engage in conversing with Allah:
“Guide us to the straight path – the path of those whom You have blessed”
“Not the path of those who have earned Your wrath nor of those who have gone astray” [3] (Al-Faatiha, 6-7)
In conclusion, it would not be permissible to promote faith-related events in any capacity to support your business as it would be viewed as promoting the religious celebrations of other faiths. May Allah keep you and us all steadfast in the Deen, Aameen.
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by Alimah Saleha Bukhari Islam
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
[1] عن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «من تَشبَّه بقوم، فهو منهم»
[2] وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَىٰ آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ بَرَكَاتٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ
[3] ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ ٦
صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ٧
