Q: What is the ruling with regards to Easter celebrations, Easter eggs, hot cross buns, etc.?
A: Easter is a celebration of the Christians. The Christians believe that it was on this day that Jesus rose from the dead after his crucifixion. As Muslims, we are commanded to refrain from imitating the Kuffaar and adopting their ways. If one participates in the celebration of the Kuffaar out of respect for such days, he will become a kaafir. The great jurist, Abu Hafs al-Kabeer (Rahmatullahi Alaihi) said: “The one who after worshipping Allah Ta’aala for fifty years gifted an egg to a disbeliever, in reverence for the Kuffaar celebration, will become a kaafir and lose the reward of all his righteous deeds.” If one participates in a celebration without respecting and honouring their celebration, he will not become a kaafir. However, this action will be makrooh-e-tahreemi. Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم The one who imitates a people will be counted among them (in the court of Allah Ta’aala). Hence, it is impermissible to celebrate Easter, buy, sell, or eat Easter eggs and hot cross buns etc.
عن ابن عمر قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم. (سنن أبي داود رقم 4033)
( والإعطاء باسم النيروز والمهرجان لا يجوز ) أي الهدايا باسم هذين اليومين حرام ( وإن قصد تعظيمه ) كما يعظمه المشركون ( يكفر ) قال أبو حفص الكبير لو أن رجلا عبد الله خمسين سنة ثم أهدى لمشرك يوم النيروز بيضة يريد تعظيم اليوم فقد كفر وحبط عمله ا هـ (الدر المختار 6/754)
According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday (also Resurrection Day or Resurrection Sunday).
Easter marks the end of Lent, a forty-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance. The last week of the Lent is called Holy Week, and it contains Good Friday, commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Easter is followed by a fifty-day period called Eastertide or the Easter Season, ending with Pentecost Sunday. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)