Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

dear brother

salam

could you pls. give the answers for the following:

1. in gulf region kids as well as adult celebrate gargaoun. they say it is culture , my friend said it is bidaل. what is the history of it? pls. explain. did the children celebrate during prophet`s time? is it permissible?

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Answer:

Girgaun

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The majority of the scholars and jurists are of the opinion that the ‘girgaun’ is an Arab tradition and cultural festival and has nothing to do with Islam. If one believes that by celebrating ‘girgaun’ one would earn extra rewards from Allah Subhanah, or one believes that it is a form of worship, or one believes that it is a necessity or an obligation in Islam to celebrate it…then indeed such a cultural festival would be deemed a ‘bida’ in the Sight of Shariah, and thus a grave sin.

In light of the guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah, the jurors in Islam have listed four categories which would make any celebration or gathering as forbidden in Islam:

1. The celebration should not be a pagan religious festival.
2. The celebration should not involve any ‘shirk’.
3. The celebration should not involve or encourage ‘fahisha’ or indecency.
4. The celebration should not indulge in excess spending.

Provided one does not violate any of the Commands of Islam but if one simply celebrates it as a cultural festival, without assigning any religious connotation to it, or without seeking or expecting any reward for it….the scholars are of the opinion that there is no harm in celebrating such cultural festivals of the land or nation one lives in. The evidence they present for the permissibility and allowance in Islam of such cultural festivities is the following authentic narration:

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.730 Narrated by Aisha

Aisha added, "Some black people from Ethiopia were playing with leather shields and spears in the mosque; so either I requested the Prophet (saws) (or he (saws) asked me whether I would like) to see the display. I replied in the affirmative. Then the Prophet (saws) made me stand behind him and my cheek was touching his cheek and he (saws) was saying, "Carry on! O Bani Arfida," till I got tired. The Prophet (saws) asked me, "Are you satisfied (Is that sufficient for you)?" I replied in the affirmative and he (saws) told me to leave. Hadrat Umar (r.a.) rebuked them (the Ethiopians for their display), but the Prophet (saws) said, "O Umar, leave them! O Bani Arfida! Play. (for) you are safe!"

The permissibility of the cultural celebration of ‘girgaun’ can be compared to such cultural and traditional festivals like ‘National Day’, or ‘Basant’ in the sub-continent where people fly kites, or the ‘Henna’ festivities at a marriage, etc……as long as such cultural and traditional festivals do not have a religious connotation and do not violate the boundaries of Allah Subhanah, the scholars are of the opinion that there is no harm, if one wishes to occasionally amuse oneself with them. And Allah Alone Knows Best.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan