Are Muslims allowed to visit their Hindu friends for Diwali and have sweets at their house?

Q: Are Muslims allowed to visit their hindu friends for diwali and have sweets at they house?

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

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

Diwali is a religious celebration of the Hindus in which the return of Lord Rama is commemorated, along with Sita and Lakshmana , from his 14-year-long exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom by bursting firecrackers.

As Muslims, we are sensitive to our faith (aqeedah) and values. We do not compromise in our aqeedah and do not show complacency to anything contrary to our aqeedah. We are different from the Hindus in our aqeedah and in our values.

During Diwali time, if a Hindu friend invites a Muslim to his home and offers him sweets, it is obvious that it is to share the Diwali celebration with his Muslim friends. A Muslim participating in any Diwali celebration demonstrates respect (ta’zeem) for the occasion, and in view of the polytheist’s practices, it also exemplifies complacency with Shirk thus compromising with ones tawheed.  It is therefore Haram for a Muslim to take part in any part of Diwali including just the meals or sweets. We tolerate different religions practices but do not respect (ta’zeem) them.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Abdul Hannan Nizami,
Student Darul Iftaa
Chicago, USA

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.


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