Question
Salam, What is the Islamic Ruling on Black Friday. People worldwide considered it as shopping day. Can muslim partake in any promo that is targeted or attached to this day. Masalam
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad , is His Slave and Messenger.
In fact, Black Friday is not just a shopping day; rather, it is a festival (‘Eed) celebrated by non-Muslims. The Arabic word ‘Eed is derived from
" ‘ awd ” meaning “come again”.
Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah defined ‘Eed as follows: " The Arabic word ‘Eed means in the Arabic language what recurs of public events in a traditional manner; it may recur every year, month, or week or so. Therefore, the word ‘Eed refers to a day that comes again like ‘Eed Al-Fitr or Jumu‘ah, the gathering on that day and the acts done as acts of worship or traditions on that day. It may or may not be peculiar to a certain place. Any such gathering that takes place regularly can be called ‘Eed. " Therefore, Black Friday is considered one of the ‘Eeds of the disbelievers.
Participating in the celebration of the festivals of the non-Muslims by any given means involves committing religious violations, some of which were highlighted by Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah as he said:
" With regard to things that they use in their festivals, such as food, drink and clothing, the principles of Imaam Ahmad and others suggest that it (selling such things) is disliked, but does disliked here mean that it is prohibited, as in the School of Maalik, or that it is merely discouraged? The most likely and preponderant view is that it is disliked in the sense of being prohibited as in many similar cases according to Ahmad, because he does not allow the sale of bread, meat and herbs to the dissolute who will drink wine with them, because these things assist them to manifest the false religion and increase the numbers of people who will gather on their festival. This is worse than helping one particular person. "
Allaah The Exalted says (what means): { And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allaah; indeed, Allaah is severe in penalty. } [Quran 5:2]
Based on this, it is impermissible for the Muslim to take part in this ‘Eed or help others celebrate it by partaking in any commercial promotion that is particularly targeting that day; rather, he should treat it like any other day of the year.
Allah Knows best.
#Islamweb

Beautiful piece but I will like to disagree a little bit. There is no full evidence, according to the article that portrays black Friday as haram for Muslims. I will like to base my arguments on the following facts;

1. There is no attachment of this annual activity to any religion. The closest hint of religious relation to this day is that 'some' Christians use it as opportunity to start shopping for Christmas. This of course is understandable, to the fact that it is because of nearness in the dates and not religious intentions.

2. There is no official holiday, granted for this day. Like the first point, some states in America happen to grant two days off for 'thanksgiving', from which black Friday has just benefitted because it's the next day to that.

3. Black Friday does not have any religious origins or affiliations. It all started 1869, when the Grant administration ordered the large pour out of gold, in order to stop the fiscal conspiracy of Jay Gould and James Fisk, causing prices to drop by 18% at that period. It's fondly called THE PANIC of 1869. No religious worship or activity origin.

4. The Word 'black' was not an intention to slander the Holy day of the Muslims. The incident happened on a Friday and if it had happened on a Monday, we probably could have had 'black monday' instead.

In Islam, nothing is haram or disliked, or encouraged or compulsory, until the level of arm or benefit is confirmed. Speaking for myself and also having an open mind to learn otherwise, it shows to me that this event is neither encouraged or disliked. There's no harm in participating, neither is there any reward for keeping off it. And Allah knows best and may He forgive me if I have faulted in my opinion and also forgive all of us, and grant us useful knowledge.

golpen:
Beautiful piece but I will like to disagree a little bit. There is no full evidence, according to the article that portrays black Friday as haram for Muslims. I will like to base my arguments on the following facts;

1. There is no attachment of this annual activity to any religion. The closest hint of religious relation to this day is that 'some' Christians use it as opportunity to start shopping for Christmas. This of course is understandable, to the fact that it is because of nearness in the dates and not religious intentions.

2. There is no official holiday, granted for this day. Like the first point, some states in America happen to grant two days off for 'thanksgiving', from which black Friday has just benefitted because it's the next day to that.

3. Black Friday does not have any religious origins or affiliations. It all started 1869, when the Grant administration ordered the large pour out of gold, in order to stop the fiscal conspiracy of Jay Gould and James Fisk, causing prices to drop by 18% at that period. It's fondly called THE PANIC of 1869. No religious worship or activity origin.

4. The Word 'black' was not an intention to slander the Holy day of the Muslims. The incident happened on a Friday and if it had happened on a Monday, we probably could have had 'black monday' instead.

In Islam, nothing is haram or disliked, or encouraged or compulsory, until the level of arm or benefit is confirmed. Speaking for myself and also having an open mind to learn otherwise, it shows to me that this event is neither encouraged or disliked. There's no harm in participating, neither is there any reward for keeping off it. And Allah knows best and may He forgive me if I have faulted in my opinion and also forgive all of us, and grant us useful knowledge.

What is "eid"?

lexiconkabir:


What is "eid"?

Eid has been explained in the op as agreed, but what I'm saying is there's no harm when there is no religious attachment or worship activities to it or to its origin. Simple.

And like I said, if you have a proof otherwise, Pls bring it forward.

golpen:


Eid has been explained in the op as agreed, but what I'm saying is there's no harm when there is no religious attachment or worship activities to it or to its origin. Simple.

And like I said, if you have a proof otherwise, Pls bring it forward.

Actually, thats where the proof lies, Muslims have just two eids, any other eid is considered that of the kuffar, and as such the general rule is, it is prohibited for Muslims to take part in it.

lexiconkabir:


Actually, thats where the proof lies, Muslims have just two eids, any other eid is considered that of the kuffar, and as such the general rule is, it is prohibited for Muslims to take part in it.

Haha... That's no proof brother. The two eid we Muslims have are religious for us. We worship on these eid days. Same is not for this case. You can decide to hold meetings with your colleagues in your company at particular times recurring, it doesn't make the meeting haram for you bro. The recurrence makes such a day eid, but it is not haram for you.

If you wish not to participate in it, then you're not forced. Please.

lexiconkabir:


Actually, thats where the proof lies, Muslims have just two eids, any other eid is considered that of the kuffar, and as such the general rule is, it is prohibited for Muslims to take part in it.

it is not a celebration but simply a day old stocks in shops are gotten rid off to make space for new one.... That doesn't connate a celebration.

It amaze me anything the western do or practice is tagged haraam without no Quran or hadith to back it up by some so called scholars and they hypocritically use western products.

Black Friday is shopping day nothing more.